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

It’s almost July and that gives us an opportunity to turn our attention to an additional set of core vocabulary. Do you know anyone who has access to AAC tools but doesn’t yet use them throughout the day?

• Keiran has a new AAC app that is well-populated with core vocabulary.
• Gabbie has had an SGD for a while but doesn’t use it as frequently as her team had hoped.
• Hudson is transitioning from PECS to an AAC device with more robust language.

While different in many ways, each of these learners has a common need: frequent opportunities to learn about and use core vocabulary. To accomplish this, their SLPs, teachers, and families select a dozen or so core words and pay special attention to those each month. That allows them to highlight this small group of words using focused language stimulation, aided language input, and specific activities designed to teach or practice them. In previous years, we shared lists of some core words to help you do just that.   

• Set 1 (A Year of Core) (12 words/month)
• Set 2 (Another Year of Core) (16 words/month)

In today’s post, we share resources for the July words, which are listed below.

• Set 1 Words: and, before, color, find, is, later, love, much, ready, same, they, with
• Set 2 Words: black, bottom, cut, face, foot, grandfather, high, maybe, morning, one, really, share, something, then, wear, weather

The power of core words is that we can use them all throughout the day. Here are some activity ideas to get you started. 

• Everyday: Check the calendar (below) and complete the activity of the day.
• Monday: Head to the zoo ‘with’ Mr. Clay. Sing along with a video featuring the word ‘love.’ Read a book from the list below. Take a walk or play in the yard if conditions permit. Make a simple recipe.
• Tuesday: Explore this underwater world to see what you can ‘find.’ Do a language experience survey. Play with shaving cream. Play ball. Sing along with a video featuring the word ‘find.’
• Wednesday: Make art. Read a book from the list below. Make an avatar. Sing along with a video featuring the word ‘same.’
• Thursday: Create a picture collage or talking photo. Sing along with a video featuring the word ‘is.’ Video chat with a friend or family member and have a catch-up conversation. Tune in to an animal webcam and tell others about it.
• Friday: Read a book from the list below. Use online storytelling tools like Tellagami to share your experiences with others. Watch a video about a rainbow of ‘colors.‘ Make your own online comic strip. Go on a virtual field trip to ‘find’ lots of dinosaurs.
• Saturday: Build a word cloud. Browse through a magazine. Get out some puzzles. Help Mr. Clay ‘with’ his garden & all his tools.
• Sunday: Play ‘with’ mermaids & more! Do some scrapbooking. Play with toy cars and bubbles. Read a book from the list below.  Make a rainbow with lots of ‘colors’.

We have a lot of materials to help you in modeling these core words. These resources are available thanks to the generosity of Brian Whitmer, Lisa Timm, Nancy Inman, Bill and Lori Binko, Heidi LoStracco, Alison Wade, Russell Cross, Gail Van Tatenhove, Eric Sailers, Rachael Langley, Amy Bradford, and others. Our thanks to all of you for your collegiality and generosity.

Templates for you to plug in your own symbols: Set 1 words, Set 2 words

• Minspeak/Unity version: Set 1 words
• PCS versions: Set 1 words; Set 2
• Symbol Stix version: Set 1 words
• Lesson Pix: Set 1 Words
• WordPower: Set 1 Words (Note that this contains all the files for several versions of WordPower for both SymbolStix and PCS)
• Speak for Yourself: Set 1 and Set 2 Words
• Unidad English 84 or 36: Set 1 words, Set 2 words
• CoughDrop: Set 1 words; Set 2 words
• WordPower:
  • Set 1 words 
  • Set 2 Words in Symbol Stix and PCS 
  • Note: These are large files that have sets for different versions of WordPower.

One of the most popular features of the core word resource posts is Rachael Langley’s monthly calendar of ideas. This perpetual calendar is ready for you to pencil in the dates and start practicing this month’s core words.

These are from prior years so the dates won’t match up, but the ideas are still terrific. You’ll have a great time exploring the fun suggestions she has for the July Set 2 words (download printable version here).

Looking for ideas for Set 1 words? You can see Rachael’s previous calendar of suggestions here.

Don’t forget to practice these words individually and in phrases/sentences. Amy Bradford has some ideas to get us started.

Remember, core isn’t the only vocabulary that most AAC learners need, but it can play a big role in helping them communicate across activities and environments. Happy teaching!