Teach Through Games: Fitz It by Gamewright

Age Level: Early elementary, Upper elementary, Middle School
Description: This is a small card game (really, the cards are tiny!) in which players have to name objects that fit the descriptions on their cards and play them in a grid pattern. Cards include phrases such as “Comes in a variety of colors,” “Made with fabric,” and “Edible.”
Modifications: This game is incredibly easy to modify. Upper elementary students will enjoy the challenge of arranging the cards in a grid pattern to name objects that fit more than one card, but you can also play the game with younger kids by having them draw one card and name objects that fit that description. (Such as, how many things can you name that “Can be rolled up.”) With some students, I structure an increase in difficulty by then pulling out two cards, so they have to come up with objects that fit both criterion, such as “Often has a logo on it” and “Made with plastic.”
Skills: Class, Feature, Function, Expressive Language, Intraverbal Conversation, Prepositions
Pros: This is one of my favorite games. As mentioned above, it is very easy to modify. It also allows you to focus on working on expressive language and recall skills in an age-appropriate way for older students. The game offers a lot of potential for increasing complexity over time, and it is easy to play with two or more children of differing skill levels.
Cons: The only con I have is that the cards are tiny, and some of my students do struggle with picking them up and grasping them.
Cost: $10.00 Should I buy this? Yes! This is a game you could make yourself, if you didn’t mind spending dozens of hours doing so. It’s a great price for a tool you can use in multiple ways with a wide range of students.
ABLLS:
VB-MAPP: LRFFC9, Intraverbal15

Teach Through Games: Build A Robot

Age level: Preschool, Early Elementary
Description: This game contains four puzzles that create robots. Each body part is numbered 1-5 and each robot has a tool (such as a hammer.) There is a spinner with 1-5 and tool as choices. Kids are trying to build their robot the fastest, based on what body part they land on with the spinner each turn.
Modifications: You can easily modify this game. During the set up of this game I will practice sorting skills by having students sort the body parts into groups. You can remove some of the choices (so, for example, there are only two choices for a robot head instead of four), make it just a puzzle instead of a game, remove the spinner and simply take turns building your robot, or turn it into a listening game where the students has to choose the body part you are describing. For students who are higher functioning, after we have built our robots, I will ask them what they think the functions of different robot parts are. For example, what would be the function of having three feet compared to having tractor wheels.
Skills: sorting, labeling body parts, describing how things are alike and different, taking turns, accepting losing your turn (since one of the spots on the spinner is “Lose A Turn”
Pros: You can practice several different types of skills simultaneously. Kids are typically motivated by choosing how to make their different or silly. Simple to play.
Cons: I can’t think of any cons for this game.
Cost: $20 Should I buy this? This is another game that I feel is well worth the money.
ABLLS: B14, B19, C21, C44, C46, G5, G12, G13, G22, G28, J1, J2, J3, Z4
VB-MAPP: Tact 5M,Tact 11M,  VP-MTS 2M, VP-MTS 5M, VP-MTS 7M, Play 6M, LRFFC 9M

Teach Through Games: Hedbanz

Age level: Preschool, Early Elementary, Upper Elementary
Description: To play this game, each person is wearing a headband with a picture stuck in it. The other players are giving them clues about what the picture is. Points are assigned differently based on the variation of the game you are playing.
Modifications: While I have used the Hedbanz game, many teachers will tell you they’ve been playing variations of this game before it was manufactured for the money. I  usually just hold up a picture to my forehead and ask the student to give me clues. Then we trade turns. If the student is able to play the game without pictures, I will vary the game to “I’m thinking of…” In this game I will typically start with the category, such as “I’m thinking of an animal.” The student then guesses or asks for another clue. The game can progress in difficulty based on your student’s skill level. For example, for older students, you could have them guess which famous person from history in on their card.
Skills: Expressive language, LRFFC, intraverbal conversation (i.e. responding to someone asking for another clue, responding appropriately if someone guesses incorrectly,) turn-taking, building from previous information (i.e. remembering the first two clues after receiving the third clue.)
Pros: The game is easy to modify based on your student’s skill level. If you are teaching LRFFC one by one, you can test for generalization by playing this game just with mastered targets. And for parents, you can play “I’m thinking of” anywhere: in the car, while standing in line, etc.
Cons: Some students with autism or other delays will not tolerate the headband being placed on their head.
Cost: $20-$25 (depending on the version) Should I buy this? Probably not. All you need to play this game is pictures of different objects. There is no reason to spend the money for a game that you hope will evolve past the use of pictures to the “I’m thinking of…” game described in the modifications section above. (I promise it’s not just my extreme distaste for deliberately misspelled words that makes me recommend against this purchase!)
ABLLS: G13, G15, G16, G17, G23, G24, G25, G34, H7, H8, H9, H11, H12, H14, H16, H17, H18, H36, H37, J11
VB-MAPP: LRFFC 15M, Intraverbal 11M, Intraverbal 12M, Linguistics 13M

Teach Through Apps: Lil’ Red

Age level: Preschool, Early Elementary
Description: This ipad app is a little pricey, but really worth it. It’s a unique interactive illustration of the story of Little Red Riding Hood. While it has music and beautiful images, it does not have any words.
Modifications: I sometimes use this app for listening skills instead of for telling a story. So I may tell the student to “touch the apple” or “find the bird.” For a student functioning at a higher level, I may ask them to “find an animal” or “show me something that grows from the ground.”
Skills: Identifying problems and solutions, summarizing a story, describing pictures, tacting (labeling) items, recalling a story you’ve heard before
Pros: I love working with children on this app. Children seem to particularly enjoy the aspects that are interactive (such as touching a bird to make it fly, or touching the wolf to see what he is thinking.) It also demonstrates some of the basic skills for comprehension without requiring reading.
Cons: Some of the artistic choices are not as intuitive as I would like. You should definitely look through it on your own first so you can prepare what questions you would want to ask your particular student or child, and so you can prompt your student or child with what parts of the screen to touch to get the full “cause and effect” aspect of the app.
Cost: $3.99 (available in itunes) Should I buy this? As a teacher, I find it valuable because I use it for many students. As a parent, it really depends on how much use you will be able to get out of it. I think it is unique and interesting. Occasionally, it goes on sale, so it may be one you want to watch before shelling out four bucks for a single app.
ABLLS: C10, C14, C19, C37, C38, C39, C43, G4, G12, G15, G16, G17, G35, G40, G47, J1, J2, J3, J4, J13, J18
VB-MAPP: Tact 5M, Tact 6M, Listener 5M, Listener 10M, LRFFC 10M, Intraverbal 13M, Intraverbal 14M, Linguistics 15M