The Speech Link: A Speech Therapy Podcast

This episode addresses an important dilemma: Am I on the right therapy track with my young children, and am I coaching their caregivers correctly? Rachel addresses these issues through 7 critical developmental skills and organizes them in a format and framework for you to increase your confidence and effectiveness with children and their caregivers.

This episode explores the need for orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) information and practical application for clinicians and our university programs. Dr. Reed, a university professor, established the world’s first university-based clinic for those with OMDs. She shares OMD info and trends as well as her 20-year efforts to generate awareness of this important and much-needed area.

This episode explores the importance of developing confidence and joy in school-aged children who struggle with learning differences. The presenters pinpoint the confidence and joy robbers, e.g., events and experiences, and list the red flags of those at risk. They discuss social-emotional health issues and how professionals can intercede to build teams of support. The role of the SLP is highlighted.

This episode explores articulation therapy, motor control, proprioceptive feedback, and neuroscience. Details are provided for the neural connections to acquire and maintain oral motor behaviors and the oral resting posture. Efficient neural programming of the tongue, jaw, lips, and velum enables optimal speed and precision of movement for speaking. What happens, and what do we do when it doesn’t?

The use of myofunctional evaluation and therapeutic strategies can be invaluable in the remediation of many speech sounds, such as, /l/, /s/, /z/, and /r/. In addition, the sounds are more likely to remediate if the tongue rests in the correct position. We’ll focus on students who can produce the targeted sounds in words, etc. but have difficulty generalizing them into spontaneous speech.

Have you ever wanted to use music in your therapy but were unsure how? Learn simple, direct, and fun methods from Rachel Arntson. She shares strategies to use music to improve imitation, receptive and expressive language, speech sound productions, sound blending, and more. Music is a “magical” tool to build social interaction and is a fun way to incorporate the home practice of targeted skills.

Research states that speech use drives language use through phonological memory and motor planning. However, those with Down syndrome are often encouraged to use nonverbal strategies (sign language, AAC, etc.) ahead of their speech abilities. Is this the best and most beneficial? This course investigates the research, rationale, and several alternatives. Practical therapy strategies will be shared.

This course defines ambiguous loss and how it can impact caregiver-child interactions. Ms. Searcy specifies how to assist families during stressful times and events, including the difficulties of communication disorders and delays. She covers the stressful details that caregivers can experience and how, if not addressed, it can negatively impact positive interactions and learning for the child.

Developmental language disorder (DLD) has gone by many names. Why does the name matter, especially when it doesn’t match the terminology used in schools (e.g., IDEA) or medical settings (e.g., ICD)? In this course, we will explore how and why you should share the term DLD with families and other team members.

Guest: Teresa Farnham, MA, CCC-SLP - We have explicitly known for over 3 decades that parents influence their child’s language development—especially vocabulary—with the quantity and quality of their input and interactions. In the 1980s, Hart & Risley conducted a remarkable research project examining the differences in preschool children's verbal environments. You’ll learn the pertinent and practical results that you can apply.

Guest: Jacqueline Towson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - This course outlines practical strategies to implement during shared interactive book reading.  Embedding techniques will be shared to facilitate language and emergent literacy skills with young children with language impairments, developmental disabilities, or those considered at-risk. Considerations for book selection, preparation, setting, and environment will be discussed.

Guest: Holly L. Storkel, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - This course presents a variety of practical methods to enhance and systematically guide treatment success for children with speech sound disorders. For example, did you know that selecting complex sounds as your treatment target can accelerate speech sound learning? Or, that there are better ways to contrast sounds than conventional minimal pair treatment? All of this and more will be explained in detail.

Guest: Licia Coceani Paskay, MS, CCC-SLP - This course provides an overview of chewing that’s been researched within the medical and dental fields. Chewing is an overlooked and underestimated function that has a significant and well-documented impact on swallowing. Implications are covered from infants to the elderly. Chewing should take a more prominent role, especially in swallowing disorders.

Guest: Deborah Ross-Swain, EdD, CCC-SLP - School-aged children with language and learning differences are at risk for education trauma; some feel defeated. They’re often labeled as unmotivated, ADHD, lazy, unfocused, or oppositional. SLPs are a part of a collaborative team that can recognize and avoid this trauma and boosts a child’s educational success, confidence, and joy. Numerous practical and easy-to-apply strategies will be covered.

Guest: Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP - We must find ways to motivate those with Down syndrome to join their peers in learning. Strategies for active listening, retrieving known information, and planning and executing speech allow them to perform better academically and become independent. This podcast shares three simple and essential strategies to address complex communication issues specifically for students with Down syndrome.

Guest: Kristin Martinez, MA, CCC-SLP - Kristin shares practical information on Therapy Essentials, a comprehensive therapy platform and teletherapy training option for both school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and SLPs in the clinical setting. She clarifies and outlines the full features and benefits of Therapy Essentials that can be used to deliver teletherapy, and within hybrid speech-language services

Guest: Janice M. Wright, MA, CCC-SLP - Ms. Wright discusses the issues of conflict resolution rather than conflict management related to the supervision of speech-language pathology supervisees.  She shares constructive definitions, analyzes the typical views of conflict, identifies conflict styles, and tactfully imparts techniques to effectively resolve disputes positively and productively.

Guest: Ray D. Kent, PhD. - Diadochokinesis (DDK) has been in our field for almost a century and has applications in many specialties. A scoping review found 360 DDK articles and has been associated with diverse etiologies: motoric, structural, sensory, and cognitive. Its popularity notwithstanding, it is not unquestioned as an assessment tool. However, it has been used across a spectrum of disorders and as a proposed biomarker.

Guest: Sandra Combs, Ph.D., CCC-SLP - Some clinicians avoid using research to guide their practice due to implementation challenges that appear controlled or too large to apply to their population. Dr. Combs outlines data collection and procedures on how to utilize single-case research to improve therapy quality. Her goal is to bridge the clinical world and the academic world of speech-language pathology to meet client needs better.

Guest: Shari Gross, MA, CCC-SLP - -Selective mutism is an often misunderstood social pragmatic communication disorder.  For many children, within their selective silence, their social pragmatic issues mask additional communication disorders:  articulation, semantics, syntax, processing, and even autism spectrum disorders.  This course introduces SLPs to the evaluation and treatment strategies of children with selective mutism.

Guest: Bryan Gick, Ph.D. - In this research studies and strategies episode, the importance of posture in speech production will be discussed. Posture is vital in motor systems as a precursor to all movements. Maintaining speech articulators in stable postures provides a motor foundation for all speech sounds and movements. Learn how lingual postures shape speech sounds, how postural positions can help in therapy, and how posture governs facial expressions, phonation, and velopharyngeal port control. Prepare to change how you view speech!

Guest: Megan Panatier, MS, CCC-SLP - After visiting all 72 branches of the Los Angeles Public Library with her daughter, Megan was blown away at the quality and quantity of the FREE materials and activities available for speech and language therapy and literacy use. She tells of their journey, what she learned and how she applies the rich resources in her therapy to enhance reading enjoyment and verbal participation.

Guest: Nicole Archambault, EdS, MS, CCC-SLP, CLEC - Pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) can jeopardize development, performance, and health. SDB is within the SLP’s scope of practice. We have knowledge of oral functions (speaking/swallowing/chewing), craniofacial structures, respiration, oral rest postures, and executive skills, SLPs can help mitigate SDB. We’ll cover research and management strategies within an interdisciplinary framework.

Guest: Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP - Speech clarity is possible for many of those with Down syndrome. New therapy techniques in motor speech, voice, and executive functioning are emerging and present viable options. Several were discussed: How to generate active engagement, voice-based methods, and how to encourage frequent practice to accelerate speech and language used to improve comprehension for success and independence.

Guest: Lisa Chattler, MA, CCC-SLP - This course covers the concept of instructing “questions” in our 8+ year old students. Students’ perception of classroom involvement can impact their willingness to take question-asking risks. Ms. Chattler shares details on how to support our classroom teachers, and how to create relevant lessons to address the processes of understanding, answering, and formulating questions.

Guest: Adina Soclof, MS, CCC-SLP - This one-hour course provides practical information and strategies to successfully manage disruptive and challenging student behaviors during therapy sessions. Adina provides effective ways to motivate and engage students to create an inviting therapy environment to stimulate cooperation and more responsible and respectful behavior conducive to learning.

Guest: Melissa Burk DeLange, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Melissa reaches out to school SLPs who are discouraged and burnt out. From experience and much reading and research, Melissa shares her Four Pillars for Thriving in the public schools. She discusses what is within the SLP's control, what is not, and what can be influenced even without control. She details suggestions for time management and how to create positive interpersonal relations.

This episode explained the ASHA supervision expectations as well as five additional, practical guidelines on how to effectively supervise practicum for graduate students in any setting.  Numerous details were provided regarding supervision of the evaluation/diagnostic process, treatment implementation, professionalism, and the importance of being flexible.

This 1-hour course focused on practical and effective therapy techniques for the early intervention child with significant speech delays.  It provided numerous insights and ideas to work online as well as in person to improve the child’s communication skills.  Specific and doable strategies were shared to inspire and empower parental involvement.

Terri presented how language sampling and analysis is an effective, authentic, and reliable method to establish baseline speech and language performance as well as periodically evaluate progress. She refreshed our skills in language sampling and analysis, and how these basic principles can be effectively applied in the school practice setting for evaluation as well as documentation.

Based on two decades of experience, Sarah freely discussed the issues and responsibilities of being a Master Clinician in the schools and how to effectively guide the Graduate Student Clinician. She disclosed several critical components: how to share expectations, how to maintain a constructive ongoing dialogue, and how to hone-in on essential skills and provide constructive feedback.

Char shared real-world solutions on how to effectively manage difficult parent/caregiver situations. She emphasized that issues tend to occur when parents do not know a therapist’s motivation, his/her capability level or work ethic. Many detailed communication reactions and response options were provided, as well as a system to build parental support and even teamwork.

Guest: Jayanti Ray, PhD, CCC-SLP - In this one-hour course, Dr. Ray shared the common signs, symptoms, and conditions that impact voice disorders in school-aged children and therapy techniques to mitigate them. In addition, she covered the importance of vocal health and several ways maintain vocal quality and agility in children.

Guest: Jayanti Ray, PhD., CCC-SLP, BCS-F - In this course, Dr. Ray shared a wealth of evidence-based information and anecdotal examples about those with Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD). Topics included: what is VCD and signs and symptoms of episodes, several causal options, and many treatment techniques and strategies. The information pertained mostly to school-aged children, but also briefly discussed adults with VCD.

In Nina’s follow-up to her previous episode, she continued to share her extensive knowledge on the evidence-based views, analysis, and therapy of neurologically based stuttering for individuals 5 years and older. She provided informative answers as to why our typical stuttering therapy is not always effective, as well as five therapy prerequisites complete with insights and activities to use in comprehensive, successful stuttering therapy.

Guest: Tricia H. Rogers, MS, CCC-SLP - This one-hour podcast explores the of characteristics of oral habits (thumb/finger sucking, nail biting, extended pacifier use) of primarily the school-aged child.  It addresses the rise in oral habits due to the change in routines and lifestyle during COVID-19 and what can be done.  Several causes and consequences of thumb/finger sucking are discussed, as well as many extinguishing strategies, including several ideas for parents to implement at home.

Guest: Patricia Fisher, MA, CCC-SLP, COM - In this episode Patty shared in-depth detailed methods and the benefits of parental involvement during teletherapy. She suggested, “Keep learning; change happens.  Be prepared (know your goals), be flexible (implement functional therapy based on the child’s needs), and incorporate the parents/caregivers during teletherapy and beyond, (i.e. during daily living and personal interactions).

In this course, Terri shares her down-to-earth techniques and interesting experiences of working with teen aged children with severe disabilities. You’ll learn practical, highly useful strategies such as, how to best use videos in therapy, and the rationale behind them. From her observations over the years, she shares several “hurdles” that must be dealt with when working with this population.

Guest: Patti Hamaguchi, M.A. CCC-SLP - In this course, Ms. Hamaguchi focuses on understanding elementary age children with Social Communication Disorder (SCD), as well as effective ways to assess it, and how to put together targeted individual and group intervention strategies to improve social language, including greetings, etc., and conversational skill development across settings, and more.

Guest: Susan Fitzell, MEd, CSP - In this course, an experienced classroom teacher and national co-teaching coach shared insightful guidance on how the SLP and the classroom teacher can collaborate together to maximize time, efficiency, and effectiveness.  Her focus is on bringing rationale and specific and practical tips and techniques to the table for all professionals to utilize in classroom instruction.

Panelists: Michelle L. W. Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC; Andrea M.Szwabowski, M.H.S., CCC-SLP/L; Marisha Mets, MS, CCC-SLP; Carrie Clark, CCC-SLP; Jessi Andricks MS, CCC-SLP; Lauren Tandy, MS CCC-SLP This panel of presenters discussed teletherapy, the essential and best practices for EI to High School related services.

In this course, Char shared over ten easy-to-apply techniques to improve the success of parent eligibility and IEP meetings.  She detailed strategies on how to prepare for meetings, the meeting mindset, the value of teamwork and how to get it, a view from the parent’s perspective, how to present information clearly, kids at meetings, and how to develop positive perceptions and parental support.

SLP mentoring is a win-win for both the mentee and the mentor. It’s a pay-it-forward mentality, and one that is beneficial for our SLP profession as a whole. Mentoring provides guidance and support for all SLPs—new or experienced—and ultimately for the children we work with. This course details creative, practical, and resourceful techniques on how to implement effective mentoring.

Guest: Kristin Martinez, MA, CCC-SLP - In this 1-hour podcourse, Kristin shares her telepractice analysis and therapy expertise.  Previously, she was a school SLP and private practitioner and explains how telepractice can also be effective with apraxia, artic errors, language issues, as well as children with severe needs.  She details the technological elements needed, as well as the many benefits of doing telepractice.

In this PodCourse, Dr. Karen stated that although there is no one standardize language therapy curriculum there are three evidence-based Language Principles on which to base our therapy and streamline our strategies to generate effective results. She discussed the underlying concepts of vocabulary, how to include definitions and metacognitive therapy, and how to select words. Examples were given.

In this one-hour podcourse, Debra details an effective instruction method that can be used with children of all ages—conversational interaction. It can be successfully applied with heterogenous groups with a variety of disorders—language, articulation, fluency, even voice. She explains how to keep the kids focused, on target, and verbal by using manipulatives. Very informative and practical.

In this one-hour podcourse, Susan, an experienced school SLP, shares her practical tips and techniques on /r/ remediation, and much more. She describes what children with r-distortions are doing and not doing intra-orally. And, she shares her observations and first-hand experiences of using the Bite-R therapy device and tactile therapy to remediate her speech-kids. Very informative and practical.

In this 5-hour podcourse, Char chronicles a comprehensive account of the events of the past two decades that have infused and inspired one of the most controversial—and misunderstood--storms in the history of speech-language pathology.

In this 5-hour podcourse, Char chronicles a comprehensive account of the events of the past two decades that have infused and inspired one of the most controversial—and misunderstood--storms in the history of speech-language pathology.Perhaps you’re not sure why “oral motor” has been criticized, or how to respond when someone mentions it. You’ll learn what to say, and how to back it up.  Char covers the “Five Waves” as to what has specifically happened, who did what, and where we go from here.Most importantly you’ll learn Supportive Evidence for the Use of Oral Sensory-Motor Methods to Remediate Speech Sound Productions.

In this 5-hour podcourse, Char chronicles a comprehensive account of the events of the past two decades that have infused and inspired one of the most controversial—and misunderstood--storms in the history of speech-language pathology.Perhaps you’re not sure why “oral motor” has been criticized, or how to respond when someone mentions it. You’ll learn what to say, and how to back it up.  Char covers the “Five Waves” as to what has specifically happened, who did what, and where we go from here.Most importantly you’ll learn Supportive Evidence for the Use of Oral Sensory-Motor Methods to Remediate Speech Sound Productions.

In this 5-hour podcourse, Char chronicles a comprehensive account of the events of the past two decades that have infused and inspired one of the most controversial—and misunderstood--storms in the history of speech-language pathology.Perhaps you’re not sure why “oral motor” has been criticized, or how to respond when someone mentions it. You’ll learn what to say, and how to back it up.  Char covers the “Five Waves” as to what has specifically happened, who did what, and where we go from here.Most importantly you’ll learn Supportive Evidence for the Use of Oral Sensory-Motor Methods to Remediate Speech Sound Productions.

In this 5-hour podcourse, Char chronicles a comprehensive account of the events of the past two decades that have infused and inspired one of the most controversial—and misunderstood--storms in the history of speech-language pathology.Perhaps you’re not sure why “oral motor” has been criticized, or how to respond when someone mentions it. You’ll learn what to say, and how to back it up.  Char covers the “Five Waves” as to what has specifically happened, who did what, and where we go from here.Most importantly you’ll learn Supportive Evidence for the Use of Oral Sensory-Motor Methods to Remediate Speech Sound Productions.

Guests: Heidi Britz, MA,CCC-SLP and Elissa Kilduff, MA,CCC-SLP - In this 1-hour podcourse, our presenters share their experience on how to get the new school year off to a great start. They openly explain the realties of school therapy: What to do during the week prior to kids returning, how to effectively use the first few weeks to collaborate with teachers, ideas for scheduling, doing therapy-room prep, and how to connect with parents.

Guest: Pat Mervine, MA, CCC-SLP - In this presentation, the presenter shared her knowledge and expertise on creating a positive atmosphere to enrich communication for students with complex communication needs. She explains how to engineer the environment by raising expectations with your attitude, actions, and teaching strategies so students of all ages have ample opportunities to communicate throughout the day with a variety of communication partners, using speech or their AAC system. She explicitly details the importance and process of using the Prompt Hierarchy, The Expectant Pause, and Scripting to provide and personalize communication needs.

Guest: Margo Kinzer Courter, M.A., CCC-SLP - Char is cruising on the SpeechTherapyPD.com Conference at Sea. Over the next couple episodes we will be sharing a couple of the best episodes of the first year of the Speech Link Podcast. Enjoy!

Guest: Stephen Sacks, MA, CCC-SLP - Steve shared his vast knowledge of how to successfully remediate the distorted /r/ and /s/. Over the past 25 years, he and many other SLPs have successfully used his program, the SATPAC.  He explained what the SATPAC is—a computerized, contextual list-builder—and the rationale and fundamentals of speech sound production behind it, as well as several other how-to and sound-stim techniques.

Guest: Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC - In this 1-hr podcourse, Michelle shares information and examples of the many young medically fragile and developmentally disordered children she’s worked with and explains why and how to ensure a quality transfer into school-related services. She stresses the importance of a comprehensive, coordinated and team-based approach for the continuation of critical services.

Guest: Kristen Edwards, MS, CCC-SLP - Kristin is an expert in the field of telepractice and shared not only the practical, therapeutic side, but the essential technological side, as well. She stressed the importance of knowing the rules and regulations of your home state and states you do telepractice in. She shared details of how to do assessment and therapy, what platforms are needed, and the “tools” to do quality therapy.

Guest: Heidi Britz, MA, CCC-SLP - In this 1-hour episode, Heidi shares her vast experience of how to work effectively and efficiently with school-aged children with social language differences.  She discusses the referral process, assessments, and explains how to develop and support a school-based therapy plan with the child, teachers, and parents.  She covers the specifics of collecting data as well as therapy materials and resources.

Guest: Elissa Kilduff, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Elissa shares her time-saving, creative approach of how to effectively use individual books to meet the needs of several speech and language children within a group each with a variety of specific needs and goals.  She outlines how to select the books, pre-plan and organize the materials, and implement the therapy.  This approach can be used effectively with K–6th grades; several resources are provided.

Guest: Lorraine Maida, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Lorraine shared her vast knowledge and experience of how to elevate and incorporate the art of storytelling and the use of songs in language instruction with young children.  She explicitly covered the developmental sequence of oral narrative growth in children and how to adapt books in ways that allow children to participate as active versus passive learners in language and literacy instruction.  Numerous practical activities were provided.

Guest: Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin, PhD, CCC-SLP - Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are receiving increasing referrals of English Learners (ELs) with potential language impairment. Because these children speak diverse languages, SLPs have few assessment options that are nondiscriminatory, legal, and that rule out the impact of environment.  In this podcourse, you learned legally sound, non-standardized assessment methods and materials that are easy to implement and represent evidence-based practice.

Guest: Cathy Alexander, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Cathy details her knowledge and expertise about the intricacies of morphology and morphological therapy for pre-school and upper- and lower-elementary-aged children.  She also explains and provides examples of how to shift into curriculum content-area words to teach for middle- and high-school students. She explains the association of morphology and vocabulary and provides numerous activities and books appropriate to instruct prefixes, suffixes, and root words.

Guest: Cathy Alexander, MA, CCC-SLP - Cathy shares her knowledge and expertise on how to enrich vocabulary in young children. She explains the vocabulary acquisition process of most children, then compares the characteristics of language impaired children. She outlines how to apply her nine evidenced-based strategies for systematic vocabulary instruction, and details the strong and reciprocal relationship between reading and vocabulary. Numerous practical activities are provided.

In this episode, Ms. Boshart explained why sometimes it takes additional and deliberate instruction strategies to impact children’s retention and generate transfer outside of the therapy room. You specifically learned the nine evidence-based, foundational keys to intensive language instruction, and how to implement and incorporate them into language therapy.

Guest: Robyn Merkel-Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP - Robyn shares practical knowledge and strategies from her experience and research on how to determine when children are developmental and when others have orofacial issues that may deter speech development and progress in therapy.  She outlined analyze procedures for potential respiratory issues, oral hard and soft tissue issues, and offered therapy suggestions.

Guest: Sarah James, MS, CCC-SLP - Sarah presents insights from her research, study and experience in connecting language skills with areas of reading instruction. She believes one can have language without literacy, but not literacy without language. She shared strategies for phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension, vocabulary and fluency.

Char shares how to do effective therapy for both the lateral /s/ and the frontal /s/.  She compared and contrasted the similarities and differences between the two speech errors and outlined helpful techniques for dealing with both.  She included insightful, research-based information about the /s/ and why some oral-respiratory differences can impact production and remediation.

Char presents insights from her extensive study and experience of working with hundreds of individuals with “r” distortions. She shared an in-depth description about the /r/ production and critiqued several remediation techniques. She explained the rationale as to why some strategies work, why some don’t, and outlined the primary factors that must be included in therapy for successful, complete “r” remediation.

Guest: Linda Eve Seth, SLP, M.Ed. - In this episode, Linda and Char discuss Linda's creative concepts of incorporating Love, Listening, and Language into artic and language therapy for school-aged children.

Guest: Lisa Rogers, Behavior Specialist - In this one-hour episode, Lisa focuses on communication through behavior. She shares how to not just address aberrant behaviors but the emotional causal factors, as well. She explained the four primary functions of behavior, how they are the rationale behind most behaviors, and how to address behaviors using the four functions as a reference point. She discussed several procedures to use with lower-functioning children, as well as a several key tips to do with small groups of regular ed kids. Parent support is a primary concern of hers. She outlined the parent-perspective and offered suggestions on how to support parents of special-needs children.

Guest: Nina Reeves, CCC-SLP, BRC-FD - In this episode, Nina shares her experience and extensive knowledge on the current views of stuttering and stuttering therapy for individuals of all ages. She suggests that outdated and negative views can be a roadblock to treatment success and shared how to do a personal activity to explore our mindset about the treatment of stuttering. Conversely, she outlined positive paradigms and several resources to enhance our mindset, improve our therapy outcomes, and work with families of those who stutter.

Guest: "Things They Don't Tell You in Graduate School" - Erica reflects back on her career and shares personal insights about listening, learning, life, and doing therapy. She stresses the importance of listening to parents, teachers, and kids, and the value of seeking and finding a balance between life and work. Being in the schools, Erica knows the stress of paperwork. She shares a few of her secrets to managing this ever-present problem, as well as caseload tips. Interestingly, she chronicles the evolution of her 38 years of therapy and how it’s changed for the better.

Guest: Sharon Ivey, SLP - In this episode Sharon Ivey, a highly experienced school SLP who has done classroom therapy for 35 years sits down with Char. She shares valuable information as to how to get into the classroom, how to work with teachers, and what to do once you’re there. She even shared her experiences of the “push-back” of “pushing-in.” She sited several benefits of going into the classroom, the most important one being the improvement of the students and how they transfer their increased language abilities into higher reading and academic skills. Therapy tools, games and activities were shared.

Guest: Pat Mervine, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Char sits down with Pat Mervine, MA, CCC-SLP and asks her to share some knowledge and expertise on creating a positive atmosphere to enrich communication for students with complex communication needs. She explains how to engineer the environment by raising expectations with your attitude, actions, and teaching strategies so students of all ages have ample opportunities to communicate throughout the day with a variety of communication partners, using speech or their AAC system. She explicitly details the importance and process of using the Prompt Hierarchy, The Expectant Pause, and Scripting to provide and personalize communication needs.

Guest: Ruth Jenkins, MS, CCC-SLP - Char speaks with Ruth Jenkins, an SLP from Portland, Oregon who started a successful improv comedy troup with her husband and since has learned to use improv techniques to motivate and engage children with articulation, language, and fluency difficulties. The creative techniques can be modified for almost any aged student (elementary through high school).

Guest: Cheri Chin, MS, CCC-SLP - This episode is about routines: what they are, why they’re beneficial to our therapy-kids, and how to create them. You learn systematic details of how to generate routines during transition time from the classroom to the therapy room, efficient ways to begin the therapy session, and beneficial routines to conclude the session, as well. Ms. Chin shares practical methods to maximize and utilize therapy-time as well as increase therapy effectiveness.

Guest: Margo Kinzer Courter, MA, CCC-SLP  - In this Podcast, you’ll learn a direct and systematic approach to increase vocabulary acquisition and heighten retrieval in language disordered children. For young children, basic concept knowledge is needed to advance to high-frequency words and curriculum-based instruction. You’ll learn details about what basic concepts to teach, Beck’s Tier 1, 2, and 3 vocabulary words, and several informative and practical strategies on how to implement vocabulary instruction in a sequential, meaningful way.

Guest: Karen Dudek-Brannan, Ed.d, CCC-SLP - It can be challenging to get students with language disorders to use longer, grammatically correct sentences. In this podcast, Dr. Dudek-Brannon delves deeply into the topic of vocabulary as it relates to syntax. It’s especially frustrating when we want our students to correctly use target vocabulary words in sentences and they struggle; you’ll learn why they struggle and what to do about it. In addition, you’ll learn the secrets to troubleshooting and getting students to add complexity to their sentences by teaching them specific rules of syntax.