Tag Archive: core vocabulary
July 5, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Summer is a great time to prepare materials for the busy year ahead. Next week, we launch a new series, Make It Monday, to help you do just that. We’ll focus on creating one thing at a time so that you’re ready to start the school year with an ample supply of core vocabulary resources that you can use in therapy, instruction, and informal conversation. Later in the series, we’ll be making individual and classroom communication boards and instructional materials. For now, though, we’ll spend some time getting organized and prepared. Before you make the investment of time and resources, it helps to make a few key clinical/educational decisions. This will keep us from wasting color ink, laminating pouches, velcro, and, most of all, time. Here are the things to think about before you begin. Symbols In order to make AAC materials, you’ll need to decide on how language is... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: core vocabulary
May 4, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
How can we boost the frequency of core vocabulary use across environments? Planning those opportunities and teaching experiences is a big part of that process, both for those new to this approach and those who’ve been doing it for awhile. In this week’s featured video, Gail Van Tatenhove offers ideas for how to structure this so that it is feasible and successful. Thanks to Prentke Romich Deutschland for making ‘Core Counts’ available. Direct link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-xfv3VpvAg
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: core vocabulary, intervention, teaching strategies
May 2, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Mother’s Day and prom pictures IEPs and graduation ceremonies Tulips, daffodils, and violets It must be May, and that means it’s time for a new set of core words to model, elicit, and practice. In this post, we have a number of resources and an announcement (scroll to the bottom) for those who’ve tried their hand at implementation. Thanks to all who’ve reached out with questions, comments, and words of appreciation for the Year of Core Vocabulary series. Here are some helpful resources for those who are using the words in Set 1 ( 2013 Year of Core Words) or Set 2 (Another Year of Core Words). If you are contemplating this approach, feel free to jump in at any time. The best time to start (or re-start) is right now. Don’t worry about retracing steps, or not ‘doing it right.’ The best way to get better at core vocabulary... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: core vocabulary, download, resource
March 14, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Today we launch a new series, PrAACtical Teaching in an ASD Classroom, which will address the nuts and bolts of infusing AAC throughout the school day. I couldn’t be more delighted to introduce you to two talented special educators, Amy Devin and Lauren Pawlowski, who work in the public school system in Michigan. Amy and Lauren began teaching in self‐contained ASD elementary classrooms in 2009 and taught in resource rooms prior to that. When they first started with their own classrooms, there was not much talk about core language, let alone how to implement it on a classroom-wide basis. They started with a 32-cell core board on a digitized speech device and now use a 64-location core vocabulary on a manual communication board, large instructional core boards, and individual AAC devices. They are passionate literacy teachers and believe that every child can read, write and communicate. Enjoy their post and... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: classroom, core vocabulary, group, school
January 28, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Are you looking for some ways to help your AAC learners become more fluent in using core vocabulary? 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. You can learn more about that in the posts linked below. Set 1 (2013: 12 words/month) Set 2 (2014: 16 words/month) It’s been a busy January, and now it’s time to prepare the next set of core vocabulary words. Our words for February are listed below. Set 1: again, eat, get, go, happy, here, look, I/me, on, play, put, this Set... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: A Year of Core Words, core vocabulary, download
December 29, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Taking down the Christmas tree Chilling a bottle of champagne Reflecting on New Year’s resolutions Is it really possible that, in another few days, we’ll be saying goodbye to 2015? As we welcome another prAACtical year, it’s time to start preparing the materials we’ll need to model and teach core words to our AAC learners. Next week, we’ll talk more about the instructional methods to use with these materials. For now, though, our focus is on getting the word cards and other materials for the Year of Words (Set 1/2013; Set 2/2014) ready to use with the AAC learners in our lives. Thanks to the kindness of PrAACtical AAC readers we have posts with a variety of resources: Minspeak/Unity version: Set 1/2013 PCS versions: Set 1/2013 , Set 2/2014 Speak for Yourself version: Set 2/2014 SymbolStix version: Set 1/2013 Lesson Pix: Set1/2013 We are so appreciative for the support of... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: core vocabulary, Year of Core Words
December 8, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Many of our AAC learners struggle with vision issues which makes it a challenge for us to create effective communication and visual supports. So when SLP Rachael Langley offered to share her high contrast core vocabulary, we jumped at the chance. You can download her board here. Thank you, Rachael!
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: core vocabulary, download, Rachael Langley, resources, visual impairment
October 30, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for some ways to help your AAC learners become more competent in using core words? Need to get staff on board with modeling core vocabulary? Trying to get familiar with where core words are stored in a particular SGD or AAC app? Here’s an approach you may want to try: Choose a dozen or so core words to focus on each month. In previous years, we shared lists of some core words to help you do just that. 2013: A Year of Core (12 words/month 2014: A(nother) Year of Core (16 words/month; Note: These are different than the core words covered in 2013) Those posts have links to downloadable grids with the core words for each month that can be used as a focal point for lesson planning. Our words for November are listed below. Set 1 (2013): body, dress, full, guess, hi, live, maybe, one, ride, tired very, walk... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: core vocabulary, download
October 7, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Last month, we featured some wonderful videos from a project of the Angelman Syndrome Foundation that is a great starting point for anyone preparing to implement robust AAC for the first time (you can see that here). Today, we return to the ASF Communication Training Series to get an overview of key constructs in core vocabulary. SLP Maureen Nevers helps us understand the role of core vocabulary in AAC systems and instructional plans (such as IEPs). Even if you are familiar with core vocabulary, this video addresses issues that will support implementation. Many, many thanks to the ASF and the Foster Family Charitable Foundation for the support the provided to create this video and for making it available to all of us.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Angelman Syndrome Foundation, ASF, core vocabulary, Maureen Nevers
September 29, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for a way to connect with families to encourage modeling of AAC at home? If your learners have AAC systems that are rich in core vocabulary, this calendar by Rachael Langley may be just the ticket. Each day has a suggestion for things to do or say that build experience with our October core words. Click on the image to get a version you can download. BIG thanks to Rachael for creating these each month and allowing us to share them on PrAACtical AAC.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: A Year of Core Words, core vocabulary, Rachael Langley