Guest: Jennifer Gray, MS, CCC-SLP - Speech clarity is possible for many of those with Down syndrome. New therapy techniques in motor speech, voice, and executive functioning are emerging and present viable options. Several were discussed: How to generate active engagement, voice-based methods, and how to encourage frequent practice to accelerate speech and language used to improve comprehension for success and independence.

Guest: Lisa Chattler, MA, CCC-SLP - This course covers the concept of instructing “questions” in our 8+ year old students. Students’ perception of classroom involvement can impact their willingness to take question-asking risks. Ms. Chattler shares details on how to support our classroom teachers, and how to create relevant lessons to address the processes of understanding, answering, and formulating questions.

Guest: Adina Soclof, MS, CCC-SLP - This one-hour course provides practical information and strategies to successfully manage disruptive and challenging student behaviors during therapy sessions. Adina provides effective ways to motivate and engage students to create an inviting therapy environment to stimulate cooperation and more responsible and respectful behavior conducive to learning.

Guest: Melissa Burk DeLange, MA, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Melissa reaches out to school SLPs who are discouraged and burnt out. From experience and much reading and research, Melissa shares her Four Pillars for Thriving in the public schools. She discusses what is within the SLP's control, what is not, and what can be influenced even without control. She details suggestions for time management and how to create positive interpersonal relations.

Guest: MariBeth Plankers, MS, CCC-SLP, ATP - This episode explained the ASHA supervision expectations as well as five additional, practical guidelines on how to effectively supervise practicum for graduate students in any setting.  Numerous details were provided regarding supervision of the evaluation/diagnostic process, treatment implementation, professionalism, and the importance of being flexible.

Guest: Karyn Lewis Searcy, MA, CCC-SLP - This 1-hour course focused on practical and effective therapy techniques for the early intervention child with significant speech delays.  It provided numerous insights and ideas to work online as well as in person to improve the child’s communication skills.  Specific and doable strategies were shared to inspire and empower parental involvement.

Guest: Teresa Farnham, MA, CCC-SLP - Terri presented how language sampling and analysis is an effective, authentic, and reliable method to establish baseline speech and language performance as well as periodically evaluate progress. She refreshed our skills in language sampling and analysis, and how these basic principles can be effectively applied in the school practice setting for evaluation as well as documentation.

Guest: Sarah Armstrong, MA, CCC-SLP - Based on two decades of experience, Sarah freely discussed the issues and responsibilities of being a Master Clinician in the schools and how to effectively guide the Graduate Student Clinician. She disclosed several critical components: how to share expectations, how to maintain a constructive ongoing dialogue, and how to hone-in on essential skills and provide constructive feedback.

Char shared real-world solutions on how to effectively manage difficult parent/caregiver situations. She emphasized that issues tend to occur when parents do not know a therapist’s motivation, his/her capability level or work ethic. Many detailed communication reactions and response options were provided, as well as a system to build parental support and even teamwork.

Guest: Jayanti Ray, PhD, CCC-SLP - In this episode, Dr. Ray shared the common signs, symptoms, and conditions that impact voice disorders in school-aged children and therapy techniques to mitigate them. In addition, she covered the importance of vocal health and several ways maintain vocal quality and agility in children.