Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language services are an integral part of the Villa Maria program and Integrated Services Team. Language is interwoven into all classes and aspects of a student’s education and development. Our licensed and certified speech pathologists work with students in a variety of ways to help facilitate language skills across all settings.

Every student receives a weekly push-in session in one of their classes. These sessions target skills that include building curriculum vocabulary, listening comprehension, and social language communication. Students participate in engaging language based lessons, within their classrooms. Close collaboration with teachers provides further integrated language training.
Language based long term projects further develop skills including executive functioning (i.e. planning and time management), higher order thinking (reasoning and problem solving) and oral presentation competence. Language and literacy are closely intertwined and The Storytelling Festival provides an opportunity for all students to participate in an experience that encourages greater poise and confidence in speaking before a group, as well as strengthening listening comprehension, fluency and memorization skills. Push-in classes and long term language projects are designed to foster academic success and help students build better relationships with their peers, their families and themselves.

Students who are identified as needing additional speech and language support receive instruction in pullout sessions. Pull-out sessions are highly individualized and correspond directly to the student’s individual needs and goals.