The words “rock star” have special meaning to us at CW. Not in the sense of a traditional musical rock star, although I would argue our Rock Stars deserve just as much celebration and attention. Allow me to explain… SLP Stars Make a Difference It starts with the well-known story of the starfish, which reinforces our…
Read MoreFeeling Blue: Children’s books that increase emotional awareness and talk about sadness or feeling down. This time of year can bring on feelings of funk or sadness that might be triggered by gloomy weather as well as other struggles in a child’s life. When kids feel down or sad, they often don’t know how to…
Read MoreTuesday, April 30th, 2019 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center in CA 3 Hours of CA State CEUs for Speech-Language Pathologists Open To Parents, Speech Language Pathologists, Special Educators, Teachers, Psychologists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, and other Professionals Cost Registration (closes end of day on April 29th) Speech-Language Pathologists, Educators,…
Read MoreBy Rediet Kifle, M.S., CCC-SLP and Elizabeth Sautter, M.A., CCC-SLP Valentine’s Day is a perfect time to consider how our students form social and romantic connections. Recently, at one of our school sites, a therapist described a situation involving Jason, a 7th grade boy with high-functioning autism, and Cara, a girl in his class. While…
Read MoreGet your new year off to a terrific start with books that are fun to read and can help build your child’s speech and language skills. Here are five delightful stories on themes related to the new year, snowy weather, and winter fun. Shanté Keys and the New Year’s Peas by Gail Gail Piernas-Davenport; Illustrated…
Read MoreThis year Communication Works started a new tradition: we selected a “word of the year” to represent a core value expressed through our work. We chose the word “connect,” something we do in many ways with many different people. It’s actually a big part of our mission to help others communicate and connect, and we…
Read MoreWe have written about psychologist Carol Dweck and her ideas on developing a growth mindset, an attitude that embraces challenge and ongoing learning, in past blog posts. In an article in Planet Expat, Dweck connects the idea of the growth mindset to professional development. Workers who embrace a growth mindset typically have certain qualities: they’re…
Read MoreBy Elizabeth Sautter, M.A., CCC-SLP During the recent wildfires, kids in the Bay Area spent many school hours indoors due to the smoky conditions. Being cooped up in the classroom for more than a day or two often leads to feelings of boredom, frustration, and even anxiety or anger. When children face a…
Read MoreAs we approach Thanksgiving, it’s a good time for talking with kids about appreciation: Who and what do they value most in their lives, and how can they express this? Each of these books offers ideas for discussing gratitude, the importance of family and friends, and the ways we depend on and support other people.…
Read MoreBy Elizabeth A. Sautter, M.A., CCC-SLP Author of Make Social Learning Stick! Gratitude is on the front burner around Thanksgiving, but it’s a mindset worth fostering year round. UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center reports that gratitude plays a major role in adult well-being and that grateful young adolescents (ages 11–13) are happier, more optimistic,…
Read MoreBy Hanna Bogen Novak, M.S., CCC-SLP Co-Creator of The Brain Talk Curriculum (Former CW Employee and Guest Blogger) Have you ever wondered what is happening inside your child’s brain when she has a big reaction to a seemingly small problem or leaps into action without considering the consequences? Maybe you have wondered these things…
Read MoreLearning About the Brain Understanding that our brains can grow and change helps kids to believe in their own power to develop a growth mindset and learn new things. These books offer a great introduction to the way the brain works and how we can stretch our knowledge and abilities. Your Fantastic Elastic Brain:…
Read MoreDuring difficult moments or times when I just want to feel more relaxed, I turn to my breathing. Without a lot of time or any equipment, breathing exercises can help to relieve stress, boost energy, and achieve a calm, clear state of mind. If you’d like to explore some different breathing techniques, take a…
Read More“If you want to make a long-term change, make the behavior change tiny. Very tiny.” This is the advice of behavioral scientist and author BJ Fogg, who says that change begins with a step as small as flossing one tooth after brushing your teeth. He also says it’s important to notice and celebrate that you’ve…
Read MoreAs therapists and educators, we’ve learned the importance of helping kids embrace new challenges and believe that, with hard work, they can learn new skills. But how do we make sure our own fixed mindset isn’t getting in the way? In our own lives, are we truly committed to trying hard, taking risks, and sometimes…
Read MoreGrowth Mindset How can we help our kids develop a “growth mindset” in which they’re open to learning and trying new things? Here are some books that encourage children to explore new ideas, try hard, and embrace failure. Bubble Gum Brain by Julia Cook; Illustrated by Allison Valentine A kid who has a stretchy, adventurous…
Read MoreIn our last post on Making a Self-Care Plan, we raised the idea of developing a self-care strategy for the upcoming school year. Self-care can range from a protein boost in the afternoon to knitting, dancing, or spending time with a friend after work. Here’s an article with suggestions from teachers and other members of…
Read MoreHow to Teach Students to Efficiently Initiate, Transition, Plan and Manage their Tasks, Time Space and Materials (and keep their emotions in check)! ….Read more below Saturday, September 15, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Full day, 0.6 CEUs for SLPs – (State Only) Open To Parents, Speech Language Pathologists, Special Educators, Teachers, Psychologists,…
Read MoreAs therapists and educators, our focus is on helping others, and this sometimes means that we don’t prioritize our own self-care. However, if we don’t take care of ourselves, how can we care for others? This concept is similar to thinking about an empty versus a full pitcher of water: if your pitcher is empty,…
Read MoreThe Listening Walk One way to help kids learn mindfulness (paying attention on purpose) is to encourage them to be mindful listeners. For practice, children can spend time focusing on different sounds like chimes, music, birds, or whatever sounds are around them. In The Listening Walk, a story for kids ages 3–6, a young girl…
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