Signs of the Week - Location Words

Intervention Planning Archives - from Minspeak

A wealth of picture-supported materials for teaching vocabulary; development of pragmatics, syntax, morphology; classroom ideas; and Evidence Based Practice (EBP) from Gail VanTatenhove and Minspeak (CLICK HERE to view the site).

Minspeak E-Newsletter - 11/14/11

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Send to Friend November 15, 2011 Award Winning Program: The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Science was impressed with a WQED TV segment on Minspeak entitled “Beyond Boundaries: Minspeak.” The segment, which aired on May 11, won an Emmy in the Health Program Feature or Segment category at the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards ceremony in Philadelphia. Watch it today. Pixon Update: Rosemary (Rosie) Portera, from Martin County School District (FL) offers this idea for using Pixons. “I wanted to share a great resource that I am using that fits well with the implementation of the Pixon Project, especially as part of a home program for the students. Reading A-Z offers download-able leveled reading books. These books can be printed out or projected and teachers love them. Most exciting are the books that focus on high frequency, core vocabulary words. Every two weeks I send home a new book that relates to the classroom theme or the core words that have been the focus of my lessons. It allows parents a format to practice Pixons, become comfortable with their child’s new Pixon manual communication board and, most importantly, increase their confidence as they integrate Pixons into their routine.” Thanks for sharing that Rosie! Teaching Materials Exchange: Rosie also contributed this: “I found a book called “A Dog for Each Day” and adapted it as a PowerPoint book with animation, sound, and Pixons! My hope is that if a different dog is associated with each day, it may make the name of each day more concrete for students learning the days of the week (along with pictures of the dogs added to the classroom calendars). The Pixons are added so that students can say something about each page using their Pixon boards. Two teachers that I work with are ‘launching’ the book this week.” Again, thanks Rosie for your contribution. Intervention Planning: Don't forget to go to the Minspeak website to download intervention plans! Use them in therapy or share them with teachers and families. Announcements: The Pittsburgh Language Seminar Series has been a big hit. Registration for the November series is full, but you can still register for December's series, featuring Dr. Tracy Kovach as the guest presenter. Contact Debbie Witkowski for registration information for this and the upcoming 2012 series. Benefits of Minspeak Using multi-meaning icons. The power of motor automaticity. Use of Minspeak Minspeak systems with different disabilities. Minspeak and cultural-linguistic diversity. The Power of Minspeak Minspeak, language and literacy development. Using Minspeak in the classroom. Support of Minspeak Strategies to support use of Minspeak. Minspeak teaching materials. Visit us online www.minspeak.com © Semantic Compaction Systems 2009 1000 Killarney Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15234, USA. Tel. 412.885.8541 Fax 412.885.8548 This message was intended for: gmeier@villaesperanzaservices.org Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails. Unsubscribe

New Fav Apps!

Marshall Fenig, CCC-SLP shared some exceptionally fun iPad apps at the November Foothill Autism Alliance meeting. Use these in interaction and in speech and language therapy.  Not AAC, per se, but so motivating that communication, in whatever mode, is bound to ensue!

Toca Hair Salon - by Toca Boca

Worth all 199 pennies! ($1.99)

Cut, brush, grow, blow, buzz, and color the hair of 6 clients and enjoy their reactions as well as the amazing results!

Talking Tom Cat - by Outfit7

($FREE$)

Repeats everything you say with a funny voice. Incredibly useful for prompting intentional vocalization in nonverbal persons. Encourages vocal play and practice.

Make a Martian - by 3DAL LLC

($0.99)

Stimulate language working together to select the style of your body, eyes, ears, arms, color, etc.

Play on!

FREE! Core Vocabulary Comm Books - Boardmaker Share

Many thanks to Mary Ann Abbott, SLP-D from LA Unified School District, for three levels of core vocabulary communication books available for FREE at Boardmakershare.com (CLICK HERE).

Just a sample...

Stage 3, Bubbles page

Thanks, Mary Ann!

FAA - Foothill Autism Alliance HANDOUT

Thank you to all who attended the November 9, 2011 presentation "Adaptive Technology & the iPad as a Game Changer for Autism" at the Foothill Autism Alliance meeting. 

CLICK HERE to download the full handout in color!

Boards! Activity - Watching Videos

This is an activity-based communication board (created in Boardmaker by Mayer-Johnson) that I have used with clients when viewing YouTube videos of nursery rhymes, music videos, animal bloopers, and funny home video posts.  I like to select the wrong video from the list in order to prompt/model touching and saying "I want" + "different one." When viewing on a portable device, I can also hog the screen to prompt/model touching and saying "stop" and "I want" + "see." Use your imagination, modeling, and the power of YouTube to prompt communication!