Tag Archive: resource
June 5, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for a quick, easy-to-read resource to supplement your AAC trainings with colleagues and families? In today’s post we share a flipbook-style handout that might come in handy. It covers basic tips under these headings: AAC Near Me (See me, see my AAC) Speak AAC (Aided language input) Speaking Style (Descriptive talking) Expectations (Setting the bar high) Support (AAC facilitation strategies) FAQs (Q & A about implementation) Top 10 Tips You can download the file here. Edited: This was translated into Spanish as part of the Hablando PráctiCAAmente project, coordinated by Deanna Wagner. Dianna Angeles was the translator and Claudia Marimón assisted with the editing. You can access the Spanish edition here. Enjoy!
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: handout, inservice, resource, Training
September 26, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
One of the most incredible things about the families and professionals who work in the field of AAC is their willingness to share the materials they create. In this post, we link to some of those wonderful sites where you can go to peruse and use AAC materials for communication, therapy, and classroom instruction. Kudos to all the companies and individuals who work so hard to make this collegiality possible! Speaking of Speech Materials Exchange (AAC) Lesson Pix Sharing Center Boardmaker Online CoughDrop Publicly-shared Boards Smarty Symbols Activity Library We’re just getting started and ready to expand this list in future posts. Do you have favorite places to go for sharing AAC materials? Let us know so we can continue to develop this list.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: download, resource, sharing
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
April 1, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
April showers bring May flowers…and a new set of core words for us to highlight. Whether you are following along with the Set 1 (2013) (12 words/month) or the Set 2 (2014) words (16 words/month; Different than the previous year’s core words), or are just getting started, this post has some helpful resources. Many, many thanks to Tina Lombardi, Russell Cross, Gail Van Tatenhove, Allison Wade, Eric Sailers, Bill and Lori Binko, Heidi LoStracco, Rachael Langley, and all the others who have contributed to this effort. Our words for this month are as follows. Set 1 (2013) List: big, busy, do, drink, feel, he, in, make, out, some, tell, who Set 2 (2014) List: blue, brother, close, family, head, last, long, no, old, right, scared, soft, thing, top, wash, whole Here are some resources to help with implementation. Templates for you to plug in your own symbols: Set 1words, Set 2 words Minspeak/Unity version:... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: download, resource, Year of Core Vocabulary
July 2, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
One of our prAACtical friends will be getting an AAC device soon, so it got us thinking about customizing the SGD with vocabulary that he will want to learn and use. Core words are central, for most people who use AAC, but we always want to include the words that help them express very specific and personal experiences. There are several checklists and questionnaires floating around that can help identify the fringe vocabulary. Here are two of our favorites. Young children: AAC Team at Penn State University. School-aged Students: Lauren Enders and Laurie McGowan Do you have a vocabulary selection checklist or form that you like to use? We’d love to hear about it.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: form, resource, vocabulary checklist, vocabulary selection
May 20, 2014
by Robin Parker -
Learn all about the TouchChat apps. There are a range of great options with the TouchChat Suite of apps. Keep calm and learn on with these great resources. TouchChat Introduction Video TouchChat Manual and Quick Reference Guide Spanish TouchChat User’s Guide TouchChat Editor (for programming on computer that runs Windows) Where to Go for Help (see Support Topics on right side), blog, email, and newsletter
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC app, resource
November 3, 2013
by Robin Parker -
Need some help with core vocabulary teaching? Check out The Core Vocabulary Classroom Kit by Gail Van Tatenhove. Really awesome visual supports to go with core word teaching and active learning. *There is a fee for this kit. However, Gail Van Tatenhove also has many free resources on her website and on Minspeak’s website. **We receive no financial benefit from this product. We just think it is a great resource.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Core Word Vocabulary, Gail Van Tatenhove, resource
September 24, 2013
by Robin Parker -
More core word prAACtice ideas. To make core word prAACtice most successful, make sure everyone has access to a core word AAC display and you have some clearly defined communication goals. Then select activities that encourage social interaction, have a shared focus, and are mostly about the process of learning. Build in lots of communication opportunities to use specific target words for both you and the learner. For October, meaningful communication and language activities can include art projects, costume parties with photo’s, gardening/planting, and music/concerts. October has so many great options for fun socially motivating activities that all you have to do is go have fun and model on. OCTOBER WORDS another “another turn” “have another one” “we need another surprise” “We hope he does another song for us” change “change clothes” “please give me change” “I need to change it for the other one” “She will change her mind... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: activity, resource
August 28, 2013
by Robin Parker -
We continue to work with core words and if you have been following our ‘Year of Core Words’, here are some ways to use the September words for preparing, playing, & reading about ‘back to school’, making new friends, cooking and eating in the fall, and for general fall/autumn activities. Create opportunities throughout the day and add some aided language modeling (ALI), repetition with variety, and meaningful language experiences, you will expand communication, language, and core word vocabulary quickly. September Core Word PrAACtice Almost almost done he almost fell they look almost the same the book was almost my favorite Calltelephone call call me now call name softly let’s call her name loud Listen listen bell listen for the music the girl needs to listen I try to listen and learn Name same name name is not that her name is pretty that name is the same but spelled differen Nice nice and soft... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: language, practice, resource
May 5, 2012
by Robin Parker -
We love when our students are kept up to date with current events. Often times, current events are not explained to students with significant communication challenges because the language surrounding the event seems “complicated” or “too high” (not actually our words but unfortunately ones we have heard). However, we know ALL our students understand some aspects of major current events because that is what everyone around is talking about (back in the day… American Idol winners or the Super Bowl, or even just the anniversary of the Titanic Tragedy). So it is great when we have access to symbol based newspapers that take complicated topics and make them more concrete and then add symbols so we do not have to do all the work. We love News- 2- You which includes various activities, levels, recipes, and even jokes. The ONLY problem with News-2-You is the price (We think it is... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: current events, resource, symbol newspaper