A typical session consists of a snack, a sharing or creating activity, and one or two talking activities of various levels of complexity. Here, I will describe several observations that create the backbone of our session planning. Children can be in charge of their speech therapy. Through the therapy process, they learn how to change. Every session includes a time for the child to state goals, and they also write and illustrate their goals.
Children can determine how they want to give and receive feedback.
We continually encourage the children to give each other feedback, particularly positive feedback. Each group member gets to determine what type of feedback they want, such as gestural, verbal, or written. Eventually, we see the children doing the same for each other. The kids are amazingly supportive and sensitive. As cruel and insensitive as school children can be with their peers, these kids seem to go to the other extreme to support each other.