Goal

I want to learn/get better at teaching a 10-year-old child with speech and vocabulary deficiency.
I am a complete beginner. Create a 30-day learning plan that will help me learn and improve
communication skills and help this child be able to speak clearly and improve her
comprehension skills.

Teaching a child with speech and vocabulary deficiencies can be both rewarding and
challenging. Here's a 30-day learning plan to help you get started and make progress in
improving communication skills and comprehension in a 10-year-old child:

Week 1: Understanding the Child's Needs and Establishing Rapport Day

1-3: Initial Assessment
 Spend the first three days observing the child's speech patterns, vocabulary, and
comprehension abilities.
 Begin building rapport with the child by engaging in activities they enjoy, such as
games, drawing, or reading simple books.

Understanding the child's needs and establishing rapport is crucial for effectively
assisting children with speech and vocabulary deficiencies. To focus on the most
important 20% of learnings that will help you understand 80% of this topic, consider
these key points:

1. Active Listening: Listen attentively to the child when they speak. Pay close attention to
their speech patterns, pronunciation difficulties, and the words they struggle with.
2. Empathy and Patience: Recognize that speech and vocabulary challenges can be
frustrating for children. Approach the child with empathy, understanding, and patience
to create a supportive environment.
3. Observation: Observe the child's non-verbal cues, body language, and expressions to
gain insights into their comfort level and emotional state during interactions.
4. Individualized Approach: Each child is unique. Tailor your teaching methods and
strategies to match the child's specific needs, strengths, and weaknesses.
5. Establish Trust: Building trust is essential. Be consistent, reliable, and follow through on
commitments to create a sense of safety and trust.
6. Parent/Guardian Collaboration: Involve the child's parents or guardians in the
assessment process. They can provide valuable information about the child's history,
challenges, and preferences.
7. Child's Interests: Discover the child's interests, hobbies, and favorite activities.
Incorporate these into your teaching to make learning more engaging and enjoyable.
8. Communication Style: Adapt your communication style to match the child's
preferences. Some children may respond better to visual aids, while others may prefer
verbal explanations.
9. Assessment Tools: Utilize assessment tools, such as speech and language evaluation
tests, to identify specific areas of difficulty and track progress.
10. Feedback Loop: Create an open channel of communication with the child and their
parents or guardians. Regularly discuss progress, setbacks, and adjustments to the
learning plan.
11. Goals and Expectations: Clearly define realistic goals for the child's speech and
vocabulary improvement. Ensure that both you and the child's parents/guardians have
aligned expectations.
12. Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate small victories and offer positive reinforcement.
Encouragement and praise can boost the child's confidence and motivation.
13. Cultural Sensitivity: Be aware of the child's cultural background and language
preferences. Respect and incorporate cultural considerations into your teaching
approach.
14. Consistency: Establish a consistent routine for your interactions and lessons.
Predictability can provide a sense of security for the child.
15. Feedback Collection: Continuously collect feedback from the child and their
parents/guardians about what is working well and where adjustments are needed in the
teaching approach.
16. Visual Aids: Use visual aids, such as flashcards and pictures, to enhance vocabulary
development and comprehension.
17. Play-Based Learning: Incorporate play-based activities and games to make learning
more enjoyable and interactive.
18. Modeling: Demonstrate proper speech and language skills by modeling correct
pronunciation and clear communication.
19. Record Progress: Keep records of the child's progress, including improvements and
areas that still require attention. This helps track development over time.
20. Professional Guidance: If needed, seek advice from speech therapists or educational
specialists who have expertise in addressing speech and vocabulary deficiencies in
children.

By focusing on these core principles, you'll be better equipped to understand the child's
needs and establish a strong rapport, setting a solid foundation for effective teaching
and support in improving their speech and vocabulary skills.
 Day 4-7: Goal Setting and Parent Involvement
 Meet with the child's parents or guardians to discuss their expectations and goals.
 Collaboratively set clear, achievable objectives for the child's speech and comprehension
improvement.

Week 2: Speech Development Day 8-10: Phonemic Awareness

 Focus on developing phonemic awareness by practicing letter sounds, rhyming words,
and identifying beginning and ending sounds.

Speech Development:

1. Typical Speech Development Milestones: Familiarize yourself with the typical speech
development milestones for children. Understand what sounds and speech patterns are
expected at different ages. Resources:
 ASHA's Speech and Language Milestones
 CDC's Developmental Milestones
2. Articulation and Phonology: Learn about articulation (pronunciation of specific
sounds) and phonology (sound patterns and rules) to identify the areas where a child
may be struggling. Resources:
 Super Duper Publications
 Speech and Language Kids
3. Speech Sound Disorders: Understand common speech sound disorders, such as
articulation disorders (e.g., lisps) and phonological disorders (e.g., difficulty with sound
patterns). Resources:
 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) on Speech Sound
Disorders
4. Accent Modification: If the child has an accent that affects their speech clarity, explore
resources and techniques for accent modification. Resources:
 Accent Modification Center
 SpeechModification.com

Phonemic Awareness:

5. Definition of Phonemic Awareness: Understand that phonemic awareness is the ability

to identify and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words.
6. Phonemic Awareness Skills: Identify key phonemic awareness skills, including
segmenting sounds, blending sounds, deleting sounds, and substituting sounds.
Resources:
 Reading Rockets - Phonemic Awareness
7. Activities and Games: Explore various activities and games that promote phonemic
awareness, such as rhyming games, sound blending with letter tiles, and phonemic
segmentation exercises. Resources:
 Education.com - Phonemic Awareness Activities
8. Phonemic Awareness Assessments: Learn how to assess a child's phonemic awareness
skills to identify their strengths and areas that require improvement. Resources:
 Florida Center for Reading Research - Phonemic Awareness Assessments
9. Systematic Instruction: Understand the importance of systematic and explicit
instruction when teaching phonemic awareness. Follow a structured curriculum or
program designed for phonemic awareness development.
10. Multisensory Approaches: Utilize multisensory techniques that engage multiple senses
(auditory, visual, kinesthetic) to reinforce phonemic awareness concepts. Resources:
 Orton-Gillingham Approach
 Lindamood-Bell Phoneme Sequencing Program

By mastering these key learnings and utilizing the provided resources, you'll have a solid
foundation for helping children with speech and vocabulary deficiencies develop their
speech and phonemic awareness skills effectively. Remember to tailor your approach to
each child's specific needs and seek professional guidance if necessary.

Day 11-14: Articulation Practice

 Work on articulation exercises, focusing on sounds the child struggles with.
 Use fun games like tongue twisters or speech therapy apps to make practice enjoyable.

Week 3: Vocabulary Building Day 15-17: Word Lists

 Create a list of target vocabulary words.
 Introduce a few new words each day through picture cards, context, and repetition.

Day 18-21: Contextual Learning

 Use the introduced words in sentences and short stories.
 Encourage the child to use these words in conversation.

Week 4: Comprehension Improvement Day 22-24: Reading

Comprehension
 Choose age-appropriate books and read together.
 Discuss the story, ask questions, and encourage the child to summarize what they've
read.
 Play audio clips or stories and ask questions about the content.
 Encourage the child to listen actively and provide responses.

Day 29-30: Storytelling

 Encourage the child to create their own stories.
 Help them practice structuring narratives and expressing ideas clearly.

Throughout the 30-day plan:

 Be patient and provide positive reinforcement for the child's efforts.

 Maintain a consistent routine to create a sense of security.
 Keep communication fun and engaging.
 Celebrate small victories and progress.

Remember that improvement may take time, and every child progresses at their own
pace. Continuously adapt your teaching approach based on the child's needs and
feedback from parents or guardians. Consider seeking guidance from a speech therapist
or educational specialist if needed, as they can offer valuable insights and resources.