Communication

My case study child is developmentally delayed -(speech delay). Last year John only knew 4-5 words. This year John can label objects. John is starting to put sentences together but they consist of only 1-3 words. John tends to point to what he wants. When John points to something I try to initiate conversation. I do not allow myself nor my assistants to respond off of John pointing at objects. The three communication strategies that I feel are the best interventions for John are Manding, Commenting, and expanding. I think it is important that I as well as others ask John questions beyond just simple questions asking for a yes or no answer. John needs to learn how to respond with words not just yes or no. I think asking only yes and no questions inhibits his speech. I also believe that commenting is a strategy that works well for John. While talking with John, I try to talk about what he is doing. If John is playing with blocks I will talk about the color of blocks he is usin, the number of blocks he is using, etc. I think it is important for John to recognize that they are not just blocks they are red, green, blue, and yellow blocks. I also expand on what John says. If John says ball, I will try to say, Yes John, you have a big blue ball. If John says "thirsty" I say, "John are you thirsty? would you like some water? I feel like any added vocabulary can only benefit him. I make sure that I do not overwhelm him with wordy sentences. It is important to keep it basic but yet expand.



Reference:
Cook, Ruth E., Klein M. Diane, & Tessier, Annette. (2008). Adapting Early Childhood Curricula for Children with Special Needs (7th Edition). Columbus, OH: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Motor/self help skills

My case study child is developmentally delayed. His main point of focus is his speech. To begin with, John was drinking out of a sippy cup in August. As of right now, John no longer has to have a sippy cup. John has learned how to hold a cup and drink from it. John can also use utensils correctly. John likes to work puzzles however he needs the puzzles with large pegs. He has not mastered being able to connect regular puzzle pieces. John likes to do lacing cards. John tries very hard and concentrates to the point that he hums while completing an activity. John loves to play with the manipulatives in my room, he can manipulate the unifix cubes very well. He likes to connect them and build towers. Right now I am working with John on cutting with scissors. In the book it list paying attention to Handedenss, and states that practice pays off. I have been able to switch the scissors in the opposite hand and he can cut better. We really have to do a lot of practice with John. We also have to work with John's eye-hand coordination. John has a hard time with this because he concentrates too hard on one activity. He doesn't do very well when catching the ball. He pays so much attention to the person throwing the ball that he forgets to catch it. John does work with the Occupational therapist for his motor/self help skills. John appears to do well with large motor skills but has more difficulty with fine motor skills.

Reference:
Cook, Ruth E., Klein, Diane & Tessier, Annette. (2008). Adapting Early Childhood Curricula for Children with Special Needs.

Social Story

My child that I am doing my observations on is developmentally delayed. He lacks the social skills needed for preschool which hinders his readiness for Kindergarten. He has learned to follow the daily routine however he cannot communicate what he needs. He points to most things, or he will act out being thirsty. I'm really wanting to improve his ability to converse. In his book I am going to put pictures of someone drinking a drink and it will say "I am thirsty", someone taking a nap that says "I am tired", someone mad saying "I am upset" etc. He knows what the pictures mean so I can let him bring the book to me, he can show me a picture of someone drinking a drink, I can say "John is thirsty." After he repeats the sentence, he will start to become familiar with the pictures and sentences that go along with it. These request will help him throughout the day by being more independent and stating his needs. It will also build his vocabulary. He is also a visual learner. I could also take a picture of him doing each of these things so that he can relate even better.