Category: General (Page 1 of 5)

Welcome back! The start of a new school year brings excitement, opportunities for growth, and many new routines. While some children eagerly jump into new schedules, others may need extra support as they adjust to changes in their daily activities. One simple and effective way to help young learners feel confident and prepared is to use visual schedules. Visual schedules provide children with a clear picture of what to expect throughout their day. By seeing their routine displayed in an easy-to-understand format, children can develop greater independence, reduce anxiety about transitions, and feel more successful completing everyday tasks.

Visual schedules can be as simple or detailed as your child needs. Below is an example of steps in a morning routine. Your child can check off each step as they complete it, helping them stay on track and build responsibility:

My Morning Checklist

⬜ 🚽 Use the bathroom

⬜ 👕 Get dressed

⬜ 🪥 Brush teeth

⬜ 🍳 Eat breakfast

⬜ 🧴 Brush hair

⬜ 🎒 Pack backpack

⬜ 👟 Put on shoes

⬜ 🧥 Put on jacket

⬜ 🚗 Go to school!

Visual schedules can also help children keep track of their weekly activities. You can draw on a calendar or weekly chart. Place this schedule on the refrigerator, near the front door, or in your child’s homework area. Reviewing it together each morning can help your child feel prepared and confident about their school day. Children can also add stickers, check marks, or drawings to personalize their schedule. Here is an example:

Knowing what is coming next can help children feel more comfortable and prepared for their day. You can use a combination of pictures or photographs with words. You can create schedules using paper and pictures, sticky notes, a whiteboard, or digital tools and apps. A visual schedule is simply a tool to help your child understand their routine and build confidence. As children become more familiar with their schedules, many begin to complete tasks more independently and experience less stress during transitions.

As your family settles into the new school year, consider trying a visual schedule that fits your child’s needs. A little planning and visual support can go a long way toward creating smoother mornings, successful school days, and a positive start to the year.  We wish all of our students and families a wonderful school year filled with learning, growth, and success!

As the school year comes to an end, we want to recognize the growth, effort, and perseverance we’ve seen in students across our schools. Every learner has made meaningful progress in their own way, and it has been a privilege to support their communication along the way.

Summer is a time to rest, connect, and enjoy a change of pace. It’s also a great opportunity to support speech and language skills in simple, natural ways. Everyday moments, talking, playing, and exploring together all offer powerful learning opportunities without the need for formal practice.

Chat & Connect

• Talk during everyday routines like meals, walks, or errands
• Ask open-ended questions (e.g., “What was the best part?”, “Name one highlight and one lowlight of the day”, “Why do you think that?”)
• Pause and give your child time to respond

💡 Tip: Follow your child’s interests. Engagement leads to better communication!

Expand on what they say to model longer sentences

• Read, Tell & Imagine
• Read anything of interest (books, comics, signs)
• Take turns telling a story
• Ask questions like “What might happen next?” or “How did that character feel?”
• Encourage retelling of events or creating new endings

Play with Language (Simple Games with Directions)

• I Spy (builds describing and vocabulary skills)
  • One person says, “I spy with my eye something that is…” and gives a clue (colour, shape, or category).
  • Others take turns guessing the object.
  • The person who guesses correctly takes the next turn.

• 20 Questions (builds questioning, reasoning, and categorizing skills)
  • One person thinks of an object.
  • Others ask yes/no questions (e.g., “Is it alive?” or “Can you eat it?”).
  • Players have up to 20 questions to guess the object.               

• Would You Rather…? (builds conversation and explaining ideas)
  • One person asks a question with two choices (e.g., “Would you rather swim in a lake or a pool?”).
  • Others choose an option and explain why.

• Category Game (builds vocabulary and word retrieval)
  • Pick a category (e.g., animals, foods, things at the beach).
  • Take turns naming items in that category.
  • Try not to repeat and keep going as long as possible.

Support Speech Sounds

• Model correct speech naturally in conversation
• Keep practice time brief and positive
• Use real-life situations to notice and practice sounds
• Focus on encouragement rather than correction

Build Emotional Language & Flexible Thinking

• Name and talk about feelings (“You seem excited/frustrated”)
• Problem-solve together (“What could we try instead?”)
• Highlight flexible thinking when plans change

Get Outside & Explore

• Talk about what you see, hear, and feel
• Go on a “word hunt” (find something loud, soft, or tiny)
• Encourage storytelling about your experiences

Encourage Independence & Problem Solving

• Support your child in asking questions and expressing needs
• Give them time to try solving problems
• Encourage explaining ideas to others

💛 A gentle reminder that summer learning doesn’t need to be structured or perfect. The most important thing is connection. Small, meaningful interactions (e.g., talking, playing, and sharing experiences) support communication in lasting ways.

Thank you for partnering with us this year in supporting your child’s speech-language development.

We wish you a relaxing and enjoyable summer filled with connection, exploration, and great conversations!

Have a happy summer!

Thank you so much to all the parents and caregivers who joined our articulation workshop! It was wonderful to see your enthusiasm and dedication to supporting your child’s speech development. We hope you left with helpful tips, practical strategies, and a sense of confidence that speech practice can be playful, simple, and easily woven into your everyday routines.

Please make sure to visit the Articulation Section and previous posts on this blog for more ideas, tips and tricks to continue having fun developing speech and language skills together!

If you have any questions or would like to share your success, your school based SLP will be happy to hear from you  🙂

Thank you again for your time, energy, and partnership!

We hope everyone enjoys the winter break. Here are some fun activities to try:

2025 Winter break SLP activity calendar

As the days get colder and the season grows festive, children can enjoy hands-on activities that spark both creativity and communication. By using strategies like narrating, recasting, and expanding introduced in our last post, parents and educators can turn everyday moments into meaningful learning experiences.

From crafting and cooking to storytelling, these winter activities give children many chances to learn new words, build sentences, and share their ideas while having fun.

Be sure to check out the poster below for suggested activities and tips to support language skills.

Wishing you and your little learners a warm, joyful, and inspiring winter season!

DLD Awareness Day – October 17, 2025

Today is Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) Awareness Day! Developmental Language Disorder is a hidden, but common, disability that affects 1 in 14 people. DLD causes difficulties understanding and using language for no known reason. Try this quiz from RADLD to test your knowledge and learn more about DLD.

Grammar Skills Spotlight

Children with DLD may have more difficulty with grammar skills than their peers. Check out this handout to learn about expected grammar skill development for Kindergarten to Grade 3 students, as well as for information about spotting DLD in English Language Learners (ELL).

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As the school year draws to a close, students across Burnaby are eagerly anticipating the arrival of summer. This transition period offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the progress made throughout the year and to plan engaging activities that can help students continue developing their communication skills during the summer break.

Reflecting on Achievements

The end of the school year is a time to celebrate the hard work and achievements of our students. Whether it’s mastering new speech sounds, improving social communication, or enhancing language skills, each milestone is a testament to our student’s dedication and hard work at school. Take a moment to acknowledge these accomplishments, this positive reinforcement can boost their confidence and motivate them to keep practicing over the summer.

Summer Activities to Support Communication Skills

Summer in BC is filled with opportunities for fun and learning. Here are some activities that can help students maintain and develop their communication skills:

Ideas for daily language fun!

SLP Activities Calendar – July 2025

SLP Activities Calendar – August 2025

1. Burnaby Community Summer Activities:  The City of Burnaby Recreation and Arts have a wide range of exciting summer activities. You’re sure to find something unique for you and your student!
   •   Burnaby Summer 2025 Activity Guide
2. Outdoor Adventures: Families are encouraged to explore local parks, beaches, and hiking trails. These outings provide a natural setting for practicing descriptive language, storytelling, and social interactions.
3. Community Events: Many communities host summer festivals, fairs, and markets. Participating in these events can help students practice conversational skills, learn new vocabulary, and engage in social exchanges.
4. Reading Programs: Local libraries often offer summer reading programs for children. Joining these programs can enhance literacy skills, expand vocabulary, and foster a love for reading.
5. Creative Arts: Activities like drawing, painting, and crafting can be great for developing fine motor skills and encouraging expressive language. Students can describe their creations, tell stories about them, or even create a summer scrapbook.
6. Sports and Games: Team sports and group games are excellent for practicing turn-taking, following instructions, and using social language. Whether it’s soccer, baseball, or a simple game of tag, these activities promote physical and communicative development.

Tips for Parents and Caregivers

Continue reading

May is Speech & Hearing Month. Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) dedicates the month of May to raising public awareness about communication health. The 2025 theme, “S-LPs & Audiologists: Doing More Than You Think”, highlights the vital yet often overlooked role of S-LPs and audiologists. From helping stroke survivors regain speech to supporting those with tinnitus, these professions provide life changing care.

In schools, S-LPs work with students to strengthen their communication skills — from building speech sounds and language to developing social communication and supporting alternative ways to communicate. By partnering with students, families, and school teams, S-LPs help students build confidence and succeed both in school and in everyday life.

This month, let’s recognize the power of communication and the many ways it helps us connect, learn, and grow.

To access resources, learn more, and spread the word, visit: http://speechandhearing.ca.