Why are basic concepts important? Basic concepts such as colors, numbers, location words, and descriptive words are the building blocks that children need to follow directions, engage in classroom routines, and provide descriptions. Understanding these concepts is fundamental for children so they can perform everyday tasks such as listening, speaking, reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Why is it important to teach concepts in pairs? Students learn concepts by associating opposite pairs. For example, to grasp the concept of temperature, a student must understand the definition of "hot" compared to "cold." The student is then able to expand his/her vocabulary to include the descriptors that exist between the two opposite words, such as "warm" and "cool."
What is the targeted grade level for this program? PreK-3
Does the Webber® Basic Concepts Program target the same concepts covered in the Wiig Assessment of Basic Concepts (WABC)? Yes. It covers 111 total concepts: 55 from WABC Level 1 - "A Day at the Zoo" and 56 concepts from Level 2 - "A Day at the Park."
Does this program target receptive and expressive language concepts? Yes. Stimulus items target 54 basic-concept pairs across seven categories:
- Color/Shape
- Weight/Volume
- Distance/Speed/Time
- Quantity/Completeness
- Location/Direction
- Condition/Quality
- Sensation/Emotion/Evaluation
What is included in the Webber® Basic Concepts Program?
- 52 instructional boards
- 224-page reproducible workbook
- 12 foam "ice cream cones"
- 90 "scoop" reinforcers
- 2 large foam dice
- set of dry-erase markers
Is there a specific order for teaching a concept pair?
- First, teach the concept pair (hot/cold, up/down, etc.) using pictures without a foil.
- Next, present pictures that have the concept pair with a foil.
- Finally, the student identifies concept pairs in three different scenes on the colorful laminated boards. All of the receptive and expressive questions are in the instructional activity book.
What is a foil? A foil is a third item added to a picture that is similar to the opposite concepts but incorrect. For example, one of the scenes for "open" and "closed" features three girls. One of the girls has her eyes open, the other closed, and the foil is wearing sunglasses.
Can I use the Webber® Basic Concepts Program in the classroom? Yes. There are reproducible pages in the book for each of the 52 instructional boards and the teaching cards. The teacher can copy a specific scene from the CD-ROM for all of the students in a class.
