Poor language skills of the UPPER grade level students.

Weaknesses that upper grade level students have when it comes to language processing can be very academically challenging. Much is expected from students in grades 3-5th and even in middle school and junior high school. Reading and Writing can be very frustrating for students with poor comprehension skills and poor vocabulary knowledge. Students at this level struggle because they  have limitations that are a daily academic struggle for them. The limitations that contribute to poor academic success are:

1. Limited abstract thinking and reasoning skills
2. Limited visualization skills
3. Limited background information
4. Lack of attention to text
5. Limited verbal comprehension skills
6. Lack of fluency while reading-Reading with little expression
So how does speech-language therapists help children with receptive and expressive language deficits?? Upper grade level students need continuous practice in learning the following language skills:

*Defining Words

*Inferencing

*Understanding cause and effect

*Understanding multiple meaning words

*Understanding Idioms, Metaphors, and Similes

*Understanding analogies

*Being able to problem solve

*Stating reasons and opinions

*Clarifying and giving Explanations

Parents, this is your starting point! Helping your child with these concepts will help the frustrations you may be seeing. Make a conscious effort to bring attention to these concepts while your child is reading and writing!!!

Is It REALLY raining Cats and Dogs?