SLPs: Improving Students' EXECUTIVE FUNCTION Skills for Language and Language Processing (Grades PK-12) Presented by Margo Kinzer Courter, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL Speech-Language Pathologist, Author, and National Presenter

Specifically Designed for School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists Serving Pre-K Through Grade 12 Students

Practical Ideas and Strategies

We've all had students who demonstrated difficulty both in language skills and executive function skills. As preschoolers, they often show difficulty with impulse control, response inhibition, and flexibility in transitions. As they move through the school years, we see difficulty with generalization of speech and language goals, organization, time management, flexible thinking, and self-monitoring. We know executive function skills are imperative for language and higher order language processing.

Executive function skills begin developing in very young children (infant/toddler age) and continue to develop into young adulthood. We often think of executive function skills as how one manages themselves and their environment, but deficits in executive functions can hinder language acquisition and processing, thus impacting all language areas.

Join outstanding SLP, author, and national presenter,Margo Kinzer Courter to examine executive function skills that play a vital role in language and language processing. Gain a multitude of practical strategies for linking executive function to language. By concurrently addressing executive function skills and language, you can help students demonstrate improved outcomes in language and learning.

Ten Key Benefits of Attending

1. Link Executive Function With Language and Language Processing Difficulties
   Explore specific language diagnosis including developmental language disorder and language processing … Determine the role of executive function and language for specific populations including students with autism and ADHD
2. Explore Language Intervention Strategies for Foundational Executive Function Skills
   Determine how skills such as response inhibition, working memory, emotional control, flexibility, and sustained attention impact language development … Determine therapy and classroom strategies to support development of these skills for language and learning
3. Investigate Language Intervention Strategies for Advanced Executive Function Skills
   Determine how planning, organizing, time management, goal directed persistence, and self-monitoring impact language … Explore therapy and classroom strategies to support development of these areas for language and learning
4. Determine the Link Between Persistent Speech Sound Disorders and Executive Function
   Explore areas of executive function that may be hindering speech sound maintenance and generalization … Discover strategies to support generalization of speech sounds through executive function
5. Explore Assessment Tools Whose Results Will Lead to Systematic and Sequential Intervention
   Investigate a classroom observation template and quick questionnaires for parents, students, and teachers that yield results for each of 11 executive function areas … Determine which foundational or advanced executive function areas are impacting language and learning
6. Support Students With Language Disorders for Flexibility, Organizing, Planning, and Time Management of Projects
   Determine which executive skills are interfering with project completion … Design a step-by-step approach to support language and learning for project completion
7. Discuss Executive Function Targets for MTSS/RTI
   Explore Tier I, II, and III intervention strategies to strengthen executive function skills … Use progress monitoring to determine the need for special education services
8. Discuss the SLP Role When Executive Dysfunction is Impacting Learning,But Not Language
   Determine the SLP role when language testing is within normal range, but executive function is impacting learning and behavior in the classroom … Collaborate with the team to add classroom supports and determine how these will be implemented
9. Utilize Case Studies for Practical Application of Intervention Strategies
   Explore case studies of students with language and executive function disorders … Determine strategies that will support language and executive function
10. Receive a Detailed Executive Function Digital Resource Handbook
    You will receive a comprehensive digital resource handbook packed with step-by-step activities, materials and resources designed to improve students' executive function skills for language and language processing

Outstanding Strategies You Can Use Immediately

Here's what you'll learn:

• Assessment tools to identify executive function difficulties and create a targeted hierarchy to improve speech and language generalization
• How to quickly identify students with executive function difficulties impacting speech and language maintenance and generalization
• Clear definitions of key executive function skills needed for language and language processing
• A low-prep, evidence-based, and systematic approach for targeting executive function skills to improve language outcomes
• Accommodations to support students with executive dysfunction and language in the classroom
• Tier I, II, and III MTSS/RTI Intervention Strategies to use for progress monitoring to determine referral for special education services
• How language and processing impact 11 executive function areas to support effective goal development
• Planning and organizing strategies to enhance syntax development and language processing speed through cohesive sequencing of information
• Working memory supports to enhance phonological awareness, vocabulary, syntax development, and the ability to retain and manipulate language for effective response
• Strategies to sustain attention and support listening when language processing becomes challenging
• Flexible thinking strategies to build background knowledge, explore multiple solutions, and understand others' perspectives
• Easy-to-implement practical strategies to concurrently treat executive function and language
• Practical strategies across grade levels that build and expand students' executive function and higher-order language skills to support their long-term success

A Message From Your Seminar Leader

Dear Colleague:

I've been intrigued by executive function skills for as long as I can remember – from the baby who pauses their babbling, awaiting a response, to the high school senior who still blurts out answers or inappropriate comments. The baby is demonstrating the earliest sign of response inhibition, the first executive function skill to develop. In contrast, the high schooler is struggling with that same foundational skill. When executive function skills don't develop as expected, they're often misinterpreted as behavior issues.

Now, add a language disorder into the mix. You'll see students who struggle to develop vocabulary or syntax due to working memory challenges. Others may have trouble organizing their thoughts to express a cohesive message. Some can't follow fictional narratives or group conversations because they lack the flexible thinking needed to take another's perspective. When executive dysfunction is layered onto a language disorder, maintaining and generalizing speech and language goals becomes exponentially harder. It can even impact articulation, when students with persistent speech sound disorders don't "snap into" their good speech, though they're sitting in therapy with you.

I want to help you in your role as a school-based SLP with all of this! In our day together, we'll explore 11 core executive function skills and how each one affects language development, language processing, and higher-order language skills. We will examine practical ideas for targeting executive function skills through speech and language goals to improve students' generalization of the skills we're targeting.

Join me for a day full of tools, strategies, and ideas designed to help you support your students' executive function skills for stronger language and language processing. Discover assessment tools to pinpoint executive function difficulties and build a clear, targeted treatment hierarchy. Gain a solid understanding of the executive function skills most essential for speech and language success, along with low-prep, evidence-based strategies you can start using right away. Leave with progress monitoring and intervention ideas to strengthen planning, organization, working memory, sustained attention, flexible thinking, and much more!

I look forward to meeting you at the seminar!

Sincerely,
Margo Kinzer Courter, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL

P.S. You'll receive an extensive digital resource handbook, specifically designed for school-based SLPs, plus access to a wealth of additional materials on my website and Google Drive.

Who Should Attend

School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists Serving Pre-K Through Grade 12 Students

Special Benefits of Attending

Extensive Executive Function Digital Resource Handbook
You will receive an extensive digital resource handbook specifically designed for this seminar. Included in the handbook are:

• Assessment tools to determine executive function skill development and difficulties
• Evidence-based strategies and tools for intervention and collaboration that you can implement immediately
• Special online access to Margo's website and google drive with a plethora of helpful additional materials and resources
• Specific diagnosis (developmental language disorder, language processing, autism, attention deficit disorder) and the impact of executive dysfunction
• Therapy and classroom interventions to support language skills for quicker generalization of language and executive skills
• A developmental hierarchy for 11 executive function skills to determine areas that are impacting students' language and language processing

For in-person seminars, registrants will also receive a printed copy of the resource handbook as long as their registration is received in the BER office at least 15 calendar days before the event.

Share Ideas
This seminar provides a wonderful opportunity for participants to share ideas with other school-based SLPs interested in helping improve students' executive function skills for language and language processing

Consultation Available
Margo Kinzer Courter will be available at the seminar for consultation regarding your questions and the unique needs of your own speech-language program.

ASHA - CEUs


You will be required to fully attend the program, actively participate, and complete a self-assessment and program evaluation.

ASHA-Required Disclosure Statement for Margo Kinzer Courter:
Presenter for the Institute for Educational Development and receives honorarium compensation.
Owner of MK Courter Communications, LLC and receives consulting and speaking fees.
Author of See It & Say It Visual Phonics (program and materials) and receives royalty payments.

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We guarantee you'll be fully satisfied or you'll owe us nothing after your on-site training event.