We have school-based SLP, Marisha Mets with us today. Marisha talks with us about the benefits of using language samples, her tips and tricks, as well as resources from her blog SLP Now. She talks about the origin of these resources, that many teachers and SLPs can relate with. A heavy caseload and a necessity to be efficient led Marisha in the direction she is now to share these tips with other SLPs.

We discuss the basics of what a language sample actually is, snapshots of the students' use of language in a functional manner in their natural environment. Marisha highlights that we can use many types of samples including play, conversation, story retell, story generation, expository, and persuasive. All of these samples will elicit varying levels, giving unique information on student performance according to the context.

When looking at language samples versus assessments, Marisha talks about the differences in the data. She tells us the importance of knowing not only what students can do and say but if they are making it functional. Task-based assessments can too often lead to confusion when a student can do something on paper but not in their natural environment. We share some times and places to check-in and get a look into a student's natural language function.

We talk about how language functionality is a key point in setting goals for students with autism. Students may have the words but not know how to use them. Using language samples can pinpoint this as well as set goals and targets on what we can plan for them.

Marisha also shares ideas about how to get these language samples and how to track them. She shares resources she's found along the way as well as those she's created and can be found on her blog. Marisha answers my end-of-episode question with her best advice for other SLPs!

What's Inside:

• What are Language Samples?
• Why is Language Samples important?
• How to collect Language Samples?
• Free Resources