Language for Thinking

[lougle]

Poltergoose very kindly sent me LfT and I have been reading through it.

I have a question:

The assessment pages have shaded boxes in the different Language levels (ABC) next to various questions.

Are those shaded boxes indicating that the particular question is not scored for that level? Or that it is? Or something completely different?

There is no reference anywhere that I can see, to the significance of the shadings.

For anyone who is doing LfT and is going to video and transcribe, Google Chrome has a great transcription tool. You save your video to the computer, then load it in Google Chrome. It has command keys for starting and stopping the video audio (Escape), fastforward/rewind (F4/F3) and speed up/slow down (F1/F2).

Then you simply type in the page. From there, you can copy and paste to word.

So Lougle, did you debrief after doing the first scenario with her?
Put to one side and do it again tomorrow.

Thanks for the info. on transcription.
Very useful.

Crossed posts.
Yes, be meaner.

My main aim in using LFT with staff is to help them understand that by constantly interpreting/assuming/making allowances for the child they aren't helping in the long run. We can only help by methodically going through the quirky/incorrect responses, modelling more appropriate responses and reassessing at a later date to see if the therapeutic input has made a mark.

Yes, which was very interesting in itself.

For example, with the question that said 'put the word 'dangerous' in your sentence.' She still seemed really unable to do it. She told me why it would be dangerous:

""If they could um cross over the road without even looking and if they run across the road they'll get killed."

So I said:

That's right, it would be dangerous. So it's dangerous to cross the road without using the crossing.

With the question about what they will do when the green man shows, I said:

"They walk across the road, dont' they?"

Then, DD2 volunteered: "To the other side."

So she knew they would go to the other side, but it seemed that she needed to hear 'across the road' to encourage her to volunteer that information.

I don't think it's so much that she doesn't have that language...just that she really thinks that I know what she's thinking. DH is very much like that - he uses any word that springs to mind, even if it's quite tangential, then I have to work out what he was trying to say. He finds language quite a difficult area too apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Yep - DS1 still has stock phrases that he says in a certain way in certain situations - pretty much as if something has flicked a "say this" switch.

What's most frustrating, is that this is a child who I have been told is 'fine' by two schools. Her current school is really lovely, and her teacher is very good for her. But her issues with language still haven't been picked up.

I just hope that when the SALT comes I get a chance to talk to her (here, I have been told, the only way I'd actually know she'd been is if DD2 tells me she's seen a SALT ), and that she digs deeper than picture cards with objects on them.

I think "fine" is often code for compliant. (Not something either of my boys could ever be accused of!)

Just done an assessment. dd2 is firmly language level C! Yet flummoxed by 'what is happening in the story', showing her language profile nicely. Mused a bit over the Q 'what's the difference between a dog and an alien?' A 'an alien doesn't exist' (not completely structured but succinct and fab vocab).

Really impressed with this resource. Thanks moondog for the helping hand.

Yes. I went on a school trip a couple of weeks ago. DD2 got a bit upset that she got mud on her tights and raised her voice a bit. One of the LSAs commented on 'that's when you know they're really tired'. I said 'Oh, she's often like this at home...' and she said 'Really?? She's quiet as a mouse at school.'

Yep. Exactly. She's happy, but when she doesn't understand, she sits quiet.

See, handywoman - an alien doesn't exist. That is a nice answer. Not flippin' 'An alien has a planet, a dog doesn't. It just has a house.'

Remember to read the descriptions of the language levels in the manual.
Read it all if you feel up to it.
There are some hugely useful sections.
I devised the instructions to simplify and tighten up the scoring procedure but it is in no way exhaustive.
A lot of people can't/won't read manuals so I have to work out effective time efficient ways of getting key information over to them.

I adore manuals My heart skipped a beat when I opened the envelope from Poltergoose - a shiny, pristine manual with thick, crisp pages and even a CD-ROM.

Oh Lougle that video is brilliant. What a great therapist you are. Let me dig out my LFT and tell you how I would score it. Though I don't pretend to be an expert on anything other than ds

If I'd known then what I do now, I'd have studied and become a SALT, to be honest. I love language and all that it encompasses. I feel passionate about empowering children to communicate, whatever their ability. I am stunned by how much the children with PMLD I see communicate despite never saying a word. I am fascinated by the lengths that my own children go to, to get their thoughts across.

I looked at the course at Reading..it's an hour away. Not sure it's doable

Wow, thanks everybody for this really interesting discussion.

I bought language for thinking to have something concrete to work on with my DD2 (5) who's english is hmm what can I say er 'interesting'.

We are bilingual and she is much stronger in her other language, although she's been a bit 'quirky' in her language development there as well IMO

The main issue seems to be expressive rather than receptive language, and its the grammar and syntax that are all over the place, sometimes she will use grammatical structures from her other language (which seems perfectly 'normal' to me) but she also has an awful lot of strange constructions that she uses that don't occur in the other language. I'm hoping that we will be able to use LfT to get some structured 'training' in as just modeling correct english is not working...

For what its worth I aksed her what is the difference between a dog and an alien (and after some vocab work to translate alien) her answer was 'a dogs got 2 eyes'

'A dog's got 2 eyes'! Well derrrrrrr...... Love it

This a great resource thank you so much for the extra information!

Have done the assessment with DS this morning, some interesting answers, what's the difference between an alien and a dog? They don't use bathrooms. What will happen after the film has finished? They have to pay for it.

Did the 1st scenario, going to film it next time. Am really excited about using this.

I think it is fantastic to see parents empowering themselves and each other. So useful. Imagine the potential!

Grrrrrr, I want to be a part of the revolution but I can't find my LFT atm.

I've gone through several boxes containing such delights as numicon, headsprout readers, VB-Mapp etc. but my LFT must be well and truly buried.

Sorry Lougle. I will get down to it at some point (soon hopefully as it is half-term and raining so what better time to talk about the differences between aliens and dogs eh?)

'Tis very exciting

Perhaps we need a 'roll call':

Using Lft:

Lougle - DD2 (5.9)
Starfish71 - DS
Handywoman - DD
vikinglights - DD2 (5)
DisAstrophe - DS
StarlightMcKenzie -DS
ouryve - DS

Considering Lft:
Someoneoutthere
Ineedmorepatience

Supporters:
Poltergoose (thank you, lovely)
EllenJaneismyname

Encouraging and guiding, but absolutely not advising:
Moondog

Thank you, everyone, for this - it's so much nicer doing it together!!

x-posted with you Star. Don't stress - you'll find it

The aliens will be waiting for you.

Something to make you all chuckle:

DD3 pushed DD2 in the ribs. DD2 came running to me and said 'She hurt me in the bras!'

Priceless.

Oh I can join in that. DS is currently 'delivering' a pink and blue teddy bear from between dd's legs. They just gone married and won a dance competition and now they are having a baby.

Sometimes NOT doing LFT or anything for that matter is valuable beyond measurement (but don't tell any LA bods or schools that I said that please).

DDs were enacting 'A little princess' today and DD2 was 'being the snotty two-faced bully but I'm actually not a bully'.

'She hurt me in the bras' oh how brilliant!

I love these, life would be more dull without these gems.