Teach Through Books: A Map of the World According to Illustrators & Storytellers

Age level: Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School

Description: This is a gorgeous book of maps created by illustrators and storytellers. It includes everything from watercolor maps designed as antique maps but illustrating a record label to fictional maps based on film titles, and maps detailing walking tours of Madrid with the focus on food and interesting places to a music map with instruments representing each country creating the shapes of the continents. All in all, this is a book that is thoroughly enjoyed by both older children and adults.

Skills & Modifications: What I especially enjoy about this book is that it can be used to meet your learner at his/her current skill level. The only way that I modify the book is to copy a page (so the learner is not overwhelmed by the amount of material) in order to let the learner look at it in isolation.

• Picture Comprehension – This can be used to practice higher order picture comprehension skills. Each map has a brief description of its theme, but there are so many details that there is a lot for the learner to explore. I’ll usually let the learner choose one map and we discuss it together. For older learners who are still learning to locate items within a larger picture, this book provides great age-appropriate materials for practicing that low-level skill.
• Conversation Skills – This is a great tool for working on appropriate conversational exchanges with older learners, especially for learners who are interested in art. I will open up the book to one map and we will discuss it at length, or I’ll show two maps and we’ll compare and contrast them.
• Maps – While this is not a good resource for practicing common map skills such as using the compass rose or the legend, it is a good resource for discussing the function of maps. Some maps in this book would be solely considered as art, while others could be used to achieve certain tasks.
• Expressive Language – I’ll ask the learner to describe the map in detail. The goal is for the learner to describe the map using multiple sentences and giving a variety of information.
• Class – Sometimes I will cover the brief synopsis of the map with my hand, have the learner study the map, and then have him/her make an educated guess about the class or topic of the map. It’s a nice short-duration activity that the learner enjoys, and it requires a high level of understanding class and synthesizing previous knowledge.

Pros: This is a tool I can use for high-interest, low-level lessons. It can be used for a variety of skills without presenting your learner with materials that are inappropriate for his/her age.

Cons: It’s a bit pricey, but such high quality you won’t mind.

Cost: $60.00 (frequently less expensive on Amazon) You should invest in this book if: you have a learner who is particularly interested in maps and/or art, are seeking high-interest materials for practicing conversation exchanges, or are looking for inspiration for art projects related to maps or geography.

ABLLS: C43, G25, H40, H43, L31

VB-MAPP: Social Behavior 15, LRFFC 12, Intraverbal 14

Teach Through Toys: Quercetti Super Saxoflute

Age level: Preschool, Early Elementary

Description: This construction set includes mouthpieces, twisting tubes, and trumpet ends to allow learners to create their own instruments. It is popular with both my preschool and early elementary school students. It’s also a great toy for facilitating parallel play and peer/sibling interaction. Prepare yourself, though, because it can get loud!

Skills & Modifications: The great things about a toy like this is that it easily allows you to follow the learner’s lead and to meet the learner at their current skill level. I will sometimes provide specific instructions to create limitations and challenge the learner, such as “make an instrument using only yellow tubes” or, for older learners “create an instrument with two trumpet ends that face opposite directions.” I’m able to challenge the learner and gauge his/her acquisition or generalization of a specific skill, while he/she is having a blast creating a new instrument.

• Adjectives/Color Recognition – You can help a student practice adjectives both receptively and expressively. I may request that a student find a curvy piece to add next, or ask them to describe the instrument they just created.
• Scanning – When students are creating instruments, I typically give them free rein to make whatever they wish. However, sometimes I will request they use a specific piece, and they have to scan an array of pieces to find the one I’ve instructed them to use.
• Alike & Different/Compare & Contrast – Frequently I will make an instrument with my student. This allows them the opportunity to compare the two instruments, and adds a dimension we don’t get to discuss often: the comparison of sounds. It’s easy for students to see the difference in sound between a very short instrument (such as one with only a mouthpiece and a trumpet end) and a very long instrument.
• Block Imitation – This is a great activity for testing generalization of block imitation. Though this is not a toy that uses blocks, it is still based on construction skills. Simply take photos of instruments you have created, then have the student recreate them based on the photo. It’s a wonderful natural reinforcer in that the student gets to play the instrument after creating it.
• Imitation Skills – This is also a great toy for practicing imitation skills in a novel way. With this activity, I will build an instrument along with my student. Then I will have them imitate the number of notes I play, the duration of a note I play, and/or the volume of a note I play.
• Peer Play – Students are typically highly motivated by this toy. What’s unique about this toy, though, is that my students with Autism are usually motivated by the instrument they’ve created AND any other instruments created by peers or siblings. This toy can be easily used to facilitate peer interactions and joint attention.

Pros: I would actually consider this as one of the must-have toys for educators of young students with autism. There is so much that can be taught with it, and students have a high level of motivation to engage in the activities presented.

Cons: Sometime I actually wish there were more pieces included in the set. It may be worth it to purchase two sets in order to allow for a greater range of options in play and teaching.

Cost: $14.99 Should I buy this? Yes!

ABLLS: coming soon

VB-MAPP: coming soon

Teach Through Books: Look-Alikes Around the World by Joan Steiner

Age level: Early Elementary, Upper Elementary
Description: One of a series of Look-Alikes books created by Joan Steiner, this one is particularly great for mid-elementary to upper elementary students. Steiner uses everyday objects  to create incredibly detailed three-dimensional scenes of famous landmarks from around the world. While this one is targeted at older students, but there are other books in the series designed for younger students as well. All of the books are so well done that even adults enjoy looking at them and trying to spot all the everyday objects that make up the pictured scene.
Skills & Modifications: I appreciate this book a lot because it is an age appropriate material for older students with autism, and is easily used as a tool for generating shared activities with peers or adults. While I have listed some skills below that can be practiced using the book, I also use it as a reinforcer or materials during breaks for many students.

• Describing Pictures – Because the book is so highly motivating, it can be a great tool for having students with autism or other language delays describe pictures. I’ll ask them to be specific, such as stating in a complete sentence, “The chip is a sail on the ship.”
• Compare & Contrast – I like to find images of the actual landmarks for the student to compare and contrast to the pictures Steiner has created.
• Seek & Find – I will label an object that is pictured in the scene and have the learner try to find it, for example, for the picture of Holland, I would tell them to find the combs, and the learner would point to them in the blades of the windmill.
• Art projects – For a few students, I have had them try to create their Joan Steiner-esque photo. This is very difficult and typically requires a lot of help from adults, but is a lot of fun for students who enjoy art and a little bit of visual humor.

Pros: The book is great as a shared experience. You should take a look at all the books in the series to determine which is best for you, because Steiner has done a wonderful job of targeting each book towards specific skill levels.
Cons: None.
Cost: $15.99 Should I buy this? If you have a student who loves visual activities, this is a fantastic buy.
ABLLS: C43, G4, H43
VB-MAPP: LRFFC12