The beginning of a new week means it is time for a new Core Word!
With 36 sessions of speech and language content, my Core Word Programme covers the 40 first core words that a neurotypical child would learn. Designed by myself, it is tailored to how Gestalt Language Processors and neurodiverse children learn best.
Each weekly session includes links to Attention Autism planning, sensory story suggestions, phrase examples, interactive games and more.
The programme includes three different symbol languages, so whether you use Board Maker, Symbolstix or Widget, it is suitable for all. The sessions are completely flexible and adaptable to any communication method or classroom needs so that your learners can get the most from the content.
The sessions are delivered in 9 fun, interactive sections, which can be covered all at once or separately, whatever works for your schedule and your learners.
My sensory learners are on week 26 of the core word content and will be learning all about “Don’t”.
“Don’t” is a powerful word that helps our learners to express their preferences, set boundaries and have autonomy. Whether it’s “Don’t touch,” “I don’t like that,” or “Don’t go!”, this word is key for self-advocacy and independence.
When starting on a new core word, the activities are split into saying, finding, hearing, watching, playing, reading, learning, practising and writing that word.
My learners start by saying it. Depending on their preferred methods of communication, this could be finding it on an AAC device (high tech or low tech), learning the Makaton, using sound buttons or any other methods of communication.
Once we have practised communicating it, we move on to hearing and watching it with the included film, TV and music clips that feature 'don't'. This activity is always a favourite in my classrooms!
My learners will then take it in turn to pick one to watch or listen to, and as it plays, the adults in the room model the word by saying, signing, showing the symbol or finding it on an AAC device. This is a fab way of embedding the core word whilst the children are doing an activity that they enjoy. This, alongside the other pre-planned tasks in the Core Word programme, suits how a Gestalt Language Processor learns literacy through whole sentences.
The fun, interactive and food-filled book that we will be reading this week is 'Don't Put Your Finger In The Jelly, Nelly!" by Nick Sharratt. This book is suited to being a sensory story as it features food that you can see, taste, smell, or feel!
After our sensory story, we will head to the group area for some play activities! There are suggestions for group activities and differentiated tasks for learners working at different levels so that all can get involved.
This week's interactive game builds on the one that we played last week, where learners heard/read "I want that" and had to give the child the item that they were asking for. This week, they will be told "I don't want that", building up their vocabulary and understanding.
Our learners may find this game tricky - they are used to matching games and activities, so when the game says "I don't want a sandwich", our children may press the sandwich. Adult modelling will help with this, and it will be worth it in the long run as it increases our students' ability to understand and communicate.
As always, there will be differentiated writing tasks which can be printed or completed online depending on the needs and wants of your learners and on the restrictions of your environment. In one of my classrooms, we complete the game on my whiteboard as a group, and in another, we complete this 1:1 on iPads.
If you think your learners would benefit from learning language this way, we would love to have you join! It is always a great time to join. You can start at any time and work through the sessions, and there is a thriving private Facebook group where you can find support, tips, ideas, and community.
Check out my blog posts here to see what I've done during previous weeks of the curriculum, or my TikTok, Facebook or Instagram for lots more Core Word content.
You can buy the full programme here or access a free demo here.
Attention Autism for Core Word Week 26 - "don't"
My core word programme's weekly sessions include Attention Autism ideas for stages 1 - 4. This week in my classrooms, I'll be using the activities: bucket time, balloon, water spray bottle and teaching table. These allow me to model our core word, "don't" in a fun and interactive way.
Stage 1 - Bucket Time
I love to start with the bucket time song - it encourages attention and provides familiarity and routine for my learners.
First out of the bucket will be a screaming alien! Here, I'll demonstrate that the alien makes a noise when you pull its hair. I'll say to my learners, "Don't do it!"
Next up will be a loud sound button. Again, I'll demonstrate the noise to my class and warn them, "Don't press it!"
Last up out of the bucket is the snake in a prank tube! This silly item gives me the chance to say "Don't do it" and "Don't eat the crisps!"
Stage 2 - Balloon
After showing my learners a balloon and blowing it up, I'll say to them, "Hold it, don't let go!" Then I'll let it go and deflate in front of the class.
Stage 3 - Water spray bottle
Showing the class the water spray bottle, I'll announce, "My turn!" Saying "Don't get me wet", I'll spray myself. Then my learners can take their turn, and I'll say "Don't get me wet", and they can spray too!
Stage 4 - Teaching table
In the teaching table section, I will have my turn first and demonstrate spraying some shaving foam onto a mirror or black card. Then, I'll make marks with my fingers. It will then be my learners' turn, so they'll go off to the teaching table, with my supporting adults, to complete their independent tasks. Once complete, they will come back to the group area to show me.
In each stage of my Attention Autism session, there are multiple opportunities for modelling the core word. As we go through the activities, the other adults in the room and I will be signing, finding the word on AAC devices, pointing to symbols and saying the word. This provides a great opportunity for the children to learn whilst playing and also gives concrete, practical examples of the word in context.
To see this week's session and previous Attention Autism sessions, head to my Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
There is a year's worth of core word based Attention Autism ideas included in my Core Word Programme here. Separate from the core words, you can also get four years' worth of fun Attention Autism ideas for Stages 1-4 here.
Check out Attention Autism here. They've recently updated their training, and I highly recommend it.