Language arts includes the components of written and spoken language that we use to express our thoughts and ideas. This includes reading, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, handwriting, listening, and speaking. Since language arts includes so many components, I am going to break it into two parts.  In this first part of how to lead homeschool lessons using The Autism Helper, Language Arts Leveled Daily Curriculum, I am focusing on reading, speaking, and vocabulary.

Here are my suggestions for teaching language arts homeschool lessons, part one.

Hands-On Learning

Just like I explained in my previous posts on leading homeschool lessons, I like to start my lessons with hands-on learning to help comprehension. I look for all kinds of resources to help teach concepts. I love puzzles, toys that are like real objects, like play food, file folders, and task boxes.  After we work on some hands-on learning activities, we finish up with that day’s worksheet. I also use the Leveled Daily Curriculum Level 1 file folders for Ben and George.

Reading and Speaking

In my blog post last month, I talked about reading, so I will just briefly discuss it here. The language arts curriculum focuses on reading and speaking skills as well. Reading is a good time to work on speaking skills. Actually, any time is a great time to work on speaking skills, but this is how I focus on speaking during reading. Ben is working on letters and their sounds. He uses his AAC to speak. We have his device at the table, and he uses it to say letters and sounds, and read words. He has some verbal abilities, but the AAC device is his primary mode of communication.   George is starting to move into CVC words, but as he is speaking more, we are now having him practice saying his letters and sounds. I love Lakeshore’s Hear Myself Alphabet Sound Phone Center and Hand2Mind’s Mirror My Sound Phoneme Set so he can see and hear how he says them. Davyd is working on CVC sounds because I want to help him articulate words properly. His reading level can be higher, but he has trouble with comprehension. He needs to work on WH questions which is what he is working on for the Level 2 language arts curriculum.

My blog post, last month on reading. https://theautismhelper.com/leading-homeschool-reading-lessons-with-the-leveled-daily-curriculum/

Vocabulary

I like to make vocabulary meaningful. I always try to include objects or pictures to help the boys comprehend the words I am trying to teach. The Autism Helper Language Arts curriculum has vocabulary words in Levels 0.5 to 1.5.  When possible, I like to use objects. This is pretty simple with the categories that the curriculum teaches. For food vocabulary, I use toy food. For transportation vocabulary, I will go to the Hot Wheels aisle of Target or Walmart and grab each of the vehicles I need. For the animal vocabulary unit, I used Little People animals. Sometimes I had to search a little, but I always found what I was looking for. Using objects like this with the anchor charts creates identical matching opportunities. I try to use real objects whenever available school supplies and clothing vocabulary are a good time to use actual items. Household vocabulary is a good opportunity to label things around the house.

Conclusion

Language arts includes all components of written and spoken communication. Communication is so important to work on with children, especially with autism. I know firsthand that when children cannot communicate through spoken language, they will communicate any way they know how and this can be undesirable behavior. It is necessary to have your child’s method of communication with them for all lessons. I will continue to provide how we use our AAC devices in homeschooling.

Next month I will continue talking about language arts lessons.