Teaching Core Vocabulary Using the TELL ME PROGAM Cynthia Lawther, Speech-Language Pathologist Suzanne Varner, Preschool Special Needs Teacher

TELL ME stands for Teaching Early Language and Literacy through Multimodal Expression.

TELL ME is a program for use in preschool classrooms whose children exhibit expressive language disorders. It is designed to also include children who use augmentative communication. It is not linked to any particular AAC system.

Seven Principles of the TELL ME Program 1. Language and literacy learning happen all day and are taught in activities throughout the school day. 2. Children need direct instruction to learn the basic vocabulary that forms the foundation for language development. 3. TELL ME focuses on high frequency or core words. 4. The program is based on repeated readings of carefully chosen storybooks.

5. Children with significant communication difficulties need frequent opportunities to practice new words. 6. Core words are introduced and then reviewed and practiced repeatedly. 7. Children learn best when core vocabulary is visible throughout the day.

The TELL ME Program s implemented through the reading of a storybook for 2 weeks (10 school days). Materials are provided for 11 children’s books. 2-6 core words are identified from each book for repeated instruction. These words are called the BOW WOW words (Book of the Week Words of the Week) and are displayed on the classroom chart with a dog symbol.

For children who may be learning at a faster rate or who were provided TELL ME instruction the previous school year, additional core words are selected for each book. These are called Tiger Talk words and are displayed with a tiger symbol. After introduced in 1 book, the BOW WOW words are reviewed repeatedly after moving on to other books.

The components of the TELL ME program are the manual and a flash drive. Page 61 of the manual shows the TELL ME Book List with the corresponding BOW WOW and Tiger Talk words. The storybooks need to be purchased separately. 10 days of activities are organized in Book Packets for each story.

The first half of the TELL ME manual (pages 5-62) contains general information about the program. The second half (pages 77-151) is a printed copy of the Book Packet for the book, “I Went Walking”. The Book Packets for the rest of the books are on the flash drive.

Each Book Packet contains: 1. Book-at-a-Glance 2. Shared Reading Lessons 3. Shared Writing Lessons 4. Infusion Activities 5. Implementation-Fidelity Checklists 6. Home Extension/SHARE Activities 7. Symbol Cards from different AAC systems 8. Appendix with Printable Templates for Book Activities

Book-At-A-Glance Book-at-a-Glance is a table that outlines 10 days of activities for each book. Page 11 in the manual shows a blank Book-at-a-Glance planning form. This form can be helpful if you want to use books other than those included in TELL ME and listed on page 61. Page 79 shows a completed table for the book, “I Went Walking”. Completed tables for the other books are on the flash drive.

Shared Reading Lessons Shared Reading Lessons provide detailed instructions for how to implement 10 days of TELL ME lessons. How to read the story and introduce its core words along with the sequence of follow-up activities are specifically explained. The manual contains basic information about the shared reading lessons with more specific instructions provided in each book packet.

Shared Writing Lessons Shared Writing Lessons provide activities to introduce the alphabet and to create sentences related to the stories and their core vocabulary.

Infusion Activities Infusion Activities show how to incorporate the new core words into different aspects of the daily school routine so that the children get many opportunities to practice their new words. As shown on the Book-At- A-Glance planning form, infusion activities can be applied during arrival, circle time, centers, work stations, outside time, snack time, and at dismissal.

Additionally, each Book Packet contains a list of apps that are related to the book’s theme and can be used to enhance instruction. The apps are meant to be used by a child with the teacher by his side modeling the core words.

Implementation/Fidelity Checklists Several forms that can help teachers stay on track while using the TELL ME program are included. These checklists can be used for self-assessment or by mentors or administrators who visit the classroom to observe instruction.

Home Extension Home Extension activities provide additional practice materials for the child to do at home. They also serve as a way to keep parents informed about what is happening in the classroom. The activities are organized into 2 weekly Share Packets and contain things such as the list of BOW WOW words, scripts and activities parents are asked to use with their child, and information specific to their child. A form is also included for the parents to respond back to the school.

Symbol Cards Symbol Cards for all of the BOW WOW and Tiger Talk words are provided. 2 inch PCS, Pixon, Smarty Symbols, and Sign Language symbol cards are all included.

APPENDIX An Appendix is provided in each Book Packet containing printable templates that are used in the activities for each book, such as art projects and cooking instructions.

How We Did It…. TELL ME is a very extensive program. Some programs can be so overwhelming that implementation can be delayed indefinitely while you get everything “ready”. There can also be the problem of trying to fit so much new instruction into an already packed school day. An alternative would be to implement as much as you can to get started and then add components after the program is established.

How We Implemented TELL ME during the 2018-19 School Year: Our focus was on learning and using core words, combining words, and improving comprehension. We did the Shared Reading lessons as they were described in the manual. We did some infusion activities. Some language activities, including core word symbol cards, were sent home for reinforcement.

TELL ME time was used as a time to help the classroom staff learn aided language stimulation (modeling) and prompting hierarchy for their AAC students. We used Boardmaker and Symbol Stix symbol cards in 6 classrooms and Unity/LAMP symbols in 1 classroom. 4 inch symbols were used on the Veltex classroom display boards and 6 inch symbols were used for the review core word ring.

Besides the Preschool Special-Needs Classrooms, the TELL ME Program was used in elementary ABA and special education classrooms and a middle school classroom for children with severe cognitive impairments. Entire classroom staff involvement was key. The teacher, aides, and SLP assigned to the class all sat with the children and provided needed guidance and aided language stimulation for the AAC users.

Additions to TELL ME Program use for 2019-20 school year: Add question comprehension lessons to the “What Happened” Shared Reading activities. Begin incorporating some Shared Writing activities, including sentence formation lessons in all rooms and some alphabet lessons in the classrooms other than the preschool rooms. Incorporate WOW (Word of the Week) activities Send home weekly, modified Share Packets