Getting a valid measurement on complex language skills is challenging. Rubrics are a great tool for measuring multiple skills with multiple levels of complexity. They can also be valuable motivators for clients to monitor their own progress.Rubrics to the Rescue! discusses the when, how, who, and what of using rubrics in language therapy. 

Getting a valid measurement on complex language skills is challenging. Rubrics are a great tool for measuring multiple skills with multiple levels of complexity. They can also be valuable motivators for clients to monitor their own progress.Rubrics to the Rescue! discusses the when, how, who, and what of using rubrics in language therapy.

Rubrics to the Rescue

As SLPs, problem solving is something we do every day with our clients. But add behavior challenges into the mix and progress can come to a screeching halt. Many of us don’t receive training in this area, even at the graduate school level.  Sometimes the solution to challenging behavior shows itself when we step back and look at our clients in a new way,  or “with new eyes.” This episode discuss how to be led by our observations rather than pushed by our problems, and what a difference it can make for our clients. 

As SLPs, problem solving is something we do every day with our clients. But add behavior challenges into the mix and progress can come to a screeching halt. Many of us don’t receive training in this area, even at the graduate school level.  Sometimes the solution to challenging behavior shows itself when we step back and look at our clients in a new way,  or “with new eyes.” This episode discuss how to be led by our observations rather than pushed by our problems, and what a difference it can make for our clients.

With New Eyes

A constant message in modern superhero media is that BIGreactions are the ONLY solution. That’s not a great message for anychild, let alone those who already struggle with outsize reactions.In The Dark Side of Superheroes, I explore• Skills that are fundamental to controlling reaction size• Problems with modern media• Fantastic books that model matching the reaction to the size ofthe problem.

A constant message in modern superhero media is that BIG reactions are the ONLY solution. That’s not a great message for any child, let alone those who already struggle with outsize reactions. In The Dark Side of Superheroes, I explore • Skills that are fundamental to controlling reaction size • Problems with modern media • Fantastic books that model matching the reaction to the size of the problem.

The Dark Side of Superheroes

When you teach your clients conjunctions, a little knowledge can become a dangerous thing. Sometimes clients start throwing conjunctions around like they’re going out of style, and their stories become one big mess. This episode describes ways to help clients get conjunctions under control. Be sure to check out the Simple Tools video, Conjunction Function, showing a fun idea to make conjunctions visual. 

When you teach your clients conjunctions, a little knowledge can become a dangerous thing. Sometimes clients start throwing conjunctions around like they’re going out of style, and their stories become one big mess. This episode describes ways to help clients get conjunctions under control. Be sure to check out the Simple Tools video, Conjunction Function, showing a fun idea to make conjunctions visual.

Runaway Conjunctions

Have you noticed your clients with language impairments really struggle to recall names? This can be a real communication barrier, both socially and in literacy development.      Stories are the fabric of our existence and they make up a large part of our conversation. When our clients are telling stories, not only do they default to vague and non-specific language frequently, they can't even recall a person's name to include in their story! This episode, Where Everybody Knows Your Name, is full of suggestions for teaching name recall.              As a bonus, in the Free Resource Library you can download THREE stories with the same main character. You get simple stories and name recall practice all in one package! 

Have you noticed your clients with language impairments really struggle to recall names? This can be a real communication barrier, both socially and in literacy development.      Stories are the fabric of our existence and they make up a large part of our conversation. When our clients are telling stories, not only do they default to vague and non-specific language frequently, they can't even recall a person's name to include in their story! This episode, Where Everybody Knows Your Name, is full of suggestions for teaching name recall.              As a bonus, in the Free Resource Library you can download THREE stories with the same main character. You get simple stories and name recall practice all in one package!

Where Everyone Knows Your Name

Are you ready to talk about grammar? Infinitive verbs are early developing, and too often overlooked, but they are critical in early language and cognitive development. To Infinity and Beyond! explores infinitive verbs in depth, and how they empower communication.  Included in this podcast are:•    Defining infinitive verbs—of course!•    A quick overview of Developmental Sentence Scoring•    Clinical examples of the power of infinitive verbs•    Ideas for teachingMaterials from The Speech Umbrella to help teach infinitives, including an illustrated story from The Free Resource Library 

Are you ready to talk about grammar? Infinitive verbs are early developing, and too often overlooked, but they are critical in early language and cognitive development. To Infinity and Beyond! explores infinitive verbs in depth, and how they empower communication.  Included in this podcast are:•    Defining infinitive verbs—of course!•    A quick overview of Developmental Sentence Scoring•    Clinical examples of the power of infinitive verbs•    Ideas for teachingMaterials from The Speech Umbrella to help teach infinitives, including an illustrated story from The Free Resource Library

To Infinity and Beyond

What About ABA? covers a few key questions to ask parents that can help them figure out whether ABA therapy is right for them. Look for the following in episode #57:•   Questions to ask a potential ABA therapist•   The philosophy behind ABA therapy•   The philosophy behind relationship based approaches, such as Hanen and FloortimeThe complexity of language development 

What About ABA? covers a few key questions to ask parents that can help them figure out whether ABA therapy is right for them. Look for the following in episode #57:•   Questions to ask a potential ABA therapist•   The philosophy behind ABA therapy•   The philosophy behind relationship based approaches, such as Hanen and FloortimeThe complexity of language development

What About ABA?

While we understand that communication is more than talking, it’s not always easy to explain why this is so to parents. Concepts that are so familiar to us—joint interaction, pragmatics, gesture development—are a whole new language for parents of kids with social communication disorders.  Hanen More Than Words gives SLPs the tools to coach parents on the non-verbal aspects of communication. Parents then become the experts in fostering social communication for their preschool age child.  In this episode you learn:•    How Hanen works•    What it means to OWLThe four stages of pragmatic communication 

While we understand that communication is more than talking, it’s not always easy to explain why this is so to parents. Concepts that are so familiar to us—joint interaction, pragmatics, gesture development—are a whole new language for parents of kids with social communication disorders.  Hanen More Than Words gives SLPs the tools to coach parents on the non-verbal aspects of communication. Parents then become the experts in fostering social communication for their preschool age child.  In this episode you learn:•    How Hanen works•    What it means to OWLThe four stages of pragmatic communication

Hanen More Than Words Overview

We know many of our clients struggle with executive function. What’s one powerful way families can teach executive function to their children? Chores! In episode 55, Nate and Melanie Young describe their chore system. Their system teaches skills for executive function and self regulation in a realistic setting, and it just works. 

We know many of our clients struggle with executive function. What’s one powerful way families can teach executive function to their children? Chores! In episode 55, Nate and Melanie Young describe their chore system. Their system teaches skills for executive function and self regulation in a realistic setting, and it just works.

Chores: Charting a Path to Organized Thinking

This episode reviews Dr. Damon Korb’s book, Raising an Organized Child. Dr. Korb not only explains organized thinking in an accessible way, but has suggestions for how to get there, from birth through high school. He describes how to implement five steps for organized thinking for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school aged children, and teens. The five steps are•    Be consistent•    Introduce order•    Give everything a place•    Practice forward thinking•    Promote problem solvingThis is a terrific book for SLPs and for parents! 

This episode reviews Dr. Damon Korb’s book, Raising an Organized Child. Dr. Korb not only explains organized thinking in an accessible way, but has suggestions for how to get there, from birth through high school. He describes how to implement five steps for organized thinking for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school aged children, and teens. The five steps are•    Be consistent•    Introduce order•    Give everything a place•    Practice forward thinking•    Promote problem solvingThis is a terrific book for SLPs and for parents!

Raising an Organized Child

The Speech Umbrella Podcast specializes in exploring simple but powerful therapy tools to maximize therapy outcomes while minimizing your stress and preparation time. With the depth of knowledge stemming from over 30 years in the field of pediatric speech therapy, Denise Stratton, MS, CCC-SLP shares simple tools for optimal outcomes.

 | We know how important it is to teach our clients to read social cues. But that’s so much easier said than done! Making the implicit explicit can be a real challenge for us.  Here’s how Episode 53 can help: You’ll find •    Several strategies for using books and video clips to teach social skills •    Ways to teach clients to understand what it means to “notice” social clues •    An explanation for parents about what it means to be a social detective and why it’s critical  The list of strategies is available on the Free Resource Library at thespeechumbrella.com

| We know how important it is to teach our clients to read social cues. But that’s so much easier said than done! Making the implicit explicit can be a real challenge for us.  Here’s how Episode 53 can help: You’ll find •    Several strategies for using books and video clips to teach social skills •    Ways to teach clients to understand what it means to “notice” social clues •    An explanation for parents about what it means to be a social detective and why it’s critical  The list of strategies is available on the Free Resource Library at <a href="http://thespeechumbrella.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thespeechumbrella.com</a>

Climbing the Social Detective Ladder

Wouldn’t it be handy to have a template for choosing the most effective books for therapy?That’s exactly what you’ll get in Episode 52, Choose Your Books Wisely. This episode covers:Four criteria for choosing an effective bookWhat adds to a book’s complexityA comparison of two books, one that is effective and one that isn’t, and why. But that’s not all— check out the Free Resource Library  on thespeechumbrella.com for a list of favorite books to use in therapy and Bingo games to use when talking about or retelling stories. 

Wouldn’t it be handy to have a template for choosing the most effective books for therapy?That’s exactly what you’ll get in Episode 52, Choose Your Books Wisely. This episode covers:Four criteria for choosing an effective book<ul><li>What adds to a book’s complexity</li><li>A comparison of two books, one that is effective and one that isn’t, and why. </li></ul>But that’s not all— check out the <a href="https://www.slpproadvisor.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Free Resource Library</a>  on <a href="http://thespeechumbrella.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thespeechumbrella.com</a> for <ol><li>a list of favorite books to use in therapy and </li><li>Bingo games to use when talking about or retelling stories. </li></ol>

Choose Your Books Wisely

This episode covers four simple, but effective, ways to help children of all abilities learn. My guest, Jacquie Johnson, shares her recipe for success both in the classroom and at home. Plus she shares how SLP’s can collaborate effectively with classroom teachers. You don’t want to miss  Jacquie’s insights!--- Useful Links ---Episode 11: Tracking Phonological Awareness  Episode 10: Under the Umbrella of Phonological Awareness Episode 4: Developmental Sequence of Phonemic AwarenessMusic: Simple Gifts performed by Ted Yoder, used with permission

This episode covers four simple, but effective, ways to help children of all abilities learn. My guest, Jacquie Johnson, shares her recipe for success both in the classroom and at home. Plus she shares how SLP’s can collaborate effectively with classroom teachers. You don’t want to miss  Jacquie’s insights! --- Useful Links --- Episode 11: <a href="https://www.slpproadvisor.com/blog/11" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tracking Phonological Awareness</a> Episode 10: <a href="https://www.slpproadvisor.com/blog/11" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Under the Umbrella of Phonological Awareness</a> Episode 4: <a href="https://www.slpproadvisor.com/blog/4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Developmental Sequence of Phonemic Awareness</a> Music: Simple Gifts performed by <a href="https://tedyoder.com/home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ted Yoder</a>, used with permission

Four Simple Steps to Success: Jacquie's Recipe

If you’re looking for a method to teach natural, spontaneous conversation, look no further than The Conversation Game. This episode describes how to improve an often overlooked skill needed for conversation. 

If you’re looking for a method to teach natural, spontaneous conversation, look no further than The Conversation Game. This episode describes how to improve an often overlooked skill needed for conversation.

The Conversation Game

What is Word Dancing? Possibly the single best thing families can do to dramatically and positively impact their children’s speech and language,  and their academic future. The research showing the relationship between word dancing and academic prowess is extremely robust. Find out more on Episode 49 of the The Mindful SLP. --- Useful Links ---A Parent, A child, and Autism, Interview with Rebecca Video by Dr. Todd RiselyDancing with Words, Mindful SLP blog postIt’s Never Too Early and It’s Never Too Late by Bradley D Foster

What is Word Dancing? Possibly the single best thing families can do to dramatically and positively impact their children’s speech and language,  and their academic future. The research showing the relationship between word dancing and academic prowess is extremely robust. Find out more on Episode 49 of the The Mindful SLP. --- Useful Links --- <a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/blog/28" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Parent, A child, and Autism, Interview with Rebecca</a> <a href="https://childrenofthecode.org/interviews/risley.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Video by Dr. Todd Risely</a><a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/blog/dancing-with-words" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dancing with Words, Mindful SLP blog post</a><a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/10/its-never-too-early-and-its-never-too-late?lang=eng" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">It’s Never Too Early and It’s Never Too Late by Bradley D Foster</a>

Word Dancing

What is a vital, but often overlook component of stuttering therapy? Do you feel like there’s a missing piece with some clients who stutter, but you can’t put your finger on it? Find that missing piece in Episode 48 of The Mindful SLP. --- Useful Links ---Treating the School Age Child Who Stutters by Carl W Dell Jr.Avoidance Reduction Therapy in a Group Setting, seminar by Vivian SiskenDancing the Macarena on an IcebergImpossible R Made Possible 

What is a vital, but often overlook component of stuttering therapy? Do you feel like there’s a missing piece with some clients who stutter, but you can’t put your finger on it? Find that missing piece in Episode 48 of The Mindful SLP. --- Useful Links --- <a href="https://store.stutteringhelp.org/treating-the-school-age-child-who-stutters-a-guide-for-clinicians.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Treating the School Age Child Who Stutters by Carl W Dell Jr.</a><a href="https://store.stutteringhelp.org/avoidance-reduction-therapy-in-a-group-setting.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Avoidance Reduction Therapy in a Group Setting, seminar by Vivian Sisken</a><a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/blog/47" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dancing the Macarena on an Iceberg</a><a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/r-course" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Impossible R Made Possible </a>

Stop Playing Whack-A-Mole with Stuttering Therapy

What do icebergs and the Macarena have to do with speech therapy? Episode 47 describes a case history of a fluency client, underlying issues that needed to be addressed before stuttering therapy could be effective, and how mindfulness can be one of your best tools.  

What do icebergs and the Macarena have to do with speech therapy? Episode 47 describes a case history of a fluency client, underlying issues that needed to be addressed before stuttering therapy could be effective, and how mindfulness can be one of your best tools.

Dancing The Macarena On An Iceberg

Let’s hear it for Narrative Intervention! Kids learn so much language with narrative therapy. But what if they seem ready for stories, but still can’t quite grasp narratives?  Even when you use the most basic story they still struggle. Maybe they need to work on sequencing. In this podcast we discuss how to get our not-quite-ready-clients from here to there, by following the narrative road. --- Podcast Links ---Picture the SentenceBalloon CarThe Story of My Life by Helen Keller  Phonological Awareness Tracking Form Related Podcast EpisodesHow Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?Narrative Language with Doug Petersen Part 1Narrative Language with Doug Petersen Part 2

Let’s hear it for Narrative Intervention! Kids learn so much language with narrative therapy. But what if they seem ready for stories, but still can’t quite grasp narratives?  Even when you use the most basic story they still struggle. Maybe they need to work on sequencing. In this podcast we discuss how to get our not-quite-ready-clients from here to there, by following the narrative road. --- Podcast Links --- <a href="https://hamaguchiapps.com/picture-the-sentence" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Picture the Sentence</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Launcher-Spaceman-Educational-Scientific-Experiment/dp/B08L637RBK/ref=asc_df_B08L637RBK/?tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=475746581969&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=4845987116999841532&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9029671&amp;hvtargid=pla-1105693785492&amp;psc=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Balloon Car</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Restored-STORY-LIFE-ML-Paperback/dp/B00QORCZAQ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&amp;keywords=the+story+of+my+life:+the+restored+edition&amp;qid=1606008688&amp;sr=8-2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Story of My Life by Helen Keller</a> <a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/offers/gokq2wEN/checkout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Phonological Awareness Tracking Form</a> Related Podcast Episodes<a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/blog/45" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?</a> <a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/blog/23" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Narrative Language with Doug Petersen Part 1</a> <a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/blog/24" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Narrative Language with Doug Petersen Part 2</a>

Follow the Narrative Road

Basic listening skills are critical to language and reading development, but if they’re missing how do you begin to work on them? Episode 45, “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” is full of ideas and activities for building this foundational skill. This is one of the most useful things I do with young clients!--- Podcast Links ---Phonological Awareness Tracking Form Simple Tools with Denise B-I-N-G-O! 

Basic listening skills are critical to language and reading development, but if they’re missing how do you begin to work on them? Episode 45, “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” is full of ideas and activities for building this foundational skill. This is one of the most useful things I do with young clients! --- Podcast Links --- <a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/offers/gokq2wEN/checkout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Phonological Awareness Tracking Form</a> <a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/blog/bingo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simple Tools with Denise B-I-N-G-O! </a>

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? 

When a child has difficulty with listening skills, auditory processing and auditory memory, we could give it a lot of names, including Auditory Processing Disorder, or APD. But whether or not a client has an official APD diagnosis, SO many of them struggle in these areas. When it comes to working on listening, attention, and memory, you can’t start too soon, because improving listening and  processing improves everything else. ---- Show Links ----Podcast EpisodesPhonological Awareness Tracking Form - episode 11 Narrative Language Intervention with Doug Peterson Part 1 - episode 23Narrative Language Intervention with Doug Peterson Part 2 - episode 24Opportunity Cost - episode 42 Phonological Awareness ProductsPrime to Rhyme CardsPhonological Awareness Tracking Form (actual form)

When a child has difficulty with listening skills, auditory processing and auditory memory, we could give it a lot of names, including Auditory Processing Disorder, or APD. But whether or not a client has an official APD diagnosis, SO many of them struggle in these areas. When it comes to working on listening, attention, and memory, you can’t start too soon, because improving listening and  processing improves everything else. ---- Show Links ---- Podcast Episodes <a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/blog/11" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Phonological Awareness Tracking Form</a> - episode 11 <a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/blog/23" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Narrative Language Intervention with Doug Peterson Part 1</a> - episode 23 <a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/blog/24" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Narrative Language Intervention with Doug Peterson Part 2</a> - episode 24 <a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/blog/42" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Opportunity Cost</a> - episode 42 Phonological Awareness Products <a href="https://www.thespeechumbrella.com/offers/YFHHufzz/checkout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Prime to Rhyme Cards</a> Phonological Awareness Tracking Form (actual form)

That Thing That Isn't APD

The Speech Umbrella

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