Have you identified vocabulary that your speech kiddos need during the upcoming holidays? Depending on the cultural and religious mix of your caseload, you might be practicing words for Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa. I’m not aware of a Muslim holiday in December, so please correct me if I’m wrong. Words like celebration, tradition, custom, decorations, and feast fit any situation. Regardless of your kids’ background, it is important for them to learn words that can show respect for their neighbors’ practices. Come up with a list of words that you want to be sure your kids use fluently. Remember that frequency of use and recency of use will impact their ability to retrieve the words.
How can you practice those words without resorting to drill? I like to create construction paper stockings, then have them select words from their stocking to practice. I ask the kids to say the word 5 times, then create a meaningful sentence using the word. Try adding “ornaments” to a tree as they practice their words. Of course, Santa can always distribute packages that are full of word finding words. Most of your favorite articulation games can be modified to practice holiday vocabulary. I start with the following words (the mnemonic cues are in parentheses):
ornament (on a mint) greenery wreath (ring) frost garland (girl/land) celebrate celebration custom tradition holly
mistletoe (missile/toe) carol sleigh pine cone (pie shaped)
candy cane Advent poinsettia (point/set) nativity Hanukkah (on a cup) menorah (many candles) dreidl (dry the clay) gelt blizzard tinsel
mantle Kwanzaa candy cane toy names that are on their “wish list”
Get up off your chair, move around, and use all your senses. Make it fun!