Model correct speech sounds. Don't repeat their errors.

Use appropriate adult sentence structure: grammar and word order.

Encourage new vocabulary. Draw attention to interesting words that may be new to your child.

Talk about the situations and environment you are in to increase vocabulary: use descriptive words.

Show your child that you are interested by commenting on what they are doing.

Limit the amount of television and computer gaming and instead play board or card games at home.

When “out and about” keep the conversation going by playing games like:

Read stories together daily and talk about what happened in the story.

Read stories and have your child retell the story e.g., First…Then… Next… Last…

When talking about stories focus on the characters, setting, plot, problem, main events, and conclusion. Use wh- questions.

Encourage your child to read anything. Magazines, comics or websites can engage children, and shows them that computers and iPads can be for more than just gaming.

Motivate your child by making connections to real-world experiences. For example, writing a letter to their favorite sports player allows young readers to find meaning in what they are doing.

Keep the reading and writing activities positive, focus on what your child CAN do.“Would You Rather?”

“I wonder..”

“I Spy..”

Ask them questions like: “Would you rather go to the zoo or thebeach? Why?”

Ask them questions like: “I wonder if you could have any animal as a pet, which one would you choose? Why?”

Be creative and have fun!

Supporting Your Child’s Supporting Your Child’s

Oral Language

Speech-LanguagePathologyServices

Reading Writingand

publicboard.ca

Speech-Language Services Help?

canthe Services Offered?

are

Speech-Language Pathology Services?

to Access

Speech-Language Pathology Services personnel have specialized training in the development of communication skills as it applies to the educational setting. Areas of expertise include speech, language, literacy, and social communication.

Consultation with school personnel, parents, students, community agencies and other support staff to assist students experiencing speech, language, literacy, and social communication difficulties at school.

Assessment of a student includes discussion with parents and school staff, observation of the child, review of school records/history, and individual formal (standardized) and informal testing.

Intervention services may include individual and small group therapy, classroom-based support, and home practice materials.

Collaboration with parents, school-based teams, administrators, professional learning communities, and community partners. Referrals to community agencies for specialized services.

Professional Development provided as part of system-wide support and in-service training to teachers, support staff and/or parents.

Upon the request of a school's Speech-Language Pathologist, Communicative Disorders Assistants provide additional short-term support to school-based teams regarding specific strategies and visual supports for students with high needs.

Speech-Language Pathologists and Communicative Disorders Assistants support students, families, and school teams when concerns arise in the following areas:

Staff consists of Registered Speech-Language Pathologists and Communicative Disorders

Assistants.

Speech-Language Pathologists are professionals with training at

the Masters degree level in communication development and

disorders.

They provide service in accordance with the standards of

professional practice of The College of Audiologists and

Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario and adhere to the

Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) and associated legislation

including the Personal Health Information Protection Act

(PHIPA).

Speech-Languageare

Pathology Services?

Auditory ComprehensionExpressive Language Phonological Awareness PhonicsEarly Reading Reading ComprehensionSpeech Sound Productionsand IntelligibilitySocial Communication andPeer InteractionsAugmentative and Alternative CommunicationAssistive TechnologyFluencyVoice ResonanceHearing

The Board's website provides a list of special education staff serving each school.

www.publicboard.ca

Speech-Language Pathologists are integral members of the special education services team in each school. If you have questions or concerns about your child's communication skills, please contact your child's teacher or the school's principal.