February 4, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Here in the US, we’ve celebrated Black History Month each February for several decades. It’s a time for learning, reflection, and celebration. If you’re looking for resources that you can incorporate into your AAC teaching or therapy, here are some ideas for you. Learn with BrainPop and BrainPop, Jr which offers videos, writing and drawing activities, graphic organizers, worksheets, jokes, and more. Brown vs Board of Education Civil Rights Fannie Lou Hamer Harriet Tubman Jackie Robinson Jim Crow Malcolm X Martin Luther King, Jr Mohammed Ali Reconstruction Rosa Parks Ruby Bridges Slavery Tuskegee Airmen From BrainPop Jr 2. Read “The Poet Diaries,” a guest post by inaugural National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. View a video of her reading her poem, Rise Up as One, California. 3. Explore a virtual exhibition at the National Museum of African... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
February 1, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for ways to support preschoolers teachers who are learning to use an AAC system rich in core vocabulary? Today, we welcome back AAC SLPs Jeanna Antrim and Maggie Judson for another guest post the TELL ME About It series. They have lots of ideas for classroom activities, e-learning, supporting AAC learning at home, and more. Maggie and Jeanna are speech-language pathologists who work in the Assistive Technology Department for the Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative (BASSC) in southern Illinois. They are AT/AAC facilitators and provide evaluations, direct therapy, consultations, and trainings with school teams. TELL ME About It: AAC Learning with ‘Not a Box’! TELL ME About The Book The fifth book in this new series is “Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis. Such a fun book to read, with its simple text, repeated lines, and engaging illustrations. But the real magic of this story lies in the ways... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
January 31, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you may have missed in your busy week. Monday – School Year of Core Vocabulary Words: AAC Resources for Month 7 (February) by Michaela Sullivan, Alisa Lego, & Beth Lytle Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Toward Improved Diversity in AAC Thursday – PrAACtically February: AAC Resources for a Year of Core Words :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Stick around for some more AAC reading if you can. Here are some suggestions with info and resources from conferences in previous years. Enjoy! PrAACtical Resources: Partner Strategies Handout PrAACtical Fun A PrAACtical Idea for Aided Language Input 3 Presentation Handouts on Core Vocabulary Implementation
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
January 28, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
February is just around the corner and that means we’re looking ahead to ways we can highlight more of the core vocabulary words in our clients’ AAC devices and communication aids. One approach to boosting practice opportunities is to select a dozen or so core words to focus on each month. Throughout the month, we can then pay special attention to that small group of words by highlighting them with focused language stimulation, aided language input, and specific activities designed to teach or practice those words. In previous years, we shared lists of some core words to help you do just that, and every month we share some ideas for prioritizing a small set of words. You can use these materials to remind yourself which words to highlight this month using aided language input and focused language stimulation. What else? Here are some ideas to get you started. Print them... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
January 25, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
It’s prAACtically February and that means we’re preparing new lessons, materials, and activities for another set of high-frequency words. We welcome back guest authors Michaela Sullivan, Alisa Lego, and Beth Lytle with their latest post in the School Year of Core Vocabulary Words series which focuses on a selected set of words to highlight for the month along. This month, they highlight an important intervention strategy, recasting, that we use to facilitate language development. Also, be sure to check out the helpful Activity Packets, containing sheets on highlighting these words in a variety of activities, and Data Collection Forms. If you are new to this series, you may want to review the introduction that our series authors created before delving into this month’s target words. You can see the guest authors’ overview here. You can also review the first 6 months of the School Year of Core Vocabulary Words using... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
January 24, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We’re so glad that you’re here to check out some posts from the past week. Monday – PrAACtical Conversations: AAC Decision-making with Talking Mats Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Supporting Core Vocabulary in a Life Skills Classroom Thursday – 5 Books for AAC Professionals ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: And while you’re here, check out some of these past posts. 5 Ways to Promote Consistent AAC Use Twin Powers Unite: Teaching AAC and Sight Words Pragmatic Skill Instruction and AAC with Matthew Baud and Dr. Jill Senner Parent Collaboration in AAC Therapies PrAACtical Questions with Vicki Clarke: What’s the Role of Core Vocabulary?
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
January 21, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Reading blogs and websites is a great way to get information on practical aspects of AAC. For a deeper dive, consider digging into some of these books. Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Engagement and Participation by Erna Alant Multimodal AAC for Individuals with Down Syndrome by Krista Wilkinson and Lizbeth Finestack Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Models and Applications, 2nd Edition by Filip Loncke Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention: An Intensive, Immersive, Socially Based Service Delivery Model by Janet Dodd Tele-AAC by Nerissa Hall, Jenifer Juengling-Sudkamp, Michelle Gutmann, and Ellen Cohn Is there a book that’s made a big difference in your AAC work? Use the comments feature to share your thoughts.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
January 18, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Today, we welcome back SLT Katherine Small, an AAC Consultant at the Ace Centre, for the second in her series about working with Talking Mats. In her previous post, Katherine shared her experience in implementing Talking Mats with her clients. In this post, she discusses her role in developing a tool designed to help potential AAC users become more active participants in the decision-making process around using and selecting AAC tools. Readiness for AAC is a free resource that can be used to help explain the process of AAC evaluations and options to people with complex communication needs and engage them in sharing their thoughts and preferences. My Experience as Part of the Development of the ‘Readiness for AAC’ Talking Mats Resource When Ace Centre began a collaboration with Talking Mats to create some new mats about AAC topics I was thrilled to get to be part of the project... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC assessment, self-advocacy
January 17, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. If you enjoy talking about academics, language intervention, and AAC, I invite you to join me for “Bridging the Gap: Addressing the Academic Difficulties of Students Who Successfully Use AAC” with Dr. Gloria Soto & AAC Master Clinician Gail Van Tatenhove (more information at https://bit.ly/3qrnQp8). We also have some posts that may be of interest. Take a look. Monday – AACtual Therapy: Using Talking Mats to Support People with Complex Communication Needs Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: AAC Evaluations Thursday – PrAACtically Martin Luther King, Jr Day :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Still have an appetite for some AAC reading? These posts from the archives may be of interest. Reducing Prompt Dependence in AAC Learners: 5 Things to Try When Helping Isn’t Helping: Prompt Awareness in AAC Instruction 5 Things to Consider About Prompts in Teaching AAC Creating AAC Implementation Plans Using AAC to Repair Communication... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
January 14, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
It’s a good day to expand our resource toolkit. Here are some links to explore if you’re looking to integrate AAC and language learning with content about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King Jr Song (Video) Martin Luther King Jr BrainPop Video & Activities Martin Luther King Jr Reader Make a Mini Book: Martin Luther King Jr Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Mini Unit Martin Luther King Jr Close Reading Comprehension Passages Martin Luther King Jr Flipbook Martin Luther King Jr Activities on Google Slides I Have a Dream Activity & Printable Martin Luther King Jr Acts of Kindness and Justice Martin Luther King Jr: Venn Diagram: Great for practice of core and fringe vocabulary, as well as information-giving (e.g., name, birthday) and comparing/contrasting Martin Luther King Jr I Have a Dream Speech: Wonderful for older learners and those focused on Tier 2 vocabulary, more complex sentences, main idea,... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking