Direction Following; Macy's Holiday Window Displays

Now that the crowds from Light Up Night have decreased, I recommend visiting downtown for language exercises for your child.  The Macy's holiday window displays are a perfect thing to capture a child's attention and also work on direction following.  By two years of age, many children can follow two- and three-step directions.

 

Image retrieved from http://www.post-gazette.com/business/businessnews/2012/11/15/Downtown-Macy-s-keeps-tradition-alive-with-holiday-window-display/stories/201211150274.

I recommend looking at the windows, and first allowing your child to process the wonder.  Once she has taken everything in, start by asking her point to various parts of the display.  I like to warm up with one-step directions such as, "Point to the girl," and "Point to the tree."

 

Image retrieved from http://www.post-gazette.com/business/businessnews/2012/11/15/Downtown-Macy-s-keeps-tradition-alive-with-holiday-window-display/stories/201211150274.

Next, move onto two-step directions such as, "Point to the wreath, then point to the wreath," and "Point to girl and wave."

Image retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macy%27s_Holiday_Windows.JPG.

Finally, end with three-step directions such as, "Point to the girl, then point to the boy, then point to the mailbox," and "Point to the mailbox, tell Santa what you want for Christmas, then wave goodbye."

Being enthusiastic while giving a directions helps, and so does positive praise.  If your child has difficulty following directions, then try repeating the direction.  If that doesn't work, then practice the parts of the direction in isolation; once each one is mastered then your child can try to do them all at once.  If that doesn't work, then model the direction for your child and see if she can imitate it.

Many children respond best to directions that are meaningful.  So, you may also try to incorporate direction following inside of Macy's.  For example, Macy's is famous for having a mailbox at every store for children to submit their letters to Santa.  Thus, a good two-step direction would be, "Take out your letter, and put it in the mailbox."

Note: These Pittsburgh Macy's pictures were taken circa 2012 and 2013.  I couldn't find anything more recent!

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.

Word List: St. Patrick's Day Parade

Word lists containing nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs are useful for many goals.  They can be used to target reading, spelling, writing, stuttering, voice strategies, articulation, phonological processes, vocabulary building, sentence structure, etc.  Thus, I have decided to post word lists relating to Pittsburgh.  This one is centered on the St. Patrick's Day Parade, which will be held March 15th.  Obviously there are many, many words that pertain to this area so I have tried to limit my lists to 25-50 words.  If there is a word that you would like to be included, please post below!

Image retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/article/st-patrick-s-day-parade-downtown-pittsburgh; photo credit Seth Rosenberg.

As with each of my lists, I suggest bringing it with you while you are out and about at any location.  Feel free to give this list directly to your child (if she can read) and have her check off each of the words that she encounters; customize the words and use of the words for her particular goals.  (If you need some suggestions, please post below or e-mail me.)  Explain any unfamiliar words to her.
Bagpipes

Band

Banner

Cabbage

Celebrate

Clover

Confetti

Corned beef

Costumes

Dancing

Downtown

Float

Green

Holiday

Instruments

Irish

Joke

Kilt

Leprechaun

March

Music

Parade

Party

Pot pf gold

Potatoes

Route

Shamrock

Sing

Song

St. Patrick

Stand

Streamers

Street

Watch