How to Use Communication Boards

Communication boards are an awesome tool to give students the ability to communicate in a low tech way. But sometimes they are big, bulky, and hard to sift through losing the communication connection.

I created Communication on the Go boards because they are small, compact, and easy to carry with you wherever you may go. I have now finished a basic set, a school set, and a home set! (grab the bundle here) and I am super excited about the opportunity this gives students to have words with them wherever they may be.

HOW TO USE COMMUNICATION BOARDS:

These boards are something that the student should ALWAYS have access too. You may choose to bind them into a mini book for each location… have them on a binder for a specific subject, or bind all the words into one book.

MODEL IT. Yup just like anything else we teach, when introducing something new it needs to be modeled. You can use the board with the student during the day and show them how to point to the board to make choices and complete answers for their work.
USE IT ALL THE TIME. There is no time for only practicing with communication boards for a few minutes a day. There is no time of day on a schedule for communication practice. We must practice this skill through incidental learning at all times during the day. The more opportunities for practice you can create throughout the day- the more efficient the student will become with the boards and the more learning will take place.
GIVE THEM TIME. Do not consider the strategy to not be working if the student is not catching on in a day, a week, or a month. This strategy may take some time for them to learn, master, and be comfortable enough to learn independently. Make sure you are giving the student that time and continuing to model and practice!

Once a student becomes efficient at school, the family at home may want to try the same strategies! This is awesome and creates learning opportunities wherever the student may go!

Communication boards at home can be used for: