Developmental sound chart

Many people ask me at what age should children be able to say specific sounds. Sounds are developed at all different ages. The sounds p/b/m are usually the first sounds to develop.  The sounds s/r/th are generally the last sounds to develop.  I have placed a document link on the bottom of this blog for you to click on to view the complete chart of age appropriate sound development.

Expanding your Language

I have recently purchased a program entitled Expanding Expressive Language Skills.  This program helps students increase there expressive language skills as well as writing skills.  You start by introducing a rope with 7 beads on it, each bead stands for a question for example, the green bead asks what group does it belong to the blue bead asks what does it do or what can you do with it, the third bead is white with an image of a human eye on it it asks what does it look like, the fourth bead is wooden, it asks what is it made of, the pink bead asks what are the parts, a plain white bead asks were do you find it, the final orange bead has a question mark on it and asks what else do you know.  These beads with there questions help students learn to identify categories, describe objects, and  ask questions.  As students progress the method assists them in writing paragraphs, stories, and organizing reports.  I have found that my students have liked this approach and find it very useful in organizing there thoughts.

Training for SLT'S

This year the Tooele School District Special Ed department has adopted a new program for all required paperwork.  The program is entitled IEP Pro.  It has been an interesting processing learning this new program.  As a supervisor of 4 speech techs, I decided to have an in service to help figure out the IEP Pro.  One Wednesday afternoon we all got together with each of us bringing a file of a student.  Each person went page by page through the program putting data of the student on the forms.  We asked each other questions and tried to answer them.  It seemed like there was someone in the group who new the answers to the different questions  we were very successful with this process and we are all up and running.
Have a great day
Pat Parkinson

Five Minute Kids

This year I am happy to say our speech team is experiencing a tremendous amount of success with our student's articulation skills.  In the last two months of the previous school year and the first two months of this year we have exited about ten students from our program.  I contribute this success to a program entitled Five Minute Kids.  This program works with articulation students trying to improve there intelligibility.  We see students individually for five minutes three to four times a week.  it has resulted in quicker progress and greater success for our students receiving this treatment. 

Supervisor

This year at work as an SLP I am supervising four speech language technologist. An SLT is a person who has a bachelors degree but not a masters degree in communication disorders.  These people have to be supervised 30 percent of the time.  It has been challenging to meet all four peoples needs.  I have decided to practice the things I have learned in my previous class for administration.  I am spending a half a day at each school to help with IEP's, testing, and therapy.  The biggest issue I am facing is keeping the doors of communication open with each person.  I also face challenges in dealing with complaints and questions about the job.  Thus far my schedule seems to be working and I am meeting the needs of each SLT.  At the end of this quarter of school I plan to sit down and re-evaluate my schedule.  I am happy for the insight that I have found in my leadership classes.
Have a great day
Pat Parkinson

I decided to name my blog "The Speech Closet" because most SLP's work in closets.  

This year I feel I have moved up in the world just a bit.  I am now working out of a trailer.  Not a portable mind you, but a portable with wheels.  I don't quite know what to think of it.  Which is worse?  Being referred to as "Trailer Trash" or "Coming out of the Closet"?  LOL

It is interesting being an SLP at the school level, because you must have a Masters Degree.  However, we are the last people to find a place in the building-hence the closet.  We are also the last people to have our schedules arranged and approved.  SLP's work around class schedules, resource classes, and speciality classes like computer, P.E. and library.  Luckily for us it generally works out.