Building Emergent Literacy with AAC

Stephanie Ekis and our "go-to" literacy textbook, Comprehensive Literacy For All, Erickson & Koppenhaver

Developing literacy begins long before a child learns to read. For students with complex communication needs, early exposure to books, print, and language-rich interactions is critical. Emergent literacy instruction helps children understand that communication can be shared through symbols, that print has meaning, and that they can engage with stories even if they are not yet speaking.

In this section, you'll find practical tools and materials designed to support early communication and literacy development using AAC.

🧸 AAC Picture Book Kits – For Early Emergent Communicators

Our AAC Picture Book Kits are designed for students at the earliest stages of communication—those who are just learning to attend to books, recognize symbols, and participate in shared reading.

Each kit includes:

  • A 5-day plan for repeated reading and interactive engagement
  • Low-tech communication boards with core and fringe vocabulary
  • Suggested single-message recordings (e.g., repeated lines or key phrases)
  • Predictable writing extension activities and rhyming games
  • Modeling prompts for partners using the C-A-R (Comment–Ask–Respond) strategy

Explore predictable text, rhyming awareness, color concepts, and symbolic communication, all in one engaging package.

You can find our entire collection of AAC Picture Book Kits in our Classroom Toolbox and Library Section!

🎥 5-Day Video Series: Getting Started with the AAC Picture Book Kits

Watch a week-long instructional series that demonstrates how to implement emergent literacy practices in real classrooms using our AAC Book Kits. Each video focuses on a core area of AAC-supported literacy:

  1. Getting Started: Materials and Preparation for a Week of Literacy Instruction!
  2. Day 1: Picture Walk & Vocabulary Introduction
  3. Day 2: Shared Reading with AAC Modeling
  4. Day 3: Repeated Reading with Vocabulary Focus
  5. Day 4: Shared Writing
  6. Day 5: Alphabet Knowledge and Phonological Awareness

Each session includes real examples, partner modeling strategies, and tips for adapting activities to meet the needs of a diverse classroom.

📖 Language & Literacy Book Companions – For Developing Readers

Designed for students who are beginning to build symbolic communication and early literacy skills, our Language & Literacy Book Companions align with common early education texts and help target:

  • Vocabulary building (core + fringe)
  • Comprehension (through who/what/where/when questions)
  • Sequencing and story retell
  • Symbol-supported writing responses
  • Book-specific communication boards for both low- and high-tech AAC users

These companions are ideal for small group instruction, inclusive reading groups, or literacy centers where students with AAC can meaningfully participate alongside peers.

Access our extensive library of Langauge and Literacy Book Companions in our Classroom Toolbox and Library!

With the right tools and support, every student can become a reader, writer, and communicator. These materials help bridge the gap for AAC users, turning books into meaningful conversations and literacy into joyful participation.

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