Conversation Starters - I put these in sheet protectors in a ring binder that I use in a small group, as part of a start-the-day routine. We go through a greetings and calendar script and then use the boards to extend conversation. Model and rehearse different responses so that students are less likely to become habituated to one response. I pass the book around so that students can point if they are nonverbal. Another teacher has made binders for each student. What is your favorite color? What is your favorite cartoon? NEW What is your favorite drink? NEW Favorite Cereal? NEW Favorite Green Vegetable? NEW Favorite Fruit? NEW Favorite Soda? NEW Favorite Vegetable? NEW What is your favorite cookie? NEW What is your favorite salty snack? What is your favorite drink? What is your favorite snack? What is your favorite toy or game?

Morning Circle Songs - Greetings-Here's a new set. Two social stories and two songs about saying hello and goodbye. The piggyback songs have lyrics whipped up by Jaen Mayberry. The kids love the Hello Song, which is an old Girl Scout number. If you can't recall it, just thrash it out any-old-how, with gusto. Make a meal of it and shake hands with each student for the 2nd verse. The Name Song is good practice for responding to the age old question- What's your name?

Ask Questions- This can be good in circle time for students who are verbal, but still find it difficult to respond and/or make choices. one and two and three

Hand-Washing Song - We read that you should wash your hands for the amount of time it takes to sing Happy Birthday. Following the motto to sing as many instructions as possible, Jaen Mayberry wrote piggy back lyrics to that tune. Print it. Put it in a sheet protector, and hang it in the bathroom, if you like.

Personal Information Mnemonics- I don't know the original author of these chants, but they can work well for some students in a circle time. I put all my morning activities in a ring binder which is held up to the students so they can look at the words and pictures as we go along. Start with a written, teacher-modeled, phone number response, etc. , that the student can follow. Fade to the student reading the response. Fade the written response and eventually, fade the mnemonic and ask the question in a more natural way. Try Telephone Number, Birthday, and Address. Here is an original Name jingle. Kids love these!

SymbolWorld.org Social and Personal picture sequences for student to read online.

A Fire Safety Song - to listen to online or to print from Do2learn.

A Personal Information worksheet for a student to fill out after prerequisite weighing and measuring. Use as a first step toward filling in forms.

Label a Place Setting - from Enchanted Learning.

The Deodorant Story - Use this story or create one along these lines to improve a student's personal hygiene.

The Menstruation Story- Use this story or create one along these lines to help reduce stress and improve a student's personal hygiene. Check with parents and school policy for permission . We read this before going to the bathroom, took it with us and reviewed the pictures as we proceeded through the process. Another copy was sent home to broaden generalization. page 1 and page 2

The Socio-sexual development of people with autism and related learning disabilities, a document archived with the National Autism Society of Great Britain. This is very useful reading for teachers of younger students as well as teen-aged kids.

Object by Function Speech Exercise for verbal students- to print.

© www.tinsnips.org 2006