ACCESS ACTIVITY BUNDLES: TOOLS FOR LITERACY AND COMMUNICATION

ACCESS activity bundles are samples of activities we have created and used with our outpatient therapy patients and in our classrooms. These materials are not professionally developed materials; they are “teacher-made” materials we share with therapists and educators as a tool to inspire others to create individualized materials. Each bundle contains activites designed to improve language arts, reading, writing, math, science and social skills. More important than the materials are the ideas and concept behind the process: Our hope is anyone using the bundles will get ideas to customize materials for their students and patients.

Bundles for sale include multiple activities at a variety of ability levels and are appropriate for preschool-aged children through Grade 2. They are coded by colors that represent different themes: zoo-, ocean- and farm-related activites can be found in the Blue bundle; bugs- and gardening-related activites in the Green; bear-, house- and clothing-related activities in the Red; and pond- and bird-related activities in the Yellow. The use of real photos makes activities easy to use with older children.

Bundles are $30 each, including shipping and handling. See the downloadable order form.

TYPES OF ACTIVITIES USED IN THE BUNDLES:

Communication Displays
Communication boards were developed using Mayer Johnson Board Maker software. The provided boards are samples of the communication boards one can develop to use with commercially available books or with teacher/therapist-developed books. ACCESS recommends the Mayer Johnson Board Maker software program; it is a relatively inexpensive program and is highly versatile.

Activity Displays and Song Boards
Teaching language in the context of songs and during play is very motivational and helps to
encourage transition of skills into other formats. Picture communication symbols, along with clip
art and actual photos, are used to develop manipulative materials that can be predictable and
highly repetitive in nature.

Books
Included in bundles are books written by ACCESS staff members. Feel free to use this text with other photos, or take these ideas and simplify or increase the complexity to suit the needs of students. It is important to consider the comprehension level of students when deciding what level of text to use for students.

Graphic Organizers
Visualizing language for children with language learning difficulties is extremely important. Bundles include samples of graphic organizers to use. Feel free to take these ideas and develop more to use with other thematic units and books.

PowerPoint Activities
Technology is a great way to engage students. The bundles include a few samples of materials that can be used with students. You can take any book and transform it into a PowerPoint activity. By using simple animation and recorded voice, you can quickly turn a book into a multimedia presentation or a digital storybook.

Other: Cards, Games, Worksheet
By using games, cards and worksheets, the same vocabulary used in books, activities and graphic organizers can be used to create worksheets that students and patients can complete at home or in the classroom.

Resources
BoardMaker by Mayer Johnson www.mayer-johnson.com
Art Explosion - Photo Objects by Nova Development www.novadevelopment.com
Tammy Simmons, CEO and Co-Founder, ACCESS Group, Inc.
Cindy Young, COO and Co-Founder, ACCESS Group, Inc.

TO ORDER AN ACTIVITY BUNDLE, CLICK HERE FOR THE DOWNLOADABLE ORDER FORM, AND MAIL THE FORM WITH A CHECK TO: ACCESS GROUP INC., 10618 BRECKENRIDGE DR., LITTLE ROCK, AR 72211. TO ORDER BY CREDIT CARD, CALL 501-217-8600. BUNDLES ARE MAILED IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT.