Sounds Around Town

This is a fun, interactive class designed to improve young children's phonemic awareness skills. The sensory and cognitive processes targeted during this class contribute to successful reading and spelling.  The children learn that words are made up of a sequence of sounds, which improves their decoding and encoding skills.  Sounds are introduced by groups to help the children explore and feel how they are produced.  Class is held Tuesday from 1:15-2:15 for 6 weeks at Dilworth United Methodist Church, 605 East Blvd. 

Who attends this class?
Children ages 4-5 years who are appropriate for this program are participating in the NC Standard Course of Study or similar preschool program. Children attend a variety of educational settings including regular education, home schooling or self-contained language or cross-categorical classes. Many children are struggling in one or more of the following areas: writing, reading, spelling, language development, social skills, following directions, and maintaining attention / focus. Children without known speech and language delays are welcome to attend.

Children must be able to participate in group tasks with minimal assistance and need not be fully potty-trained. The Speech Garden reserves the right to exclude children after a trial basis (when a child consistently disturbs group or interferes with learning of others) and refund payments on a prorated amount.

Parents may drop off and return at dismissal.  There are places on and around the church campus to wait.

How is this class structured?
Each semester 16 children may attend.  Each week, children will work on identifying and producing sounds individually and in groups. A list of sight words will also be targeted each session. The children will generalize the targeted sounds learned in class to environmental print or text. Class begins September 18 and runs for 6 weeks.  Payment is for six weeks

What language skills might be addressed?

     Phonemic Awareness Skills:
     Decoding skills
     Encoding skills
     Spelling
     Articulation of words

   Receptive Language:
     Following multi-step directions
     Using listening strategies

   Social Language (Pragmatics):
     Participating in turn-taking activities
     Maintaining topic     
     Using appropriate eye contact

What strategies are taught?

     Feeling the movement of their mouth, lips, and tongue as sounds are produced
     Identify, count and order sounds within words
     Sequencing sounds to form real and nonsense words
     Manipulate (by adding, moving or deleting) sounds within simple words
     Sound-symbol association

Who teaches your classes?
Classes are taught by highly experienced, certified speech-language pathologists. Trained volunteers assist teachers as needed. 

How do newly-learned skills transfer to other settings?
Following each session, parents are given written details on each lesson and activity of the session.  Hands-on homework is given following each class, enabling learning to continue at home. 
 

Questions?  Email kellycrouch@speechgarden.org 

Our learning environment is child-centered, active, and fun!