AMDi is pleased to provide our newsletter subscribers with a sneak preview of new Smart-Ease Activities that will be available in January! Exciting new activities include simple modifications to allow for the addition of vocabulary on the fly with Let’s Talk: Communication On The Run activities. Other new activities include News 2 You, participation using visual scenes and much more.

 

 

 

Exclusive Sneak Preview!
 In this newsletter we would like to introduce you to Mike the monkey and his other zoo friends that are available in the Mike Helps at the Zoo activity. This Smart-Ease activity is like no other and was created to target specific curriculum standards while promoting conversation. It includes a supplemental CD filled with worksheets, activities, and manipulatives. Users begin by viewing the animated story “Mike’s Busy Day” provided on the supplemental CD. The story utilizes specific vocabulary and concepts associated with researched reading programs and processes. It is specifically geared to individuals who are at or below a beginning reading level (prek-k level).
 

After reading the story, the real fun begins. There are 6 different subjects to choose from with several activities. Each activity has a communication overlay, printable worksheets and/or manipulatives, and a print-out for teachers and therapists indicating which content standard and/or benchmarks are targeted for each specific activity. In addition, suggested targeted speech therapy goals are also provided for each activity. Subjects and activities include reading, phonological awareness, math, social studies, art, and prepositional concepts. This activity was created to provide and promote communication while targeting curriculum and aligning with state content standards for several subjects. It is a great starting point and will provide Speech-Language Pathologists and teachers with up to 2 months of curriculum-based activities. Below is a more specific list of targeted curriculum concepts:

  • Reading: includes story retell, prediction, sequencing, vocabulary, sound association, rhyming and beginning sounds
  • Language: includes answering wh?, conversion and vocabulary use
  • Social Studies: includes maps, geographical concepts, responsibility, trustworthiness and problem solving
  • Math: includes counting, sorting, patterning and more/less
 

AMDi Quick Tip:
Don’t forget the holidays when creating your overlays and pages sets! It’s a very exciting time and it is a great motivation for communication. With the new Smart Series of devices, making a Christmas wish list can be a snap. Create a powerful visual scene by taking a digital picture of a holiday scene and adding appropriate vocabulary or simply choose an advertisement for toys, clothes, or any other desired object to create an overlay. Use a printed advertisement by printing out one of the overlay templates available free from AMDi’s Overlay Designer or on the web at amdi.net (located under downloads), place it on top of the advertisement you want to use, cut it to the size of the template, and punch the hole. It’s a great way to have fun, interesting vocabulary to create a wish list for the individual you are working with or to allow them to indicate what they would like to give others!
AMDi is on the Road Again!
We will be at ATIA January 30th - Febuary 2nd. Make sure you come by and visit us at the booth for a special surprise. You won’t want to miss it! We are also doing several presentations including: “Redefine Static Display the SMART way!,” “Time Saving Tips for Creators of Both Static and Dynamic Displays,” and “Reaching for the Sky: Creating Static Displays that Ignite Communication” We look forward to seeing you there!

Happy Holidays from your friends at AMDi
 
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Visit our website @ www.amdi.net.  Take a look at our newest line of communication devices, our NEW Smart/Series lineup.