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We generally reserve our group slots for children who already receive individual therapy at our practice, but at times we do have openings for new children. Our group programs are not appropriate for all developmental levels due to the nature of the activities and composition of the classes. The groups listed below have been created specifically to suite the needs of the children on our caseload. In other words, we don't just push children into a "social language group" and hope it fits. Rather, we create the groupings, activities and goals for each group depending on what we feel would benefit our clients. That is why it is a little bit of a "hodgepodge" of ages and skill levels! If we do have an opening, we will ask to review your child’s paperwork and informally meet him/her prior to finalizing the appointment schedule. The first two group sessions are considered a trial period in order to see if there is a good fit for the child in a group. If the child’s skill set is not appropriate for the group, or you are unhappy in any way with the program, you can try another group if the speech pathologist recommends it, or discontinue services, paying only for those classes already attended.
There are a number of benefits to this group model of service:
- Integration and carryover of functional social-pragmatic language skills
- Some children learn better by observing peers than direct intervention
- Games, arts and crafts, “play skills” are interwoven with language-based activities
- Less costly than individual sessions
- Opportunity to meet a new playmate
* We can arrange a group of two children (dyad) for a “first group” experience if requested. However, at this time we are only offering this to children who are already receiving individual therapy services at our practice.
OUR SCHEDULE AT THIS TIME INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING GROUPS:
1) My First Group: Older Two's-Early 4 Year Olds ($97 per class)
50 minute class to emphasize:
• Preschool Skills: One of our primary goals is to introduce and support your child's ability to participate in a small group setting, to support his/her preschool experience and teach appropriate behaviors needed to succeed in a preschool environment, with adult prompting and direction.
• Expressive language: Early pronouns (I, you, me, etc.) labels for nouns, actions, and simple descriptors, asking simple questions. Expressive language facilitated with indirect language stimulation techniques (e.g. parallel talk, expansion, self-talk) and visual supports.
• Receptive language: Responding to questions including choices, answering early "wh" questions, yes/no questions, and understanding spatial concepts.
• Auditory/Attending skills: Improve attending to peers with appropriate body position, attending to adults during short structured activities, following simple directions, attending to simple stories.
• Play and social language skills: Greetings with eye contact, using appropriate ways to ask, negotiate, request, protest, and share with their peers, even if language is just developing. Using toys appropriately, playing/turn-taking with peers, using yes/no and attending to and using body language skills.
• Music, song and fingerplays and crafts: Music is the ideal way to keep young children engaged, facilitate listening, following directions, and develop speech. We use lots of music in our sessions! Crafts are ideal ways to work on simple following the direction activities, and "show and tell." ("I made a....")
** Children in this group are not required to be potty-trained. However, parents should be available on-site (no drop-offs) in case a diaper change or bathroom break is needed.
This class is appropriate for children who are ready to supplement their individual session with a group setting. Typically, children in this group are just becoming verbal and need a bit of help learning to sit and attend as part of a group. The class is limited to four children, and is led by two speech-language pathologists. It is a mix of boys and girls. This class is scheduled for Fridays 10:15-11:05am with Kristen Moore and Jen Minton.
2) Junior Social Language & Play Group for Boys: Older 5-Young 7 Year Olds ($97 per class)
50 minute class to emphasize:
• Expressive language strengthening: Skills addressed are primarily focused on social language, which words to use in a play context, participating in simple conversations, expressing themselves if frustrated or if they want to clarify or negotiate the game rules, etc.
• Play and social language skills: Facilitate play situations by learning and using appropriate ways to ask, suggest ideas, negotiate, request, protest, and share with their peers. This group works on having the boys "play games" together, including how to cope with frustration when they lose or the game doesn't go their way.
This class is appropriate for children with mild expressive language and social language difficulties who would benefit from guided support during play with their peers. It's perfect for children who are in a regular classroom with minimal support. This class is limited to a maximum of five children. A certified speech-language pathologist (SLP) will lead the class. Additional support will be provided if and when needed: a second SLP, or college-level intern, depending on the number of children and needs of the class. This class is scheduled for Mondays 5:30-6:20 and Wednesdays 4:35-5:25. Both groups are led by Michelle Turkoglu.
3) Primary Group for Girls: 6-8 Year Olds ($97 per class)
50 minute class to emphasize:
• Social language: Sharing, suggesting, requesting clarification, complimenting, expressing frustration, seeking help, participating in a simple conversation or simple group discussion by keeping on topic, asking socially-appropriate questions, giving encouragement to each other, compliments, etc.
• Expressive language: Using a variety of cueing strategies to elicit optimal language use for functional communication at the child’s present level, working to increase and expand phrase/sentence length and complexity, question formulation, sequencing simple events and stories, and vocabulary development. Using and interpreting nonverbal language (gestures, facial expressions) also integrated.
• Auditory/Attending: Attending to peers during conversations and group discussions, attending to adults during short structured activities, following directions, attending to and comprehending stories, answering questions.
• Play skills: Simple games, cooperative group activities, unstructured play, role-playing, etc.
This group is comprised of children with normal cognition and mild speech-language delays, high-functioning autism/PDD, or Non-Verbal Learning Disorder and/or social anxiety. The girls need to be able to separate from their parent, and be compliant with adult figures. This class is limited to a maximum of six children. The class is for girls and is held on Mondays 3:10-4pm. It is led by Gail Ballenger.
4) Elementary Group for Boys: 10-11 Year Olds ($97 per class)
50 minute class to emphasize:
• Expressive language strengthening: Skills addressed are primarily focused on social language, which words to use in a play context, participating in simple conversations, expressing themselves if frustrated or if they want to clarify or negotiate the game rules, giving encouragement, responding to other points of view without being offensive, etc.
• Play and social language skills: Facilitate play situations by learning and using appropriate ways to ask, suggest ideas, negotiate, request, protest, and share with their peers. This group works on having the boys "play games" together, including how to cope with frustration when they lose or the game doesn't go their way.
This class is appropriate for children with mild expressive language and social language difficulties who would benefit from guided support during play with their peers. It's perfect for children who are in a regular classroom with minimal support. This class is limited to a maximum of five children. A certified speech-language pathologist (SLP) will lead the class. Additional support will be provided if and when needed: a second SLP, or college-level intern, depending on the number of children and needs of the class. This class is scheduled for Wednesdays 3:30-4:20 with Michelle Turkoglu.
Reports: There are no formal reports written for children who participate in the group program. If requested, we will write one, but there is a fee for this service. Please contact the front office for more information about fees for additional services, such as reports.
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