Helen's blog & products of the month
Published: 8th February 2012
I am currently working in a school where the management team is committed to improving the communication environment for their pupils who live in an area of high deprivation. This has been a challenging but exciting project and I am learning as much from my colleagues in Education as, I hope, they are from me and our fabulous newly qualified therapist.
There is no 'quick fix' for teaching staff in this situation, but we are trying a number of approaches including demonstrations, practical workshops, joint planning as well as implementing focused small group work.
Once again, the Narrative Approach to language learning, specifically The Nursery Narrative (WIG3C), developed by Bec Shanks and Judith Carey comes to the rescue. Repeated studies have shown that this simple approach which can be easily integrated into daily teaching practice really works, and we are already seeing improvement with the children in Foundation Stage.
I have also been using the equally good programme, Time for Sounds-Nursery Level (PA3) again developed by a Stockport therapist, Sarah Parkin. (There must be something in the water!) I use the resources in this pack time and time again for individual work. The syllable jigsaws, the huge number of rhyming pictures and the section on Good Communication are particular favourites. For children who are not yet ready to access the Letters and Sounds programme... and there are lots of them in this school, this pack is ideal.
So thank goodness for Bec, Judith and Sarah from Stockport, who had brilliant ideas and entrusted them to Black Sheep Press.
Time for Sounds - Nursery Level is on Special Offer, £10 off