For Nonverbal Children: Functional Vocabulary Kit

The Functional Vocabulary Kit establishes a 400-word vocabulary in nonverbal children and lays the foundation for communicating with pictures and signs.

Children learn the new vocabulary in a variety of formats so they truly comprehend the words!

What makes this vocabulary program so effective?

The teaching methods included in the functional vocabulary kit are what most nonverbal children need: rote, systematic, and familiar. The activities progress in the hierarchy that most verbal children acquire language:

• Learning labels and attaching meaning
  
• Developing vocabulary and concepts
  
• Expanding vocabulary knowledge through associations and experience
  

5 Themes

The vocabulary is divided into five themes:

1. Home
2. Community
3. Food
4. School
5. Animals

Each theme consists of eight units, and each unit teaches 10 functional vocabulary words (a total of 80 vocabulary words in each theme).

Sequenced Lessons

The step-by-step lessons included in the kit are sequenced in this hierarchical order:

• Identifying Labels. Unit vocabulary is introduced with individual picture vocabulary cards. Students identify labels by pointing to single pictures.
  
• Learning Gestures & Signs. Photographs and descriptions for sign language are provided for each vocabulary word.
  
• Listening Critically. Students answer questions about the vocabulary words when given two-picture choices. You have a choice of using simple or complex foils.
  
• Fill-Ins. Students answer fill-in questions using simple or complex two-picture choices.
  
• Answering Yes/No Questions 1 and 2. Use two-picture choices and yes/no icons to teach yes/no responses.
  
• Simple Pointing with a Grid. Students practice pointing to vocabulary items on a grid.
  
• Classifying. Students identify vocabulary by attributes, functions, and categories.
  
• Enrichment and Extension Activities. Use music, literature, and hands-on activities to expand vocabulary.

The complete For Nonverbal Children: Functional Vocabulary Kit includes:

• 480 Boardmaker® symbols on perforated cards and on reproducible grids
  printable grids in colour and black and white and printable vocabulary cards in colour
  
• 373-page manual with complete lesson plans
  
• Sign language photos that correlate with Boardmaker® symbols and manual sign descriptions
  
• Pre/post assessment for each theme
  
• Progress charts
• Sturdy storage box
  

©2008