As dedicated teachers, we know the benefits of using visual schedules in the classroom and wider school environment – they help our students understand instructions and tasks, they reduce anxiety and can model appropriate social skills just to name a few! And while ALL our students benefit from using visual schedules, (I need aContinue reading “Using Visual Schedules at Home: 3 Ways to Help Your Students”
Author Archives: Melissa Yapp
The 3 Best Non-Picture Visual Supports to Use in Your Classroom Every Day
When I first discovered the world of visual supports as a new teacher, even though I was SO excited about the positive changes that they brought to my classroom, I admit that sometimes I felt overwhelmed. Because whenever I heard someone say ‘visual supports would be great for this student’, I had visions of beingContinue reading “The 3 Best Non-Picture Visual Supports to Use in Your Classroom Every Day”
No Laxatives in Sight: 3 Ways a Speech Pathologist Can Help Your Child with Stool Withholding
“But don’t speech pathologists just fix lisps?” is one of the most asked questions I get when I tell my friends that I often support children with stool withholding and encopresis. And whist tackling those pesky ‘s’ sounds is definitely part of a speech pathologist’s regular caseloads, our skill set goes far further! Speech pathologistsContinue reading “No Laxatives in Sight: 3 Ways a Speech Pathologist Can Help Your Child with Stool Withholding”
What Makes a “Good” Social story? 5 Tips for Choosing High Quality Resources for Your Students
Social stories can be extremely effective tools for supporting social behaviours in children with Autism, ADHD, developmental delays and other additional needs. And let’s face it, the Internet is FILLED with social story options to teach a wide range of social skills and routines. But did you know that not all social stories are createdContinue reading “What Makes a “Good” Social story? 5 Tips for Choosing High Quality Resources for Your Students”
How to Help Your Child Stop Playing to Sit On the Potty – 4 Top Tips
Helping your toddler to stop playing to sit on the toilet can be one of the biggest toilet training hurdles I see. As if potty training isn’t stressful enough, battling with your child to pause their fun activity of playing to have toilet time can be a massive battle. Interestingly, there can be manyContinue reading “How to Help Your Child Stop Playing to Sit On the Potty – 4 Top Tips”
5 Ways to Help Students with Selective Mutism in the Classroom
What is Selective Mutism in a Child? Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder which is characterised by difficulty or inability to speak in particular social situations, including school, preschool, work or other community places. Children with selective mutism generally speak clearly and without difficulty when they are relaxed and feel comfortable, such as atContinue reading “5 Ways to Help Students with Selective Mutism in the Classroom”
What I Wish I Knew as a First Year Teacher
The mantra for my 20+ year career has always been ‘When you help a child, you help a whole family’. This has been the driving force behind everything I have done in my professional life. So when it came time to choosing my Uni degree (Teaching behind Door #1 and Speech Pathology behind Door #2),Continue reading “What I Wish I Knew as a First Year Teacher”
Stool Withholding & Encopresis at School – 3 Ways to Support Your Child
Stool withholding in school aged children (sometimes known as Encopresis or chronic constipation) can be a very challenging physical, emotional and medical issue to navigate for parents. And whilst managing stool withholding at home is one hurdle, managing this toilet training challenge at Nursery, Daycare, Preschool or School is a whole other predicament. ButContinue reading “Stool Withholding & Encopresis at School – 3 Ways to Support Your Child”
4 Ways to Implement Visual Supports in Play
Play is often referred to as ‘The Work of Childhood’ as this is how young children make sense of the world, problem solve, take risks and develop those all important language and social skills. As dedicated Educators and parents, we love seeing our students immerse themselves in different play opportunities and the learning that follows.Continue reading “4 Ways to Implement Visual Supports in Play”
5 Signs of Developmental Language Disorders in Your Classroom
Learn the signs of Developmental Language Disorders in your classroom. Includes free Checklist!