Resources
We have free resources available for use in the classroom by teachers working with deaf children and parents.
Improving Language Blogs
Our Speech & Language Therapy Team have put together a number of worksheets and blogs for use by parents with their deaf child to help develop their language skills. These are also appropriate for use in the classroom.
Downloads
- Non literal language parent advice sheet
- Social thinking blog
- Supporting your child at home summer holiday activity sheet
- Supporting your child at home Christmas Activity Sheet
- Supporting your child at home Jokes Blog
- Supporting your child at home Language Skills
- Supporting your child at home timetelling blog
Count on Words
Count on Words is an intervention programme to support students’ development of Maths vocabulary, increasing their access to Mathematical learning, and their ability to achieve. It was developed by Mary Hare School for deaf students, however it could greatly benefit any students with delayed language or low language levels, including Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and English Language Learners (ELL).
WHY?
Maths has one of the largest glossaries of technical language. Many words have different meanings in different contexts e.g. scale, mean, pi and irregular plurals (datum/data, index number/indices). Some words have many different forms: multiple, multiples, multiply, multiplying, multiplies, multiplier, multiplied, multiplicate, multiplication. Additionally, there can be many words to describe the same thing e.g. add, plus, total, sum, all together. The words selected for this resource were taken from the most frequently occurring words on Mathematics GCSE papers (Edexcel 2017 Specification). All students can benefit from exploring Maths vocabulary. Studies into educational outcomes in children around the world have found language skills and vocabulary knowledge to be contributing factors to Mathematical success. Students with low language levels require explicit teaching of key vocabulary to acquire new language and enhance progress.
HOW?
Exposure to new words and their meanings.
Repetition to ensure words are committed to long-term memory.
Variation of the word in all its forms and meanings.
Research tells us that vocabulary instruction works best when it is explicit and engaging with frequent exposure over time. Activities should use visuals and games, make connections and capture the student’s interest. Our intervention programme is based on these principles.
Each topic consists of five 30-40 minute sessions. Follow the instructions in the notes section on each PowerPoint. Activities are designed to increase exposure to language, and improve memory, understanding and spelling. There are attractive images, discussion activities and jokes. All resources are provided including an assessment to track individual word progress.
These resources were developed by Rachel Lethbridge when she was SENCO at Mary Hare School. Rachel can now be contacted on rachaellethbridge@outlook.com