This week in my Core Word Programme, we’re introducing an exciting and essential question word: “Who.” The use and understanding of this word allows children to be involved in conversations about people, enhancing their ability to engage and build connections. "Who" is a powerful core word that encourages interaction with others and curiosity in your learners. Our first Question word in the programme.
Read on to see how I've been modelling and teaching "Who" in my classroom, and join in the conversation on my blog, Instagram or TikTok.
If you're new to my Core Word Programme, it is 36 sessions of speech and language curriculum carefully designed for the Gestalt Language Processors and pre/non verbal children in your care. The sessions are completely flexible and adaptable to any communication method, whether signing, speech, symbols, AAC devices or others. It is always a great time to join as you can start the programme at any point, and there's a private Facebook group of other users ready to share advice and collaborate.
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 and links to music and TV clips of the core word in action.
The sensory story that I am using to model "Who" is "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" by Pam Adams. Vibrant and colourful with catchy rhymes, this book is a much-loved classic, allowing for fun repetition of this important core word.
The interactive game for this session allows the children in your care to identify the character that they are asked for, for example, "Who is yellow?". The animals and colours chosen are inspired by the classic story “Brown Bear Brown Bear, What do you see?”.
There's suggestions for activities included every week, allowing the children in your care to explore the core word.
There's clickable links to TV, film and song clips that demonstrate "Who" in a fun and engaging way. Perfect for gestalt language processors!
There are writing tasks which can be completed either on a tablet device, laptop, whiteboard, or can be printed.
As I mentioned, it's always a great time to start the core word programme, and I have plenty of Instagram, TikTok and Facebook content about it, as well as blog posts and our friendly, private Facebook group to help you along the way.
You can buy the full programme for £35, or individual sessions for £2.00. If you'd like to test it for your learners first, you can try a free session for Week 1 "I want". If you'd like to see what I've done for previous weeks of the programme, you can check out my blog posts here.
How are you modelling and teaching "Who"?
Join in the conversation by commenting on the blog posts here, following along on TikTok or Instagram, or by joining the private Facebook group for programme users.