Tag Archive: reading

Video of the Week: Aided Language Input in AACtion

June 7, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Aided Language Input in AACtion

Do you know students like these? In therapy sessions, Victor uses single words on his SGD to participate in games and activities, but doesn’t use it much during other daily experiences. Bella uses PECS quite capably at mealtimes but rarely uses it at other times during the day. Karina can use her AAC app to put together short narratives to tell about things that happened recently. Most times, though, she expresses herself with single word utterances. As therapists, teachers, and families who support people who use AAC, we do a lot of hand wringing when there is a discrepancy between what students KNOW HOW to do and what they DO do. We are perplexed and frustrated when these students have everything they need to utilize a particular skill, yet fail to do so. It’s a common concern, but here’s a question for us to ask ourselves: Don’t we do the... [Read More...]

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Using Adapted Books with AAC Learners: 3 Important Questions to Ask

April 24, 2017 by - 5 Comments

Using Adapted Books with AAC Learners: 3 Important Questions to Ask

We’re seeing a big increase in the number of families and professionals who are prioritizing literacy instruction for people with AAC needs, and that makes us VERY happy. In some cases, families, teachers, and therapists are using adapted books in their shared reading activities and making them available for self-selected reading, too. There are lots of ways to adapt books, though, and not every adaptation is appropriate for an individual who uses or is learning AAC. In this post, we talk about some of the things to consider when making decisions about adapted books. The term ‘adapted book’ refers to a book that was altered in some fashion to make it more accessible to people with disabilities. There are different ways of modifying books including: Simplifying or revising the text, Adding AAC symbols to the text, Changing the format (e.g., cutting it apart, binding it at the top, and reassembling,... [Read More...]

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Video of the Week – Twin Powers Unite: Teaching AAC and Sight Words

April 19, 2017 by - 1 Comment

Video of the Week - Twin Powers Unite: Teaching AAC and Sight Words

Having trouble getting AAC integrated throughout the classroom day? Veteran SLP Maureen Castillo took a creative approach to this common problem in the classrooms she supports. In this video, she discusses a project she created to foster AAC learning and use in the context of literacy activities. Learn how she combines the teaching of core vocabulary and Dolch sight words using aided language input, peer modeling, anchor books, and more. The video was made possible by Saltillo and is part of their free webinar series. Many thanks to Maureen and to Saltillo for making this available. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epQ3QlBg0hs

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AAC and Emergent Literacy: 5 Posts with Implementation Ideas

January 5, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts

AAC and Emergent Literacy: 5 Posts with Implementation Ideas

Looking to infuse additional activities to support the reading and writing development of the AAC learners with whom you work? Today, we’re revisiting some popular posts with helpful ideas and resources. Robust Literacy Instruction for People Who Use AAC A PrAACtical Literacy Activity for Beginning Communicators  Literacy Lessons for Beginning AAC Learner Infusing Literacy Learning Opportunities in AAC Therapies  Literacy for All: A Series of Videos by Dr. Caroline Musselwhite  Hope you find some useful tips and suggestions.

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PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: Apples

September 22, 2016 by - Leave your thoughts

PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: Apples

We are so happy to welcome back SLP Karen Natoci who graciously agreed to continue writing about how she uses interactive book reading to build language skills with beginning communicators. You can see her earlier posts in the PrAACtically Reading series here. In this post, she shares activity ideas for two books on apples. You can learn more about Karen and download her materials toward the bottom of the post.  Enjoy! ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Books:  Apples by Ken Robbins and Apples for Everyone by Jill Esbaum               Adapted and simplified Powerpoint Book Apples by Karen Natoci Core Vocabulary focus: here, in, where Additional Vocabulary focus: Body parts; red, round, yellow, green, COMMUNICATION Matrix (Rowland, 2009) Level:  I-VII (all levels!) ————————————————————————————————————————————- It is September and apple time! I chose to feature these books from which to adapt material suitable for students with complex communication needs. I have a simplified power point... [Read More...]

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PrAACtical AT Recipes for Success: Shared Reading with ‘Bark, George’

September 15, 2016 by - Leave your thoughts

Thanks to all of you who have reached out with comments about the AT Recipes for Success and the wonderful resources shared by SLP Sara Barnhill and the AT Team at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. They’ve been incredibly generous in sharing their work over the past several months. If you missed them over the summer, you can view previous posts here. As a member of the AT Core team, Sara is involved in AAC evaluations and therapy in the hospital’s clinics, out-patient program and Transitional Care Unit. CHoR’s AT Program is one of few comprehensive AT programs in Central Virginia. The program provides AT evaluations, equipment and training to people of all ages, enabling children and adults with disabilities to function more independently.  CHoR’s AT team consists of four SLPs, two OTs, one PT, and one Therapy Practice Assistant.  In addition to completing transdiciplinary evaluations and treatments, CHoR’s AT team is... [Read More...]

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Video of the Week: Reading with PODD

September 14, 2016 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Reading with PODD

Working with learners who use PODD books for communication? Never used PODD but curious about them? Today’s videos show the use of these tools in storybook reading. First, Jane Farrall lets us peek into a session in which she uses this strategy with a paper-based PODD book. Next, Betty Campbell talks about using an SGD, the Compass with PODD, to read and interact with beginning communicators.   Many thanks to Betty and Jane for creating and posting these video demonstrations.

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PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: Hello Baby

June 28, 2016 by - 1 Comment

Karen Natoci is back with some wonderful suggestions for reading and building AAC skills with young children. Although her focus is on little ones with visual impairment, these books and the implementation suggestions, would be useful for a wide range babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who are developing their language skills. Enjoy! :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Books Hello Baby Words (high contrast board books) by Roger Priddy, illustrated by Holly Jackman (Published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, NY 10010) Hello Baby Words: On The Go Hello Baby Words: Faces Hello Baby: Animals Hello Baby: Faces Core Vocabulary Focus: GO, GET, WHO, THAT, SEE, IT Fringe Vocabulary Transportation: digger, balloon, train, roller skates, helicopter, truck, car, submarine, rocket, dump truck, fire truck, boat, race car, tractor, car carrier, plane Animals: cat, turtle, fish, pig, butterfly, cow, mouse, bird, bear, zebra, rabbit, panda, penguin, dog, sheep, snake Faces:  boy, girl, woman, man, grandfather, grandmother... [Read More...]

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PrAACtical Resources: Book-related Communication Boards

June 6, 2016 by - 7 Comments

PrAACtical Resources: Book-related Communication Boards

Looking for book-specific vocabulary that you can highlight, teach, and/or elicit when reading? The Assistive Technology Team at Baltimore City Public Schools has a site with materials that you may find helpful. They’ve created topical communication boards for over 800 books, both fiction and non-fiction, that can be accessed by anyone with the Boardmaker program. Their resources include activity-based communication boards with 9, 20, and 56 locations for the books, and a set of comprehension questions. You can access their Adapted Books site here.  

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PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: The Five Senses

May 12, 2016 by - 2 Comments

PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: The Five Senses

SLP Karen Natoci has always promoted multi-sensory paths to learning. In this month’s installment of PrAACtically Reading, she dives into the topic of our senses, something that is part of many curricula used in special and general education. You can read about her ideas for implementation, see her students’ work, and download the lesson plan and supporting documents in this engaging post. Happy reading! ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::; PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: The Five Senses Book Series: For students at the emergent reading level: The Five Senses: Touching, by Rebecca Rissman The Five Senses: Smelling, By Rebecca Rissman The Five Senses: Hearing, by Rebecca Rissman The Five Senses:  Seeing, by Rebecca Rissman The Five Senses: Tasting, by Rebecca Rissman For learners at the Conventional Reading Level: Hearing, by Sharon Gordon Smelling, by Sharon Gordon Seeing, by Sharon Gordon Touching, by Sharon Gordon Core vocabulary focus: LOOK, SEE, TOUCH, LISTEN/HEAR, GET, THAT, MORE, MY/MINE,... [Read More...]

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