PrAACtically August – AAC Resources for A Year of Core Vocabulary Words: The Learn-at-Home Edition

Well this is certainly shaping up to be a strange summer. Here in Florida, lots of professionals and families are starting to think about heading back to school whether it is virtual learning or going back into the classroom. Teachers, therapists, and aides play a pivotal role in helping AAC learners develop skills with core vocabulary so that they have a body of words that can be used across activities, environments, and communication partners.

There are lots of ‘right’ ways to support these students. Among them is an instructional approach in which a new set of core words is introduced every few weeks in order to build their experiences with AAC. Our Year of Core Words materials has two versions, Set 1 (12 words/month) and Set 2 (16 words/month; Different than the previous year’s core words). If you’ve been following along, or are just getting started, these resources may be of interest.

Set 1 Words: any, bring, day, fall, give, hot, job, know, other, sick, sorry, together

Set 2 Words: aide, animal, clothes, finger, from, leg, only, must, night, pick, room, stay, still, town, white, woman

1. Templates for you to plug in your own symbols: Set 1 words, Set 2 words
2. Minspeak/Unity version: Set 1 words
3. PCS versions: Set 2 words
4. Lesson Pix: Set 1 words 
5. Smarty Symbols: Set 1 words, Set 2 words
6. Symbol Stix: Set 1 words
7. CoughDrop: Set 1 words; Set 2 words
8. WordPower Set 1 words: Set 1 (Note: This is a large file that contains the resources for several versions of WordPower)
9. Speak for Yourself: Set 1 and Set 2 Words
10. Unidad English 84 or 36: Set 1 words, Set 2 words

Model them in sentences like these:

Reading is a great way to get in some additional core word modeling and practice. Here are some book suggestions for Set 1 Words:

• A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead: any, bring, day, give, job, know, other, sick, together
• Jamaica’s Blue Marker by Juanita Haverhill: any, bring, give, know, other, sorry, together
• Mouse Says ‘Sorry’ by Michael Dah: fall, give, hot, other, sorry, together
• Sheila Rae, The Brave by Kevin Henkes: any, day, fall, hot, know, other
• The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett: any, day, fall, give, know, sorry, together
• The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires: any, bring, day, know, other, together

If you’ve moved on to focusing on Set 2 words, these books may be helpful.

• Hiromi’s Hands by Lynne Barasch: aide, finger, from, only, pick, woman
• In a Blue Room by Jim Averbeck:  animal, clothes, night, room, still, white
• Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell: animal, leg, only, stay, white, woman
• Miss Rumphius by  Barbara Cooney: from, must, only, pick, still, town, woman
• Summer Days and Nights by Wong Herbert Yee: animal, clothes, leg, night, still
• The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes: clothes, finger, from, leg, must, only, pick, room, woman
• The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin: aide, clothes, from, still, woman
• White Socks Only by Evelyn Coleman: clothes, leg, must, only, still, town, white, woman

• Everyday: Check the calendar (below) and complete the activity of the day.
• Monday
  • Find pictures of things that are FALLing. Make a picture collage or talking photo.
  • Let’s head to Mars! What OTHER places would you like to visit some DAY?
  • Read a book from the list above.
  • Animal Virtual Visitation DAY! Check in on the giraffes and talk about what you KNOW about them.
• Tuesday
  • What different JOBs do you know about? Brainstorm, then build a word cloud.
  • Field Trip DAY! Let’s explore Oklahoma’s wild side! What would you BRING if you were taking a trip there?
  • Read a book from the list above.
  • Relax with some calming sounds or music. Then talk about OTHER things you can do to relax.
• Wednesday
  • Browse through a magazine. Make a list of things you would GIVE someone as a gift.
  • Enjoy virtual circle time and find out about people with helping JOBs in your community.
  • Read a book from the list above.
  • Animal Virtual Visitation DAY! What do cheetah cubs do during the DAY?
• Thursday
  • What are some things that you want to KNOW? Brainstorm, then build a word cloud.
  • Make a simple recipe.
  • Read a book from the list above.
  • Field Trip DAY! Let’s go to the Boston Children’s Museum for a virtual visit and find ANY fun things that you’d like to explore.
• Friday
  • Animal Virtual Visitation Day! Take a peek at the meerkats and see if they are DOWN in their holes.
  • Read a book from the list above.
  • Don’t FALL! Today we’re visiting the Great Wall of China. Who do you want to BRING with you?
• Saturday
  • Take a walk or play in the yard if conditions permit.
  • Make art
  • Field Trip DAY! Do you KNOW how museums are built? Let’s see how they are progressing with the construction of the Statue of Liberty Museum.
  • Read a book from the list above.
  • Video chat with a friend or family member and have a catch-up conversation
• Sunday
  • Get out the art supplies to draw and paint.
  • Read a book from the list above.
  • Let’s go back in time. What do you want to KNOW about Ancient Egypt? What OTHER places would you visit if you could turn back time?

Looking for more ideas? Check out Rachael Langley’s calendar for August Set 1 words here. Note: This is a perpetual calendar designed to be used year after year. Just add the dates for the current year and you are good to go (e.g., in 2020 August 1 is on Saturday).

Have you moved on to the Set 2 words? If so, you’ll want to look at Rachael’s calendar for those words (download here).

Much appreciation to Brian Whitmer, Nancy Inman, Lisa Timm, Eric Sailers, Rachael Langley, Kathryn Dorney, Barbara Fernandez, Bill and Lori Binko, Heidi LoStracco, Alison Wade, Russell Cross, Gail Van Tatenhove, and all the others who contributed these resources.