Apples, Apples, Apples!!

With some of my younger students we started an apple unit last week. We have been focusing on the color and size of the apples. First we read an adaptive book that I created called Apples (original right?). This book covers where apple grows, colors of apples, size of apples, and much more! After we read the book the students sorted apples by color (red, yellow, and green)! This week I plan on having the students go apple picking (see picture below!) After the students pick their apple they will match the color of the apple to the appropriate color or create a sentence (The apple is....) depending on their IEP goals. After we go apple picking we will eat apple sauce!! See this activity on my TPT site: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Apples-Adaptive-Book-and-Color-Sorting-Activity-874987

Teaching the Attibute of Big and Small

A majority of students who are using PECs for communication are using the attribute of color when constructing a sentence. In order to expand their attributes I am beginning to teach the students the concepts of big and small. I have made a file folder (see above) for students to use during speech-language therapy and within the classroom to help start to expose them to this concept. I also plan on working with students within the classroom setting and labeling things big and small. See link below for the materials to make the above file folder for free on TPT! Enjoy!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/BigSmall-File-Folder-898711

Colors of School

I created a book called The Colors of School (see link below) to use with my students with severe disabilities. This book works on students identifying and learning school nouns (glue stick, pencil, marker, crayon, etc) and also identifying the objects colors. Once I read the book with the students I then have the students sort the school nouns by color (see picture below).

Next week, I plan on reviewing the book with the students and have them identify items out of a field of 2 or 3 depending on their individual needs.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Colors-of-School-Adaptive-Book-870888

Building Rappot with Students

One of the most important factors for having your students succeed in speech-language therapy is  building rapport with them. One of the first activities that I will be doing with all of my students is activities that help build rapport. I have developed an activity that I will be using with my middle school students. Students and myself will take turns rolling our conversation dice and will take turns answering the question that the dice lands on. These questions are basic questions that cover favorite things (season, color, sport, etc). Not only will we get to know more about one another I will also be able to collect baseline data on my student's expressive and receptive language skills. Below is a link for this free activity! Enjoy!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conversation-Starters-Getting-to-know-each-other-855786

Another year ahead......

As another school year begins so does all the paperwork! This year I have two new schools within the same school district (a suburb outside of Chicago, IL). I will be working at a middle school with the self-contained autism program and at the district's self-contained school working with students with severe disabilities from ages three to nine. Both of these settings are new to me but I am ready for the challenge. Hope you have a great school year!