Children with intellectual disabilities are often denied exposure to mathematical word-problem solving since it is believed to beyond their intellectual abilities. This study aimed to determine whether children with intellectual disabilities could be taught to solve subtraction word-problems. The underlying premise of this study was that the receptive mathematical language skills of children with intellectual disabilities needed to be enhanced so as to optimize their word-problem solving abilities. This was undertaken through the implementation of a mathematical aided language stimulation programme (MAiLgS). This programme aimed to maximise exposure to and understanding of the mathematical language of word-problems for children with intellectual disabilities through simultaneous exposure to spoken input and visual supports. Two strategies were combined to form the MAiLgS programme. The first strategy referred to Goossens’ (1989) principles of aided language stimulation whereby graphic symbols in the form of Picture Communication Symbols (PCS symbols) (Johnson, 1981) and spoken input were utilized to expound upon and clarify the vocabulary comprising word-problems. Riley, Greeno and Heller’s model of word-problem solving (1983) was used to structure the three types of subtraction word-problems and to provide visual support in calculating the word-problem solutions. Seven children with intellectual disabilities aged between 8;0 and 12;0 were taught to solve the subtraction word-problems in a small group format. A multiple baseline design across behaviours (three types of subtraction word-problems) replicated across seven participants was used. The MAiLgS programme entailed teaching each of the three types of subtraction word-problems over a period of three weeks, with one word-problem type being taught each week. Participants’ subtraction-word problem solving was monitored daily using probe tests. Three maintenance probes were conducted four weeks after intervention stopped. Four of the seven participants demonstrated improved subtraction word-problems solving for the three types of subtraction word-problems. The remaining three participants demonstrated minimal change in their ability to solve the word-problems. The results of this study suggest that a MAiLgS programme may be used in a small group format to teach word-problem solving to children with intellectual disabilities. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / tm2015 / Centre for Augmentative & Alternative Communication (CAAC) / PhD / Unrestricted

Background: Some children with ASD have comprehension difficulties that affect their ability to follow directives that contain prepositions. Aided input has been known to facilitate improved comprehension skills when spoken language is used with graphic symbols. Aims: This study examined the effects that aided input presented at two levels (20% of aided input and 60% of aided input) has on children with ASD’s following of directives that contain prepositions. Methods: An experimental, within-subjects crossover design was utilised where all participants were exposed to each treatment condition at a different time period. Altogether 21 participants between 5.0 and 11.11 years of age were asked to follow 12 directives using aided input at two conditions. Participants first completed a pre-test task to confirm their noun knowledge, preposition knowledge and matching skills. Participants were described based on the CARS classification and their PPVT-4 scores. The effects of the aided input were measured and compared based on the accuracy of responses. Results: Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data, and multivariate analysis was used to analyse the data. Some children with ASD (n=9) who received a higher level of aided input (60%) were able to respond more accurately than those who received a lower level of aided input (20%). However, some children with ASD (n=4) responded more accurately to the lower level of aided input (20%) than the higher level of aided input (60%). Some children with ASD (n=5) responded in the same manner for both levels of aided input and some children with ASD (n=3) did not respond at all despite the level of aided input. The results showed no statistically significant difference between the higher (60%) and lower (20%) levels of aided input. Conclusion: It was concluded that the 60% aided input level yielded a higher accuracy of responses than the 20% aided input level in some children with ASD. In addition, the results suggest that augmenting spoken language was advantageous in some children with ASD. However, further research is needed to better describe the effects of aided input, using graphic symbols. Future research directions are suggested. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / MA / Unrestricted

No description available.

<p>The purpose of the paper is to examine how teachers in preschool is working with language stimulation for the prevention of difficulties in reading and writing before school starts. The method that was used to illuminate the problem is a qualitative interview. A specialpedagog and six preschool teacher, which is specifically focused on language stimulation in the work with children, have been included in the study. The results indicated that preschool teacher are working a lot with language stimulation. They work mostly with children throughout the group, to encourage and provide children with the tools to be able to communicate with each other and staff. Decks language are used in daily activities. The form of language stimulation creates the conditions for participation and activity, where children are stimulated by each other. Student teachers stressed that <em>signs as a support</em> is something good to work with at nursery, because it gives all the children a chance to communicate. It appears that preschool teatcher want to work more consciously with language stimulation for the prevention of reading and writingproblems and thereby affect the whole child's development positively. In my literature review it is shown that previous researches have reached similar results. Something that is highlighted in the literature are that <em>signs as a support</em> increased opportunities for communication. It could involve children, who, for various reasons do not have access to the Swedish language, such as small children who have not yet developed the language, children with bad hearing or immigrant children.</p> / <p>Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka hur pedagoger i förskolan arbetar med språkstimulering för att förebygga läs- och skrivsvårigheter inför skolstarten. Metoden som har använts för att belysa problemområdet är kvalitativ intervju. En specialpedagog och sex förskollärare, som är speciellt inriktad på språkstimulering i arbetet med barnen, har ingått i studien. I resultaten framkommer att pedagoger arbetar en hel del med språkstimulering. De arbetar oftast med hela barngruppen, för att stimulera och ge barnen verktyg till att kunna kommunicera med varandra och personalen. Språklekar används i den dagliga verksamheten. Den formen av språkstimulering skapar förutsättningar för deltagande och aktivitet, där barnen stimuleras av varandra. Pedagogerna framhåller att, <em>tecken som stöd</em> är någonting bra att arbeta med på förskolor, eftersom det ger alla barn en chans att kommunicera. Det framkommer att pedagogerna vill arbeta mer medvetet med språkstimulering för att förebygga läs- och skrivsvårigheter och därigenom påverka hela barnets utveckling positivt. I min litteraturstudie har tidigare forskning kommit fram till liknande resultat. Någonting som framhålls i litteraturen är, <em>tecken som stöd,</em> för att skapa ökade möjligheter för kommunikation. Det kan gälla barn, som av olika skäl inte har tillgång till det svenska språket, exempelvis små barn som ännu inte utvecklat språket, barn som hör dåligt eller invandrarbarn.</p>

<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>In my work on language development in preschool the purpose was to examine how and to what extent the pre-school supports children with special needs in their language development. Trough qualitative interviews with four preschool teachers, I wanted to see how they work with language development in preschool. In the study, Main questions asked in the inquiry :</p><ul><li>How do teachers and support children’s language development?</li><li>What techniques, resources and tools available to facilitate language development?</li></ul><p> </p><p>The conclusion that I made from my inquiry is that the primary language stimulation methods teachers use to encourage children’s language development are rhymes telling, books reading and song singing based on active selection of pieces that match the children’s maturity level.</p><p>And how they are using different language stimulation techniques Karlstad model, TAKK (Signs of augmentative and alternative communication) and TRAS (Early registration of language development) to promote children’s language development.</p><p> </p><p>Keyword: Language development, language stimulation, treatment, communication, methods.</p> / <p><strong>Sammanfattning</strong></p><p>I mitt arbete om språkutveckling i förskolan var syftet att undersöka hur och i vilken utsträckning förskolan stödjer barn i behov av särskilt stöd i sin språkutveckling. Genom kvalitativ intervju med fyra förskolepedagoger ville jag se hur dessa arbetar med språkutvecklingen i förskolan. I undersökningen utgick jag från frågeställningarna.</p><p> </p><ul><li>Hur arbetar och stödjer pedagogerna barns språkutveckling?<strong></strong></li><li>Vilka metoder, resurser och hjälpmedel finns att tillgå för att underlätta språkutvecklingen?<strong></strong></li></ul><p> </p><p>De slutsatser jag har gjort av min undersökning är att det språkstimulerande arbete pedagogerna använder sig av är rim ramsor, böcker och sånger för att främja barns språkutveckling. Samt hur de tar hjälp av olika språkstimulerande metoder som Karlstad modellen, TAKK (Tecken som Alternativ och Kompletterande Kommunikation) och TRAS (Tidig registrering av språkutveckling) för att främja barns språkutveckling.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Nyckelord</strong>: Språkutveckling, språkstimulering, metoder, bemötande, Kommunikation och föräldrasamverkan</p>

Abstract In my work on language development in preschool the purpose was to examine how and to what extent the pre-school supports children with special needs in their language development. Trough qualitative interviews with four preschool teachers, I wanted to see how they work with language development in preschool. In the study, Main questions asked in the inquiry : How do teachers and support children’s language development? What techniques, resources and tools available to facilitate language development?   The conclusion that I made from my inquiry is that the primary language stimulation methods teachers use to encourage children’s language development are rhymes telling, books reading and song singing based on active selection of pieces that match the children’s maturity level. And how they are using different language stimulation techniques Karlstad model, TAKK (Signs of augmentative and alternative communication) and TRAS (Early registration of language development) to promote children’s language development.   Keyword: Language development, language stimulation, treatment, communication, methods. / Sammanfattning I mitt arbete om språkutveckling i förskolan var syftet att undersöka hur och i vilken utsträckning förskolan stödjer barn i behov av särskilt stöd i sin språkutveckling. Genom kvalitativ intervju med fyra förskolepedagoger ville jag se hur dessa arbetar med språkutvecklingen i förskolan. I undersökningen utgick jag från frågeställningarna.   Hur arbetar och stödjer pedagogerna barns språkutveckling? Vilka metoder, resurser och hjälpmedel finns att tillgå för att underlätta språkutvecklingen?   De slutsatser jag har gjort av min undersökning är att det språkstimulerande arbete pedagogerna använder sig av är rim ramsor, böcker och sånger för att främja barns språkutveckling. Samt hur de tar hjälp av olika språkstimulerande metoder som Karlstad modellen, TAKK (Tecken som Alternativ och Kompletterande Kommunikation) och TRAS (Tidig registrering av språkutveckling) för att främja barns språkutveckling.     Nyckelord: Språkutveckling, språkstimulering, metoder, bemötande, Kommunikation och föräldrasamverkan

The purpose of the paper is to examine how teachers in preschool is working with language stimulation for the prevention of difficulties in reading and writing before school starts. The method that was used to illuminate the problem is a qualitative interview. A specialpedagog and six preschool teacher, which is specifically focused on language stimulation in the work with children, have been included in the study. The results indicated that preschool teacher are working a lot with language stimulation. They work mostly with children throughout the group, to encourage and provide children with the tools to be able to communicate with each other and staff. Decks language are used in daily activities. The form of language stimulation creates the conditions for participation and activity, where children are stimulated by each other. Student teachers stressed that signs as a support is something good to work with at nursery, because it gives all the children a chance to communicate. It appears that preschool teatcher want to work more consciously with language stimulation for the prevention of reading and writingproblems and thereby affect the whole child's development positively. In my literature review it is shown that previous researches have reached similar results. Something that is highlighted in the literature are that signs as a support increased opportunities for communication. It could involve children, who, for various reasons do not have access to the Swedish language, such as small children who have not yet developed the language, children with bad hearing or immigrant children. / Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka hur pedagoger i förskolan arbetar med språkstimulering för att förebygga läs- och skrivsvårigheter inför skolstarten. Metoden som har använts för att belysa problemområdet är kvalitativ intervju. En specialpedagog och sex förskollärare, som är speciellt inriktad på språkstimulering i arbetet med barnen, har ingått i studien. I resultaten framkommer att pedagoger arbetar en hel del med språkstimulering. De arbetar oftast med hela barngruppen, för att stimulera och ge barnen verktyg till att kunna kommunicera med varandra och personalen. Språklekar används i den dagliga verksamheten. Den formen av språkstimulering skapar förutsättningar för deltagande och aktivitet, där barnen stimuleras av varandra. Pedagogerna framhåller att, tecken som stöd är någonting bra att arbeta med på förskolor, eftersom det ger alla barn en chans att kommunicera. Det framkommer att pedagogerna vill arbeta mer medvetet med språkstimulering för att förebygga läs- och skrivsvårigheter och därigenom påverka hela barnets utveckling positivt. I min litteraturstudie har tidigare forskning kommit fram till liknande resultat. Någonting som framhålls i litteraturen är, tecken som stöd, för att skapa ökade möjligheter för kommunikation. Det kan gälla barn, som av olika skäl inte har tillgång till det svenska språket, exempelvis små barn som ännu inte utvecklat språket, barn som hör dåligt eller invandrarbarn.

Thanks to preschool Bamse and the entire literature I have related to in my degree work I have both got an explanation for my question at issue, and a clearer insight for my main question "The treating of bilingual children after acclimatization". I have within the investigation chosen to study on the basis of the educationalists perspective on bilingual way of working. My question at issue on this investigation has been to see how a regular day of language development looks and how the group of children developed the Swedish language. The purpose with my degree work was to be able to get an insight in the educationalists way of working and methods and also to see how the educationalists treats bilingually individuals after the acclimatization. I have when it concerns choice of method and material collections assumed from a qualitative investigation and gathered the material with help from participation notices and interviews. Down here I will sum up the investigation in poles and describe the aspect the informants have pointed out under the interviews. Bilingually children’s develop the Swedish language with the educationalists by: Converse and communicate with the child Name word and objects Using the body language at conversations Building security in the group of children Integrate the playing to a language development in the regular day Confirm the child’s meaning at different connections Create a god relation with the individual Take part of the mother tongue in the program to name single words Giving the individual the opportunity to express their thoughts freely Place the child at the center of attention among the group of children Take part of the parents experience with the mother tongue Giving space to create own imagination with the playing for the individual Have the language as an approach Even the theories mediate that the educationalists shall promote the work with bilingual children so that they control the purpose and see the meaning of activity. The play shall be reason for all activity to increase the will for the group of children. Litterateur also brings out that the preschool program shall establish that the individual gets the opportunity to develop its mother tongue to increase the understanding of the Swedish language. Finally I want to point out that on the basis of the interviews and observations on the preschool program, the educationalists consider that the mother tongue is like a foundation for bilingually children so that they will develop the Swedish language.

Comprehension of spoken language skills are often taken for granted in research concerning early childhood language acquisition in typically developing children. While the onset of early word comprehension arguably precedes word production, traditional research has focused on language production rather than comprehension. A similar trend of focussing on expression is evident in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Traditionally, the role of AAC systems for individuals with little or no functional speech (LNFS) has been as an output mode for expressing messages. While this is an essential role and final outcome of AAC intervention strategies, the role of listeners is equally important. The comprehension of spoken language provides an essential foundation upon which language production competence can be built. AAC users' ability to comprehend spoken language is varied from age equivalent comprehension of spoken language to minimal comprehension. Some AAC users comprehend spoken language and therefore come to the AAC acquisition task with an established knowledge of spoken language. Others who experience difficulty comprehending spoken language require AAC as both input (receptive) and output (expressive) mode. Graphic symbols play a role in facilitating comprehension of messages either through facilitating the comprehension of the spoken language or the AAC symbols. The use of augmented input strategies like aided language stimulation is one type of instructional technique used in teaching graphic symbols to AAC users. Aided language stimulation refers to a technique in which a facilitator or communication partner combines the use of AAC with natural speech through simultaneously pointing to graphic symbols and speaking. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the impact of a three week long aided language stimulation program on the receptive language skills of children with LNFS. Four children participated in this multiple probe study. The aided language stimulation programme comprised three activities viz. arts and crafts, food preparation and story time activity. Each activity was repeated over duration of five subsequent sessions. Eight target vocabulary items were taught within each activity. The acquisition of all 24 target items were probed throughout the duration of the three week intervention period. The results indicated that all the participants acquired the target receptive vocabulary items. There were, however, variations in terms of the rate of acquisition. There was no statistically significant improvement in the general receptive language abilities of the participants. / Thesis (PhD (Augmentative and Alternative Communication))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / unrestricted

This applied dissertation was designed to provide online multimedia training materials for parents of children, ages 2-11, with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), who use or need Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Many children with ASD have communication difficulties, and the best path to communication competence is through some form of AAC. Parents can have an enormous impact on their children’s ability to learn and use AAC effectively. By implementing a few supportive strategies, they can help their children become successful communicators. Implementing strategies in a home-based learning environment is important to provide generalization of skills across settings. Typically, parents do not have access to AAC learning materials to facilitate their child’s AAC learning and language growth. Barriers to accessing this material may be time, accessibility, stress, transportation, or financial constraints. Online education is becoming increasingly more popular and is looked upon as a means to obtain information in an efficient manner. Using specific AAC strategies to enhance receptive and expressive language, parents will be taught how to increase their child’s language skills during this natural routine. Along with input from content-area experts, training materials have been created to help parents better understand ways to support AAC learning at home. Parent participation allows for the materials, which focus on two key strategies, Aided Language Stimulation (ALgS) and Communication Temptations, to be field tested. The information provided by the content experts resulted in changes to the online multimedia training materials in order to determine content validity, evaluate the design, and assess the feasibility. The results indicated that the participant’s knowledge and self-efficacy did significantly increase from the pretest to the posttest after completing the online multimedia training materials. Additionally, the participant’s self-efficacy from The Usage Rating Profile – Intervention Revised (URP-IR) significantly increased after viewing the online multimedia training materials and the URP-IR is a reliable assessment to utilize when measuring self-efficacy.