Charting the Cs logo with black and blue text Charting the Cs Conference 2025: To Literacy and Beyond Cooperation Communication Collaboration Ready, Set, Action! Coaching the Assistive Technology implementation plan into action in Early Childhood Settings April 2025 Jodi Altringer and Michelle Steele Objectives ●Describe the impact of coaching and its effectiveness in supporting effective AT implementation. ●Identify coaching strategies to use in your practice. ●Identify resources and tools to support coaching and the effective implementation of AT across daily activities and routines in early childhood settings. Why Coaching? Positive outcomes of coaching: •Increased implementation of Evidence - Based - Practices •Changes in teaching practices •Teachers feel supported and open to trying new strategies Coaching and assistive technology? Increased confidence and capacity in all adults leads to: •Increased effective and consistent use of assistive technology •Increased participation and engagement of children •Increased learning outcomes Getting started with coaching: Teaching practices •Provide a defined set of practices. •Provide opportunities for learners to identify strengths and needs related to the practices. Example Teaching Practices: Step Up AT •Step Up AT Teacher Strengths and Needs Assessment. •You can find this at stepupat.org. Go to the Resources tab and scroll down to Coaching Resources. Example practices: •Make it easier for children to join in classroom activities by giving them switches and other tools. •Use pictures or talking tools to help children communicate. Example Teaching practices: Augmentative and Alternative communication (AAC) Create a list of practices from sources such as this article from Assistiveware : •I model a variety of communicative functions using their system during everyday activities and routines. oI use parallel talk while using the child’s system oI use self talk while using the child’s system oI narrate navigation while modeling •I use an expectant pause to create communication opportunities. •I attribute meaning to any communication attempts. •I add more words or ideas to children’s communication attempts. Getting Started: Make a plan •Identify a practice as a focus •Collaborate to develop a plan •Document the plan •Provide enough details so roles are clear Coaching Strategy: Create a coaching toolkit For each practice, collect and organize the following: •Learn more about it resources •Illustrations of the practice •Implementation supports Coaching Toolkit: Learn more about it Knowledge, skills, theoretical foundations, why. •Define the important components of the practice •Provide illustrations of the practice •Provide examples and non - examples •Use short videos, articles and infographics Coaching Toolkit: Develop implementation supports Help learners remember what they have learned, what they need to do and when to do it by using implementation supports such as: •Matrices •Implementation checklists •Scripts •Tip sheets •Visual supports •Memes and infographics Coaching Toolkit: Learn more about modeling AAC Coaching Toolkit: See modeling in action, video AAC Core Vocabulary: GO Coaching Toolkit: Modeling Core Matrix •Helps adults identify when to use the practice •This one includes target words and scripts A visual matrix of ways to model core language with AAC throughout the day in early childhood settings. Coaching Toolkit: Modeling AAC plan and script Provide prompts for words to model and scripts for creating communication opportunities. A reference sheet for planning and modeling core words during a specific activity or routine. Step Up AT learn more about it resources Step Up AT Project video library on You Tube •@ stepupatproject5640 •Short videos of AT practices •Device demonstration •Videos available in English and Spanish Step Up AT modules •Short modules •Free •https://www.development.stepupat.org/ Coaching Strategy: Rehearse Rehearse •Practice •Role play •Reflect and problem Solve Coaching Strategy: Model Effective modeling: •Discuss the plan for modeling with the learner •Explain what you will be doing and why •Give the learner a job •Reflect Coaching strategy: Observation Coach observes the teacher implementing the practice at an agreed upon time. Make a plan for the observation : •What data will the coach collect? •What will the coach watch for? •What real time support might be provided? (gestural cues, verbal cues) Coaching strategy: Reflection Provide opportunities for the teacher to reflect on their implementation of the practice. •What went well? •How did that feel? •What was challenging? •What did you notice when…? •What would you keep the same, change? Coaching strategy: Feedback Feedback is: •Focused •Specific •Supportive and constructive Feedback Tips and Strategies •I Notice Statements oSupportive: I noticed that you xxxx and this is a great example of xxxx . oSupportive: I noticed that you xxx and this is important because xxx. oConstructive: I noticed xxx, some strategies you might consider are xxx. oConstructive: I noticed xxx, something you might try is…. •Use language of teaching and learning familiar to your team •Keep suggestions specific and simple •Feedback can be provided in written form, emails, notes My coaching action plan What are your next steps? •Find practices, create lists of practices •Create, find and display easily understood visuals •Collect and share videos of amazing implementation in practice •Collect and organize articles and videos of the practices •Record others using the practices •Learn more about reflection and feedback •Try out some feedback starters •Plan rehearsal or modeling •Explore the Step Up AT website Resources: General •Step Up AT website: https://www.stepupat.org/ •Closing the Gap Article: A Coaching Mindset for Better AT Implementation: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/471571059/ •Head Start Practice Based Coaching resource page: https://headstart.gov/professional-development/article/practice-based-coaching-pbc •The Essentials of Practice Based Coaching in Early Childhood Settings: https://products.brookespublishing.com/Essentials-of-Practice-Based-Coaching-P1288.aspx Resources: Teaching Practices •Step Up AT Teacher Needs Assessment: https://www.stepupat.org/wp- content/uploads/C3-Teacher-Strengths-and-Needs-Assessment-FROM-COACHING-MANUAL-V3-1.pdf •Oakland Schools Providing Communication Opportunities with AAC Checklist: https://www.communicationmatrix.org/Uploads/Posts/8371/Opportunities Self Assessment.pdf •Assistiveware article Communication Partner Skills for AAC learners: https://www.assistiveware.com/learn-aac/build-communication-partner-skills Communication Partner Observation and Reflection Guide: https://ddwa.org.au/wp- content/uploads/2024/04/DDWA-Communication-Partner-Observation-and-Reflection-Guide-updated-02042024.pdf Resources: Make a plan •Step Up AT action plan form: https://www.stepupat.org/wp- content/uploads/Action-Plan.pdf •Head Start action plan form: https://headstart.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/no- search/coaching-corner-pbc-coach-training-action-plan-b.pdf •Augmentative and Alternative communication action plan form: https://ussaac.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/JEPL-AAC-Implementation-Action-Plan.pdf Resources: Learn More about It •Step Up AT project video learning library: https://www.youtube.com/@stepupatproject5640/videos •Step Up AT project learning modules: https://www.development.stepupat.org/ •AAC Learning Lab resources: https://aaclanguagelab.com/resources?category=teaching-and-therapy-material •AAC Strategies Webinar: https://youtu.be/s8pMaoFNAH4?si=Cc_nSYWyVMAwZl7G •Kate Ahern Prompting hierarchy visual: https://youtu.be/JrzkV36P1Ys?si=KkNuKuseCjglmG1A •Lauren Enders Gonzales Pinterest Board AAC signs, posters and memes: https://www.pinterest.com/lasenders/aac-memes-signs-and-posters/ •Modeling AAC video: https://youtu.be/LqeAipcciVQ?si=HSuGa7zBKMeayP6E •AAC Core vocabulary illustration video: https://youtu.be/UZSwwbhyExE?si=BGkgrNGIBu2aM0ur •Lesson Pix Core vocabulary resources: https://lessonpix.com/articles/5/214/Core •Video: Aided Language Stimulation explained: https://youtu.be/flFNMky22- U?si=F6MePeckL48rsJxA •The Art of Attributing Meaning video: https://youtu.be/JrzkV36P1Ys?si=KkNuKuseCjglmG1A Resources: Matrices and planning tools •NCQTL Activity matrix for modifications: https://center-elp.org/wp- content/uploads/2018/09/curriculum-modifications-module-5-activity-matrix.pdf •Let’s Grow Language planning form: https://aaclanguagelab.com/resources/lets- grow-language •Lesson Pix Core is All Around blank planning matrix: https://lessonpix.com/images/EarlyChildhoodModelCoreLanguagePlans-Blank.pdf •Saltillo Core vocabulary activity planner: https://saltillo.com/images/putting- aided-language-into-practice-choosing-vocab-activity-first-.pdf Resources: Observation •Head Start Observation form: https://headstart.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/no- search/pbc-mod-handout-template.pdf •Step Up AT Action Summary Form: https://www.stepupat.org/wp- content/uploads/Action-Summary-Form.pdf •Practical AAC Classroom Observation for Communication Opportunities with AAC: https://praacticalaac.org/wp-content/uploads/filebase/assessment/Classroom%20Observation%20for%20Communication%20Opportunities%20with%20AAC%20COCOA.pdf Resources: Reflection and Feedback •Step Up AT Observation Debrief Guide: https://www.stepupat.org/wp- content/uploads/Observation_Debrief_Guide.pdf •PBC Coaching Reflection and Feedback Starter Phrases: •https://headstart.gov/sites/default/files/video/attachments/coaching-corner-series-starter-phrases.pdf?redirect=eclkc •Step Up AT Teacher Reflection Form: https://www.stepupat.org/wp- content/uploads/Teacher-Reflection-on-Practice.pdf •A Coaching Guide to asking reflective questions: https://info.teachstone.com/blog/a-coaching-guide-to-asking-reflective-questions-part-1 •Head Start Constructive feedback examples: https://headstart.gov/sites/default/files/video/attachments/coaching-corner-series-constructive-feedback.pdf •Head Start Webinar Reflection and Feedback Strategies for Success: https://headstart.gov/video/reflection-feedback-strategies-success Charting the Cs logo with black and blue text Thank you! Jodi Altringer jodi.altringer@sourcewell-mn.gov Michelle Steele michelle.steele@sourcewell-mn.gov