School Year of Core Vocabulary Words

Monthly supports for a School Year of Core Words curriculum

 Materials

• Introduction and Author Bios
• Level One Smart Charts All
• Level Two Smart Charts All
• August Level 1
• August Level 2
• September Level 1
• September Level 2
• October Level 1
• October Level 2
• November Level 1
• November Level 2
• December Level 1
• December Level 2
• January Level 1
• January Level 2
• February Level 1
• February Level 2
• March Level 1
• March Level 2
• April Level 1
• April Level 2
• May Level 1
• May Level 2
• June Level 1
• June Level 2

The School Year of Core Words series was conceptualized and created by AAC SLP Michaela Sullivan, and two pre-professional SLP students, Beth Lytle and Alisa Lego.  The series has two levels of monthly vocabulary words along with ideas, resources, and materials that will be posted here.  

There are two separate word lists for the School Year of Core Word series.  Levels 1 and 2 contain distinctly different sets of words.  Level 1 is a foundational compilation of 158 words and Level 2 contains 161 words that build upon and beyond the foundation.  The monthly word lists were selected to follow not only the school calendar, but also support the needs of students, expanding communication functions in natural and more structured activities and settings (daily routines) as well as themes/holidays.  Brown's 14 Morphemes and the previous Year of Core Words postings from PrAACtically Speaking published in 2013 and 2014 were referenced to create each collection.  

Here are some of the things you’ll find in each of the monthly School Year of Core Word posts. 

• Word Lists: List of Level 1 and Level 2 words and blank charts to add your own symbols
• Smart Charts showing the AAC symbols for each word using several of the most popular AAC symbol sets/systems. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every symbol type. 
• AAC Strategy of the Month handout
• Data collection forms for Level 1 and Level 2 words
• Activity Sheets: Each core word has an Activity Sheet with implementation ideas for use in therapy and instruction.
  • Communication functions that can be targeted with that word.
  • Examples of phrases and sentences that you can use to model the word and/or elicit from the AAC user
  • Suggested ways to integrate the word into:
    • Routines and daily schedules
    • Play
    • Reading
    • Social interactions (with video modeling)
    • Sensory-motor activities
    • Structured activities
    • Videos, music, and animated shorts
    • Art and science activities
  • Ideas for using the word with apps and other technologies
  • Ways to utilize Word Walls