Consider the Emoji Me App

When I was between jobs, I used the 'down time' to learn how to use a robust graphics program called Adobe Illustrator. I wanted  to create illustrations of children that could be used to 'populate' my Animated Step-by-Steps®. 

Although it is certainly more labor intensive to create illustrations 'from scratch', there is something very satisfying about creating your own 'little people' and not having to rely on clip art.  

Child Created Using Illustrator                                           Child Created Using Emoji Me App      

The satisfaction of creating your own characters can also be achieved using an app called Emoji Me. 

I love the Emoji Me app!  It allows you to easily create characters using your iPhone and iPad! The basic program is FREE with the option of making additional in-app purchases to supplement your library of options. 

The program efficiently walks you through the process of creating a face, first selecting boy vs. girl … choose the skin color … choose the hair style and color … select eye shape and color … select eyebrow shape and color … select the mouth … select the nose … now choose the face shape … do you need glasses? … how about a hat or bow? You get the picture … the Emoji Me designers have anticipated just about everything you might need … even freckles are an option! The app allows you to take or import a photo to serve as a visual reference while you are 'building' your emoji. Illustrated is the panel for selecting eye shape and color. While auditioning your selections, the emoji on the left always reflects your current choice. The following illustration shows how a picture of a 'generic girl' was systematically morphed into the emoji of a student in one of my classrooms. 

You can now select and send that emoji to yourself. Import it into a photo imaging program such as Adobe Photoshop  or Photoshop Elements … make the background transparent and presto you have an image suitable for using in your educational resources. 

                                    Export Emoji                                        Make background transparent in Photo Imaging Program

How will you use what you've created?

Consider making an emoji for each student and staff member in your class! Substitute these emoji for the illustrated faces in your ASbySs (i.e. an ASbyS amenable to being personalized - clearly marked on its title page). Simply right click on the original face … select change picture… navigate to where your emoji versions reside and presto you have successfully inserted an emoji version of your student into your Animated Step-by-Step. A previous blog post, Personalizing Animated Step-by-Steps® - Made Easier! provides illustrated instructions. Depicted below is the original cover and the revised personalized cover for the We Eat Healthy Resource.  

The Bloom Where You're Planted Store (TpT) offers numerous titles that can be easily personalized. Depicted below is a bundled resource offering 16 resources at a 20% discount. 

The process of making an emoji collaboratively with your students can also be a wonderful language activity. It provides the perfect opportunity to model Aided Language Stimulation on your Core + Fringe PowerPoint Voice-Output Display. "Now WE NEED to CHOOSE SOME EYES (Body Parts Pop Up Page). Everybody LOOK at Jasper's EYES.  Let's build a sentence about Jasper's EYES. Jasper HAS ...."

The possibilities are limitless … and as always the outcome is just plain fun! 

…’til the next post …  

Visit my website   http://animatedstep-by-steps.com

Follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/@AnimStepbySteps

Follow me on facebook www.facebook.com/AnimatedStepBySteps

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Follow my blog http://animatedstepbysteps.blogspot.com

Email me canadiangoosse@gmail.com

Visit my digital store http://teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bloom

©2019 Carol Goossens’, Ph. D.

Augmentative Communication Consultant

Speech-Language Pathologist

Special Educator

Teachers Pay Teachers ClassFund

Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) has just added a new component to their site to help teachers raise $$$$ to purchase teacher-made materials for their class. 

For a limited time TpT will match up to $50 in contributions to your ClassFund.

Check it out!  It might must be the perfect fit for your classroom!     https://www.tptclassfund.com

Here's hoping Animated Step-by-Steps® will be included on your wish list. 

The Name Game

The Name Game is a popular song, written and sung by Shirley Ellis (c1964). Over the years, it has been rerecorded several times and has appeared in numerous TV shows, commercials and movies. This is obviously a song with a 'long shelf life'.  

 The Name Game is now a literacy-focused Animated Step-by-Step!  

The Basic Rules: (adapted from Wikipedia)

Using the name Shirley as an example, the song follows this pattern:

Shirley, Shirley, bo-birley,

Bonana-fanna fo-firley

Fee fi mo-mirley

Shirley!

A verse can be created for any name with stress on the first syllable, with X as the name and Y as the name without the first consonant sound (if it begins with a consonant), as follows:

(X), (X), bo-b (Y)

Bonana-fanna fo-f (Y)

Fee fi mo-m (Y)

(X)!

If the name starts with a b, f, or m, that sound simply is not repeated. 

For example: Billy becomes "Billy Billy bo-illy"; 

Fred becomes "bonana fanna fo-red"; Marsha becomes "fee fi mo-arsha"

--------------------------------------

The song gives no indication of what to do with names where the stress falls on a syllable after the first, like Renee, Maria, or Lebron.

Can be Personalized

This resource must be personalized, i.e., you must replace the current place holder photos with photos of your students. Photo faces must have transparent backgrounds.  To replace a photo … right click (control click) on the existing photo face … a dropdown menu will appear … select Change Picture then navigate to where you have stored your student photo faces. Presto … a new photo face appears without disrupting your animation sequence.

Launch Page:

After two examples are provided, a launch page/slide appears. This page allows students to choose a friend to sing about. 

The pen tool (command p when in presentation mode) can be used to mark off students already chosen. Press esc on the keyboard to exit pen tool mode. 

As a Literacy Activity:

When a student is chosen on the launch page, PowerPoint jumps to a slide/page revealing the target child's photo face. The pen tool is then used to write the child's name in the red framed boxes. The pen tool can also be used to delineate the remaining kernel when the initial letter/sound is removed. 

Let's play the 'Name Game'!!!!

…’til the next post …  (new posts every Monday)

Visit my website   http://animatedstep-by-steps.com

Follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/@AnimStepbySteps

Follow me on facebook www.facebook.com/AnimatedStepBySteps

Follow me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/animatedstepbysteps/

Follow my blog http://animatedstepbysteps.blogspot.com

Email me canadiangoosse@gmail.com

Visit my digital store http://teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bloom

©2019 Carol Goossens’, Ph.D.

Augmentative Communication Consultant

Speech-Language Pathologist

Special Educator

My Backpack - Literacy Agenda

As is the case with most Animated Step-by-Steps® there are always creative ways to achieve differentiated instruction in 'mixed ability' classrooms.



My Backpack is an Animated Step-by-Step song designed to address a color and a literacy agenda. The song is sung to the tune of Frere Jacques.

I've got a (color) backpack (2X)

Color identification can occur before the color is even mentioned as the printed word red is colored red. 

("What color do you think will be next?" ... red? I think you guessed correctly")

The first click will move a colored backpack on to the page)

What's inside? What's inside?

(the backpack rocks back and forth making a noise to suggest it's filled with objects)

See if you can guess. (2X)

(the zipper tab moves along the zipper track and the backpack opens to reveal white space)

("How many letters in our mystery object? Let's count ... 1...2..,3..,4!")

Here's a hint. (2X)

There are blanks representing the letters of the mystery object; the first letter of the word appears in the first blank. 

("There are four letters and the word starts with /b/")

Children attempt to guess the mystery object based on the number of letters and the first letter hint. 

The PowerPoint pen tool [command-p] can be used to write in additional letters; press esc to exit pen mode) 

The next click reveals the mystery object, e.g. ball, doll, puzzle, sandwich, dinosaur, teddy, lego, cookie. Now knowing the identity of the mystery object, students are encouraged to sound out the missing letters of the mystery word. Write the letters below the blanks to make it easier to compare with the spelling provided on the final animation. 

The final click fills the blanks with letters, providing the correct spelling of the mystery object's name. 

  

Variation 1: 

You might wish to work on specific letter/sound positions, e.g., final letter/sound of word, medial letter/sound of word.

Simply drag the red initial letter 'off page' where it won't be seen when it animates. 

You can then use the pen tool [command-p] to write in the cues you prefer to provide. 

Variation 2:
To make the task easier, provide students with a picture choice board that allows them to select the mystery item based on the cues that are provided. The array includes the target item ... plus a few foils with the same number of letters and the same beginning letter. Yes candle was 'a reach' : )

Above all ... have fun using this resource!

…’til the next post …  (new posts every Monday)

Visit my website   http://animatedstep-by-steps.com

Follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/@AnimStepbySteps

Follow me on facebook www.facebook.com/AnimatedStepBySteps

Follow me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/animatedstepbysteps/

Follow my blog http://animatedstepbysteps.blogspot.com

Email me canadiangoosse@gmail.com

Visit my digital store http://teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bloom

©2019 Carol Goossens’, Ph.D.

Augmentative Communication Consultant

Speech-Language Pathologist

Special Educator

Sally the Camel Vest Display - Enhancing Differentiated Instruction

I recently added a Vest Display resource, Sally the Camel, to the Teachers Pay Teachers site.  This resource is available in two formats: SymbolStix, PCS. 

The Sally the Camel Vest Display Resource includes the digital resources needed to create a song vest display. Files include the scene, the manipulatives, the symbol lines, the song symbol, the time-dependent repetitive line symbol and instructions for the layout. These digital files are printed on legal size paper and are assembled on 14" X 13" base of  black poster board.

In keeping with the lyrics, Sally the camel starts out with 5 attached humps (velcroed to her back) that are removed one-by-one as each verse is sung. Eventually the camel is replaced with an image of a horse. The camel with attached humps are velcroed to a rectangle that slides along a length of fishing line with a rider, personalized with a student photo face ("SO RIDE [SALLY] RIDE   … BOOM … BOOM … BOOM").  Obviously, the camel humps provide a math agenda (counting, subtraction). The resource also includes riders with shirts of different colors … allowing you to build in a color agenda ("SO RIDE [RED SHIRT] RIDE   … BOOM … BOOM … BOOM").  When a 'mystery printed name' is inserted in the name slot, a literacy agenda is also possible (printed name recognition).

Here are two simple variations amenable to differentiated instruction. 

Variation 1:

6 students receive a rider manipulative. Each rider can be differentiated by their colored shirt and their personalized photo face. 

Upon hearing the line, "So ride RED SHIRT ride … Boom … boom … boom", the child with the 'red shirt rider'comes forward to attach his rider to the camel on the vest display. This can be accomplished using an auditory cue, e.g., "red" or it can be addressed using a visual cue (the RED symbol) inserted in the name slot of the symbol line (now it is a color matching task). 

The verse is then re-sung, this time substituting the child's name, e.g., "So ride Yanny ride … Boom … boom … boom" (the camel + rider is then moved across the scene to simulate a camel ride).

Variation 2:

6 students receive their corresponding photo face (that will be attached to the rider on the camel when it is their turn). 

At the outset of each verse, the Facilitator places a mystery printed name in the 'name slot' of the symbol line.  As the name card is constructed as a Dual=Representation symbol (printed word = photo face), the card can be flipped to reveal the photo of the correct person.  

I am sure there are other strategies than can be implemented to promote differentiated instruction. If you have a variation that works for your students … I would love to hear from you. 

Aside:  Sally the Camel is also available as an Animated Step-by-Steps®

(3 formats: Regular, PCS, SymbolStix). 

…’til the next post …  (new posts every Monday)

Visit my website   http://animatedstep-by-steps.com

Follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/@AnimStepbySteps

Follow me on facebook www.facebook.com/AnimatedStepBySteps

Follow me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/animatedstepbysteps/

Follow my blog http://animatedstepbysteps.blogspot.com

Email me canadiangoosse@gmail.com

Visit my digital store http://teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bloom

©2019 Carol Goossens’, Ph.D.

Augmentative Communication Consultant

Speech-Language Pathologist

Special Educator

Enhancing Literacy When Using Vest Displays

Educational resources can often address agendas other than their original intent. For example, several of the Vest Displays offered through TpT are counting songs that obviously lend themselves well to a math agenda. When using vest displays such as 5 Little Ducks, 5 Green & Speckled Frogs, 6 Little Monkeys, Apple Tree Song, the counted items (laminated paper manipulatives, plastic figurines) can be handed out to students, as the song unfolds (5-4-3-2-1). At the end of the song, these items (e.g. ducks, frogs, monkeys) are called back by number, as part of the classroom's 'stealth' academic agenda. ….Monkey #1, Where are you?  …. Duckie #3 Please come home! …. I'm looking for Monkey #4.  The student with the designated item then bolts forward to velcro the item back on the vest display.

As a variation of this math agenda, consider incorporating a greater literacy agenda. Create a set of manipulatives (e.g., ducks, frogs, monkeys, apples) with letters instead of numbers. Design your own or purchase small plastic manipulatives that already have alphabet letters. Now, instead of using numbered ducks on the vest display, add manipulatives labeled with a letter.  Yes we still have 5 ducks ... but now the ducks have a distinguishing letter, rather than a number. 

"Who has Duckie M? ….Yes duckie M is dressed like a monkey. /m/ …. Monkey. 

  

"Who has the monkey with the /p/ sound?

Yes Vest Displays reflecting counting songs can promote a literacy agenda ... with a simple change in manipulative. 

…’til the next post … 

Visit my website   http://animatedstep-by-steps.com

Follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/@AnimStepbySteps

Follow me on facebook www.facebook.com/AnimatedStepBySteps

Follow me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/animatedstepbysteps/

Follow my blog http://animatedstepbysteps.blogspot.com

Email me canadiangoosse@gmail.com

Visit my digital store http://teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bloom

©2019 Carol Goossens’, Ph.D.

Augmentative Communication Consultant

Speech-Language Pathologist

Special Educator

Animated Step-by-Steps® Library Launch

I recently posted a pdf resource, Illustrated Listing of Animated Step-by-Steps^® in  the Bloom Where you Planted store on the Teachers Pay Teachers website. 

This listing is being offered as a FREE downloadable resource with the intent of making it easier for teachers, parents and therapists to find the resources they need to enhance their literacy, language and AAC agendas.

This pdf resource, however, is just a byproduct of a PowerPoint Launch that was designed to expedite implementation of the Animated Step-by-Steps^® Library within a local school. 

When in slide show mode, this page serves as a launch pad capable of navigating the program to 6 sections: Songs/Poems. Recipes, Crafts, Games, Stories and Science Projects.
If, for example, you wish to 'whistle up' an Animated Step-by-Step Recipe for your weekly 'Cooking Time',  just click/tap on the yellow Recipes button and the PowerPoint application will navigate to the first of several pages of recipes.

If you wish to use an 'apple recipe' to support your ongoing Fall/Apple theme, you have a choice of Apple Crisp, Apple Juice, Apple Pie and Applesauce! You can open and review each file to determine which recipe is appropriate for your students and you can also make note of  the ingredients required for this food preparation project.  When you click on a recipe, it will conveniently open in slide show mode … ready to use! (you 'hit the pavement, running'!)

Pressing the esc (escape button) will take you out of the opened recipe returning you to the page you left.


If while waiting for those apples to cook, you need a poem/song to 'entertain the troops' on your interactive whiteboard, tap on the small sun button in the upper left hand corner of the page/slide and PowerPoint navigates back to the launch page where you can select the pink 'Poems/Songs' button to navigate to and review available Poems/Songs that can fill the potential 'down time' more productively. 

Oh yes, the poem, Apples Apples Applesauce , would pair well with the task of making applesauce! 

PowerPoint even allows you to search within the presentation. Simply click on the page, then use the shortcut command-F. A search box will appear in the upper right corner of the application.
For example, if you remember seeing a song called Aiken Drum just type the name into the search box and the program will take you directly to the slide/page where Aiken Drum resides. 

As a general rule ... the easier it is to access materials, the higher the likelihood they will be used frequently. The more frequently we use interesting and creative materials with our students ... the greater the likelihood that significant academic & therapeutic progress will be made!

Here's to getting organized!!!!

…’til the next post …  (new posts every Monday)

Visit my website   http://animatedstep-by-steps.com

Follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/@AnimStepbySteps

Follow me on facebook www.facebook.com/AnimatedStepBySteps

Follow me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/animatedstepbysteps/

Follow my blog http://animatedstepbysteps.blogspot.com

Email me canadiangoosse@gmail.com

Visit my digital store http://teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bloom

©2019 Carol Goossens’, Ph.D.

Augmentative Communication Consultant

Speech-Language Pathologist

Special Educator