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…

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…

In my role as a speech and language pathologist in the middle school, I often see the difficulties my students have in the classroom. I may have taught a skill or concept in my treatment with them, I may witness their hard effort to complete…

  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…

What are pragmatic language skills? Pragmatic language refers to the social language skills that we use in our daily interactions with others. This includes what we say, how we say it, our non-verbal communication (eye contact, facial expressions, body language, etc.) and how appropriate our interactions are in a given situation.

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 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…

When we have a structure supported with simple behavioral routines and visuals our classroom and therapy sessions are more effective and focused.  This benefits not just the student but also you as the instructor giving you a framework for your sessions. I find that if…

What is Executive Functioning? Johnny races into the room and you can nearly feel the wind as he passes you by. His desk is a mess and homework papers if returned, look like they were run over by a truck. If you inform the parent…

Behaviors are a way that children communicate. Think about the newborn. The baby cries to get its needs met as the listener tries to determine the cause of distress. We need to be the same kind of detectives when we see the older child demonstrate…