1058 Search Results for Core
June 30, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
We’re ready to tear another page off the calendar and head into July, which means a new group of core words to focus on. The plan is to highlight a different set of core words each month to help our AAC learners grow their expressive vocabularies. Whether you are following along with the 2013 Year of Core (12 words/month) or the 2014 A(nother) Year of Core: (16 words/month; Different than the previous year’s core words), or just getting started, here are some helpful resources. Our July words are listed below. 2013 Words: and, before, color, find, is, later, love, much, ready, same, they, with 2014 Words: black, bottom, cut, face, foot, grandfather, high, maybe, morning, one, really, share, something, then, wear, weather Templates for you to plug in your own symbols: 2013 words, 2014 words Minspeak/Unity version: 2013 words PCS versions: 2013 words Symbol Stix version: 2013 words What can... [Read More...]
June 15, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Although summer is just beginning, many SLPs in our region are already thinking about the next school year. If you are trying to increase classroom use of AAC, you will want to check out the core vocabulary resources developed by Tabi Jones-Wohleber. Tabi is a Maryland-based SLP who works on the Frederick County Public Schools AT Team. You can view her earlier post (and accompanying downloads) here. In this post, Tabi shares her wonderful Communication Opportunities Ready to Engineer (CORE) book and explains how she uses these materials. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Classroom CORE (Communication Opportunities Ready to Engineer) Book: When posed with the question “How can I use core more?” by a group of teachers inspired to make communication a priority, I was thrilled to be part of a team motivated to investigate this exciting question. These talented Rock Creek School educators teach a diverse population of students with all manner of physical,... [Read More...]
June 3, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
The Dynamic Learning Maps Professional Development Team, headed by Dr. Karen Erickson, put together a wonderful video to introduce professionals and families to the concept of core vocabulary. This is a great resource to use to introduce team members to key concepts in core vocabulary and the instructional strategies that support students in learning to use it. Take a look. Direct Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryda0ViRekU&feature=youtu.be
June 1, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Ice cream, watermelon, and camping! It must be prAACtically summer vacation. We are so grateful to Rachael Langley for continuing to share these monthly calendars with ideas for targeting core words from our Year of Core Vocabulary series. You can get Rachael’s June calendar by clicking on the image below. Happy almost summer!
May 28, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
It’s prAACtically June and that means we are preparing for a new set of core words to focus on. Join us in highlighting a set of core words for the month and helping our AAC learners become more fluent in using them on a day-to-day basis. Whether you are following along with the 2013 Year of Core (12 words/month) or the 2014 A(nother) Year of Core: (16 words/month; Different than the previous year’s core words), or just getting started, the resources linked in this post may be helpful. Our June words are listed below. 2013 List: after, am/be/is, because, can, cold, fast, fun, have, hungry, let, need, talk 2014 List: about, back, buy, grandmother, hand, inside, lose, move, okay, people, quiet, short, show, two, water, yellow Resources Templates for you to plug in your own symbols: 2013 words, 2014 words Minspeak/Unity version: 2013 words PCS versions: 2013 words, 2014 words Symbol... [Read More...]
May 4, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
It is hard to believe that April is behind us and that we are now focusing on new set of core words for May. Whether you are following along with the 2013 Year of Core (12 words/month) or the 2014 A(nother) Year of Core (16 words/month; Different than the previous year’s core words), or just getting started, here are some helpful resources. Our words for this month are as follows. 2013 List: all, down, good, little, my, question, sad, she, turn, up, who, why 2014 List: bathroom, car, child, confused, green, hard, how much, man, mean, never, part, remember, sister, so, today, us A great many thanks to our colleagues Russell Cross, Gail Van Tatenhove, Allison Wade, Heidi LoStracco, and all the others who have contributed to this effort. Templates for you to plug in your own symbols: 2013 words, 2014 words Minspeak/Unity version: 2013 words PCS versions: 2013 words, 2014... [Read More...]
April 28, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Michigan-based SLP Rachael Langely is at it again! She developed a wonderful calendar of activities for those following along with our Year of Core Words. In addition, she provided some sample sentences that can be modeled, using Touch Chat as an example for the staff in classrooms that she supports. Enjoy! May Calendar (Click on the image to download) Examples of Things to Model (click to download or visit the AAC eToolbox, Downloads area) Note that these are just examples, and not a sequence of sentences to teach or practice as homework.
April 20, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Working with core words? Whether or not you are following along with our Year of Core Words or using some other approach, Earth Day is the perfect time to practice those reusable, recyclable words. Last week, we talked about using our April core words (2013 List: big, busy, do, drink, feel, he, in, make, out, some, tell, who) in literacy activities. Today, we’ll talk about using them in arts and crafts activities. Let’s create with core words! Choose your craft project. A quick Pinterest search yields lots of possibilities. Consider which words to focus on. Some of the April words (do, make, out, some) work well with any craft project. Review the project through the lens of your goal: Modeling and eliciting core words. Decide how you will implement it so that the focus is the core words, not the art itself. Make an activity schedule showing the steps for... [Read More...]
April 13, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Core Words for the Month (2013 List): big, busy, do, drink, feel, he, in, make, out, some, tell, who By definition, core words are useful in any situation, with any topic and any communication partner. They are the perfect words for Earth Day because they are words that they we re-use and recycle. Even though it is a very minor holiday (at least in the US), most schools do a lot of thematic work around the topic, both because it ties in so beautifully with science education, but also because all kids seem to have a connection with and curiosity about the natural world. Before we knew better, SLPs would spend lots of time programming specific vocabulary into the learner’s AAC device. (I’m guilty as charged and can still remember trying to find symbols for things like trash compactor and pollution.) For learners who have good command of core vocabulary, we... [Read More...]
March 31, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
We are leaving March behind and getting ready to focus on a new set of core vocabulary words for April. Whether you are following along with the 2013 Year of Core (12 words/month) or the 2014 A(nother) Year of Core: (16 words/month; Different than the previous year’s core words), or just getting started, here are some helpful resources. Our words for this month are listed below. 2013 List: big, busy, do, drink, feel, he, in, make, out, some, tell, who 2014 List: blue, brother, close, family, head, last, long, no, old, right, scared, soft, thing, top, wash, whole You can download the blank template to add in your own symbols for each of the words or check out the ones made for a variety of AAC symbols. Templates for you to plug in your own symbols: 2013 words, 2014 words Minspeak/Unity version: 2013 PCS versions: 2013; 2014 Symbol Stix version: 2013... [Read More...]