Today is another great day to have a FUN FRIDAY of dancing and reading! Grab a partner and a core board and see if you can point to or look at STOP each time you hear the word in these songs and books! Don’t STOP until you’ve listened to all of them!

Don’t STOP the Dance Party!

• Can’t STOP this Feeling from Trolls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhfkYzUwYFk
• The Body Boogie by The Learning Station https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZeM18fPbvI
• STOP and Go by Greg & Steve https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=641JCdL5Qbs
• STOP from Speech and Language Songs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOgYlYfsrI&t=26s
• STOP by Patty Shukla https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJnfhYCC-Bo
• Walking Walking Hop Hop Hop by the Kiboomers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6cJB7k6eEk
• Red Light, Green Light from Super Simple Songs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoyEDrMDirA

Don’t STOP Reading!

• STOP, Train, STOP! Thomas the Tank Engine Read Aloud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYxGmh16zcM
• GO! GO! GO! STOP! by Charise Mericle Harper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOfqiE1L26E
• Green, Yellow, Red, STOP! by Alyssa Liang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMavKo-Myck

Our kids do not understand all that is going on in the world around us. However, they do feel the effects of the change in routine and the emotional climate in their homes. As adults we have an awesome opportunity to create a safe and secure environment where our children feel loved and protected in their homes. I would encourage you today to turn off the news around your children, assure them that one day (relatively) soon life will go back to normal and focus on enjoying the things we can do inside of our homes with the people with love. Hang in there friends! We’re all in this together!

Hi Families! You can practice core vocabulary words GO and STOP this week with your child. This will look different for each child, depending on interest and ability. It may mean that as you push your child’s stroller or wheelchair around the block you “GO fast”, “GO slow” and “STOP”. It may mean that you play a family game of “Simon Says” and everyone in your house takes a turn to pick different movements and speeds. For example, “Simon says jump fast. Simon says STOP”, or “Simon says raise your hand slowly. Simon says STOP”. You can pick movements that your child can do independently, provide assistance if they can’t do the movement on their own, or just model the words and movements for them to listen to and watch. Be silly and have fun! Bonus points if you point to GO and STOP on your core vocabulary communication boards when you say the words! Remember, you can always draw your own picture symbols if you don’t have a core board at home to use. Enjoy!

Hi Families! A great way to teach and reinforce language concepts is by using targeted vocabulary in songs and books. At school we incorporate core vocabulary into activities by pointing to the words that we say on core vocabulary communication boards, by presenting words individually and by combining 2 or 3 words to make short phrases and sentences. You can reinforce these words at home by pointing to words on a core board as you say them or when you hear them in songs or books. We need to model words MANY times before we expect our kids to independently point to picture symbols to express themselves. We talk to babies for months and months before we expect them to talk back to us. In the same way, we may need to use the language of picture symbols for months or years before we expect our kids to point to and/or say the words themselves. We do this through modeling, which simply means that we point to the words as we say them.

This week, focus on modeling the word “GO” to your child. Point to the picture symbol on a core board or make your own picture symbol to point to when you hear the word “GO” in songs and books. Also, as you naturally say “GO” in conversation, point to the picture symbol when you say the word. For example, “GO play”, “GO to the bathroom”, “GO outside”, “GO to bed”. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the process and more than likely your child will too!

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional suggestions on how to support your child’s communication at home. You can email me at huntd@dearbornschools.org. Thanks!

Let’s GO have a dance party!

• ‘Let It Go’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk
• ‘The Ants Go Marching’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S__fbCGwOM
• ‘Go Song’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTWQ0hPq6-I

Let’s GO listen to books!

• GOing on a Bear Hunt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzIcu6tbEko
• GO Away Big Green Monster! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPmLZLp-oec
• GO, Dog. GO! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ-70cNCxfA

It is a great day to GO outside!

Hi Families! Let’s all try to go outside and enjoy some fresh air everyday. It is good for our bodies and our minds to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors! When you take a walk with your child, talk about all of the things that you see, hear, feel and smell. We have the opportunity to teach our children to appreciate and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us! Enjoy!

Story time with Ms. Dawn

Core Vocabulary

Core vocabulary refers to the small number of words that make up >70-90% of what we say each day. These words are relevant in all settings and can have multiple meanings. Core words can be taught and reinforced in a variety of activities and allow for quick and easy word combinations. Core vocabulary is powerful because it allows communicators to express a variety of concepts with a small number of words.

The Center for AAC & Autism. “Core Word of the Week” Words and Activities [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://www.aacandautism.com/assets/uploads/Core_Word_of_the_Week.pdf