I hope everyone has had a great start to spring! Our students are working hard in class and on their tests. I can't believe the school year is almost over!
Several families are interested in what they can do over the summer to help provide natural language learning opportunities for their children. Here are a few suggestions of what you can do with your children: 1. Library: The library has different opportunities during the summer for learning, reading, and family time. 2. Zoo: The zoo is always a great place to talk about zoo animals, their nutrition needs, and their habitats. Since animals of different climates are also represented at the zoo, you can discuss season-based vocabulary and activities throughout your zoo trip. 3. Children's Museum: The Children's Museum has different exhibits that promote hands-on learning opportunities. I know I plan on taking my son this summer! 4. Memphis Botanical Garden: This is a great place for your children to learn about nature while viewing the gardens. They also have a section called My Big Backyard for children! 5. Summer Camps: Memphis offers multiple summer camps with different themes (i.e. art, sports, special needs). 6. Parks: Visit your neighborhood park, or even Shelby Farms, for different activities and play areas! Discuss the different activities and actions with your children. Review the sequence of events during your time at the park. 7. Stay at home: Watch new movies, read new books....remember that your home is another language learning environment for your child! To my understanding, MyOn is available throughout the summer. Check with your child's teacher about your child's MyOn access. **Please note that some of these suggestions are fee-based activities** I hope that everyone had a great spring break! The end of the school year is getting closer!
This month, I wanted to focus on sequencing events about a topic or story. Sequencing can be difficult for children with language delays. It requires more critical thinking and organization skills to sequence events in one's mind, as well as share it with others. Plus, children who depend on visual supports for language learning can struggle with sequencing information within a conversation. A natural way in which you can help your child practice sequencing skills is through experience books. You can take pictures of your family language experience (i.e. zoo, vacation activity, Children's Museum). Then, you can help your child practice retelling the event by looking back through the pictures. Practice words like "first," "next," "then," and "last" to help facilitate storytelling vocabulary. Reviewing sequencing skills through an event that directly relates to your child will facilitate their sequencing (and narrative) skills with others. Contact me at [email protected] for more ideas about experience books and enhancing language skills at home! The second semester of the school year is in full swing. Your children continue to amaze me!
One of the main goals that I am working on with my children is following directions. Directions can involve different concepts: 1. Spatial concepts (under, over) 2. Temporal concepts (before, after) 3. Quantitative concepts (one, all) 4. Qualitative concepts (wet, dirty) Knowing which concepts your children struggle with greatly factors into how they will follow directions of you at home. Also, directions contain varying levels of steps and conditions. Here are a list of different "types" of directions. 1. Basic directions 2. Multi-step directions 3. Sequential directions 4. Conditional directions Please continue to refer to your children's notes and activities for more details about directions. If you need more clarification, please feel free to e-mail me! Have a blessed spring break! I hope that everyone had a great holiday! We are back into the swing of things at school. It's exciting to see your child grow in his (or her) own way!
The communication "highlight" I wanted to focus on this month is adjectives. Having a rich vocabulary is essential to academic success in all subject areas. Children who struggle with using "vague" vocabulary would benefit from an increased number of adjectives in their expressive vocabulary knowledge. A great way to expand your child's use of adjectives is to review the senses that relate to the object. -SMELL: use words to describe the object's smell (or lack of smell). Example words to represent this sense would be sweet, good, or horrid. -TASTE: use words to describe the object's taste (or lack of taste). Example words to represent this sense would be crunchy, sour, or sweet. -TOUCH: use words to describe the texture (or temperature) of the object. Example words to represent this sense would be soft, smooth, rough, cold, hot, or bumpy. -LOOK/SEE: use words to describe the appearance of the object. Example words to represent this sense would be difficult, easy, safe, or nice. -HEAR: use words to describe the noise of the object (or lack of noise). Example words to represent this sense would be loud, quiet, or whisper. I look forward to seeing your child's vocabulary grow this year! Please contact me at [email protected] with any questions about your child's progress. As families transition into the holiday season, their children are home more often than usual. Families ask me "what can I work on at home with my child?"
Here are some brief "helpful hints" about interacting with your children while working on their communication skills. Articulation (Speech Sound Production) 1. Review your child's speech sounds based on the feedback that you have received from your parent communication slips. 2. Modeling of correct speech sounds is always appropriate for children of any age. A slight exaggeration of the correct sound can help your child identify what you are trying to accomplish by repeating (and thereby modeling) the appropriate speech sound. 3. Depending on your child's reading level and current performance in therapy, your child can read a book aloud to you at night. This will provide your child with multiple opportunities to work on oral reading fluency and accurate speech production. Fluency (Stuttering) 1. Allow your child to finish his/her sentence without interruption. 2. Depending on the age of your child, discuss a plan to work on fluency strategies while you are around other family members during the holidays. Since stuttering is a very dynamic speech disorder, collaboration with your child about reviewing strategies may be best. 3. Monitor your own rate of speech in order to model appropriate rate and smoothness of speech. Language 1. Make sure that you are modeling correct grammar for your children. 2. Holiday gatherings can be noisy, so following directions may be difficult for your child. Your child may benefit from short directions or environmental cues. 3. You can practice sequencing by reviewing the different activities that happened within a holiday event. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Bartlett City School District! Have a blessed week. It is finally starting to cool down, just in time for the holidays. I hope that everyone enjoyed their fall break.
I have enjoyed watching your children progress over the past month. We have reviewed their goals while incorporating games and seasonal concepts into our sessions. Fall is a wonderful time of year to spend outside. Outdoor activities yield many language opportunities. Playing sports, walking through the park, and attending fall festivals are great ways to participate in enriching language activities with your children. Here is a list of vocabulary concepts that you are encouraged to review with your children. If applicable, work on your child’s speech sounds as well. Nouns: pinecone, acorn, squirrel, leaves, rake, seasons (fall, winter, spring, summer), turkey, scarecrow, hay, hayride, carnival, football, helmet, soccer ball, goal, Halloween, Thanksgiving, costume, candy, pie, corn Verbs (all verb tenses): run, kick, jump, climb, fall, change, ride, throw, skip, turn Adjectives: cool, windy, crisp, crunchy, hard/soft, size concepts (small, medium, large), hot, loud/quiet Have a blessed week! The school year is off to a great start! I have enjoyed getting to know your children. It is great to see what they are doing now compared to last year. I look forward to working with you and your child’s teacher to ensure maximal progress for your child.
One of the ways that you can facilitate your child’s learning at home is to encourage a love for literacy at home. Our school utilizes the MyOn program, which is a FREE online library that provides unlimited access for reading opportunities. Students can select books of their interest and reading level. It has more than 5,000 digital text options and features (i.e. dictionary, highlighting, read aloud) to enchance your child’s reading experience. If you don’t know how to access MyOn, please check with your child’s teacher. I would highly encourage you to read with your children. Whether it be an actual book or an electronic book, reading with your children creates an environment where reading is important. Our children will read for learning and/or enjoyment for the rest of their lives, so let’s start the positive connections with literacy this school year! Welcome! My name is Lori Shores, and I am a speech-language pathologist that works in the Bartlett City Schools. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve families in my own community. The school year has already begun, and speech therapy is just getting started!
Families will have the chance to access information on this site through monthly newsletters, general parent education materials, and links to professional resources. My goal is to equip you with the best resources while you educate your child at home. Children have maximum opportunities to succeed when families and educators partner together. I look forward to walk alongside you during the school year! More information is on its way! Please contact me at [email protected] with questions. Let's have a great school year! |
AuthorMy name is Lori Shores, and I am a speech-language pathologist that works in the Bartlett City Schools. Archives
April 2018
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