Greenwood Elementary School 11412 Dryden Road Princess Anne, MD 21853 Phone: 410-651-0931

1. CommunicationHow can we increase communication skills in our children? Greenwood Elementary School11412 Dryden RoadPrincess Anne, MD 21853Phone: 410-651-0931 Mrs. Klein and Ms. Daniels Princess Anne Elementary School11576 Lankford Street Princess Anne, MD 21853Phone: 410-651-0481

2. What is SPEECH? • Speech is the verbal act of communicating • Speech consists of 3 things: • 1. Articulation – ability to coordinate your vocal folds, tongue, lips, etc. to produce speech sounds • 2. Voice – act of passing air from the lungs, through your vocal folds to produce sounds • 3. Fluency – the rhythm of speech A speech disorder describes difficulties in any one of these areas.

3. What is LANGUAGE? • Language is a symbolic system made up of socially shared rules. English is made up of spoken and written words as well as gestures. A language disorder can describe difficulties with:1. Understanding what words mean2. Putting words together 3. Making new words 4. Adapting language to different social situations

4. Ways to PracticeSPEECH • During meal times: • Put picture cards around the kitchen and even on favored food items – touch and say the name of the item 5 times and have child do the same after you model • If your child is a reader – have them read labels or recipes and pay attention to their speech sounds • Encourage your child to use their best speech sounds during dinner conversations • In the bathroom: • Put picture cards on the mirror – have child say the words 5 times every time the child washes hands and brushes teeth • In the bedroom: • Put picture cards on closet doors and drawers – have child say the words 5 times as they are getting dressed

5. Ways to PracticeSPEECH • During playtime: • Use picture cards to play games – Hide and Seek, I Spy, and Simon Says • In the car: • Put picture cards on the back of the seat in front of your child – at each red light see how many times your child can say the word/sound • Listen to favorite songs and sing the correct speech sounds • At bedtime: • Listen for your child’s speech sounds in their bedtime book and have them repeat the words • In the community: • Talk with your child while running errands • Have them try to identify items with their speech sounds

6. Ways to PracticeLANGUAGE • During meal times: • Talk about how the food tastes, smells, and feels • Discuss preferences and polite ways to decline non-preferred foods • Have your child set the table – have them think about who is coming and how many plates are needed • Meal time is a great time to practice conversation skills (eye contact, turn taking, topic maintenance) • In the bathroom: • Identify body parts and talk about what we use them/need them to do • Have your child tell you the steps for washing hands or brushing teeth • In the bedroom: • Discuss the organization of toys and clothes (categories) • Talk about what clothes are needed for different types of weather • Tell your child what the weather will be for the day, let them use stimulate their critical thinking skills to decide the best clothing

7. Ways to PracticeLANGUAGE • During playtime: • JUST PLAY! • Turn taking is a social skill students will use their whole lives • Playing games with your child gives them TONS of language skills • In the car: • Talk about the colors and types of vehicles on the road • Identify community helpers and buildings in your neighborhood • At bedtime: • READ, READ, READ • ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STORY • In the community: • Talk with your child while running errands, have them group items • Talk about objects functions

8. Why is it so important to READ? • Repetitive and predictable children’s books are excellent for any child • They have proven more effective for children with speech and language delays • Repetitive and predictable books decrease the cognitive load needed for comprehension and allows the child to focus on production

9. How to READ? • Start by reading the book in its entirety to get the child familiar with the book • Re-read, pausing before the last word in a repetitive phrase and wait for child to vocalize • “No more monkeys jumping on the ____” • If child does not reply, model and encourage them to read ‘with’ you and continue to allow for independence • Eventually pause before the entire repetitive phrase giving your child a cue to say it independently • Always keep reading fun!

10. What to READ? • Are you a cow? – Sandra Boynton • Are you my mother? – P.D. Eastman • Blue Hat, Green Hat – Sandra Boynton • Brown Bear, Brown Bear – Eric Carle • ChickaChicka, Boom Boom – Bill Martin & John Archambault • Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type – Devon Kruse-Wu • Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed • Goodnight Moon – Margaret Wise Brown • Go Away, Big Green Monster – Ed Emberley • Jesse Bear, What will you Wear – Nancy White Carlstom • The Gingerbread Man • The Grouchy Ladybug – Eric Carle • The Jacket I wear in the snow – Shirley Nietzel • Hickory, Dickory Dock • Mrs. Wishy Washy – Joy Cowley • The Napping House – Audrey Wood • Pete the Cat – Eric Litwin • Time for bed – Mem Fox