Amy Hayes Speech & Language Therapy

As I have watched posts of prize givings from around the world over the past few weeks I have really pondered and prayed that many prizes and certificates were awarded to those amazing individuals for whom learning does not come easily and who find school hard every day. That deserves a 100 prizes!!

When you have a neurotypical child, you feel reasonably assured that class participation and decent study habits will result in good grades. These kids have close friends. They get invited to participate in social things like dances and weekend gatherings. They make the teams, auditions, organizations and clubs.
But when you have a child with certain differences, this is often not the case. Learning may take longer, both academically and socially. Despite their tremendous efforts, results are often a fraction of their peers and social acceptance is fleeting, setting them up for painful comparisons and bitter frustration. Instead of a fun and fulfilling experience, school can become a breeding ground for depression and anxiety, and assignments a battle ground at home. It is exhausting for parent and child alike.

This is the week of SPED (Special Education), Autism, Dyslexia, and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) awareness. For all the children who struggle every day to succeed in a world that does not recognize their gifts and talents, and for those who are walking beside them, please let this be a gentle reminder to be kind and accepting of ALL people.

Recognize that the "playing field" is not always a level surface.
Children who learn differently are not weird. They are merely gifted in ways that our society does not value enough. Yet they want what everyone else wants: To be accepted!!

If you choose, please "copy and paste" (by touching and holding the text) onto your profile in honor of all children who are deemed "different".
Our world would be far less beautiful without them.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤

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Sight word Jenga: Still one of my favourite therapy games to target literacy and language skills. Send me a message if you would like to learn how to play this at home/ make your own 📚

Why read aloud?

🌀 First 5 Contra Costa

Val Kilmer’s Top Gun: Maverick dialog was all AI since he can no longer speak An interview with Val Kilmer's daughter revealed that he used a special voice AI to bring Iceman to life in Top Gun: Maverick.

https://momsnotes.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/MOMSNOTES_MAY_JUN_22_web.pdf

Turn to page 28 and 29 for some tips on promoting your toddler’s language development

Beautiful words about an awesome, inclusive, forward thinking school. Well done 👏

Sight word BANG! An activity for Grade 1s and 2s:

1. Choose 15-20 sight words that your child is battling to remember.
2. Write them on pieces of card or paper (lower case letters). Add in 3 extra cards with the word “bang!”
3. Sit around the table in a group of 3-5. Set a timer for 15 minutes.
4. Turn the cards upside down.
5. Take turns to choose a card. Read the word on the card and make a sentence with it. If you do this correctly, you keep the card.
6. If you pick a “bang!” card, return all your cards back to the table (put the “bang!” card aside)
7. The person with the most cards at the end of the game wins. The game ends when the timer goes off.

Have fun!

INTERESTING GRAPHIC

Is the solution of the "problem focus" a negative and the "solution focus" a positive that can come from that particular character trait?

😂