Welcome back to my Core Word Programme! Last week we explored "Not" and "Like", wonderful for expressing consent and preferences.
This week we are focussing on “help”. It is important that children are able to ask for help when they need it, and in this weeks programme we practice “help” through a variety of interactive and engaging activities designed specifically for the AAC users and Gestalt Language Processors in your care.
We’ve got:
Makaton videos. Students can learn the sign for “help” as well as the spoken word so that non-verbal learners are included.
Interactive, engaging games. Learners hear the people on screen asking for help, with their zips, their shoes etc, and are able to help them. This game is errorless, they can't get it wrong, and get to hear lots of example of help being requested in different situations.
Video examples from TV & music to demonstrate asking for, and giving help.
Play and activity ideas, and handwriting tasks.
Sensory story suggestions.
The book that I have chosen for my learners is a personal favourite, "A Squash and a Squeeze" by Julia Donaldson. In this book, a little old lady is asking a wise old man for help in making her house feel bigger. There are plenty of opportunities to model, sign and use your AAC or other devices to reinforce the word "help".
To keep organised, I like to keep everything that I need for each weekly core word sessions in these handy wallets.
How do your students ask for “help”?
What ways have you found to model and reinforce asking for, or giving help during the day? I'd love to know!
Join the conversation here through the blog post comments, or, through accessing the private facebook group for core word curriculum users.
If you’re not already following along with us, now is a great time to join! You can view the introduction to my core word programme here, and week 1 and week 2 here. If you'd prefer video content on the core word sessions, you can check out my instagram videos:
It's always a great time to start, the lessons are flexible and can be started on any week. Sign up to the Core Word Programme today to get access to the full curriculum, designed for use over an academic year. Not sure whether it’s right for your classroom? Try the free demo for Week 1 “I want” here, or check out the FAQs at the bottom of this blog post.