The Classroom Communication Project helps educators build supportive classroom environments where all students, including those using AAC, have consistent opportunities to communicate throughout their day. Below are the essential tools and planning supports to engineer communication-rich classrooms.
Engineering the Classroom for Communication
Classroom Communication Checklist 3.0
Light Tech Options for Robust AAC: Tools and Access
Embedding AAC Into Classroom Routines
Communication Lesson Planning Tools
A communication-friendly classroom makes language visible, accessible, and expected. Students with complex communication needs benefit most when they are surrounded by consistent, meaningful language opportunities. That means AAC should not just live on a device—it should live in the environment.
In this section, you’ll learn how to set up your classroom so that communication is embedded everywhere. From doorways to circle time, every space can become a language-learning opportunity.
Strategic placement of low-tech AAC tools throughout the classroom ensures that communication is supported all day long.
🖇️ Download Quick Talk Books HERE, below or in the Classroom Toolbox and Library under the Communication Materials Section
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To complement your Dynamic AAC Flipbook, we offer 3” Symbol Fringe Boards organized into practical categories that match the fringe vocabulary from the Flipbook. These can be:
Example Categories Include:
People • Food • Toys • Emotions • School Tools • Art Supplies • Hygiene • Transitions • Outdoor Play
🖇️ Access the 3" Symbol Boards in the Classroom Toolbox and Library under the Communication Materials Section. There are a few samples you can download below!
🧠 Project Core – Universal Core Vocabulary Posters
For students who are still developing early symbolic communication, Project Core offers free Universal Core Vocabulary boards and posters that are:
🖇️ Explore Project Core and download materials at www.project-core.com
Example video using Talking Tiles
Doorway/Entry: Social Page from Quick Talk Book (hi, bye, see you later!)
Bathroom: Needs Page from the Quick Talk Book, Hygiene symbols
Snack Area: Food Symbol/Photo page,
Play Centers: Preschool Routine Play Pages (hint: not just for preschool!)
Sensory/Calm Corner: QuickTalk Book, Feelings Board
Teacher/SLP Table: DTA AAC Flipbook and Quick Talk Pages for Partner modeling AAC
By engineering your classroom for communication, you set the stage for language learning all day long. With visual supports in place, students learn that communication is expected, modeled, and celebrated—no matter where they are in the room or in their AAC journey.
The Classroom Communication Checklist is a tool developed to identify communication supports in place in the classroom and to determine potential supports which may be of value to add into the existing program. This planning tool helps teachers & administrators consider a variety of supports to help their students communicate effectively in the classroom. Download, save and use as a writeable form!
All students—regardless of diagnosis, age, or verbal ability—deserve access to a robust communication system. Robust systems include a wide range of vocabulary: core words, fringe words, social phrases, question words, and academic vocabulary. These tools allow students to go beyond simple requests and truly express themselves.
“If the only words available are ‘want’ and ‘more,’ then that is the only message the child can learn to say.”
— Gayle Porter, Creator of PODD
If a student doesn’t yet have a high-tech device, or their device is not available or functioning, we can still give them access to this full range of language using low-tech and no-tech options.
Throughout many of our tools, you'll find embedded printable, low-tech versions of robust AAC systems. These programs also have light tech versions of their apps or core word boards online for free downloads!
These boards and books reflect the layout and vocabulary of their high-tech counterparts, making them perfect for:
The Dynamic AAC Flipbook is our portable, printable AAC system designed for classroom modeling and student use across a variety of settings. These categorized books are a simple tool to support speaking students who need simple visual supports for their language development.
This tool is perfect for:
Download these below or in our Classroom Toolbox and Library in the Communication Materials section.
Whether you’re using a printed board or a Flipbook, robust AAC tools should be present, available, and used throughout the school day:
📚 Circle Time & Morning Meeting
Use a mounted core board and Flipbook to model greetings, calendar phrases, weather terms, and participation comments.
🧩 Centers & Table Time
Model words like “turn,” “want,” “help,” and “look” during puzzles, playdoh, and matching activities.
🧃 Meals & Snacks
Use a printed fringe page or flipbook tab with food vocabulary to support choice-making, commenting, and requesting.
🚪 Transitions
Keep a lanyard board or wall-mounted backup near the door to support “go,” “wait,” “stop,” “outside,” and “bathroom.”
💡 Tip: Use these tools not only to give students access, but to coach paraprofessionals and peers on how to model language during natural interactions.
Students don’t need to wait for a device to start learning language. With printable, robust tools and consistent adult modeling, communication can begin today—anywhere, anytime.
Research consistently shows that the most effective way to teach AAC is through daily routines and meaningful, naturalistic contexts. Routines provide structure, predictability, and repetition—making them ideal for modeling language and giving students authentic reasons to communicate.
“Intervention should be embedded into natural contexts that occur regularly and predictably in the individual’s daily life.”
— Light & McNaughton, 2015
Rather than isolating AAC instruction during separate lessons, communication should be modeled throughout the school day: during play, lining up, reading books, sharing snacks, or cleaning up. These are moments when students are already engaged—and that’s when communication matters most.
“Children with complex communication needs learn language best when it is used functionally in the context of meaningful activities and routines.”
— Drager, Light, & McNaughton, 2010
This planning tool is designed to help you determine your vocabulary targets for each regularly scheduled activity during the school day. No need to create a "communication center," just add communication supports to the activities you are already using! Download below or find in our Classroom Toolbox and Library under Teacher Resources!
Simple, practical tools to help you plan for communication all day long
Planning communication supports doesn’t have to be overwhelming. These tools help you embed AAC and language learning into your daily classroom routines and academic activities. Whether you're working on a weekly theme, analyzing your schedule, or prepping for one specific routine, we've got you covered.
Weekly communication plan aligned with 5 key communication goals
Use this tool to build a weekly plan that layers communication into a planned classroom activity. Designed around our 5 Classroom Communication Goals, this form helps you:
💡 Check out the downloadable News-2-You Lesson Plan and sample Reading the News Topic Board to see this tool in action!
Capture your student’s full day of communication opportunities
This form allows teachers to outline a student’s daily schedule in detail to assist in planning for communication supports and prioritizing target words and messages for each activity, you’ll document:
A one-page planning tool to jump-start AAC in your classroom
The Passport is a simple activity planner aligned with our 6 Classroom Communication Goals:
Use it to ensure that during each activity, you're creating opportunities for meaningful, functional communication—and have the right symbols and supports in place.
Your “communication recipe card” for everyday routines
Plan a single activity with communication in mind:
Examples:
These “recipes” make it easy to bring language learning into daily school routines like snack, centers, and arrival.
Access all downloadable forms and templates below, or visit our Teacher Resources Section of the Toolbox and Library to explore more!
