Big Little Lessons

Finding Our Voice - Big Little Lessons from a Speech Therapist ~ 024

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What does it really mean to find your voice — and why does it matter at every stage of life?

In this episode of Big Little Lessons, kindergarten teachers Jenny and Kristine sit down with speech-language pathologist Amy Wachsberger, M.S., CCC-SLP, for a thoughtful, reassuring conversation about communication, confidence, and connection.

Together, they explore how speech therapy is not about labels or deficits, but about supporting growth, helping people feel understood, and building strong foundations for learning and relationships.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • How to recognize when a child or adult might benefit from speech therapy — and how to approach that decision with curiosity rather than fear
  • The powerful connection between speech, phonemic awareness, and learning to read — why children “read with their ears before their eyes”
  • How speech challenges can show up as frustration, behavior, or withdrawal — and what that’s really communicating
  • Practical ways parents and teachers can support children receiving speech therapy in everyday moments
  • Why progress happens in small, steady steps — and how collaboration between families, educators, and therapists makes all the difference
    • Amy also shares how her professional work and personal life as a parent weave together, offering insight into early intervention, trusting your instincts, and creating environments where every voice is valued.

    Big Little Lesson:

    Needing support doesn’t mean something is wrong — it means growth is happening.
    Strong spoken language builds strong readers, confident learners, and connected communities.

    This conversation is for parents, teachers, caregivers — and anyone who has ever struggled to feel heard or wants to better understand how communication shapes learning at every age.

     

    We welcome your feedback.  Please email us at [email protected]

    Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

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    Big Little LessonsBy Kristine Annunziata and Jenny Goodenough