Core Vocabulary: Supporting Functional Communication Skills for Young Children

This session will engage participants in defining core vocabulary and exploring play-based strategies to support functional communication in young children. Trainers will define core and fringe vocabulary, discuss the origins of core vocabulary in AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication), emphasize moving beyond simple noun-naming/focus on academic language to modeling functional daily communication, and provide practical examples to integrate modeling core vocabulary intentionally in the early childhood classroom. Participants will reflect on their own language use and learn how to select and implement core vocabulary in classroom activities to support functional communication skills for any child aged birth to five.