Module 2: AAC boxes
Creating AAC boxes: e-learning course
Start
Index
Purpose and benefits
What are AAC boxes?
Customising AAC boxes
Content of the boxes
Self-assessment
01
What are AAC boxes?
AAC boxes are professionally created sets of teaching aids aimed at supporting the communication process when working with children and adolescents with speech difficulties (e.g. dyslexia, dysgraphia, speech development delay, aphasia). The sets cover three basic competences (reading, writing, numeracy) and issues related to everyday life.
Another target group that can benefit from the Plural Words sets are children without problems in verbal communication. Prepared tools in the form of pictograms and lessons based on popular fairy tales and stories taken from Greek mythology can be very beneficial in supporting emotional development, writing, literacy and numeracy skills among children and facilitate their integration process with other people in the class who are affected by various communication problems.
Example of AAC boxes resources used within the classroom environment.
They are universally applicable, e.g. during speech therapy, early school education, classes with a psychologist or occupational therapist. AAC sets, in addition to the typical development of school skills, can contribute to building a positive self-image, the ability to function in a group, effectively resolve conflicts and respect social rules.
The sets support inclusive education, are generally universal and can be an excellent main or auxiliary tool for the teacher conducting the lesson. Strengthening emotional and social competences is a key element of the education and upbringing process. Plural Words sets also have a chance to become an excellent support for teachers and therapists, as well as parents of children with special educational needs and intellectual disabilities. In the case of intellectual disability, the sets can be used for children older than the age range proposed in the boxes, depending on the situation and the anticipated goals of the didactic and therapeutic activities.
02
Basic elements of AAC boxes and their functions
The sets contain vocabulary books relevant to the topic of the lesson, according to the story used for this purpose. The books are developed in two levels.
Level 2: Text and images
Level 1: Text and pictograms
Each booklet contains unique pictograms and illustrations specially dedicated to each story. The pictograms are aesthetically pleasing and colourful. Their graphic design and the use of a popular story or fairy tale to create them is to encourage children to actively participate in classes, stimulate their imagination and, above all, support communication.
Content of a box
Pedagogical sequence
Communication board
Worksheets
The instruction for the teacher does not dictate how to conduct the lesson. The choice of method is individual.
The tools target three key competences:
- The first of the AAC tools is designed to support literacy.
- The next one is used to develop numeracy skills.
- The kit also includes a tool supporting emotional and social competences covering issues from everyday life, helping children in proper development and reception of messages containing an emotional message.
An important element of the set is a pedagogical sheet intended for the teacher or therapist, containing tips on the use of individual AAC Box discussing the main goals and purpose of each set in a simple, clear way.
Discover our boxes:
Appropriate exercises have been prepared for the above-mentioned tools, designed for age groups 6+, 8+, 10+ and for developing skills fundamental for children's development. This teaching aid contains didactic and methodological elements, leaving the user free to choose the way of conducting lessons and allows for the inclusion of groups of children with different needs in the educational process.
Discover the behind-the-scenes of the creation of our AAC boxes:
03
Purpose and benefits of AAC boxes in the classroom
How they can support the teaching of literacy, numeracy and life skills to different students
For children familiar with AAC
AAC boxes support speech development and facilitate communication in people with speech difficulties. They help in practicing important skills in the above-mentioned educational spheres. They can be used in any form during various types of classes, they can be combined with other aids and therapies:
- speech therapy,
- sociotherapy,
- early childhood education,
- SI therapy,
- theatre classes.
AAC communication is designed to facilitate the reception of individual messages and the receipt of feedback by the other person. Specialists working with children affected by paralysis and neurological problems and other communication problems will receive a tool with a comprehensive impact on eye-hand coordination, concentration, logical thinking and the social sphere.
Watch
For children unfamiliar with AAC
Learning combined with fun allows you to remember content faster and easier, even if it includes mathematical problems or learning to write and read. Play is a natural activity of a child and the inclusion of its elements in the educational process and the use of stories and fairy tale characters can be the key to faster assimilation of didactic content. Fairy tales contain a moral that helps children absorb emotional or safety content. A child, on the basis of imitation, will be more willing to perform individual activities if their favourite tale character also does the same.
The tool will also work well for children without significant communication problems, it can be freely used by a teacher or therapist while learning and playing. It is recommended that they familiarise themselves with this type of communication. AAC boxes support and stimulate the comprehensive development of the child primarily by encouraging communication.
Watch
10
04
Customising AAC boxes to meet students' specific needs, interests, and abilities
The boxes are designed for different types of students to suit their different needs. They can be useful for both students with or without intellectual disabilities/ASD. They can be a guiding or supportive tool. The fact that they use fairy tales and popular stories increase the children's engagment and, consequently, improves the effectiveness of therapy.
11
Children can choose the elements they are most interested in and make some teaching aids themselves. They can help each other in cutting and gluing, depending on the fine motor skills. It is possible to use the characters in a shadow theatre game, in which children can impersonate characters from fairy tales and myths. The combination of a traditional lesson with physical activity and acting out theatrical scenes can become a very attractive and interesting element in the daily routine of every student and allows for better integration of even a very diverse group.
AAC boxes are professional tools that provide practical help for teachers and therapists. Due to the wide range of influence, they can be used in individual and group work.
Depending on the educational needs of children, the boxes can be appropriately adapted by the person conducting the classes. The teacher can use all the elements of the set or choose those that will suit the objectives of the lesson and the child's individual abilities.
12
Assessment
In this section, you will have the opportunity to test your acquired knowledge throughout the module. Get ready to challenge your skills and reinforce your learning as you move towards mastering the fundamental concepts of AAC.
1/4
2/4
3/4
4/4
Module 2 completed!
In the first level, the words are represented by pictograms. The text is also present to develop the pictogram-word association.
Each lesson contains objectives and is described by a pedagogical sequence, indicating the age group to which the lesson will refer.
The second level present the story through a simplified text and illustrations. It can be enhanced with audio recording or other media.
The box also includes communication boards with instructions for the teacher.
In addition to pictograms, the sets also include worksheets to cut out and use during lessons.
Plural Words e-learning course: module 2
Plural Words
Created on March 7, 2025
Plural Words is a European project aimed at raising awareness about AAC and disseminating this method in early and primary schools for all children. Discover AAC and our Plural Words boxes in this e-learning course.
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Transcript
Module 2: AAC boxes
Creating AAC boxes: e-learning course
Start
Index
Purpose and benefits
What are AAC boxes?
Customising AAC boxes
Content of the boxes
Self-assessment
01
What are AAC boxes?
AAC boxes are professionally created sets of teaching aids aimed at supporting the communication process when working with children and adolescents with speech difficulties (e.g. dyslexia, dysgraphia, speech development delay, aphasia). The sets cover three basic competences (reading, writing, numeracy) and issues related to everyday life.
Another target group that can benefit from the Plural Words sets are children without problems in verbal communication. Prepared tools in the form of pictograms and lessons based on popular fairy tales and stories taken from Greek mythology can be very beneficial in supporting emotional development, writing, literacy and numeracy skills among children and facilitate their integration process with other people in the class who are affected by various communication problems.
Example of AAC boxes resources used within the classroom environment.
They are universally applicable, e.g. during speech therapy, early school education, classes with a psychologist or occupational therapist. AAC sets, in addition to the typical development of school skills, can contribute to building a positive self-image, the ability to function in a group, effectively resolve conflicts and respect social rules.
The sets support inclusive education, are generally universal and can be an excellent main or auxiliary tool for the teacher conducting the lesson. Strengthening emotional and social competences is a key element of the education and upbringing process. Plural Words sets also have a chance to become an excellent support for teachers and therapists, as well as parents of children with special educational needs and intellectual disabilities. In the case of intellectual disability, the sets can be used for children older than the age range proposed in the boxes, depending on the situation and the anticipated goals of the didactic and therapeutic activities.
02
Basic elements of AAC boxes and their functions
The sets contain vocabulary books relevant to the topic of the lesson, according to the story used for this purpose. The books are developed in two levels.
Level 2: Text and images
Level 1: Text and pictograms
Each booklet contains unique pictograms and illustrations specially dedicated to each story. The pictograms are aesthetically pleasing and colourful. Their graphic design and the use of a popular story or fairy tale to create them is to encourage children to actively participate in classes, stimulate their imagination and, above all, support communication.
Content of a box
Pedagogical sequence
Communication board
Worksheets
The instruction for the teacher does not dictate how to conduct the lesson. The choice of method is individual.
The tools target three key competences:
An important element of the set is a pedagogical sheet intended for the teacher or therapist, containing tips on the use of individual AAC Box discussing the main goals and purpose of each set in a simple, clear way.
Discover our boxes:
Appropriate exercises have been prepared for the above-mentioned tools, designed for age groups 6+, 8+, 10+ and for developing skills fundamental for children's development. This teaching aid contains didactic and methodological elements, leaving the user free to choose the way of conducting lessons and allows for the inclusion of groups of children with different needs in the educational process.
Discover the behind-the-scenes of the creation of our AAC boxes:
03
Purpose and benefits of AAC boxes in the classroom
How they can support the teaching of literacy, numeracy and life skills to different students
For children familiar with AAC
AAC boxes support speech development and facilitate communication in people with speech difficulties. They help in practicing important skills in the above-mentioned educational spheres. They can be used in any form during various types of classes, they can be combined with other aids and therapies:
AAC communication is designed to facilitate the reception of individual messages and the receipt of feedback by the other person. Specialists working with children affected by paralysis and neurological problems and other communication problems will receive a tool with a comprehensive impact on eye-hand coordination, concentration, logical thinking and the social sphere.
Watch
For children unfamiliar with AAC
Learning combined with fun allows you to remember content faster and easier, even if it includes mathematical problems or learning to write and read. Play is a natural activity of a child and the inclusion of its elements in the educational process and the use of stories and fairy tale characters can be the key to faster assimilation of didactic content. Fairy tales contain a moral that helps children absorb emotional or safety content. A child, on the basis of imitation, will be more willing to perform individual activities if their favourite tale character also does the same.
The tool will also work well for children without significant communication problems, it can be freely used by a teacher or therapist while learning and playing. It is recommended that they familiarise themselves with this type of communication. AAC boxes support and stimulate the comprehensive development of the child primarily by encouraging communication.
Watch
10
04
Customising AAC boxes to meet students' specific needs, interests, and abilities
The boxes are designed for different types of students to suit their different needs. They can be useful for both students with or without intellectual disabilities/ASD. They can be a guiding or supportive tool. The fact that they use fairy tales and popular stories increase the children's engagment and, consequently, improves the effectiveness of therapy.
11
Children can choose the elements they are most interested in and make some teaching aids themselves. They can help each other in cutting and gluing, depending on the fine motor skills. It is possible to use the characters in a shadow theatre game, in which children can impersonate characters from fairy tales and myths. The combination of a traditional lesson with physical activity and acting out theatrical scenes can become a very attractive and interesting element in the daily routine of every student and allows for better integration of even a very diverse group.
AAC boxes are professional tools that provide practical help for teachers and therapists. Due to the wide range of influence, they can be used in individual and group work.
Depending on the educational needs of children, the boxes can be appropriately adapted by the person conducting the classes. The teacher can use all the elements of the set or choose those that will suit the objectives of the lesson and the child's individual abilities.
12
Assessment
In this section, you will have the opportunity to test your acquired knowledge throughout the module. Get ready to challenge your skills and reinforce your learning as you move towards mastering the fundamental concepts of AAC.
1/4
2/4
3/4
4/4
Module 2 completed!
In the first level, the words are represented by pictograms. The text is also present to develop the pictogram-word association.
Each lesson contains objectives and is described by a pedagogical sequence, indicating the age group to which the lesson will refer.
The second level present the story through a simplified text and illustrations. It can be enhanced with audio recording or other media.
The box also includes communication boards with instructions for the teacher.
In addition to pictograms, the sets also include worksheets to cut out and use during lessons.