Welcome back to my Core Word of the Week Programme!
This programme consists of 36 speech and language sessions I have designed to support Gestalt Language Processors in your care as they learn to use the first 40 core words typically acquired by neurotypical children.
The content is adaptable to all communication methods and includes three different symbol languages, so whether you use Board Maker, Symbolstix or Widget, it's suitable for all.
It's been week 19 of my Core Word Programme in my classrooms this week, and we have been focusing on the versatile word 'are'. An essential linking word for everyday communication, 'are' helps our learners to describe things, make observations, and ask questions. From "what 'are' we doing today?', to "the sweets 'are' orange", 'are' is a helpful word for our learners to know.
Each session includes interactive games, sensory story suggestions, Attention Autism planning and much more!
The sensory story I've been reading with my learners this week is "Cows Are Pink!" by Becky Davies. This funny, easily-interactive book features peep-through pages, and has our core word on every page!
To make this a sensory story, I've been using fun, colourful acetate sheets and holding them over animal toys to change how their colouring appears to my learners!
Sensory stories are great for our learners for a few reasons. Through stories, we can support learners to build understanding and context to put with the language they are hearing.
They are fun, accessible and interactive, and also engage multiple senses. This makes them often more interesting for learners who process information best through sensory experiences.
GLP and autistic children often find traditional stories overwhelming as they focus on abstract language. Whereas, sensory stories provide concrete sensory experiences which may be better suited to our children.
This programme includes interactive games, an excellent learning tool that allows children to play whilst learning, and gives you a chance to assess their understanding of the core word.
Learning through games lessens the demand on children and reduces anxiety, meaning you see their best work.
The game I've created for this week asks "Where 'are' my toys"? and our learners have to find the toys from the options shown.
Links are included to fun clips of film, TV and songs that feature our core word which suits how a Gestalt Language Processing person will process and learn language.
In this programme we are very much teaching how autistic and GLP children learn.
Writing tasks are included, which can be printed out and completed on paper, or online, depending on the needs of your learners and the classroom set-up that you have.
In one of my classrooms, we complete these activities on my whiteboard as a group, practising turn taking and offering modelling opportunities to each other.
In my other classroom, we complete them 1:1 on iPads. We don’t have a whiteboard available and my learners are on individual timetables so 1:1 on iPads works better.
If it sounds like this content would be useful for your learners, It is always a great time to join in with my programme!
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 if you'd like to try before you buy, you can access a free demo here.
Attention Autism for Core Word Week 19 - "Are"
Stage 1
First up in my Attention Autism sessions this week has been the Bucket Time activity! After singing "I've got something in my bucket", the first thing I take out of it is a Jack in the Box. Winding it up slowly increases the anticipation of my learners, and then when Jack jumps out I am always surprised! After I've put him back in the box, I say "Where are you?!" and wind him up again. When he jumps out, I make sure to say "There you are!".
Next up is a mirror. With this, I show my learners the reflective side so that they can see themselves. I say "There you are!", and then turn it around so that they can't see themselves, whilst saying "Where are you". I do this a few times, repeating the phrases when they can and can't see themselves.
The last item in bucket time is a happy, smiley sensory bottle! With this, I shake it to mix up the colour and glitter and announce "You are happy!"
Stage 2
After bucket time is Finger Family. During this activity, we sing the finger family song and model the sign language for some of the words. As this song repeats "Where are you?", it is useful for this week's core word.
Stage 3
"Where are you?" is the next activity, which involves hiding an item under one of several cups and then trying to find where it is! I show my learners the item we are looking for and then count out my cups. First up was a pig. Once hidden under a cup, I ask (and sign), "Pig, where are you?" I say, "My turn!" and look under the cups until I find the pig. Once found, I say, "There you are!" Then, I invite my learners to have a go at finding the item.
Stage 4
For stage 4 this week, I've been asking my learners to unroll some tissue paper or a yo-yo.
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 just updated their training and I highly recommend it.