Cozy chats about speech, language and learning

Behavior

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…

The Power of Picture Books: Supporting SEL in the Classroom

The Power of Picture Books: Supporting SEL in the Classroom

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to consider the holistic development of children. Social and emotional development is at the center of schools’ focus as schools are realizing that academics only are not enough to ensure a child’s success. Promoting social and emotional…

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…

Making Transitions Easy

Making Transitions Easy

Transitions can be difficult. Whether it is a big transition to a new school year or what we might think of as a simple transition from one activity to the next the transition could be hard. One way we can make the transition less stressful…

Giving Choices Assist in Gaining Cooperation

Giving Choices Assist in Gaining Cooperation

  The best lesson plans don’t work if you do not have a student’s cooperation. Something that I have found is that by allowing the student some control of a situation you are able to not only garner their attention and focus but the efforts…

Kindergarten Screening: A Peek Into a Child’s Mind

Kindergarten Screening: A Peek Into a Child’s Mind

  Kindergarten speech and language screenings are part of the educational requirement. I typically do these the first week of school giving me a chance to meet each of the new students. The purpose of the screening is to pick up any student that might…

A Fabulous Read to Ignite Your Teaching

A Fabulous Read to Ignite Your Teaching

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is read on the beach.  When that reading transforms my thinking or my practice of teaching I feel doubly gifted. Edrenaline Rush by John Meehan is one such book. This may end up being a series as…

How to Work with Mixed Groups in Speech and Language Therapy

How to Work with Mixed Groups in Speech and Language Therapy

How do you work with mixed groups in speech and language therapy? Working in groups in speech and language therapy can be challenging. Often the students will not all be on the same level. You may need to work with a classroom group in which…

Teaching Conversation Skills to Students with Severe Disabilities

Teaching Conversation Skills to Students with Severe Disabilities

 Most of us engage in conversation easily so we give no thought to the dynamics that are involved in a conversation which can make teaching the skills needed for conversation difficult.  If you think of a time that you were involved in a social situation…

Diary of a Teacher/Speech Pathologist Observation

Diary of a Teacher/Speech Pathologist Observation

Just when you are thinking that you are safe from observations, the state changes the evaluation requirements and you are again required to have announced and unannounced observations! Now don’t get me wrong I love what I do. I am proud of the work that…