Concrete vs. Abstract WH- Questions

So here's the dealio.

I learned something during my final semester of grad school internship in a Spanish-only Early Childhood Education school that I still think about on a daily basis.

And I wanna break it down for ya'll.

And when I say break "it" down, I mean this WH- question business.

Now I'm sure this is old news to most of you, but somehow I managed to get through almost the entirety of my SLP education thinking there was only one type of WH- question and one way to write these goals.

"Child will answer WH- questions with a complete sentence with minimal verbal/visual cues and 80% accuracy."

Or if you wanted to get really fancy:

"Child will answer 'what' and 'where' questions with a complete sentence and minimal verbal/visual cues and 80% accuracy."

Most therapists are familiar with designating the appropriate type of WH- question depending on the client. I'm not working on "WHY" questions per say with my 3-year old's, per say.

However, I was encouraged back in grad school to think of targeting "questions" within a different kind of hierarchy; that being:

1) YES/NO questions to accept/reject ("Do you want the car?");

2) YES/NO questions to affirm/deny ("Is this a car?" or on more advanced level, "Do we fly cars?");

3) Concrete WH-questions ("What is this?" "A car."); and finally,

4) Abstract WH- questions ("What do you ride in to get to school everyday?" "A car.")

As much as I love Super Duper and Linguisystems and all the products they churn out, every time I download an app for targeting WH- questions they all seem to target the more abstract spectrum of questions and geared more for the elementary crowd. As I am primarily a preschool/early intervention therapist, I needed to find some materials that brought things back down a notch to the emerging abstract level for my little guys.

So I made this. So fancy. So excite.

Abstract "Where" Question Cards for Pre-K

This is a set of 15 "WHERE" question cards with matching realistic photo prompts to allow you to provide as much assistance as desired or needed. They're sitting over in my Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store if you'd like to take a look. 

I am super excited to start learning how to make more of my own therapy products that fit my individual needs as a therapist. Let me know if you decide to try these cards out yourself and if you find them helpful. I also plan on creating other WH- question card sets for "WHAT", "WHO", etc. so if anyone is interested in those too give me a shout-out.

I mustache you a question: WHERE do you like to go for your WH- question targeting needs?:) 

Sunday Feels

It is Sunday. Let me tell you how Sunday feels. 

Sunday feels like a McDonald's medium french fry and ice-cold Coke.

Sunday feels like a very heavy, scratchy grey blanket that I don't want touching me.

Sunday feels like a humid room with a barely functioning oscillating fan. 

Sunday feels like an all-too hot bath that you were dying to get into but five minutes later are dying to get out of. 

Sunday feels like a song you started writing but quit when you got to the chorus.

Sunday feels like the comforter you put in the dryer that you will purposefully forget about.

Sunday feels like the mess on the floor that is better suited for Monday's sense of purpose.

Sunday feels like an empty playground punctuated by the sound of a clanging flagpole.

Sunday feels like the ball you attempted to play with that you accidentally kicked out of reach.

Sunday feels like the tea you set aside to cool down but is now too cool and must be reheated.

Sunday feels like the excitement of wearing flip flops followed by the let-down of a chilly breeze.

Sunday feels like the shirt you want to wear so badly but never lays just right.

Sunday feels like the talk you will have with that good friend filled with long pauses. Those muffins you made, they weren't very good, were they? People are unreliable, aren't they? You don't want tomorrow to come. 

Sunday feels better in my head than it looks on paper. 

Restore to me the joy of your salvation. - psalm 51:12

The Power of Words

Today I wanted to touch on one of the most important lessons that I think exists in regards to language. It has a little to do with vocabulary, or word choice. A little more so with pragmatics. But it has everything to do with heart. And intention. The power of words.

So often we SLPs are working with children whose verbal capabilities are struggling to keep up with their mental processes and desires to communicate. For these children, speech and language is limited. But we still try to teach them that there is power in their words, that their words AFFECT others. And affect themselves. Communicative intent, anyone? Point + cookie = receiving cookie. Mama + arm = Mama attending to a hurt elbow.

But why don't we start teaching this lesson explicitly, especially to our children who have age-appropriate and higher-level verbal abilities? And why do some adults seem to lack understanding or empathy towards this concept? That is, you carry a dangerous weapon with you at all times. One must be careful to wield the gift of speech and language carefully, because words are powerful.

One of my favorite quotes is by Taylor Swift. I know what you're thinking but hang tight with me on this one. It says:

"Words can breaks someone into a million pieces, but they can also put them back together again. I hope you use yours for good, because the only words you'll regret more than the ones left unsaid are the ones you use to intentionally hurt someone."

If there is anything I have learned in my journey as a speech-pathologist, is that speech and language is a gift never to be taken for granted. Those of us who have the ability to communicate must be taught that these words have amazing power:

They can:
- Compliment.
- Encourage.
- Comfort.
- Assist.
- Engage in debate.
- Give perspective.
- Accept.
- Reject.
- Communicate who we are as individuals.

Conversely, they can also:
- Criticize.
- Bully.
- Test.
- Highlight other's weakest points.
- Mock.
- Shame.

We are sometimes so concerned with communicating what's going on inside our heads that we pick the most effective and cutting words possible, for convenience sake. Instead of taking the time to use the right words, we say what we "feel". Because "free speech", right? The results are not pretty.

And the best part is, once you say something, it can NEVER be taken back! Isn't that fun, I tell my kids. Sure, you can apologize, and hope that person forgets. But that ship has sailed. So live in the pause. And think about the power of your words, before you just go swinging that thing around willy-nilly.

Words are capable of expressing an infinite number of emotions, thoughts, and ideas. But the way in which we choose to wield this sword says a lot about who we are.

Please consider taking a moment listening to this song. It summarizes all of the above.

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Also, speaking of teaching our little ones, I would like to hook you guys up with one of the BEST general ed teachers I know and one of my oldest and dearest friends, Shannon, over at The Diary of a Nerdy Teacher. Her posts are full of of cute and practical classroom and curriculum ideas, many that I have thought would be great to integrate in a speech room, as well.

Check her out and some of her awesome freebies in her Teachers Pay Teacher's store!

Encouraging Strong Social-Emotional Development

Today I'd like to bring to you a list of some of the best parenting articles and links that I have found in regards to encouraging strong social-emotional development, also tying into behavior management. I find many of these tips helpful for me as a pediatric professional as I work with many children who lack a strong sense of self and are not able to communicate their inner thoughts effectively. This list will be added to as time goes on.

1) The Twin Coach: The Power That Words Have: Strengthening Your Child's Inner Voice

2) Effective Parenting 101

3) Public Discipline/Shaming