Teaching Child Communication Skills

School Store Social Skills
Situation: 

The students in my Life Skills class need more practice with social skills, but they always seem to clam up in those unstructured times like lunch and in between classes.  Is there something I can do to help them have more opportunities to interact?

Daily Routines to Help Preschool Children Communicate
Situation: 

I would like to help my 3 year old son to communicate better. He’s very smart and can do just about anything on a computer. When I ask him questions he seems to understand, but sometimes he just repeats what I ask him. What are some ways to teach him how to communicate better? What can I do to help?

Talk Tools vs. Screaming Tools to Communicate
Situation: 

My son is non-verbal.  Recently he has begun screaming.  This is not out of anger, but to hear his own voice.  It is quite loud and can be very distracting at home to his siblings and out  in public.  I don’t want to discourage his trying to communicate, so am not sure how to handle it.

Tips and Strategies for Echolalia as Communicative Intent
Situation: 

I am a student working with a child with classic autism. This child is a seven year old male who is mostly nonverbal. His family and therapists are currently exploring whether PECS or ASL will be most functional for this child to develop language. However, the mother expressed that he does use echolalia occasionally, and often times with communicative attempt. For example, he repeats the phrase “only at Walmart” when he wants to go to Walmart. What are some strategies I can share with this family  for expanding or shaping these behaviors into purposeful communication?

Student Break Card Strategy
Situation: 

How can I prevent a student from being non-compliant during groups or activities?

Pre-Teaching for Schedule Change
Situation: 

My student has a melt-down when there is a change from outdoor play/recess to indoor play. How can we make him understand the visual picture change to his schedule?

Question Cards
Situation: 

What do you do with a student who continually asks questions unrelated to the topic being discussed? When they are not allowed to ask off topic questions they become upset or angry.

Visible But Unreachable
Situation: 
I can’t get my student to request something without providing a verbal prompt or model. He is so dependent on me and waits until I ask him to talk.
Choice Board
Situation: 

How do I get a student to tell me what it is he wants?