Decoding Comprehension: Info and Apps

image via: http://dekalbcountyonline.com/tag/parent-teacher-conferences/

After Sensi's school conference, we agreed that we are going to need to work hard on Sensi's paraphrasing skills. Sensi's Speech Therapist explained to me how this all works. Sensi can decode words and read aloud above her grade level, but she has trouble retelling the story since (we think) she feels that she has to retell a story verbatim rather than in her own words. It is important you drop the reading level below 1-2 levels below decoding level when using this approach.
The way to do this is working with simple sentence stories: Tommy went to the grocery store on Saturday to buy some milk. 
Now to paraphrase using "wh" questions...

Who went to the store?
What did Tommy do on Saturday? 
When did Tommy go to the store?
Where did Tommy go on Saturday?
Why did Tommy go to the store?

image via: http://www.amazon.com/OLIVIA-Counts-Christmas-Maggie-Testa/dp/1442457473

Of course there are apps for this, but it can be done just as easily with pencil and paper as long as you follow the form.  Person did something on a certain day at a certain place to do a task. Sally went to the post office yesterday to mail her party invitations. Right now we are doing this with the book "Olivia Counts Down To Christmas."

You can find apps for this at the Super Duper Publications App Store, here are a few: 

image via: http://www.padgadget.com/ipad-app-details/560494137/17/1/4

Super Duper StoryMaker: There are free and paid versions
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/super-duper-storymaker-free

image via: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wh-question-cards/id515954148?mt=8

Wh Questions Cards: Who, what, why, where, what.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wh-question-cards 

image via: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/storybuddy-2/id505856601?mt=8

Sensi's teacher also found a story telling app, StoryBuddy :
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/storybuddy-2 

Also there are apps based on the six stages of language development from PRC App lab, here is a link to their page explaining the concept, http://applab.prentrom.com 
The ones I will be getting for Sensi are: 

image via: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/language-lab-directing-activities/id527182200?mt=8

Direct Phrases: Have fun directing activities.
https://itunes.apple.com/app/language-lab-directing-activities 

image via: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/language-lab-ing-verbs-+-prepositions/id538287872?mt=8

-ing words and Prepositions: Helps with forming complete sentences and the use of prepositions.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/language-lab-ing-verbs-+-prepositions

image via: http://applab.prentrom.com/screenshot.php?app=4&pic=1

Simple Sentences: Building on the -ing words app, encourages more complete grammatical sentences.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/language-lab-simple-sentences


We have lots of work to do, but it can be creative and fun too. I hope you have fun with your story telling and "wh" questions with your own kids.

What's in the App Basket?

image via: http://mediacircus2.blogspot.com/2012/04/mc2-post-1238-just-looking-for-easter.html

Here are some of the latest apps I discovered for speech and cognitive development. I also included one for fine motor development. I found most of them in my quest for the perfect sequencing/storytelling app and looking for following directions apps. As usual all apps are within the general app price of .99 to 3.99 unless otherwise noted.  *Plus* how to Update your iPad,

i See-quence sequencing apps to tell about your day, or to relate social stories,  requires an  iOS 4.3 or later
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/i-see-quence.-my-daily-schedule/id508561857?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Chalk Walk- helps develop pincer grasp,  requires an  iOS 5
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chalk-walk/id517669317?mt=8

Comic strip app for creating your own social stories
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/comicstrip-cs/id392197108?mt=8

Easy Concepts, helps develop skills in following verbal two and three step directions and knowledge of basic concepts. This one is priced at $4.99,  requires an  iOS 4.3
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/easyconcepts/id476202498?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

image via: http://www.iosnoops.com/appinfo/easyconcepts-for-ipad/476202498

My latest find on our storytelling and direction following quest is Hamaguchi  apps for Speech Language and Auditory Development  all cost .99 for the lite version and $9.99 for the full version
Fun with Directions, this one caused some upset at our house since it was too much like school.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fun-with-directions-hd/id475972703?mt=8
First Phrases,  requires an  iOS 4.3
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/first-phrases-hd/id473894018?mt=8
Picture the Sentence, requires an  iOS 4.3
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/picture-the-sentence-hd/id478599625?mt=8f

image via: http://www.iosnoops.com/appinfo/picture-the-sentence-hd-lite-for-ipad/480075539

If you are like me the process of updating software is about as desirable as bamboo under your fingernails. I figured the latest iOS update release was before Thanksgiving, it was safe to do by now.  I am  tired of the damn thing telling me an app requires an  iOS 4.3.  If I want to get SensiGirl some of the sentence and sequencing apps, I have to have a current version of the iPad iOS.  As I am only mildly tech adept, I don't do this often enough. Here are links explaining how to deal with errors I had updating my iPad device. Make sure you disable your anti-spyware/anti-virus ware before you try to update. Hint,  before upgrading your iOS, sync your device yourself. Once synced, then you can download your update. I had some trouble with errors and restores and such, but as you can see most apps are written for the second most or most current version of the iPad Operating System, so an upgrade is a must.
Read the links to the end of discussion to make sure you have the right answer. Sometimes the "best answer" isn't really the solution.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3373848?start=0&tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3388457?start=0&tstart=0
http://www.macworld.com/article/1162983/some_users_face_problems_upgrading_to_ios_5.html


resources:
http://www.iosnoops.com/appinfo/picture-the-sentence-hd-lite-for-ipad/480075539
Gary James at Apps for Children with Special Needs on Pinterest

Saying Thank You

image from: http://origin.kaboodle.com/hi/img/c/0/0/14e/9/AAAADFuaim4AAAAAAU6byA.jpg?v=1303579676000

I know it is the educators' and therapists jobs to help my child, but I still thank them every chance I get. I thank the teachers, the social workers, the principals. I make sure that SensiGirl and Random Guy say thank you too. I know that when you are trying to pull any sort of speech out of your child, thank you may not be the one you think to start to teach. It is important.
I really want SensiGirl to be polite, even if she may not say much.  So we started working on saying thank you. When I couldn't get her to just say thank you on cue as in "What do you say?" after someone gives you something, we started to work on other ways to get her to say it. Signing wasn't working; the ASL sign for thank you didn't register to her.

image from:http://schools.fsusd.k12.ca.us/schools/crystal/TeachWeb/taras/images/thinkingcapwhoa_color.gif

Then I remembered that SensiGirl was all about the alphabet! She started reading when she was two and a half or so. I started finger spelling the things I wanted her to say. We made up our own sign for thank you combining the T and the H and holding it sideways. It was a subtle little sign that I could show her when the bakery ladies gave SensiGirl a cookie at Big Box store.  I could show it to her when she was opening her birthday and Christmas gifts. It worked, and still works. We have now moved on the the "What do you say?' cue, but I am glad we made the effort to have some of her first words be thank you.  From teaching her those words I was able to teach her a whole lot more words, and to get her attention when sometimes it was sensory overload time. The alphabet, the visuals of signing and written words had meaning for her. It was a way to connect to her even though the spoken words didn't register for her at the time.

Thank you are some of the most important words you can say and are the best ones to hear when you are trying your hardest. I will never forget the note SensiGirl's preschool teacher gave me at the end of the school year last spring and we were transitioning to kindergarten.  She thanked ME for the privilege and honor of being SensiGirl's teacher.  Thanking me for letting her teach my child, wow, it made me cry a little bit.  She also was one of the first people to call me an advocate for my child. It made me see a little bit of which way I was going to have to go. Thank you everyone who is on this journey with me, as I couldn't get there without all the love and support.

 Remember, the smallest thank you can have a huge effect.