Kate Ahern
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keighta.bsky.social
Kate Ahern
@keighta.bsky.social
780 followers 2.6K following 34 posts
Accessible Education Teacher, loving all things AAC, teacher, owner, curriculum writer at AAC Voices. Childless Cat Woman who is currently also catless. I’ve been called loud and abrasive but I think that’s secret code for a confident and intelligent woman
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keighta.bsky.social
Epiphany at 4:30 in the morning today. She's less cuddly than her sister, Karma, but she sleeps on the pillow next to my pillow inches from my head, all night, overnight. (She's a 9 1/2 week old Ragdoll).
August 13, 2025 at 10:51 PM
keighta.bsky.social
AAC users are invited to join us for our amazing virtual AAC Camp!
July 6, 2025 at 9:40 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Starting in May! AAC youth Book Club!
April 25, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Reposted by Kate Ahern
ericm.cd
I look at close to 100 stories a week and even more outside of work. I’ve done this ten years.

This is among the most horrific things I’ve ever read — testimony from dying children whose access to medicine has been cut off by the Trump administration.

www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Haunted by hopelessness: 12 Zambians share their stories as HIV drugs run out
Mothers and children, husbands and wives, doctors, truck drivers and religious leaders are all grappling with the fallout from the sudden U.S. cuts in aid.
www.npr.org
April 17, 2025 at 1:58 AM
keighta.bsky.social
April 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Kate Ahern
carterkalchik.bsky.social
The amount of cooked your brain has to be to think the Nazis were the good guys. You have to abandon basic childhood heroes like Indiana Jones. "Nazis..."
February 22, 2025 at 9:44 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Current and former students of mine from any era join us Friday!
AAC Voices online valentines party feb 14 2025 7 pm edt on zoom password LOVE all students and friends welcome. Games. Parties. Reading of I like you. Picture of two hands on what and one black making a heart shoe on a red to pink background
February 10, 2025 at 3:16 AM
keighta.bsky.social
The hardest thing about being a teacher today is teaching about the American revolution as the American experiment enters what may well he it's end years.
January 21, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Reposted by Kate Ahern
mjfree.bsky.social
December 11, 2024 at 10:50 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 15/20
#booksky
#bookchallenge
December 7, 2024 at 5:35 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 14/20
#booksky
#bookchallenge
December 5, 2024 at 9:47 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 13/20
#booksky
#bookchallenge
December 5, 2024 at 12:51 AM
keighta.bsky.social
How I teach vocabulary in picture books to AAC users:
A sample graphic organizer for teaching vocabulary to AAC users. The title is vocabulary for Hansel and Gretel. It is a 5x5 grid. The tops of the columns are labelled Word, Meaning, Saying it with AAC, Sentence and Picture. The words are glistened, gobble, nibble, capture. The rest of the organizer is filled out. A list entitled Teaching Picture Book Vocabulary to AAC Users. It reads: Select words from the book you will be reading. Words should be level 2/3 words. Use a graphic organizer to present the word, definition, definition using only words found in common AAC systems, a sentence, and a video clip or image. Say, type/write the word, and spell it. Ask the kids to guess what it means. Allow plenty of wait time for them to think, look at the video/graphic and make a message with AAC. The more you so this the more they will participate and make connections. Share the full definition as you enter it in the organizer. Using a common AAC system (or more than one if you have time) model how they could say the meaning of the word with their AAC system. (Paraprofessionals/peers could do this on individual devices so more kids see their own device modeled.) If you have time ask for a sentence and write it down. If not, create a sentence yourself. Review the word, definition, how to say it with AAC and the sentence one more time While reading have your kids do a movement or hold up a sign or something when they hear a vocabulary word. You need to present a word and have the student have experiences with a word many times for them to "own it". If a word reoccurs in another book you can do it again. Presenting vocabulary this way teaches tier 2/3 words using tier 1/2 words meaning - that makes it differentiated for different levels of language learning. Try to use motivating videos, images and sentences. Connect them to the students lived experiences. My students ask to do vocabulary!
December 3, 2024 at 10:01 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 12/20
#booksky
#bookchallenge
December 3, 2024 at 8:58 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 11/20
#booksky
#bookchallenge
December 2, 2024 at 4:15 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 10/20
#booksky
#bookchallenge
December 1, 2024 at 5:38 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Hello, Ahern Academy, a program of AAC Voices, LLC, is a year round, virtual home school for learners age 6+ who use AAC to communicate full or part time. We offer daily classes in phonics and math as well as four days a week of reading, writing and science, history or communication class. #AAC
A square advertisement for Ahern Academy, Virtual Home School Cooperative. Text reads: Fill the New Year with Light! A year round online school community for AAC users age 6+ with literacy, math, social and emotional learning, communication skills, science and history instruction. Taught by expert accessible education and AAC specialist Kate Ahern, M.S.Ed. Text ‪(978) 420-4902‬ for more information. www.aacvoices.org Now enrolling for winter 2024-2025. Limited openings. Image shows the company logo, a bee, and evergreen boughs and twinkle lights.
December 1, 2024 at 5:17 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 9/20
#booksky
#bookchallenge
November 30, 2024 at 4:41 AM
keighta.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 8/20
#booksky
#bookchallenge
November 28, 2024 at 3:18 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 7/20
#booksky
#bookchallenge
November 27, 2024 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Kate Ahern
georgetakei.bsky.social
Well, when put it that way…
November 27, 2024 at 12:52 AM
Reposted by Kate Ahern
lindaholmes.bsky.social
I don’t always have good news to share first thing in the morning BUT…

IT’S BOOKS WE LOVE DAY!!!!!

apps.npr.org/best-books/#...
Books We Love
Here are 350+ great reads from 2024 hand-picked just for you by NPR staff and trusted critics.
apps.npr.org
November 25, 2024 at 12:25 PM
keighta.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 6/20
#booksky
#bookchallenge
November 26, 2024 at 1:37 AM
keighta.bsky.social
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 5/20 #booksky #bookchallenge
November 24, 2024 at 8:11 PM