ROBUST SCHOOL-WIDE VOCABULARY INSTRUCTION: THE POWERFUL ROLE OF THE SLP

Course overview

The achievement gap in reading and other academics, in most cases, is a vocabulary gap! Speech Pathologists have long been interested in adequate vocabulary skills for oral and written expression. How speech pathologists work collaboratively and individually to focus on vocabulary instruction for students at all levels of SLP services can be critical to how powerfully that gap can be narrowed or closed. How the field of education views vocabulary skills and the corresponding instruction needed to effectively increase those skills in all learners has changed dramatically in recent years. In this practical seminar you will learn how those changes have impacted the type of vocabulary we teach and how to choose that vocabulary. Practical strategies based on brain research will give SLPs tools to use that enhance the long term storage and retrieval of the vocabulary needed for school success. Functional, engaging activities to address vocabulary needs at varied stages in the acquisition process will be presented in ways that are ¿ready to go¿ for sharing with other staff as well as using with students in all school settings and therapy environments. Objective Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Articulate current research in the field, evidence-based techniques and understand over 75 easy-to-use strategies for teaching vocabulary Identify the vocabulary most important to teach. Outline the key steps/ components of effective vocabulary instruction Apply strategies to both school-wide , small group and individual student efforts to strengthen vocabulary instruction and growth.