Cozy chats about speech, language and learning

Speech and language

Unlocking Language Growth Through Storybooks

Unlocking Language Growth Through Storybooks

In my work as a speech-language pathologist, literature is at the heart of everything I do. It’s not just a vehicle for vocabulary—it’s the bridge to listening comprehension, inferencing, narrative structure, receptive and expressive language, and so much more. My therapy units often span several…

🐦 Bring Stories To Life: Bird-themed Literacy Center with Make Way for Ducklings

🐦 Bring Stories To Life: Bird-themed Literacy Center with Make Way for Ducklings

A thematic literacy center is a powerful way to bring learning to life—and when it comes to engaging young learners, few topics capture their imagination quite like animals. In particular, birds offer a rich foundation for integrating fiction and nonfiction texts, building vocabulary, and practicing…

Beyond the Classroom Math Vocabulary for Older Students

Beyond the Classroom Math Vocabulary for Older Students

As students grow older, math becomes more complex—not just in the operations, but in the language itself. By upper elementary and middle school, math vocabulary shifts from concrete to conceptual. Words like evaluate, estimate, data, or difference can feel abstract or even intimidating for students…

Make Speech Therapy Enjoyable with These 10 Kid-Friendly Games

Make Speech Therapy Enjoyable with These 10 Kid-Friendly Games

Engaging young children in speech therapy requires creativity, fun, and a touch of strategy. Games are a fantastic way to motivate kids while building essential speech and language skills. Here’s a list of 10 fun and effective games you can use in speech therapy sessions…

Unlock Early Language and Learning Skills with Twinkle Star

Unlock Early Language and Learning Skills with Twinkle Star

As educators, parents, and therapists, we’re always looking for ways to make learning both fun and effective for young children. The Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Nursery Rhyme Interactive File Folder Activities is a tool that achieves just that, by combining classic nursery rhymes with engaging,…

Understanding Attention Deficit the Role of Speech-Language Pathologists

Understanding Attention Deficit the Role of Speech-Language Pathologists

Elijah came barreling toward me, his excitement barely contained as he nearly collided with me. With a huge grin plastered across his face, he shouted, “Are you going to take me?” Elijah, a five-year-old kindergartener, is like a lively ping pong ball, bouncing from one…

9 Ways to Unlock the Potential of Gestalt Language Learners

9 Ways to Unlock the Potential of Gestalt Language Learners

Language acquisition is a unique journey for every child, but for Gestalt Language Learners, the process is particularly distinct. Understanding this approach and crafting a tailored speech and language therapy plan can significantly enhance their communication skills. In this blog post, we’ll explore what Gestalt…

The Magic of Joint Attention: Observing Our Little Ones at Family Dinners

The Magic of Joint Attention: Observing Our Little Ones at Family Dinners

This summer, our family started a new tradition of weekly dinners, alternating between two homes. It’s been a delightful experience, especially watching our grandchildren interact with each other. The two girls, both one year old, are a joy to observe. What has really caught my…

Multi-Sensory Strategies for Story Sequencing

Multi-Sensory Strategies for Story Sequencing

Helping children understand and sequence the beginning, middle, and end of a story is a crucial skill for developing literacy and comprehension. For children who thrive on sensory experiences, incorporating multi-sensory strategies can make this process more engaging and effective. Here are some creative and…

Effective Strategies for Teaching Greetings to Students on the Autism Spectrum

Effective Strategies for Teaching Greetings to Students on the Autism Spectrum

Teaching greetings to a student on the autism spectrum using a multi-sensory approach can be highly effective, especially for those who crave sensory stimulation. Here’s a structured plan that incorporates various sensory modalities: 1. Visual Supports 2. Auditory Supports 3. Tactile Supports 4. Kinesthetic Supports…