Cozy chats about speech, language and learning

lesson plans

Develop Social Pragmatic Goals Conversation

Develop Social Pragmatic Goals Conversation

Conversations for most of us happens naturally without too much thought. How then do we make the analysis of this skill to teach it to someone who is having difficulty with this?  We are nearly taking an autopsy of conversation and dissecting the parts of…

Being Flexible, Writing Goals for Clinic

Being Flexible, Writing Goals for Clinic

As a speech and language pathologist, as in life we need to be flexible. You will be at a work site that might do things in a different way that you may have been taught or the way the last work site had you do…

Baseline Information

Baseline Information

Getting good baseline information is very important when working with students as it gives a good starting point. The clearer you write this on the goal sheet or lesson plan the easier it is for anyone reading it to understand not just where the child…

Combining Literacy Lessons with Social Emotional Lessons

Combining Literacy Lessons with Social Emotional Lessons

I have been working with great children’s literature within the whole classroom environment to develop student’s Tier Two vocabulary, understanding of story grammar and listening comprehension skills. I have always embedded some social language skills into these lessons with the set up of class expectations,…

Teaching Sight Words,  Why is it Important and How Can We Assist ?

Teaching Sight Words, Why is it Important and How Can We Assist ?

Besides learning to break the phonetic code and sounding out words knowing sight words is crucial to being a reader. Sight word recognition is one of the important building blocks in a child learning to read. If a child is successful with sight words they will…

All Directions are not created equal

All Directions are not created equal

  Following directions is a common goal for students as it involves a complicated language process. It requires that the students: Attend to the information given caution; some students may not be attending to information that is presented in one modality. Be sure to combine…

Teaching Tier Two Words

Teaching Tier Two Words

Common Core curriculum recognizes the importance of vocabulary in learning.  Refer to this blog to learn about the three tiers Blog on three tiers of vocabulary. Background knowledge of the topic being taught in the classroom is a key component of learning. It becomes the foundation…

Using Therapy Materials that Match a Student’s Age or Abilities

Using Therapy Materials that Match a Student’s Age or Abilities

You have the goals you want your student to achieve. You have the research-based approach to use in treatment. What may be more difficult is matching the student’s age and abilities to the appropriate materials. A common mistake that  a newbie clinician or a student clinician…

Keeping Pace in a therapy session.

Keeping Pace in a therapy session.

Pacing during a treatment session can be crucial in maintaining a child’s attention and focus. The easiest way to do this is using a schedule and a pattern of an opening and closing activity. Using a timer to go off five minutes before the end…

It Takes a Village by Jane Cowen-Fletcher book companion

It Takes a Village by Jane Cowen-Fletcher book companion

I love using literature to teach. It gives me a jumping off point to teach vocabulary and story grammar.   It Takes A Village by Jane Cowen-Fletcher Book Companion is a great story that is set in an African village.  Yemi is given the responsibility…