Introduction to the "Verbs" Program for Beginners

The "Verbs" Program is designed to help children understand and perform actions associated with objects, as well as improve their ability to follow directions. Teaching children verbs is foundational for communication and developing motor skills. This program emphasizes the importance of active listening, attention, and the understanding of body movements, which are essential for successfully following directions and performing actions.

Before introducing the Verbs Program, ensure that the child has developed strong listening skills. This involves being able to maintain attention and comprehend verbal instructions. It is essential to have gone through the following Simplesteps4learning.com programs to support these abilities:

Beginner Listening Program Simple Steps for Learning - Beginner Program

Advanced Listening Program simple-steps-4-learning.teachable.com/p/advanced-sounds

In conjunction with the Verbs Program, it’s beneficial to combine it with the Attributes Program, simple-steps-4-learning.teachable.com/p/beginners-the-attributes-program. which helps children understand the functions and uses of objects. This understanding provides the groundwork for teaching verbs, as children need to know what to do with objects before learning action words.

Key Elements of the Verbs Program

The Verbs Program is built on practical scenarios, materials, and a list of 150 foundational verbs that help children begin to understand and express actions. These verbs are essential for communication and are used to give instructions or describe actions. Some key aspects of this program include:

Following Directions: Children learn to understand and follow directions through actions. For example, when a child is asked to “jump” or “run,” they will understand what is expected of them and how to respond.

Body Awareness: If a child struggles to imitate or perform an action, the reason might be a lack of body awareness. It’s important to ensure that they have the foundational understanding of body parts and their movement. To help with this, start with a vocabulary program focused on body parts. https://simple-steps-4-learning.teachable.com/p/beginners-vocabulary/?preview=logged_out

Once the child is aware of their body and its movements, they can begin to follow instructions using those body parts.

Focus on Verbal Directions

The Verbs Program also focuses on helping children follow verbal directions, a skill that directly relates to reading comprehension and communication. For example, if a child is asked to “throw the ball,” the program will help determine whether the issue lies with the child’s ability to perform the action (e.g., throwing) or their understanding of the verb itself (e.g., "throw").

If a child struggles to follow directions, it might be because they are not yet able to focus long enough to understand the full instruction. In this case, revisit the listening programs https://simple-steps-4-learning.teachable.com/p/simple-steps-4-learning-beginner-program-sounds

• to help the child build the attention span needed to follow directions.
• Additionally, the program focuses on speed, emphasizing the importance of the child quickly responding to verbs. Speed is critical to conversational skills, as children who cannot quickly recall and use verbs may struggle to participate in fluid conversations. At the end of the program, children should be able to respond rapidly to 30 action verbs.

Real-World Applications of the Verbs Program

This program helps children see how powerful words can be. When children can use verbs to instruct others, such as saying "mommy, jump" or "mommy, clap," they begin to understand the connection between words and actions. This not only enhances their vocabulary but also empowers them to engage with the world in a meaningful way.

Furthermore, this program supports non-verbal communication. For example, parents often hope to see their child smile when asked to take a picture, but the child may not understand the command. By teaching verbs such as “smile,” children will learn the connection between the verb and the desired action, improving their responsiveness.

Teaching Tips

• Use the Verbs as They Are: When teaching verbs, use them in their base form (e.g., "jump," "run") instead of the continuous form (e.g., "jumping," "running"). This will avoid confusion with verb tenses and make it easier for children to understand the core action.
• Customize with Photos: While the program offers example photographs, feel free to take your own pictures of family members, friends, or the child performing these actions. Personalized images will make the learning process more engaging and meaningful.

Conclusion

The Verbs Program is a comprehensive approach that integrates listening, body awareness, object function understanding, and action words to help children follow directions and communicate more effectively. By working through this program, children will not only learn important verbs but also gain confidence in their ability to interact with others and their environment through words and actions.