AAC Language Lab

Target Vocabulary:

1. can't
2. didn't
3. do
4. doesn't
5. don't
6. I
7. it
8. like
9. not
10. want
11. won't
12. you

Target Language Skill: Using negative phrases in sentences

Suggested Objectives:

1. The person will use negative pronoun phrases to demonstrate a negative feeling towards someone or something.
2. The person will use negative words paired with pronouns to convey dislike towards an object/item.
3. The person will make a positive pronoun phrase negative by adding "knot" key using motor planning.
4. The person will use negative pronoun phrases to demonstrate appropriate behavior in social situations when items are not wanted or liked.
5. The person will use negative pronoun phrases to direct a person away from his/herself in a socially appropriate way.

Teaching Activities:

A. Speaking

1. Demonstrate on the person's communication device turning positive declarative phrases into negative declarative phrases by adding the "knot" key. Demonstrate the use of a negative phrase to display your feelings towards an object/person in the environment.
a. Model phrase "I don't"
b. Model pharse "I don't like"
c. Model phrase "I don't want"
d. Model Phrase "I won't"
e. Model Phrase "I can't"
f. Model Phrase "I do not"
2. Walk around the person's environment and ask questions that prompt a natural negative verbal response using the above phrases.
3. Prompt person to respond to a series of questions about objects/persons that you know they have negative feeling towards. Re-model patterns on device if necessary to find appropriate negative pronoun phrases.
a. Use appropriate questions to elicit appropriate response, "Do you want ____?" elicits "I don't want ____." and so on depending on your target negative phrase.
4. Follow the directions in #1 of Speaking using alternate pronouns you and it to make negative pronoun phrases.
5. Create two boxes, one labeled "I like" and one labeled "I don't like" and gather objects that the person likes or doesn't like. Then ask them "Do you like _____ ?" and wait for their response. To ensure more negative practice, gather mostly non-preferential items for the user.

B. Reading

1. Read together the Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham. Ask the device user if they like or do not like Green Eggs and Ham each time the character responds. As you get to the end of the story, encourage person to read the parts that include the negative phrases.
2. Read the book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. Each time the mouse discovers or comes across a new object, ask the person if he/she likes the object the mouse has.
a. Prompt example, "The mouse has a glass of milk now, do you like milk?"
3. Allow the person to choose the book for read out loud time. Make sure to stage the task with 2 books the person will not want and 1 book the person will want.
a. Prompt example, "Do you want this book?" holding up the book allowing the device user to answer, "I don't want it."

C. Writing

1. Create a journal entry using the notebook feature in the device that allows the device user to write about three or four activities that the device user is familiar. Below are examples for setting up the activity.
a. I do like or I don't like going to the zoo.
b. I do like or I don't like eating vegetables like carrots.
c. I do like or I don't like playing in the rain.
2. Give the device user set of pictures of real items that he/she may or may not want. Ask them "Do you want ____" and allow them to respond with "I want" or "I don't want" while they are connected to the computer via USB cable or Bluetooth adapter or while using the notebook feature.
3. Create a book using real pictures of places that the device user goes to or does not go to on a regular basis. Do this while connected to the computer via USB or Bluetooth adapter or while using the notebook feature.
a. Example, give them a picture of music class and have them write "I go" or "I don't go" to music class.

D. Generalization

1. Model the above activities using other pronouns and interacting with other persons who may or may not like the same things.
2. Share the books written with peers or other persons and prompt the device user as they share the things they don't like to ask other persons if they like or don't like the same things.
a. Person says "I don't like ___," and then says "Do you?"
3. Take the vocabulary out into the community to a local mall or grocery store and find items that your device may not like or want.
4. Allow the device user to be in a social situation that may be a little uncomfortable. With assistance, start modeling the appropriateness of using "I don't want" and "I don't want" in relation to other persons.
5. Begin using other negative pronoun phrases from target vocabulary list in the same activities or settings to elicit similar appropriate language.

© 2009 Prentke Romich Company
vmc 9/1/09