Tag Archives: Descriptive Teaching

Senior at Loudoun Valley High School Creates Videos and Books to Support the Learning of Language Using Augmentative/Alternative Communication

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Ceci Fetterolf was a senior at Loudoun Valley High School during the 2021-2022 school year. For her capstone project she created a series of videos illustrating the multiple meanings of 15 different frequently used words. These videos can be used to help those learning language using augmentative/alternative communication understand how these words are used in everyday interactions. The videos are organized on a virtual poster each linked via a QR code. 

Ceci also authored three online books explaining mathematical concepts using frequently used words. These books can also be used to help any learner explore math concepts using commonly used language. Learn more about her motivation, approach, and what she learned by listening to this audio interview with Ceci and/or reading the transcript of her interview.

Ceci Fetterolf, a senior at Loudoun Valley High School during the 2021-2022 school year, displays a poster featuring QR codes to each of her created videos and books

Ceci Fetterolf, a senior at Loudoun Valley High School during the 2021-2022 school year, displays a poster featuring QR codes to each of her created videos.

A Strategy for Learning To Describe Anything

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One strategy to help learners understand a particular concept is to systematically describe the salient features of that concept. Asking oneself a series of questions provides that individual with a system for how to understand the concept. Some sample questions might be as follows:

  • What does it look, smell, taste, and/or feel like?
  • What is it made out of it?
  • Where does it come from?
  • Where can it be found?
  • What does it do?
  • How is it used?
  • What else do we know about it?

These questions can also be paired with colors, icons, and tactile symbols (like beads, 3D printed objects, or other materials) to provide a multimodal experience to help learners remember what to ask themselves. Placing the symbols in order, such as on a string or dowel, helps organize thinking into sequence helping to improve recall.

Watch the short video below to learn about one example of the implementation of this type of strategy.

 

 

A Tool to Help Describe Words Using Familiar Vocabulary

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Rewordify.com is a website that simplifies English text. Copy and paste the text to simplify into the website and it will define all of the difficult words! Here is some text from The National Archives describing the Marshall Plan:

“As the war-torn nations of Europe faced famine and economic crisis in the wake of World War II, the United States proposed to rebuild the continent in the interest of political stability and a healthy world economy. On June 5, 1947, in a commencement address at Harvard University, Secretary of State George C. Marshall first called for American assistance in restoring the economic infrastructure of Europe. Western Europe responded favorably, and the Truman administration proposed legislation. The resulting Economic Cooperation Act of 1948 restored European agricultural and industrial productivity. Credited with preventing famine and political chaos, the plan later earned General Marshall a Nobel Peace Prize.”

Here is how rewordify.com changed it:

Passage of text rewordified by rewordify

The text has been changed to provide enough information to increase comprehension of more difficult words and phrases. Give it a try!