Speech-Language Therapy
Dear MCAS Parents/Guardians,
I am making available speech-language therapy services for your children since Michigan City Area Schools has closed their schools for an extended amount of time. If you wish for your child to continue speech therapy please contact me so we can schedule days and times during their normal school hours.
They will need access to a computer as therapy will be provided via tele-therapy. Therapy sessions will take place on ZOOM (video conference) where I will email a direct link for the therapy session. For a productive session, the student will need to be in a quiet place with little distraction. I have provided my email and phone number below. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions relating to the student’s speech therapy services.
Sincerely,
Elisa Walker M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Email: ewalker10@mcas.k12.in.us
Phone: (219) 243-0060
Link to sign up and install ZOOM for tele-therapy (this application is free to sign-up): https://zoom.us/
Articulation/Phonology
Receptive & Expressive Language
Fluency
Pragmatics (Social Skills)
Articulation/Phonology
Articulation and Phonology therapy focuses on correcting your child's speech sound errors.
You can practice your child's speech sounds while completing crafts, playing games, playing "I Spy," reading, etc.
Model for your child the accurate production of their target sound(s) and then have them practice!
Here are some great resources for all speech sounds ranging from word to reading levels.
(For www.quia.com you can refine your search for your child's specific speech sounds and select different activities to do with them.)
www.teacherspayteachers.com is an amazing resource. It is free to sign up and has some wonderful materials to work on articulation and phonological skills.
Receptive & Expressive Language
Receptive language therapy helps your child develop skills for understanding what is spoken to them. This includes following directions, understanding vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension.
Expressive language therapy helps your child communicate their thoughts effectively. This includes how the child is able to label objects in the environment, describe actions and events, put words together in sentences, use grammar correctly, retell a story, answer questions and write short stories.
Receptive and Expressive Language Resources:
Name the different ingredients, tools, and actions used during the recipe (vocabulary). Then have them follow and tell the sequence of a recipe with you!
Read books and ask your child different "wh" questions relating to the story. This is also great vocabulary exposure.
Following Directions:
Watch Pixar Short Videos on YouTube or Disney+ and have your child tell you the sequence of the story and the different details.
https://www.nspt4kids.com/parenting/10-activities-develop-expressive-language/
Higher Order Thinking:
www.teacherspayteachers.com is an amazing resource. It is free to sign up and has some wonderful materials to work on language skills.
Fluency
Fluency therapy assists your child in learning techniques to help them speak more smoothly and speak with confidence.
Here are some ideas to support your child at home
Have your child read their books, assignments, articles, etc. using the method of "continuous phonation." Have your child use a continuous stream of airflow when they are speaking. There should only be a natural breath at a period or sometimes a comma. Model for your child how you would say a word, phrase, sentence or read a paragraph then have them practice.
Play Hangman to increase fluency at word level. When the child guesses the word have them say it with continuous phonation.
Have your child make up a story and tell it to you using their fluency enhancing technique.
Read and color these illustrations about kids who stutter:
www.teacherspayteachers.com is an amazing resource. It is free to sign up and has some wonderful materials to work on fluency techniques.
Pragmatics
Pragmatic therapy supports your child's social skills. This could include greeting others, staying on topic during conversation, taking turns, sharing, and other aspects that are used for social appropriateness.
Here are some great resources to practice your child's social skills!
Some of my favorite social skill videos are found on www.youtube.com . After watching the videos discuss with your child about the emotions felt in the video, problems that may have occurred, and how the problems were resolved.
Piper the brave bird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTjHEyEAlsc
For the Birds Pixar short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ncb5o5RLuA
Inside Out: Guessing the Feelings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOkyKyVFnSs
Taking turns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D2q2u_3HAM
Keeping your hands to yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iTPPh1d2j8
Washing your hands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMbCZfb5k3M
Hands are not for hitting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t37VrHmllhI
Social - Emotional Learning
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-Does-David-Feel-A-Pragmatic-Language-Activity-467510
www.teacherspayteachers.com is an amazing resource. It is free to sign up and has some wonderful materials to work on social skills.