AAC Language Lab

Target Vocabulary:

1.bed
2.can
3.can she
4.cookie
5.could
6.could she
7.eat
8.find
9.get
10.he can't
11.he shouldn't
12.jump
13.not
14.on
15.pea
16.she
17.she can
18.she could
19.she couldn't
20.she should
21.she will
22.she won't
23.should
24.should she
25.the
26.will
27.will she

Target Language Skill: Using contractions

Suggested Objectives:

1.The person will be able to speak the contraction "he can't" to replace the phrase "he cannot".
2.The person will be able to speak the contraction "he shouldn't" to replace the phrase "he should not".
3.The person will be able to speak the contraction "she couldn't" to replace the phrase "she could not".
4.The person will be able to speak the contraction "she won't" to replace the phrase "she will not."
5.The person will be able to write the same contractions.
6.The person will be able to say other contractions included in pronoun-verb phrases.

Teaching Activities:

A. Speaking

1.Teach that a contraction is one word that replaces two words. An apostrophe takes the place of missing letters in a contraction.
2.Teach that a person can use either the contraction or the two words that make up the contraction and the meaning stays the same.
3.Listen for people using contractions in every day speaking. Ask the person to identify the two words that the contraction stands for.
4.Model and prompt the contractions from the target vocabulary list. Refer to your smart chart for the Unity sequences the person will be using.
5.Say the two words that make up each contraction in the target list. Ask the person to say the corresponding contractions.

B. Reading

1.Download the supplemental materials for this lesson, using the link at the end of the lesson. Read the sentences together, or ask the person to read them independently (according to the person's reading ability). Encourage the person to say the target words.
2.Identify and read contractions in other reading assignments.

C. Writing

1.Connect the device to a computer with a USB cable or Blue Tooth module. Let the person practice wiring the target words into a word document.
2.Provide the person with a list of words and phrases that can be made into contractions. Ask him or her to write all the possible contractions of the words.
3.Ask the person to write a short story about a suggested topic. Ask him or her to include contractions in the story.

D. Generalization

1.Be sure to teach the Unity® patterns for pronoun-verb phrases. These Unity patterns include many contractions. Download the supplemental material on pronoun-verb phrases at the end of this lesson.
2.Make word wall words on large cards as single words and as contractions. Shuffle the word cards, and then ask the person to match up the words and contractions. For example "could" and "not" go with "couldn't".
3.Ask the person to make up a short sentence using each contraction in the card set.
4.During shared reading experiences, point out the contractions used in the story. Ask the person to read the contractions when you come to them in the story.

© 2009 Prentke Romich Company