If you're new to my Core Word Programme, it was designed to teach literacy in a way that suits how many Gestalt Language Processors and Autistic children learn.
The sessions are delivered in nine fun sections, which can be covered all at once or separately, depending on your schedule and the needs of your learners. Each weekly session includes play ideas, sensory story suggestions, phrase examples, interactive games and more.
The sessions are adaptable to any communication method or classroom need, so your learners can get the most from the content. The programme offers different signed and symbol languages, so whether you use Boardmaker, LAMP, Symbolstix or Widgit, ASL, AUSLAN, BSL, NZSL, Makaton, it is suitable for all.
It is also suited to specific AAC apps such as Widgit Go, Smartbox GRID, Proloquo, Proloquo2go, TouchChat, Lamp: words for life and TD SNAP. It is not essential you have high tech AAC to use the core word programme, but does work well alongside if you already use it.
You get access to all symbol languages when you sign up, so even if you have a variety of different systems or AAC used in your classroom you can meet all needs.
*if you would like a different combination of signed languages/symbol languages that isn't available please let us know and we will see what we can do
Week 12: Turn
In my sensory classroom it is week 12 of my core word programme, and our focus is on “turn.” It’s a powerful word that supports sharing, cooperation, and meaningful interaction during both play and our daily routines.
This useful word helps our learners understand how to participate in joint activities, follow social rules, and recognise the rhythm of back and forth exchanges. It can build confidence in communication, encourage participation with peers, and creates opportunities for connection throughout the day.
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Click the image above to watch my core word "Turn" session in video format and learn how I would run the programme this week.
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 sign language, using sound buttons or any other method of communication.
I bring up this section nice and big on the whiteboard with the whole team gathered around and we all practice saying it, signing it, pressing a sound button to say it and watching the signing video. We repeat this each morning as part of the introduction to our day.
Next, we find the new core word on our AAC core board. This can be done either on the printable core boards provided or your own high-tech AAC apps. This supports the learners to navigate their AAC, as well as the adults supporting them. By building up navigation week on week, it doesn't become overwhelming.
We always follow the "Say it" section with the "find it" section in my classroom, as they are so interlinked. I show the coreboard on the whiteboard and I choose a learner to try to find the core word on the board. I press "reveal" and the programme will circle the core word of the week. Next, everybody else tries to find it on their low tech printed core boards that match, adults included.
If a child has their own high tech AAC app, this is a fantastic opportunity to practice navigating to find the new core word. This could even replace this section in the core word programme if you just want to focus on the layout and look of your talking app and not confuse with a different layout, as shown in the programme.
After saying and finding it, we move on to a favourite activity in my classroom - hearing the core word through music clips. My pupils love coming up to my whiteboard and selecting which song they wish to listen to. It gives them ownership of their learning, and they are far more engaged and interested this way.
As many are gestalt language processors, it is also crucial for learning that they hear the phrase or new core word regularly in an engaging and motivating way. By watching the clips our learners can build context around the new core word. It gives it purpose and meaning. It tells them 'this is something that could be useful to me', and therefore they will be more likely to remember it and use it.
Whilst watching these sections, depending on the type of video, sometimes we use it as an opportunity for a movement break. Alternatively all of the adults use it as an opportunity to keep modelling the wide range of communication methods we are promoting in our room, by "saying" it whenever they hear it in the song or clip.
I tried hard to find a range of songs and TV clips to suit all interests and ages. If you think of any more that you feel are better than mine, please let me know!!!
These clips can be played on iPads or interactive whiteboards. The best thing about my programme is there are never any annoying YouTube adverts before the song or clips! This is a fab way of embedding the core word whilst the children are doing an activity that they enjoy. In my classroom we rarely get time to engage in this section of the programme, but it is nice to have an extra buffer activity to fall back on if needed.
The story that I will be reading with my learners this week is "It's My Turn!" by David Bedford. Featuring fun illustrations, this book follows two friends as they learn how to share in a park.
If you don't have access to the books recommended in my programme, don't worry, I have included videos of them being read so that you can still use them for your sensory story time.
Each weekly core word session includes story suggestions. These stories tend to be better for autistic and Gestalt Language Processor learners as they can hold onto the meaning of the whole phrases and use them in other contexts. Compared to traditional stories, which focus on abstract language and can be overwhelming, sensory stories provide concrete sensory experiences which may be better suited to our sensory-led children. Through stories, we can support learners to build understanding and context to put with the language they are hearing.
We then learn through downloadable weekly play ideas that reinforce our core word. These are child led play activities that help embed the core word understanding, and are presented in a fun and motivating way. Additionally, they are divided into different cognitive age groups, so that whichever stage your learners are working, there are suggestions and specific objectives for them.
I have developed a play based therapy system, called RISE therapy. I have included core word- related play session ideas that you can slot in within this section also.
Click the image below for my "Week 12: "Turn" RISE session.
Notice how I model the core word using speech and AAC, my team will also be modelling using alternate methods, i.e. signing, high tech AAC, sound buttons, symbols etc.
Here is how I am planning for the session to go:
Step 1: Regulation
We begin by focusing on regulation, connecting with our children in a calm, intentional way. To meet our learners where they are. We can offer a variety of engaging toys that naturally highlight our core word “Turn.” We can follow their lead, demonstrating taking turns, and co-regulating together.
Step 2: Invitation
Once we’ve built that connection and are co-regulated, it’s time to invite the learners into a shared activity. I show them how we can turn on the spinning seat, while gently teaching how to wait for a turn and finish safely. It’s a great chance to model expectations in a way that’s still fun and engaging.
Step 3: Shared Experience
Now we move into a shared sensory moment - side by side, doing the activity together. While each child waits for their turn on the spinning seat, we keep it engaging by playing with our sensory turning toys. It’s a relaxed, hands-on way to practice turn-taking and patience, while also reinforcing core words from past weeks like "Wait", "Stop", “Go” and “Finish.” This session can incorporate any turn-taking type activity, it doesn't have to be a spinning seat.
Step 4: Ending
We want the session to end in a gentle way for our learners. I help set a soothing tone by playing tidy-up music, using my colourful fan to make soft, turning movements, and slowly bringing in calming “turning” elements like gentle instruments and flowing ribbons. It’s all about helping everyone wind down and finish the session feeling settled and regulated.
Here is a link to my Sensory Circuit songs which I use in this section.
I usually run these sessions every afternoon for a small group or whole group activity. They also work well to complete within lunch time if you are needing a little more guided play time. It is also these activities that I use to suggest for parents to continue the core word work at home if they would like to. You can use this slip to send home.
I’d love to know if you give this session a try - feel free to share how it goes! RiseTherapySessions.com is now live and offers free information posters, planning templates, and a one-hour RISE beginners course. You’re also welcome to join our RISE Therapy Ideas Facebook group to share ideas, ask questions, and celebrate your wins.
Separate from the Core Word Programme, you can also get four years' worth of fun learning through play ideas, linked to twelve popular topics, within my Sensory Curriculum. You’ll find more play ideas here.
Next, I've got teaching table task planning ideas for our practise it section. There are differentiated table tasks, so that wherever your learners are working, there will be something for them. This is a more 1:1* intervention teaching opportunity for the teaching staff to continue to work on the core word understanding in a more individualised way. This is also a great opportunity to assess individual understanding.
Some weeks include printable worksheets or games to complete. Other times it is using tangible resources. Make sure to look at this section ahead of time to ensure you have everything you need to hand.
I like to display the work produced in these sessions, then send them home at the end of the week. This keeps parents/carers informed of progress and reminds them to try it at home. It also tells our learners that we are proud of them.
*if 1:1 isn't possible these activities work perfectly well in small table groups.
Included each week are fun games. This week, my learners take it in "turn" to have a go at drawing. This game is fab as it is completely error free, they just need to practice waiting for their go, and then make a mark on the screen.
These games allow our children to learn without even realising it, and give us supporting adults a useful chance to assess their learning. These games can be accessed on a whiteboard or tablet, depending on your set up. I have used it both ways and both work well. On the IPad, I used it as an extension to my "practise it" table session once all other tasks were complete. On the whiteboard, we used it as a turn taking activity after reintroducing the word each day.
Lastly, we have the write it section with the included writing tasks. These can be completed on iPads, on whiteboards, or printed out for mark-making. Again, there are differentiated options depending on the stage that your learners are working at, and these can be completed as a group, modelling turn-taking, or individually.
I seem to pair this session with whichever session is most similar, ie if you plan to use a whiteboard then this would fit well before or after the "play it", "say it" or "hear it" sections. If you plan to use the printed sheets then having those alongside the "practise it" section would work better. We do both in my room.
I love that about this programme, it really is flexible to suit your needs.
Core word community
In this section I will be sharing Core Word Programme users great achievements, reviews and celebrations! To join in, please use #CoreWordOfTheWeek or post reviews/achievements/photos etc the Core Word Programme Users Facebook group.
Jenny has shared with us her win of the week, an absolutely incredible example of a learner beginning to talk.
Please keep your examples of wins, progress and celebrations coming, we love to see them!
All celebrations chosen to be shared will get access to a one-time-use discount code of 20% off of any digital products and there is also a monthly top prize awarded to one person, which is a £15 gift voucher for the sensory classroom site.
Top winner announced at the end of each month.
All prize winners will be messaged their prize discount code at the end of each week.
**it can be whatever core word you are or have worked on! It doesn’t have to correlate to what week we’re on!**
I cannot wait for this community to continue to support, celebrate and inspire, as we start this new year together ♥️
*when using the # or when sharing to here we are taking that as permission to share on our channels.
Not a core word programme user yet?
If you think your learners would benefit from learning language this way, we would love to have you join! You can start at any time and work through the sessions at your own pace, and there is a thriving private Facebook group where you can find support, tips, ideas, and community.
Check out my other blog posts here or my TikTok, YouTube, Facebook or Instagram for lots more Core Word content. I also have a podcast that you can listen to here. You can buy the Core Word Programme by tapping the image below. To access the free trial, click here.
