ch 3/4 from 2nd book

DHD primarily impacts reading and foundational skills, particularly attention to detail.
Individuals with DHD may:
- Experience difficulty relating information, which is not due to a lack of knowledge, but a temporary inability to grasp information in the moment.
- Have trouble sustaining focus on a single topic for extended periods.
- Display impulsivity and hyperactivity, though those with ADD may lack hyperactivity.
Hyperactivity does not solely refer to physical hyperactivity (e.g., inability to sit still).
- Mental Hyperactivity: Constantly thinking about multiple topics or distractions rather than physical restlessness.
Individuals with DHD and related disorders often present with Comprehension Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD).
- Recognizing that CAPD may coexist with other disorders is crucial for understanding their impact on communication and learning.

Spoken language is foundational and begins to develop as soon as an infant can hear, influencing literary skills early on.
- As soon as they can perceive sounds, infants start to learn spoken language naturally, provided they do not have hearing difficulties.
- Spoken language evolves into the ability to understand and use written language.

Emerging literacy can be observed through various actions:
- Opening and Turning Pages: Children start manipulating books by physically engaging with them.
- Reading Direction: Looking from left to right, demonstrating an understanding of text orientation.
- Interacting with Pictures: Pointing at images, beginning to interpret visual narratives before becoming adept with words.
- Imitation of Reading: Children may mimic reading aloud from a book, demonstrating both understanding and engagement.
Shared Reading:
- Engaging in shared reading with parents or teachers can enhance numerous skills:
- Pragmatics: Understanding the social use of language in context.
- Vocabulary Development: Expansion of a child’s language base.
- Sequencing Skills: Ordering events and actions in narratives.
- Joint Attention: Focusing on the same subject as a partner during reading.
- Questioning: Learning to ask and answer questions enhances comprehension.

Reading is effective when children can relate to stories:
- Literal Understanding: Many children, particularly those with autism or pragmatic deficits, may interpret stories very literally, hindering their engagement with fiction.
- Fear Responses: Children may also fear fantastical elements in stories like dinosaurs, limiting their interest in fictional narratives.
- Exposure to Diverse Vocabulary: Limited exposure can impede comprehension, making it paramount to choose relatable and familiar topics.
Personal Connection in Story Choices:
- Selecting books that reflect a child's interests (e.g., unicorns, dragons, animals) can increase engagement and investment in reading.

Discussed various children’s books and their educational potentials:
- Rhyming and Vocabulary Books: Help develop phonological awareness, essential for reading skills.
- Imagery and Letter Recognition: Activities such as identifying letters or reading images promote foundational literacy skills.
- Sequencing and Comprehension Activities: Use books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar to teach days of the week and narrative recall through sequencing.

Shared discussions allowed students to brainstorm books:
- Example Titles:
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - Teaches the alphabet in a fun rhythmic style.
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Helps with sequencing days and understanding transformation.
- Curious George Plays Baseball - Incorporates vocabulary and action verbs.
Activities can be adapted to help children explore themes:
- Direct children to identify colors, actions, and sequences based on the books.
- Use shared storytelling techniques to enhance narrative structures.

Ask open-ended questions to promote deeper thinking about the text, progressing from yes/no (closed questions) to more abstract inquiries.
Methods to scaffold questioning include:
- Visual Aids: Providing pictures or gestures to assist child responses.
- Multiple Choice Options: Begin with two options and gradually introduce more.
Encourage forms of interaction, such as movements or games, to make learning fun and integrated into their current activities.

Emphasizing the importance of print awareness for literacy skills:
- Simple practices, such as labeling items in a classroom or assigning letters for children to find, can enhance their awareness and recognition skills.
Engaging Activities: Incorporate movement into learning tasks (e.g., dancing with name spells) to boost memorization and recall.
Diverse Fonts and Letter Recognition: Teach the variations in letter forms depending on font styles to prevent confusion for students when encountering different text types (e.g., standardized tests).

Language-heavy curricula provide opportunities to interconnect vocabulary across subjects (e.g., math and literacy).
Focus on words such as “and,” “first,” “next,” which appear in various contexts across disciplines to foster broader comprehension.
Incorporate varied activities that link vocabulary development across all subjects, not just in isolation, for holistic language skill development.
- Ensure that instructional goals cover diverse linguistic skills relevant to the child's curriculum engaging in integration activities.