Finding ways to incorporate speech and language into your daily routine doesn’t have to take extra time or prep! Here are 5 easy ways from a licensed speech therapist to help grow your child’s speech in fun and engaging ways.
1: Go for a walk and talk about what you see. This is a great way to incorporate family time too!
2. While you are making a meal, invite your little one to help. Describe the smell and taste of food as you cook.
3. Turn your groceries list into a scavenger hunt! Your child will love finding new items, while you will love having some extra help.
4. Practice sequencing while talking about the steps to brush your teeth! Great practice for fine motor movements as well.
5. Game nights can be full of so many great learning opportunities. Practice following directions while playing a game, or have your child explain the directions to you!
Exposure is key when it comes to growing your child’s speech and language skills. Follow @gingerspeechie on social media for more great ideas like this!
IEPs. The thing they never really prepare you for in college, but takes up a third of your time. Whether it’s writing goal updates, summarizing present levels, determining minutes, or sitting through heated discussions, IEPs are a fact of life in the SPED world.
In school you were taught how to write goals using SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) or ABCD (audience, behavior, condition, duration). You probably even wrote several evaluation reports and SOAP notes. You learned the basic of an IEP and possibly how your role looks in the ideal team. It seemed easy enough.
Well, I quickly learned I was nowhere near as confident or prepared in my early IEPs as I thought I would be. It’s nerve-racking walking into a new school as a CF, and being the expert for the first time on a student you may barely even know. Parents turn to you to answer why progress is or is not being made. Teachers want to know how to help “Johnny” in the classroom. Your principal may be in the room, and you want to appear as if you know what you are doing.
Speechy Musing bell curve handout. I place mine in a clear sleeve to use again and again!
Here’s the big thing… you do know what you are doing. Be confident that you learned something during your 6 years of education. It’s ok not to know the answer, but it is not ok to make up the answer. You can always offer handouts to parents and teachers if they want more information. Slowly you will gain that confidence to speak up for each student. May the paperwork seem like a lot? Yes, but over time you will find a system that works for YOU! You’re going to have that meeting where you second guess your decisions, and other meetings where you are so excited for the student and their progress.
Below are some helpful hints and resources that really set me on the right path. Be confident, you can do this!
Read the student’s most recent IEP and/or Eval report.
Set deadlines for yourself ahead of what your district expects.
Ask your mentor to read over your first few IEP reports.
Invite your mentor to a few meetings the first semester. It never hurts to have a sidekick! They aren’t there to judge you.
Bring notes in the meeting. You may blank because of nerves, and this is the main time to express concerns.
Sign up for Speechy Musings‘ blog to get her bell curve chart. This has helped me on many occasions!
Start a goal bank of most used goals so you don’t have to keep reinventing the wheel.
Now do I still have IEPs where I don’t know the answer or I’m nervous for? Of course! You will have those difficult meetings, and that’s ok. Will you get forgotten about sometimes since you may be a related area and not primary? Yes, but keep communication between teachers open. Each meeting and report will get easier. Share your newbie IEP tips in the comments!
