Special Education Family Newsletter
December 2021
CISD SPECIAL SERVICES NEWS
Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development
There are many ways you can help your child learn to understand and use words. Here are some strategies from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
2 to 4 Years
- Speak clearly to your child. Model good speech.
- Repeat what your child says to show that you understand. Add on to what she says. Use words like, "Want juice? I have juice. I have apple juice. Do you want apple juice?"
- It's okay to use baby talk sometimes. Be sure to use the adult word too. For example, "It is time for din-din. We will have dinner now."
- Cut out pictures of favorite or familiar things. Put them into categories, like things to ride on, things to eat, and things to play with. Make silly pictures by mixing and matching pictures. Glue a picture of a dog behind the wheel of a car. Talk about what is wrong with the picture and ways to "fix" it.
- Help your child understand and ask questions. Play the yes–no game. Ask questions such as, "Are you Marty?" and "Can a pig fly?" Have your child make up questions and try to fool you.
- Ask questions that include a choice. "Do you want an apple or an orange?" "Do you want to wear your red shirt or your blue shirt?"
- Help your child learn new words. Name body parts, and talk about what you do with them. "This is my nose. I can smell flowers, brownies, and soap."
- Sing simple songs, and say nursery rhymes. This helps your child learn the rhythm of speech.
- Place familiar objects in a box. Have your child take one out and tell you its name and how to use it. "This is my ball. I bounce it. I play with it."
- Show pictures of familiar people and places. Talk about who they are and what happened. Try making up new stories.
4 to 6 Years
- Pay attention when your child talks to you.
- Get your child's attention before you talk.
- Praise your child when she tells you something. Show that you understand her words.
- Pause after speaking. This gives your child a chance to respond.
- Keep helping your child learn new words. Say a new word, and tell him what it means, or use it in a way that helps him understand. For example, you can use the word "vehicle" instead of "car." You can say, "I think I will drive the vehicle to the store. I am too tired to walk."
- Talk about where things are, using words like "first," "middle," and "last" or "right" and "left." Talk about opposites like "up" and "down" or "on" and "off."
- Have your child guess what you describe. Say, "We use it to sweep the floor," and have her find the broom. Say, "It is cold, sweet, and good for dessert. I like strawberry" so she can guess "ice cream."
- Work on groups of items, or categories. Find the thing that does not belong in a group. For example, "A shoe does not go with an apple and an orange because you can't eat it. It is not round. It is not a fruit."
- Help your child follow two- and three-step directions. Use words like, "Go to your room, and bring me your book."
- Ask your child to give directions. Follow his directions as he tells you how to build a tower of blocks.
- Play games with your child such as "house." Let her be the parent, and you pretend to be the child. Talk about the different rooms and furniture in the house.
- Watch movies together on TV or a tablet. Talk about what your child is watching. Have her guess what might happen next. Talk about the characters. Are they happy or sad? Ask her to tell you what happened in the story. Act out a scene together, or make up a different ending.
- Use everyday tasks to learn language. For example, talk about the foods on the menu and their color, texture, and taste when in the kitchen. Talk about where to put things. Ask her to put the napkin on the table, in your lap, or under the spoon. Talk about who the napkin belongs to. Say, "It is my napkin." "It is Daddy's." "It is Tamara's."
- Go grocery shopping together. Talk about what you will buy, how many things you need, and what you will make. Talk about sizes, shapes, and weight.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND EVENTS
Sensory Friendly Places to Visit in Texas
Visit BeLikeBuddy.com for all kinds of useful information.
My Heart Books
My Heart Books enable siblings, parents - anyone! - to create a personalized children's book about, for, or with your child with a disability. Created by a parent to help explain her child's special needs, My Heart Books is thoughtful, fun, and very kid-friendly. December discount codes! freebook to get a free, downloadable e-book, or happyholidays to receive 15% off purchase of a hard cover book.
7 Ways to Help Your Child Cope with Transitions
Change is inevitable. And for most people, it can present an unwelcome challenge, even a difficulty. But it is particularly hard to handle for children with special needs and their families. Transitioning from school to vacation and back again, from class to class, from school to home, from home to school, or from bedtime to daytime can trigger an outburst, meltdown, or a lot of frustration.
Click here for 7 ways to help your child cope with transitions. -from friendshipcircle.org
Hey, guess what! Fort Worth Community Centers (including Chisholm Trail) is offering children's memberships for only $5 a month. Thanks to LoToya Henson for this information!
Tips for Managing Holiday Gatherings
PHOTO GALLERY
Mrs. Thompson, OT, and Jeanavia getting into the holiday spirit.
Students in Mrs. Oliver’s CBVI class (community-based vocational instruction) worked at Panther Emporium preparing Thanksgiving boxes to be delivered to families in need.
Hard work pays off for Tess - grade level winner in the district-wide Lexia Reading Competition
Honoring Our Veterans on Veteran's Day
Mrs. Patterson's Adult Transition students are totally engrossed in their work at the CTE Print Shop.
Friday Fun in Ms. Rayburne's class - fine motor practice, building 3D shapes, and texture lab
Summercreek students honing daily living skills
Crowley ISD Special Education
Email: donna.heim@crowley.k12.tx.us
Website: https://www.crowleyisdtx.org/Domain/115
Location: 512 Peach Street, Crowley, TX, USA
Phone: 817.297.5300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CISDspecialeducation