Why I Love Back to School Core Vocabulary
Excited, anxious, optimistic, overwhelmed… there are many different ways to feel about going back to school after summer break. Why I Love School by Daniel Howarth is a simple book that your students may enjoy. It repeats the phrase “I love school because…” and highlights various enjoyable things related to going to school.
This book provides many opportunities to model the core words “I like”. Read the book and model “I like” using the students’ AAC systems. Follow it up with these activities where you can provide more exposure to core vocabulary while also getting to know your students better…
“The Things I Like” Worksheet
Download this free worksheet to learn about your students’ favorite foods, sports, animals, and more. Help them draw their favorite items and complete the phrase “I like ___”.
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Arts and Crafts
Make a collage of your students’ favorite things. You could look through grocery store flyers and cut out pictures of foods they like. Or you could collect items (pom poms, feathers, beads, stickers, buttons, etc.) that are all in their favorite color. Encourage them to ask each other about the things they like.
Back to School Gross Motor Activity
Set up in an area where you have some room to move around. Then line up your students with each one facing the student in front of them. Ask them to choose between 2 things. Tell them to move to the right if they prefer the first option and to the left if they prefer the second option. Prompt them to return to the middle before asking the next question. This will give your students the chance to stretch their legs as you learn about the things they like. Here are some choices you can give them…
- Dogs or cats
- Pancakes or waffles
- Watching a movie or listening to music
- Beach or mountains
- Winter or summer
- Super speed or super strength
“I Like” Song
Singing is a fun and interactive way to target core vocabulary. Sing “I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas”. You can even make up your own lyrics if you want!
Snack
Make fruit salad or trail mix. Allow each student to tell you what they would like in their snack.
Wishing you and your students a great school year!
