Core Word Week 9 - You

Core Word Week 9 - You

Welcome back to my Core Word of the Week Programme!

This week, the focus is on the core word “You”—a powerful pronoun that can be fundamental to social interactions and communication.

Whether it’s encouraging participation, asking questions, or showing interest in someone else, “You” opens the door to richer, more interactive conversations. Let’s explore how I'm bringing “You” to life in the classroom this week!

If you're new to my core word curriculum, it's 36 sessions of speech and language content that I have designed specifically for the Gestalt Language Processors and pre/non verbal children in your care.

Each session includes links to Makaton sign videos, sensory story suggestions, classroom activities, Attention Autism planning, phrase examples, writing tasks (online and printable), interactive games, links to music and TV clips of the core word in action.

The sessions are completely adaptable to any communication method, whether that's signing, speech, symbols, AAC devices or others, you can start the sessions at any time, and there's a thriving private Facebook group of users ready.

This simple, colourful book features the core word frequently, allowing a fun and engaging way for your learners to see the word being modelled. Included in the core word programme are more sensory story suggestions.

 

  • In my interactive game this week, my learners are asked to "draw you", and get the chance to draw themselves, a fun way to practice using the word in context.

  • There are links included to TV, film and song clips that model and demonstrate "you".

  • There are writing tasks which can be completed either on a tablet device, laptop, whiteboard, or can be printed. There are different versions of the writing task so that you can pick the right one for your learners, depending on the level that they are working at.
  • Classroom activities, phrase examples and Attention Autism sessions are also included, offering a variety of engaging and fun methods to model and teach the core word "you".

My core word programme covers 40 core word for meaningful communication, split across 36 sessions which fit perfectly in an academic year. It is always a great time to start and I have plenty of content to help you along the way.

Check out my blog posts here to see what I've done for previous weeks of the curriculum, or my TikTok, Facebook or Instagram for lots more Core Word content.

You can buy the full programme, or individual sessions. If you'd like to try before you buy, and see whether the programme could work for your learners, you can access a free demo here.

I’d love to hear how you’re using “You” with your learners! Whether it’s during playtime, storytelling, or everyday conversations, at home or in the classroom, join the conversation and let me know.

Attention Autism for Core Word Week 9 - "You"

I created a three stage Attention Autism session for the core word “you” to use daily. This enables the children to observe and practise this new word in a safe and predictable session.

Stage 1

The first item inside the bucket was an air pump. With this, I modelled "squirt you!" around my group of learners. Continuing bucket time stage 1, next up was a big red foam finger. This allowed me to repeatedly point at everyone in the classroom, saying "you!" Last up for bucket time was a water spray bottle. Whilst spraying the bottle, I said "spray you", "spray you" and "you are wet". 

Stage 2 

Next up, was the activity "You are____". Here, I use a large mirror to show my learners their faces, and comment on their expressions, such as "Happy, you are happy" "Silly, a silly face, you are feeling silly". I make sure to spend time letting them all look at themselves in the mirror, to really demonstrate the concept of "you". We have had so many great expressions through this stage 2 activity!

Stage 3 

Lastly in this week’s Attention Autism session was the activity "Hat on" song. From a box of fun hats, I choose and wear a hat, "Jordan is wearing a hat!". Singing “Jordan’s got the hat on!” song. After each turn, I say "Your turn!" to my learners, and they get to pick and wear a hat. 

As well as modelling "You", these fun and interactive activities allow my learners to practice turn-taking. 

You can see me demonstrating these stages here, here, and here, and find lots more Attention Autism ideas on my Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.  

Do you use Attention Autism techniques for your learners? How are you modelling "you"? Join in the conversation and let me know below!

There are a years worth of core word based attention autism ideas included in the core word programme, which can be found here. 

You can also get four years worth of fun attention autism ideas for Stages 1-4  (separate to the core words) here.  

Check out Attention Autism here, they've just updated their training and I really recommend it.

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