by Megan | May 25, 2026 | AAC, aided language input, aided language stimulation, blog, book recommendations, books, continuing education, core vocabulary, emergent literacy, fringe vocabulary, modeling, Sensory, Sensory extension activities, tips, training
The “Story Time” Box
When I say “story time,” what comes to mind? Do you picture a teacher or librarian reading to learners who are sitting on a rug? Or maybe you think of bedtime, reading them a story before tucking them into bed. While these are both wonderful ways to picture “story time”, they aren’t and shouldn’t be the only images we think of. Shared reading or “story time” can happen anywhere and at any time.
Here’s the biggest reason we need to widen our literacy lens to include shared reading into our whole day. If we only open books during these specific, rigid windows, we limit our AAC users’ exposure to literacy and miss out on high-engagement moments throughout the rest of the day. The good news is that shared reading doesn’t require a designated “literacy block.” Today, we’re breaking down how to effortlessly weave literacy into the natural spaces of your entire day without adding more tasks to your to-do list.
Literacy in Transition Zones
While transitions might not be the first place you think of when looking for areas to add more literacy into your day, they are actually a perfect time.
- Why: Transitions (waiting for the bus, sitting in a waiting room, moving between activities) are often high-anxiety or high-boredom zones. Books provide a grounding focal point and a way to keep minds and hands busy.
- Actionable Ideas:
- Keep a “car book basket” for regular commutes or a book cart in transition areas of the home or classroom so learners can grab a book to read while they wait.
- Use short, high-interest digital books on a phone or tablet while waiting in lines, or bring a book bag filled with quick reads that you can easily share if the waiting is longer than expected.
- AAC Modeling focus: Go, Wait, Stop, Open, Look.
Environmental Print & Functional Reading
- Why: Literacy isn’t just found in the pages of a book. It’s all around us. Pointing out letters and words in the environment allows learners the opportunity to interact with them in multiple environments.
- Actionable Ideas:
- In the Kitchen: Read the steps of a recipe together while making a snack, or point out logos on cereal boxes, juice cartons, etc.
- Out and About: Point out stop signs, grocery store aisle markers, or giant billboards.
- AAC Modeling focus: Eat, Make, Big, See, Stop.
Play-Based Reading (Bringing Books to the Toys)
- Why: Meeting the learner where they are already regulated and happy. By bringing the book to them, you take away the frustration that might come from moving away from a preferred activity to reading. By bringing a book directly to their preferred toys, you are utilizing the sensory anchors we discussed in week 5 to pair high-interest concepts with natural language.
- Actionable Ideas:
- Bringing a book about construction vehicles directly into the sandbox or rug where they are playing with toy trucks.
- Read one page that matches what the toys are doing, giving language to their play that matches the book.
- AAC Modeling focus: Words like Up, Down, Crash, More, Like.
The “Routine Planner” Reminder
In week six of this shared reading series we talked about shared reading at home and shared a “home routine planner” highlighting a variety of ways that you can add books into specific routines to integrate literacy throughout the day. While you may be able to incorporate some of these into your classroom or therapy session, others may be only for routines at home.
However, using this mindset that you can incorporate literacy into all parts of your day, think about the different routines and activities that are staples in your classroom or therapy sessions. What books could you incorporate into that routine? Could you add in an extension activity to further the learning even more? This repetition with variety freebie may help you get your creative juices flowing.
Building beyond story time
If you’re feeling motivated and ready to start embedding literacy throughout the day but feel like you could still use some more guidance, my my e-book, Shared Reading with AAC users, gives tangible examples and ideas on starting and implementing shared reading throughout your day. And, because embedding literacy throughout the day is much easier when you don’t have to spend hours prepping the materials, I’ve got some ready to go sensory based literacy kits available in my shop that will make planning and prepping a breeze.
Before you go, share in the comments: What is one routine in your day where you could easily slip in a 2-minute story?
by Megan | May 11, 2026 | AAC, aided language input, aided language stimulation, blog, book recommendations, books, continuing education, core vocabulary, emergent literacy, fringe vocabulary, modeling, Sensory, Sensory extension activities, tips, training
We Finished the Book… Now What?
Stop!
Don’t put the book away yet!
You have finished your shared reading activity, but that is just the beginning! The connection that is created during shared reading can be used as a springboard for follow-up activities that turn a single story into a week-long learning experience.
Follow-up activities help deepen the connections between the reader and the story while promoting generalization of core vocabulary and bringing other themes, concepts, etc., to life. In this post, we will discuss five simple, no-prep activities that focus on engagement over “work” and show you how the learning doesn’t “stop” once the book is finished.
Activity 1: Predictable Chart Writing
Predictable chart writing is a collaborative writing activity where each learner completes the same sentence frame based on a concept or idea from the book that was read during shared reading (e.g., “On Monday, I ate _____”). The repetitiveness of this structure allows for consistent and repeated modeling of core and fringe vocabulary, lets the learner see their spoken words turned into text, and provides practice for emergent writing.
The full concept of predictable chart writing includes additional steps and teaching strategies focused on building print knowledge and sentence-building skills, etc., and you can dive even deeper into it here: https://project-core.com/professional-development-modules/.
While there are multiple steps to completing the full predictable chart writing process, you can start simple, writing your sentence frame on a whiteboard, poster paper, construction paper, or even a digital tablet. The focus should be on deepening the connection between the reader and the story and building their literacy skills through emergent writing and expression.
Activity 2: The “Story Retell” Sensory Bin
In the post “How Sensory Supports Can Make Shared Reading More Accessible and Engaging,” we talked about creating “literacy kits” or “story bins” to keep learners engaged during shared reading and build connections between the learner and the story. Providing learners access to these story bins after shared reading, during a center or open-ended play time, is a great way to encourage them to retell the story in their own way and deepen their connections to the story.
While observing their open-ended play and interactions with these literacy kits, we have additional opportunities to model core and fringe vocabulary that matches what they are doing in play, as well as reference back to the story and what they might be retelling through their play. If you need some reminders on what to model during these activities, this post might be helpful.
Activity 3: Text-to-Self Connections (The Photo Hunt)
Building connections between the text within a story and the lives of readers is a very powerful way to help readers engage with stories and see that the things they read about are all around them. One fun way to do this is to go on a photo scavenger hunt, looking for things that they read about in the story.
For example, if they read about a “big” dog, go on a scavenger hunt for other “big” things, and snap a picture of one when you find it. This brings what could be abstract concepts back to concrete thinking and shows how these concepts appear within the readers’ real lives. A bonus activity could be compiling all the pictures into a book to add to their bookshelves to revisit at a later date.
Activity 4: Digital “Book Trailers” or Recaps
One of my favorite things about being a reader is telling other people about my favorite books and why they should read them. Why not give that same experience to your learners?
There are many ways that you can do this using apps such as Pictello, Canva, Google Slides, or just your camera roll, taking pictures of the learners’ favorite parts of the book and pairing those pictures with the learner sharing about that part of the book in their own words.
This activity builds narrative skills and gives the learners a “product” they can show off to others through their AAC device. (Bonus points if you embed the video into a button on their device for them to show others!)
Activity 5: Character “Check-ins”
Social-emotional learning and teaching descriptive vocabulary lend themselves to acting and experiencing. Often, characters are described by what they look like, what they are doing, or what they are feeling. While illustrations can sometimes show these descriptions and emotions clearly, other times they are more difficult to determine from illustrations alone.
This is where the character “check-ins” can be really helpful, not to mention fun! Learners can act out the emotions that the character is feeling. If the character is “mad”, everyone can make their “mad” face and find “mad” on their AAC system. If they are being “silly”, everyone can show what they think “silly” looks like and find that word on their AAC system as well.
Not only does acting these things out help deepen the connection between the characters and the readers, but it also teaches them how to locate and use these important words in calm and engaging environments so that they will learn to use them in environments when they are feeling “mad” or “silly” themselves.
Which one will you try first?
After reading through these different ideas, I hope that you see how much more learning and fun can be done once you reach the last page of the story. Remember that shared reading is just the beginning of the lesson, and the connection that you create during that routine can be deepened and continued long after you close the book.
If you are looking for some “ready-to-go” literacy kits with interactive extension activities prepped and ready to go without any extra work on your end, check out my sensory-based literacy kits available as full kits with the book included, kits with just the materials, and digital downloads.
Before you go, share in the comments which activity you are excited to try first with your learner(s) as a way to extend and deepen your connection to the story!
by Megan | Apr 27, 2026 | AAC, aided language input, aided language stimulation, blog, book recommendations, books, continuing education, core vocabulary, emergent literacy, fringe vocabulary, modeling, tips, training, Uncategorized
Shared Reading at Home: Simple Ways Parents Can Support AAC Without Pressure
Parenting can be exhausting. There is so much to do, and it often feels like time is running faster and faster each day. As a parent of an AAC user, this feeling may be amplified as you have even more on your plate. Between therapy, school, and daily life, “Shared Reading” can feel like just another chore on a long to-do list. Instead of adding more to your already overflowing plate, I want to reassure you that shared reading can easily fit into your daily routines, just as they are. Your home doesn’t have to look like a classroom; shared reading can be anywhere, from the backyard to the bathroom. Remember, the goal of shared reading is connection, not perfection. It doesn’t have to be a 20-minute session; it can be 2 minutes.
Reading in the “In-Between” Moments
Shared reading doesn’t only happen at a desk or a dedicated “circle time.” When we remember that the goal of shared reading is the connection between us and the learner, instead of the location or what it “looks” like, we can see that there are many different opportunities to engage in shared reading throughout the day and in various routines. Some actionable routine ideas that can be implemented into your already established routines include:
- Bath Time: Using waterproof books and modeling “wash,” “bubbles,” or “all clean.”
- Snack Time: Reading a cereal box or a simple book while eating.
- Bedtime: The traditional time, but keeping it low-pressure—focusing on cuddles and one or two core words like “sleep” or “turn.”
Don’t forget all the reading that can happen naturally while you are outside the home as well. Letters and words are everywhere, you can read:
- Labels at the grocery store
- Signs on a walk
- Logos of our favorite restaurants or places to go
Literacy is all around us, all the time!
Make Literacy Available, Not Mandatory
Have you ever been somewhere and find yourself picking up an item (or book), just because it is there and available? When we make books a part of the environment, something that is there “just because”, it helps make reading feel less forced and more natural. Children are more apt to initiate interactions with books if there is not a “demand” or “request” to use them. Leave some books out in various places, the car, by the toy bin, in a basket in the living room, at the kitchen table, even in the bathroom. I think you’ll be surprised how often you see your child gravitating towards the books, just because they can.
While we are talking about low demands surrounding reading, don’t feel pressure to read the whole book. It is perfectly ok for a child to read only one or two pages before moving onto the next, flips through the book quickly seemingly not reading, and/or move around the room while listening to you read. All of this counts as reading and should be celebrated!
Modeling Without Expectation
Now that we have access to books throughout the day and know that we are focusing on connection and embedding literacy into daily routines. Let’s talk about how to bring the AAC into this literacy party! I promise this one is easy and low demand too!
As a parent, your job is to show your child how they could use their AAC during shared reading, not to test. If you are not sure what to model, choose one word on the AAC device that matches something from the text or the illustrations on a page. Rest assured any word you pick is wonderful – there is no right or wrong word or words to model. After you model that word, wait for a moment, or don’t and keep reading. If your child doesn’t respond, that’s okay! They are engaged and connecting with you. They may still be “soaking it all in” and listening and not ready to respond yet. Don’t worry, the more they engage in shared reading, the more they will start to use their AAC too. Your model is the gift; their response is the bonus.
The Home Routine Planner
Need more ideas? Here are some specific examples of routines you can add a book to this week and core words that you could model during that routine:
Breakfast (or any meal time)
- Read: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Model: “eat”, “hungry”, “more”
Bathroom
- Model: “go”, “help” “all done” or “finished”, “on”, “off”
Play time
- Read: books about topics they enjoy – literally any book will work here
- Model: “turn”, “more”, “like”, “don’t like”, “again”, “look”
Car rides
- Read: Go Dog Go, Little Blue Truck series, Construction Site series
- Model: “go”, “fast”, “slow”, “turn”, “like”, “stop”
Bath time
- Read: Five Little Monkeys Jump in the Bath, waterproof books work great here too!
- Model: “in”, “on”, “off”, “like”, “more”, “out”
Bed time
- Read: books about topics the enjoy – literally any book will work her
- Model: “turn”, “more”, “like”, “don’t like”, “again”, “look”
Remember, you don’t have to do all of this at once, you can take it one routine at at time. And if modleing on the AAC in the routines seems overwhelming, know that you can stick to the “one word” rule: pick one core word for any routine and stick with it for the week. By the end of the week I can guarantee you that you will feel more comfortable modeling that word while reading and incorporating the AAC into shared reading overall!
If you’d like to learn more about shared reading and AAC users, my e-book, Shared Reading with AAC users, gives tangible examples and ideas on how can get started with shared reading with your AAC user.
Before you go, share in the comments: “What is the most ‘unusual’ place your child has ever asked you to read a book?”
by Megan | Apr 20, 2026 | AAC, aided language input, aided language stimulation, blog, book recommendations, books, continuing education, core vocabulary, emergent literacy, fringe vocabulary, modeling, Sensory, Sensory extension activities, tips, training
When “Just Reading” Isn’t Enough
You picked the book, prepped the materials and set up the environment and feel ready to start shared reading with your AAC user. But, when you get started, the learner keeps moving around, wants to stay on the same page, flip through pages quickly and closes the book again and again.
Before you take this as a sign that the learner is “checked out”, not interested or that you need to revamp your entire lesson, take a moment to reflect and think about why they are doing those things. I can guarantee you that they are not doing those things to make the shared reading experience more difficult. They are showing you what they need in order to keep their body calm and regulated and allow themselves to focus on the AAC device and/or story.
When we provide sensory supports for the learner during the shared reading experience, we not only help learners stay calm and regulated, we provide anchors that keep them present in the experience.
Proprioceptive & Vestibular Input (Moving while Reading)
For some learners, movement is a prerequisite for attention—they literally need to move their bodies to process what they hear. If your learner struggles to sit still, try these shifts:
- Adaptive Seating: Offer a bean bag, wiggle cushion, stool, or even a swing during storytime.
- Action Modeling: Incorporate movement into the story itself (e.g., “The bear is jumping! Let’s jump!”).
- Change of Scenery: Move to different parts of the room for different chapters or pages.
Remember: Just because a learner is moving doesn’t mean they aren’t listening. For many, the movement is exactly what allows them to stay tuned in.
Tactile Anchors (The “Touch-and-Feel” Beyond the Book)
Other learners may need or prefer additional tactile stimulation to get and keep them engaged during shared reading. Giving hands something to do often gives the brain more space to focus on language. Here are some ideas to increased tactile input during shared reading:
- Story Bins: Create “literacy kits” with items representing the story, like soft fur for a bear or a small cup for tea time.
- Themed Fidgets: Provide fidgets that match the book’s theme to keep the learner’s tactile system engaged with the topic.
Sensory Minimalism: Reducing the Noise
While we are thinking about the different things we might need to add to help make shared reading more sensory friendly, there are also some things we might need to decrease. While some learners might seek out visual and auditory input, too much of this type of input can also be overwhelming for some. Knowing our learners and their sensory preferences, allows us to reduce the “sensory noise” so that the AAC voice and the book can be the stars. Here are some actionable ideas you can use to help decrease the auditory and visual distractions:
- Lighting: Use a reading lamp instead of harsh overhead lights.
- Auditory: Minimizing background noise
- Visual: Using a dedicated “reading rug” to define the space.
The “Low-Tech” Sensory Kit
Before you start thinking that you need to go out and buy a bunch of new things to revamp your room, area, etc. take a look around your home or classroom, you probably have a lot of items you can use to support sensory needs during shared reading.
-
- Comfort: Pillows, blankets, cushions
- Movement: rocking chairs, wiggle seats, trampoline, swing
- Tactile: Various textures and/or items that the learner can feel and interact with while reading – bonus if they are related to items within the story.
- Tactile: Preferred fidget items
- Movement: Different areas that you can move to throughout the reading if needed or a specific place that is your “reading area’.
- Lighting: dimmable lights or light from lamps instead of overhead lights
- Auditory: quiet space, headphones
The possibilities are endless!
Once you get started seeing things from a “sensory lens” you will come up with many more ideas that are personalized to your learner than I can list here. You are the expert on your learner. These tools simply help their environment match their needs.
If you are interested in learning even more about sensory supports and how they can make shared reading accessible and engaging and want to see some examples of sensory based literacy kits you can check them out in my store.
Before you go
Share with us in the comments: “What is your learner’s favorite sensory support during storytime?”
by Megan | Apr 13, 2026 | AAC, aided language input, aided language stimulation, blog, book recommendations, books, continuing education, core vocabulary, emergent literacy, fringe vocabulary, modeling, Sensory, tips, training, Uncategorized
The “Perfect Book” Trap
If you’ve ever found yourself looking at a bookshelf filled to the brim, feeling overwhelmed and wondering “Is this one right for shared reading with my AAC user?”, you are not alone.
Since “AAC friendly” isn’t a category that books are organized into, at the library or bookstore, we need to shift our way of thinking when browsing. Choosing a book isn’t about it being “AAC friendly”, it’s about it being engaging, interesting and fun for both you and the AAC user.
My goal for this post is to simplify the process of choosing a book to read with your AAC user and reassure you that there is no “perfect book”. Once you realize that, you can spend less time searching for books and more time reading them. Here are the three pillars I use to find books that naturally invite communication.
1. High Predictability
One of the first things I look for is how much predictability is built into the story. Predictability reduces the “work” a learner has to do to follow the story, which leaves more room in their brain to think about what they want to communicate.
This predictability usually looks like repetitive lines or a rhyme and rhythm that creates a natural pause for the AAC user to chime in. Think of classics like:
- “But the bear snores on…”
- “But he was still hungry.”
- “There was an old lady…”
- “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”
Pro Tip: If you find a book you love that isn’t predictable, you can make it predictable. Simply choose a repeated comment, request, protest or sound effect to say on every single page. Suddenly, any book becomes accessible!
2. Core Word Capacity (Moving Beyond Nouns)
A common mistake is picking books just for labeling (like “dog,” “cat,” or “truck”). While nouns are great, Core Words (verbs and descriptors) are the words that give a learner power across their whole day.
I look for “Action-Heavy” or “Emotion-Heavy” books. For example:
- Go/Stop: Great for any book about transportation or animals moving.
- In/On/Under: Perfect for lift-the-flap books or “hide and seek” stories.
- Like/Don’t Like: Excellent for stories about picky eaters or characters with strong opinions.
Modeling “go” or “scared” gives your learner a word they can use in a hundred other situations outside of this specific book.
3. Visual Clarity & Sensory Considerations
Finally, consider the visual and sensory “load” of the book. This is highly personalized. Some readers may prefer real photographs, while others find very busy, detailed illustrations distracting.
The Sensory Anchor: If a book has different textures or interactive elements, it is almost always a “sure thing” for me. These elements act as an “
My “Three-Question” Quick Filter
Next time you are at the library or bookstore, use these three questions to find your next great read:
- Does it have a repeating phrase (or can I create one)?
- Can I model at least 3 core words easily and repeatedly?
- Is the topic actually interesting to the learner? (This is the most important rule!)
DOWNLOAD THE QUICK-FILTER CHEAT SHEET HERE
Start browsing confidently!
You are ready to start checking out books with confidence, knowing that engagement matters far more than “perfection.”
If you want to dive even deeper into the “how-to” of shared reading, my e-book, Shared Reading with AAC Users: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Guide, walks you through everything from setup to tracking progress.
One more thing before you go… share in the comments: What is the one book your learner requests over and over?
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