Cozy chats about speech, language and learning

Rakovic Speech and Language Chat

Rakovic Speech and Language Chat

Cozy chats about speech, language and learning

Recent Posts

Circle Time Song Choice Board

Circle Time Song Choice Board

Circle Time Song Choice Boards is my go-to for new students. As I prepare for back to school I begin to organize my supplies and things that I will need to begin therapy. The first thing I always pull out is my Circle Time Song…

Top 7 Reasons Why an SLP  is Important to your Literacy Program

Top 7 Reasons Why an SLP is Important to your Literacy Program

Top seven reasons why a speech and language pathologist should be part and indeed play an integral role in your school’s literacy program.

Prepositions their Importance and How to Teach

Prepositions their Importance and How to Teach

Why should we teach prepositions? Prepositions are part of our everyday conversation. They are a big part of what we use when we give directions. Think about some of the early directions that we give our own children. ” Put on your shoes”, “Get in…

Understanding the Complexity of Choosing Tier Two Vocabulary

Understanding the Complexity of Choosing Tier Two Vocabulary

It is important to have an understanding of the tiers of vocabulary. Recently I was working with a group of Providence College graduate students as we created a reading lesson plan using the story ‘Caps for Sale’ for students with autism spectrum disorder. As part…

Articulation:                   Making Drill Work Fun

Articulation: Making Drill Work Fun

It is progress report time which has meant that I have administered an articulation test to all my speech students. I am consistently amazed at how well they do each quarter with many of them reaching their yearly goal within the quarter. How is this…

Harnessing the Melody of Learning: The Impact of File Folder Songs on Early and Special Education

Harnessing the Melody of Learning: The Impact of File Folder Songs on Early and Special Education

In the world of early education and special needs teaching, engaging learners requires creativity, innovation, and a deep understanding of how young minds develop. Among the myriad tools educators use to capture attention and foster learning, file folder songs stand out as a beacon of…

Together Strong Speech Language Pathologists and Educators

Together Strong Speech Language Pathologists and Educators

In the dynamic landscape of education and therapy, the synergy between speech and language pathologists(SLPs) and teachers is a critical element that can significantly enhance student outcomes. This partnership is not just beneficial but essential for fostering an inclusive, supportive, and effective learning environment. Through…

A Review of Adam Grant’s ‘Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

A Review of Adam Grant’s ‘Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

I just finished reading Hidden Potential: the Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam M. Grant and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It doesn’t center on the concept of ambition but rather on aspiration. Ambition pertains to the achievements one aims for, whereas aspiration relates…

Beyond Words: The Impact Of Language Therapy In Special Education Success

Beyond Words: The Impact Of Language Therapy In Special Education Success

In the diverse tapestry of support systems within educational settings, Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) play a pivotal role in fostering the academic and social success of students with disabilities. These professionals are not just facilitators of communication; they are advocates, educators, and allies who…

Boost Your Vocabulary: How Semantic Maps Can Enhance Language Learning

Boost Your Vocabulary: How Semantic Maps Can Enhance Language Learning

Word maps, also known as semantic maps or vocabulary maps, are effective tools for teaching vocabulary and writing for several reasons: Word or semantic maps are a great strategy to assist students in both understanding vocabulary and in using more descriptive words in their writing.…

Incorporating Social Skills in Speech and Language Therapy

Incorporating Social Skills in Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapy plays a crucial role in the development of communication skills in children, particularly those with speech and language challenges. However, there’s an often-overlooked aspect of communication that is vital for a child’s overall development: social skills. Incorporating social skills training into…

Understanding Speech Articulation Development

Understanding Speech Articulation Development

Speech articulation development is a crucial aspect of a child’s growth, encompassing how they learn to produce clear and understandable speech. This process involves the coordination of lips, tongue, teeth, palate, and respiratory system to form sounds, syllables, and words. Let’s delve into the stages…

Unlock Your Student’s Learning Potential with Story Grammar & Graphic Organizers

Unlock Your Student’s Learning Potential with Story Grammar & Graphic Organizers

Story grammar plays a crucial role in enhancing children’s listening and reading comprehension for several reasons: Incorporating graphic organizers is particularly helpful in this process: Overall, understanding story grammar and using graphic organizers are essential tools in developing children’s listening and reading comprehension skills. They…

Speech Articulation How to Guide to Mastering the /s/ Blends

Speech Articulation How to Guide to Mastering the /s/ Blends

Welcome to our deep dive into the world of speech articulation, specifically focusing on the /s/ blends. These blends are not just crucial for clear communication but also form a foundational aspect of language development. Whether you’re a speech therapist, a parent guiding your child,…

Enhancing Multilingual Success: SLP’s Strategies For K-2 Students In The Classroom

Enhancing Multilingual Success: SLP’s Strategies For K-2 Students In The Classroom

Supporting multilingual students in kindergarten through second grade is a vital role that encompasses various strategies and approaches. The role of a speech and language pathologist (SLP) in this context is particularly crucial, as they help distinguish between language differences and language disorders. Here’s an…


My Diary

Hello world!

Hello world!

A New Day

You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the water slide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute. ~ Tina Fey

I have been standing at the top of the water slide, afraid to take the plunge into a different blogging experience. In June 2013, I began a blog on Edublogs. I was new to blogging but wanted the opportunity for my graduate students to be able to read, comment, and make suggestions on a variety of topics.

Teaching students whether they are school age or adults is still my passion in life. What has evolved from the beginning blog has been the opportunity to share with a wider audience.

The goal of education is not to increase the amount of knowledge but to create the possibilities for a child to invent and discover, to create men who are capable of doing new things”

This new blog will continue to have educational related topics but it will also have resources that I would like to share with you. My goal is to create a space that we can continue to discover together.

Will you take the plunge with me? Follow my blog with Bloglovin


All Time Favorites

3  Ways To Teach Greetings and Names a Beginning Social Skill

3 Ways To Teach Greetings and Names a Beginning Social Skill

A potential friend is only a ‘Hello’ away. Paul Liebau One of the first social skills that I love to teach is greetings and student’s names. As a speech and language pathologist I know that although it might seem like a very simple skill when you…

Songs Are An Important Language Development Tool and Free Download

Songs Are An Important Language Development Tool and Free Download

Songs are an important language development learning tool. One of my favorite speech and language therapy techniques is using singing to develop language. Using songs for preschoolers for language learning is fun and effective. Preschoolers can learn so much through songs. Why use songs in…

TILT-WHIRL: School Year 2020-2021 and Some Solutions

TILT-WHIRL: School Year 2020-2021 and Some Solutions

I am not sure what your year has been like, but mine has been crazy.  Our administration has told us that we need to ‘pivot’ to adjust to the changes that seem to happen daily.   I begin to feel like I am on the…

Hello world!

Hello world!

You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the water slide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute. ~ Tina Fey I have been standing at the top of the water slide, afraid to take the plunge into a different blogging…

Top 10 reasons you should be a speech and language pathologist

Top 10 reasons you should be a speech and language pathologist

January 1979 I started my Clinical Fellowship Year as a speech and language pathologist. I have NEVER regretted the decision to become a speech and language pathologist. It has been a phenomenal adventure! When I began my college career I had not really known a…