Big W Free Books  PLUS FREE Teaching & Talking Tips Download Printables

Big W is giving away FREE Books for 12 weeks to help impact childhood literacy.  To help boost the impact even further SpeechNet is offering FREE Teaching and Talking Tips downloads for each FREE book.  

The "F" in FOCUS

Simply refers to the over all goals.  That is, the "focus" is on communication and it's importance.  One or more key learning goals will be identified as the focus for each product or service.

The "O" in FOCUS

It is important that parents and carers Observe children to help determine the child's "strengths and the potential areas that may benefit from a boost". The "O" for observe also means we need to help a child's ability to observe the things, people and actions in their everyday environment so that  skill at observing the things they see and hear in their environments.  That is, the "Observe" concept encompasses factors that help the carers and child FOCUS on developing Speech and Language at the correct level for their present skills and modelling one level above.  

The "C" in FOCUS

Draws attention to the verbal and non-verbal pragmatics or "use" of communication. The "C" in way refers to the Conversation between people.  It Helps carers develop and boost Social & Self-esteem Skills in children.

The "U" in FOCUS

Puts the FOCUS on Understanding skills - receptive language skills.  Areas that may be highlighted could include: Receptive vocabulary, concept development - logical reasoning, attention skills, following instructions, Blank level of questions, auditory and visual memory skills, 

The "S" in FOCUS

Concepts encompassed in this letter involve speech sound development, oro-motor skills, expressive language skills (eg., saying sentences).