Do you struggle with diagnostic labels related to social communication disorder? There is a new diagnostic label that has been added to the DSM-5! “Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder”, (SCD) was recently added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). SCD describes people with significant difficulties using verbal and nonverbal communication […]
Preschool Social Communication Therapy
updated 1/2023 I love working with preschool children on their social communication. Here are some approaches and activities I have used over the years. If you are looking for a rationale for working on social skills in the preschool classroom, School Readiness: more than Academics. Tap into the preschool classroom curriculum Does the child’s […]
Evidence-based Interventions for Busy SLPs!
Many SLPs want to dedicate themselves to evidence-based practices but can’t find the time! updated 1/2023 Did you know the American Speech Language Hearing Association’s (ASHA) website offers Speech Language Pathologists online support for evidence-based practices? They are called “evidence maps” which are searchable online tools on ASHA’s website that assist SLPs in making […]
Marzano’s Model for SLPs!
updated 1/2023 Do you have an observation coming up? Impress your supervisor with your knowledge of Marzano’s model for SLPs. Are you attending school-wide trainings that discuss the work of Robert Marzano? Marzano’s model is about supporting the needs of all learners, a task tht SLPs and special educators know well. Marzano proposed […]
Sight Words Interventions!
RTI for the R Sound!
Updated 8/2022 Preventative vs. Remedial Approaches SLPs have many tools for remediating the r sound in speech therapy. Have your ever thought of what can be done using a preventative approach? I’m excited to share one way I have addressed articulation of the r sound from a preventive (not remedial) standpoint. Have you taken a […]
Language Use Inventory: Assessment of Pragmatics in Young Children
Is assessment of pragmatic skills of young children part of your SLP job? In my position as a school-based Speech Pathologist, I perform assessments on children from the age of 30 months and older. In Wisconsin, the eligibility criteria requires that a child score at or below 1.75 standard deviations below the mean on 2 […]
Social Communication or Pragmatics Therapy: Five Principles
Pragmatics. Social Communication. Social smarts. Social Language. updated 1/2023 You can’t put a value on helping children improve their pragmatics skills or social communication skills with others. I believe it’s just as important, if not more so in many instances, as working on speech and language skills that build a child’s academic performance. This post […]
App Review: SpeechTutor
Parking Lots for Speech!! Toy Companion for Therapy!
Parking lots for speech are great for making speech therapy fun for younger students. My parking lots for speech are my most-used articulation activity with preschool students. The parking lots are easy-peasy and give me so much flexibility in my sessions. Plus, I never hear complaints when I bring out the toy cars! Parking lots […]