LPS Meeting and Language Tools

Our public school is now having quarterly meetings with parents of students who are deaf or hard of hearing, which I think is fabulous.  It is not only a time to share information and provide training, but it also a time for discussion of what is or is not working.  There are 26 kids under five and only four parents showed up to this week's meeting.  Not good.  I'll have to recruit more for the January meeting. 

The training piece was done by one of the SLPs.  She talked about Experience Books and Treasure Walks. Experience Books, which I am now the proud creator of one about Lily's visit to the Prairie, help enhance and expand language.  They create opportunities for new vocabulary, concept works and attach meaningful, fun experiences to the language.  The Treasure Walks involve collecting items "with a theme" as you go for a walk. When you return, you can put the items into a collage.  This sensory, hands-on experience helps to connect abstract language to concrete items and the objects become visual supports for listening.

Karen from OHS was also here today and she recognized some of Lily's words, so that is good confirmation to move them from the words in progress list, to the words mastered list.  And when I say mastered, they may still be missing a syllable or two, but she uses them consistently and they sound pretty close.  Progress.