Vocabulary Building; Downtown

A child may have difficulty acquiring new vocabulary.  A robust vocabulary is essential for comprehending oral and written language, as well as to express oneself.  This post will address how to build vocabulary at the medium and advanced levels.

Exposure to new words is key, as is using these "new" words until they become second nature.  A great source for vocabulary words is looking at your child's classroom textbooks, particularly reading/language texts.  Choose words that your child is currently working on, or will be working on shortly, and use them yourself in order to model word usage.  For the more ambitious that want to target "bonus words," I recommend searching for the most common SAT words.  Here is a link from Kaplan posted on the washingtonpost.com on the 100 most common SAT words: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-adv/eduadv/kaplan/kart_ug_sat100.html

I suggest choosing a few of the words, and finding a way to use them in your daily Pittsburgh life.  Be upfront with your child that you will be practicing learning new words.  Going downtown is a great place to start.

For example, if you are targeting the word "abbreviation," then find abbreviations downtown.  For example, UPMC:


Image retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Steel_Tower.

To target "anachronistic," look for things that are out-of-date.  For example, the cobblestone on Grant Street:


Image retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/businesses/118378074-nicky-s-grant-street-pittsburgh-pa.html

To target "deleterious," look for things that are dangerous.  For example, crossing new a bus lane:

Image retrieved from http://www.citylab.com/work/2012/12/people-live-and-work-downtown-pittsburgh-how-can-city-get-them-shop-there/4088/

While you are out and about, I also recommend reviewing synonyms and antonyms for target words for increased practice.

Visuals are very powerful for learning vocabulary.  Here is a link to a site that links photographs with vocabulary words from easy to hard: http://insidestoryflashcards.com/printable_flashcards/index.php?set=medium  Amazon.com also features illustrations of SAT words, such as from the book "Picture These SAT Words" by Greer.

Point of View/Perspective; Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum

Understanding point of view when reading is important because it leads to critical analysis of the text.  This is a target area for SLPs because it speaks to comprehension of material.  In the classroom, the teacher may discuss how a story can be told from a specific viewpoint, such as that of a worm in "Diary of a Worm" by Doreen Cronin.  Children will also learn how one story can be told differently, such as "The Real Story of the Three Little Pigs" by Jon Scieszka which tells the story of "The Three Little Pigs" from the wolf's point of view.  As children get older, they will move onto chapter books that have more complex viewpoints, including books such as "The Diary of Anne Frank," "Wicked," "Look Homeward Angel" and "The Great Gatsby."  In order to practice understanding point of view, I suggest role playing at the Soliders & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum.  Your child can describe viewpoints of veterans and those from the home front that are profiled in the museum.  This is also a relevant task considering Memorial Day was this week.

Image retrieved from http://www.livingpittsburgh.com/2014/05/pittsburgh-memorial-day-celebration-at-soldiers-sailors/.

Look at exhibits and ask your child questions to get her thinking about possible viewpoints.

 

 Image retrieved from http://pittsburgh.ettractions.com/Soldiers-Sailors-Memorial-Hall-Museum/attractions/7674/.

Here are some questions to get your child started:
What do you think the men were thinking about when this picture was taken?
How do you think the men felt about being in the service?
Do you think the men were fearful of combat?
Why do you think the men chose to be part of the Air Force?

For the more advanced, ask your child to pick a man from the picture, and role play.  Have her pretend to be one of the men, and ask her what she would say to her family back home; ask her what she missed most about being home; ask her about the friendships she developed in the service; ask her what basic training was like.
 

 

 Image retrieved from http://www.yelp.com/biz/soldiers-and-sailors-memorial-hall-and-museum-pittsburgh.

The above is a cast of Abraham Lincoln.  To practice perspective, ask your child what Lincoln would say about problems that our country faces today (international relations, taxes, inequality).

 

Image retrieved from http://soldiersandsailorshall.org/.

Questions to ask with these treasures may include:
How did this man feel about being drafted?
What do you think his perspective was on serving his country?
How would this man view the role of women in the military today?

For the more advanced, ask your child to take on the role of a G.I. from one of the Axis powers from World War II.  Ask her to answer the above questions in that person's voice.

Changing gears: difficulties in seeing another person's perspective is common with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  Children with ASD often have difficulty perceiving what emotion another person is experiencing.  One way to target this is to pay special attention to facial expressions.

Image retrieved from http://veteranvoicesofpittsburgh.com/2012/03/.

Tell your child that this man is "happy" because he is smiling and showing his teeth, and because his eyes are open wide.  Review photographs of happy people several times with your child, repeating the same information.  Next, look at a photo of someone that is happy and ask your child how he is feeling (the answer should be "happy").  Finally, ask your child to identify a picture of a happy person on her own.

Image retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-15672939.

Tell your child that this man is "sad" because he is frowning, and he is crying.  Review photographs of sad people several times with your child, repeating the same information.  Next, looks at a photo of someone that is sad and ask your child how he is feeling (the answer should be "sad").  Finally, ask your child to identify a picture of a sad person on her own.  Note: this picture is not on exhibit at the museum.

Cognitive disorders; Kennywood

Children with cognitive disorders may demonstrate difficulty with visual-spatial reasoning as well as planning and problem solving.  One way to target this area when you are out and about at a new place is by reading maps.  Take this map of Kennywood which is child-friendly as an example:

Image retrieved from https://www.kennywood.com/things-to-do/park-map.

There are many things that you can do with your child: ask her how to get from point A or point B; ask her where a rest room is; ask her what you will pass when walking to Noah's Ark; ask her what the most efficient way to the Log Jammer is; ask her how many first aid locations there are; ask her to locate where you are on the map; ask her what the symbols mean.

What ways can you think of to use a map?  Please post below!

Similes; Andy Warhol Museum

A simile is a figure of speech that draws a comparison using "like" or "as."  It is helpful for children to practice understanding and using similes so that they become proficient in more abstract language.  Visiting attractions that are visually stimulating should help your child create similes.  The Andy Warhol Museum certainly fits the bill.  I know it may seem unconventional, but I think this is a good place for your child to begin looking at art.  Warhol's work is often big and colorful, and it is frequently centered on things that are familiar to us from pop culture.  Also, many of the exhibits let you get up close and personal which children enjoy.

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Image retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andy_Warhol_Museum.

When looking at an exhibit, ask your child what she can compare it to.  At first it will be helpful to provide her with an example.

With this picture of Marilyn Monroe, tell your child that "Her hair is as yellow as a lemon."  Then, ask your child what she can compare the hair color to.  Cue your child with, "Her hair is as yellow as a..."  Encourage your child to think of as many comparisons as she can as this will lead to more practice.  Simple answers may include banana, corn, sunflower, baby duck, and the sun.

Image retrieved from http://www.warhol.org/exhibitions/2012/15minuteseternal/en/index.html.

Other similes are include:

"The painting is as colorful as a ____."  (Rainbow, box of crayons.)

 

Image retrieved from http://iva150.deviantart.com/art/Mickey-Mouse-inspired-by-Andy-Warhol-320530195.

"The cookies jars are as cute as a  _____."  (Baby, puppy.)

 

Image retrieved from  http://old.post-gazette.com/ae/20020301warhol1.asp.

"Her smile is like a ____."  (Breath of fresh air, sunbeam.)

Image retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Andy_Warhol_Museum_-_IMG_7616.JPG.

If your child struggles with similes, try using a simile that she is already familiar with and changing it to reflect the subject matter at hand.  For example, "Pretty as a picture" can be changed to "Pretty as a flower;"

Image retrieved from http://www.happytouring.com/pittsburgh-a-friendliest-city-in-pennsylvania-which-offers-a-historic-and-unique-vibe/a-woman-is-staring-at-one-of-art-collections-in-andy-warhol-museum-pittsburgh/

"Big as a house" can be changed to "Big as an elephant;"

Image retrieved from http://www.c24gallery.com/news/charles-lutz-at-the-andy-warhol-museum/.

"Like two peas in a pod" can be changed to "Like chicken broth and noodles."

Image retrieved from http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/mollibrown/502/virtualtour/warhol.html.