PrAACtically Reading: Over in the Garden with Karen Natoci

Karen Natoci is back with another wonderful book and plenty of ideas for AAC implementation. Enjoy!

Book:  Over in the Garden, by Jennifer Ward, Illustrated by Kenneth J. Spengler

Core Vocabulary focus: LOOK, IT, LIKE, NOT LIKE, IN, UH-OH OR OOPS.

Literacy Level:  Emergent

COMMUNICATION Matrix Level:  I-VII

Four Block focus:  Shared Reading and Working with Words (at the alphabet/rhyme level)

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It is spring at our school in Michigan and everything is green and the plants are beginning to grow, fast!  I couldn’t wait to share my favorite book to sing:  Over in the Garden! We found the nearest plant, gathered a few plastic bugs, adapted the book with some cut out fringe words (each type of bug) and I sang into the microphone!  I decided to sing the book and play with sustaining certain words as you will see in this very short video.  The rhythm, rhyme and melody all served to increase engagement with these emergent literacy learners.    We read the story and paused at the end of the page to look at the plastic bug and place it in the garden. Each child had an opportunity to place the bug IN the garden!  After we finished the story, each student took turns using their communication systems to indicate whether or not they liked the story and to select their favorite bug. In one case, we darkened the background of the PODD 9-expanded to accommodate a vision and attention challenge.  Some students preferred using objects to indicate their favorite bug while other students were comfortable using their Go Talks or choice boards.  Two of the students in the classroom used partner assisted scanning to choose their favorite bug.

Click on the image below or here for the lesson plan.