Chat+Books

Some children with additional needs or learning disabilities do not have the communication skills to share what they have done at school with their parents/carers. A Chat Book can be used in both Early Intervention and Early Childhood classrooms as a means of communication. They are a visual way to show their family what they have been doing during their time at school. Photos can be taken of individual students or of groups during activities. The teacher then writes about what has happened during the day. The student will then do an activity relating to the weeks topic. For example when the students are making some gingerbread men during a cooking activity; photos are taken and printed off and cut out. The student then places the pictures into sequence order, they might trace around the cookie cutter or draw a picture of a gingerbread man and decorate it. The children take the Chat Books home to share what they have learned. Parents and teachers are able to use the Chat Books as a way of recording the progress that the student is making. Parents and teachers can also use the book as a way to communicate with each other about concerns they may be having. I have seen these books work very productively in an Autism Unit. Attatched is a website that has a range of ideas for encouraging communication with additional needs children.

Special Needs in sync [] retrieved at 20/7/2011