It is progress report time.  How will you report progress to teachers, parents and administrators?  The first and easiest way I find to do this is to keep daily progress notes for each student.  When I do this, the notes and percentages are right in front of me.  How do I keep progress for vocalic /r/?   I use the baseline results page found in the Entire World of R book of Elicitation Techniques and in the Entire World of R Advanced...

  Below  is a chart of age ranges for normal development for the various allophones of /r/.  It is important to keep in mind that the typical development ranges according to the student and the way that the study was designed. Prevocalic or consonantal /r/as in words such as red, run and race are acquired approximately around  5 years of age. Initial /r/ blends develop around age 8, with the exception of the consonant clusters thr as in...

  Say it Right began 2013 with early detection/intervention month.  Research has shown that the speech-language intervention initiated at a younger age necessitates fewer treatment units than if initiated in later years the less  time is required to master speech and language goals.  (Jacoby, et al, 2002).  It is important to begin intervention for /r/ no later than 7. 5 years because the majority of the 32 /r/ sounds have been acquired...

Say It Right is beginning 2013 year with early detection/intervention month!  Research has shown that the earlier intervention begins, the shorter intervention time is required to master goals (Jacoby, et al, 2002).  Speech-language  intervention initiated at a younger age necessitates fewer treatment units than if initiated in later years. For SLP’s working with vocalic /r/,  you will be glad to know that there is also research...

Yoga is preparation for life.  The way we are on the yoga mat, our thoughts and reactions, mirrors the way we are in life.    When things get tough or when something happens that you do not like how do you respond?  How do the students you are working with respond? Do you make noises?  Flap your arms or hands?      Tune out?  Leave the room?        Get angry?  Start being disruptive?    Distract yourself?  Check out...

I am often asked what the ideal age is to begin intervention for /r. I would love to give you a definite answer, however it really depends upon the child. Life is not like that! Some kids may be ready at age 5 years and others when they are 8 years. I always like to follow my approach about facilitating /r/ rather than teaching it. If you administer the EWR screening and find a correct production then the child is ready for intervention. If not...