Introducing: Language Therapy Advance Foundations

A power-packed course filled with strategies designed to skyrocket your students' language processing skills...even if you have a HUGE caseload.

YES, I WANT A LANGUAGE THERAPY SYSTEM!

When I became an SLP, I found myself searching for a standard, effective language therapy "protocol" that I could follow.

Unfortunately, I found that nothing like that existed for SLPs.

I was scrambling to target a million issues my students had, like:

OFF-TOPICS ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, no matter how many times I drilled my "wh" questions flashcards.

SAYING SENTENCES THAT DID'T MAKE SENSE (and I had no idea where to start when it came to syntax).

KIDS COULDN'T INFERENCE OR RETELL STORIES, even after tons of work on sequencing and stating the main idea.

WRITTEN WORK WAS A MESS OF GRAMMATICAL ERRORS, and I had no time in therapy for writing intervention.

STUDENTS WEREN'T PROGRESSING IN READING, and I wasn't sure about the SLP's role in reading/spelling intervention.

COMPREHENSION SKILLS WERE AT A STANDSTILL, and students weren't generalizing from one setting to another.

I used to get a feeling of dread every time a language referral came across my desk.

My sessions felt like a series of random games, flash cards and worksheets. I WAS WINGING IT.

....I'd lost count of how many materials I'd accumulated on my shelves.

...All the hours I'd spent online, scouring for info on my favorite and forums blogs (hello, rabbit hole).

...Not to mention all the research papers I felt like I should be reading to stay up to date with best practice.

It all led me to one conclusion:

"Language therapy is COMPLICATED.

I have no idea what I'm doing."

CONFUSED. FRUSTRATED. OVERWHELMED.

I doubted my skills as a therapist...and was up against some serious constraints.

  • I was totally alone because most of my coworkers didn't understand what SLPs actually do.
  • I had an uncomfortably high caseload and never had enough time to plan for sessions.
  • I had to deal with short, disjointed sessions, mixed groups, push-in/pull-out madness and everything in between.
  • Plus the stressful IEP meetings, enough reports/paperwork to last a lifetime, and the occasional litigious parent or two.

I felt a deep responsibility to my students. But felt like I was letting them down.

Working with things like articulation and fluency were straight-forward enough.

But when it came to language therapy...

I was stuck in a cycle of random activities that rarely created the breakthroughs I wanted for my students.

I wanted to change children's lives and help them live and learn independently.

But in reality, I felt like a glorified babysitter.

I had to find a way to MASTER language therapy, for the sake of my students (and my sanity)...

Since a standard language therapy protocol didn't exist, I decided to create my own.

Hi there, I'm Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan...

I teach, research, and specialize in language therapy for school-aged children, and I’ve worked as an SLP since 2004.

But I wasn't always so confident in my ability to treat language disorders. That's why I decided to go back and get my doctorate and make language my area of expertise.

During that time, I scoured over thousands of peer-reviewed research articles, looking for clues that would point me toward the skills I needed to target, and in which order.

I put those theories and research to the test with my own students, and carefully looked for patterns that emerged.

And not only did I finally have an evidence-based approach for approaching language and literacy issues in school aged-children — customized specifically for me as an SLP...

...I had also developed a framework and new way of thinking that simplified everything I did during my day:  

From planning, to assessment, to goal setting, and everything in between.

Not only was I able to transform my own practice, but I also helped hundreds of other SLPs create breakthroughs with their students using the same process..

"I have been very impressed with the progress I am seeing in my clients as I incorporate your suggestions. Confidence, comprehension, and participation (as well as grades) are all going up.  Thank you for all that you do for our profession.”

-SKYLEE NEFF, UTAH

"I have to say that since I took action and joined your group, being an SLP has become my true passion.”

-MICHAELA TORRES, NORTH CAROLINA

Many SLPs only have 30-40 minutes a week with their students.  

Since they can't teach everything, successful SLPs know how to focus on the essentials that will have the biggest impact on their students' reading, writing and comprehension skills.  

So, where do we begin?

The answer may surprise you...

Vocabulary skills in early elementary are one of the biggest predictors of academic and reading performance in high school (Scarborough, 2001). 

This is because our students need to understand 90-95% of the words in a text in order to comprehend it (Nagy & Scott, 2000).

Students with language delays are working so hard to make sense of the words and sentences in front of them. They have no brain power left for higher-level comprehension. (Scott, 2009)

This is why it feels like you spend so much time on inferencing, retelling, and stating the main idea, without making much real headway! 

Without adequate word and sentence comprehension, students are unlikely to respond to higher-level comprehension instruction (Scott, 2009). 

This means that if we don’t address these underlying vocabulary issues first, comprehension challenges will persist (Nippold, 2017).

This is why VOCABULARY is the key area that creates the biggest impact for our students.

So here’s how we’re going to close the gap for our students...

I call it THE ESSENTIAL 5.

There are 5 key language areas that affect vocabulary growth.

We need to target each one directly to turn students with language disorders into effective readers, writers and spellers (Kucan, 2012).  

When you target them systematically, with enough intensity, this functions as your "language therapy system".

The essential 5 skills you need for strong vocabulary are:

Understanding these 5 components has changed the entire course of my career (and my students' lives).

When I stopped trying to fix EVERY SKILL and LASER-FOCUSED on these key skills:  

  • I was able to make CONFIDENT DECISIONS about what my students needed.
  • Students were meeting goals CONSISTENTLY and making MEASURABLE PROGRESS.
  • I was working on FEWER SKILLS...but I was getting BETTER RESULTS.  
  • I felt less stressed and MORE CAPABLE than ever before...

And not only did I finally have an evidence-based approach for approaching language and literacy issues in school aged-children — customized specifically for me as an SLP...

... I had also developed a framework and new way of thinking that simplified everything I did during my day, so I actually had time for life outside of work.

"I viewed how you teach passive voice. I used powerpoint to do that online and he had his first understanding! His mother and I were ecstatic! With enormous gratitude for your expertise! Thank you."

-SHARON BARDY, CALIFORNIA

Now, you COULD do the same thing I did and piece it all together on your own.

But the truth is, I don't want you to have to go through what I did to find the right language therapy system.

That's why I'm putting all the information you need to implement it in to a special course where you can learn the entire set of strategies.

It's called Language Therapy Advance Foundations.

Inside you'll get a COMPLETE SYSTEM for language therapy designed to help you:

Stop second-guessing yourself and wondering whether you're "doing EBP."

Focus ONLY on activities that result in consistent progress.

Create a language therapy plan with CONFIDENCE.

Achieve meaningful results with your students in less time.

Start creating language and comprehension breakthroughs — so your students can reach their fullest potential in school and life.

After years of research, I finally discovered that these 5 components were the "system" I'd been searching for, and learning this changed the entire course of my career (and my students' lives).

This is what FINALLY helped me make breakthroughs with my students and walk in to sessions confident.

What's inside Language Therapy Advance Foundations?

Here's how it breaks down:

CORE Training Modules

LTA Foundations has 6 training modules that walk you through the core framework of the 5-component, evidence-based language therapy system.

YES, I WANT A LANGUAGE THERAPY SYSTEM!

Here's what's covered in each of the 6 modules:

Module 01

How to get more done in BETTER RESULTS in language therapy by working on FEWER THINGS.

  • How to stop wasting time on low-impact activities like laminating and making copies.
  • How to differentiate your expertise from other professionals —and add more value through strategic & focused language intervention.
  • The “meta method” for helping your students be independent learners — both during and after their sessions with you.

Module 02

How to build DEEP SEMANTIC SKILLS that generalize.

  • A simple and effective method for improving students’ word recognition and retrieval skills.
  • How to get your kids excited about learning new words (instead of boring drill-based activities).
  • How to help students problem-solve when they come across difficult words (instead of relying on your prompts).

Module 03

Teaching definition syntax skills for ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

  • How to help your students remember word meanings, without rote memorization.
  • How to help students provide rich descriptions for words, even if they’ve always struggled.
  • How to address the root causes of weak written expression and reading comprehension.

Module 04

Building syntax that supports LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION and EXPRESSION.

  • How to create a therapy game plan a students that need help with multiple language skills (even if you are only doing "pull-out").
  • Why working on "stating the main idea” rarely helps students with language disorders (and the 4 areas to address instead).
  • My “40 minutes per week” syntax plan for building better comprehension skills.

Module 05

How to build spelling, decoding, and language through TARGETED WORD STUDY.

  • Why students with language disorders struggle with traditional spelling instruction, and what works instead.
  • How your role as an SLP relates to spelling and reading, and why you are uniquely positioned to enhance your students' skills in this area.
  • How to build solid grammar & spelling skills by integrating phonological, orthographic, and morphological awareness into your sessions.

Module 06

Fostering GENERALIZATION (through reading comprehension work & following directions).

  • Why kids struggle with “wh” questions (and what people overlook when working on this skill).
  • How to build listening skills by integrating semantic and morphological skills (instead of practicing directions goals with little progress.)
  • How to transition from word & sentence-level instruction to comprehension strategies — so students can generalize to functional activities.

In addition to the core trainings, you'll get access to these amazing course bonuses:

BONUS #1: SPOT Planning Manual

Align language therapy with the curriculum and SIMPLIFY your prep/paperwork with this in-depth manual.

Get access to:

  • Curriculum guides and cheat sheets for learning academic standards and effectively communicating with teachers.
  • Quick-guides for collecting/summarizing data for present levels statements, so you don't have to spend hours on paperwork.
  • A comprehensive guide to interpreting test data to cut your report-writing time in half.
  • A guide to writing goals and an IEP goal bank to take the guesswork out of goal-writing.

BONUS #2: Materials Library

This materials library is filled with no-BS, low-prep worksheets and templates to help implement all the strategies I'll teach you in therapy.

It includes tools like:

  • My Ultimate Guides to Syntax, 300+ worksheets to build comprehension skills your students need to understand text language.

Morphology, orthography, and phonology toolkit to boost vocabulary skills your students need to build strong reading and spelling skills.

Semantic features protocols to boost word retrieval and your students' ability to retain new vocabulary.

"Wh" question and generalization strategy templates to improve carryover to high-level comprehension tasks.

BONUS #3: Private member's Q & A forum

Get exclusive access to a private group where you can ask questions and get support in our forum and monthly Q & A sessions.

In addition to the private member's group, you also can view Q & A session recordings and ask questions in the video comments sections.

BONUS #5: Live member's group calls

(4 bonus calls happening July 2022)

Get access 4 bonus group calls in the member's group where I'll help members implement course strategies and walk through case studies.

We cover a range of topics, including:

  • Boosting grammar, morphology and spelling skills, language processing hierarchies, and evaluation troubleshooting.
  • How to write effective, easy-to-track language therapy goals (with real-life case studies).
  • Targeting high-level comprehension and how to cycle through language therapy strategies.
  • How to confidently align your therapy with the curriculum, (including ways to productively collaborate with teachers).
  • Any other questions members have-you're welcome to bring specific questions about cases!

Come join us in Language Therapy Advance Foundations and transform your therapy.

  • SUCCESS PATH MODULE: To show you the language therapy system ($497 value).
  • SEMANTIC & DEFINITIONS MODULES: To boost word-retrieval and retention ($497 value).
  • SYNTAX MODULE: To show you comprehension-boosting syntactic skills and strategies ($497 value).
  • WORD STUDY MODULE: Improve literacy with morphology, orthography & phonology ($497 value).
  • GENERALIZATION MODULE: To leverage language skills for high-level comprehension ($497 value).
  • SPOT GUIDE & PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS: To streamline your paperwork and prep ($197 value).
  • ULTIMATE SYNTAX WORKBOOKS: With other 300 probes for boosting syntax skills ($197 value).
  • MORPHOLOGY & WORD STUDY TOOLKIT: To build word knowledge for literacy ($197 value).
  • SEMANTICS & DEFINITION TEMPLATES: To boost expression and word retention ($97 value).
  • "WH" QUESTIONS TEMPLATES: To support carryover and functional language ($497 value).
  • MEMBERS' FORUM & Q & A: To support you every step of the way ($1997 value).
  • BONUS GROUP Q & A CALLS: Get live support with troubleshooting & case studies ($497 value)

TOTAL VALUE = $5,764

GET STARTED TODAY

$197

(3 monthly payments)

ENROLL NOW

BEST VALUE (save 15%)

$497

(One-time payment)

"I took LTA a few years ago and it still impacts my practice in a positive way! It gave me a framework for me to build on. Knowing that I have the strong base gives me the confidence to think of more of my own ideas that follow the same principles of LTA."

-LAUREN WAHL, WISCONSIN

LANGUAGE THERAPY ADVANCE FOUNDATIONS was designed to eliminate overwhelm and give you the essentials you need to get results.

Other sources and programs are typically made to help teachers and reading specialists — not SLPs — create an effective reading intervention.

It's also common for these programs to require practitioners to work 1:1 with students multiple times per week...

Which you already know is NOT feasible in the vast majority of school settings where SLPs work.


That's why in this course, I'll help you build language & vocabulary in a framework designed just for SLPs.

Which will help you build the foundational vocabulary skills students need to become more confident readers and writers....

  • Even if you only have 30-40 minutes a week with students.
  • Even if you work with mixed groups.
  • Even with a huge caseload.

I want you to have the chance to start making breakthroughs this year — without adding more work to your plate. 

In fact… I’ll show you how to get more done in less time..

Here's how Connie made that happen:

"What always seemed to be a drudgery and most boring for me to teach is slowly becoming exciting! I used to spend hours planning my sessions, and that's all changed. I've seen some quick results with my students and this was worth every penny!".

-CONNIE HURLEY-PRONLEY, CALIFORINIA

You’ll simplify your language therapy in the next 60 days…or your money back.

My promise to you is simple: 

When you enroll in Language Therapy Advance Foundations, I’m giving you 60 days to put it to the test.

Work through the training modules and use the resources with your students, and reach out in the community when you need help.

If you still don’t feel confident and focused with your language referrals (and, if you’re not on your way to seeing measurable progress and meaningful results with your students)...

… Then email me within 60 days your purchase at talktome@drkarenspeech.com, show me that you’ve made a reasonable attempt to implement the strategies and follow the system, and I’ll give you a full refund — no hassle.

*The minimum completion requirement to request a refund is that you complete the entire 6-module core Language Therapy Advance Foundations course.

Here's why I stand behind this program with a full money-back guarantee:

  • I’ve already done all of the research and synthesis for you. You’ll be able to hit the ground running with practical strategies — fast. 
  • You’ll save countless hours on planning and prep every single week because you'll have everything you need to create a powerful therapy plan and execute on it. 
  • I’ll be here to support you along the way. If you get stuck or want advice on what to do, just post in our group and I’ll give you the feedback you need.
  • This comprehensive package gives you EVERYTHING you need to become a trusted language therapy expert, capable of consistently creating meaningful breakthroughs for your students.

If you’re ready to dramatically simplify your life as an SLP, handle any language referral with total confidence, and reclaim control of your time…

I’m confident that Language Therapy Advance Foundations will be a game-changer for you.

"Karen has simplified this so that it doesn’t feel like language therapy has to be complicated. I’ve been really impressed with how this is so easy to access and navigate. I can log in whenever I want and watch the material while I’m home with my family making dinner.”

-RACHEL WELLS, ILLNOIS

More stories from REAL LIFE STUDENTS who have benefited from strategies you'll learn:

(Names have been changed)

  • Nick went from being one of the lowest performing students in 1st grade, to ending 3rd grade with no IEP or special accommodations.
  • Ryan started Kindergarten in full-time special education, but went to middle school spending over 80% of the day in general education…  
  • Jason, who was two years behind his peers in second grade in reading, went on to junior high without an IEP…  
  • Missy worked her tail off all year in 5th grade so she could move out of remedial reading and back into the regular classroom with her peers.

"My heart bursts with pride when I see these intelligent, amazing kiddos learn how to more effectively express themselves. I didn't think I could possibly love my profession any more than I do, but you came along and made me love it even more. I feel competent and effective--and I now know that I am capable of changing the world, one child at a time.”

-JENNIFER SMITH, TENNESSEE

FAQS you might have about Language Therapy Advance Foundations...

How does this program work?

Language Therapy Advance Foundations is an online course for SLPs who work with school-aged children that are affected by language processing difficulties and disorders.

The program will walk you through the complete system for remediating language processing problems by addressing the root causes tied to phonology, morphology, orthography, semantics, and syntax.  

It's 100% online with self-led video trainings, a materials library with printable therapy tools, and an exclusive Facebook group where you can ask questions.  

When you join the program, you get a login to an online members area where you can log in and watch the trainings and download course materials.

When you join, you get access to all course content and resources.

That means if you get behind, you can always catch up later. You'll also be able to go back and re-watch trainings as many times as you want. You also get access to the member's group, so you can pop in and answer questions at your own pace as you're going through program content.

What populations can I treat with this framework?

Language Therapy Advance Foundations IS for SLPs who are treating K-12 students who have mild-moderate language disorders, or a history of "language processing" issues.

It IS for kids who are K-12 who are on an academic track (meaning that they will be expected to be learning academic vocabulary and reading/ writing). 

The strategies and framework you'll find inside the program can be applied with students identified as having language difficulties due to the following conditions (but not limited to):  

Developmental language delay or specific language impairment, central auditory processing disorder, emotional disorders, other health impairments, genetic syndromes or disorders, mild intellectual disorders, autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, dysgraphia, specific learning disabilities, sensory processing disorder. (Not an exhaustive list).

I'll go in to some of the common populations that people ask about and give some more detail:

Central Auditory Processing Disorder

Underlying language issues at the word and sentence level can cause issues with high-level processing, which often present as “auditory processing” issues. There’s also evidence that addressing those issues with vocabulary/sentence structure will improve processing, while there’s not a ton of evidence that you will create functional gains with drill-type activities aiming at increasing working memory-so I don’t recommend spending a ton of time on those types of things. The skills we’re working on while addressing essential 5, on the other hand, result in better transfer of skills to real-life tasks.

I focus on teaching what we know works; especially because there’s also been research to show that many children won’t respond to instruction focused on high-level comprehension if we don’t address those foundational deficits. What we’ve found is that when you address those underlying issues, the overall language processing abilities improve.

English Language Learners/Bilingual/English as a Second Language

I have mentioned a handful of SLPs who use this system to work with students who speak English as a second language. Our framework doesn’t cover a specific, separate protocol for this population, but rather focuses on teaching strategies designed for individuals with language processing issues.

SLPs who have come in before have found it easy to implement for that particular population, because it really focuses on building metalinguistic awareness skills and word study skills; which is really important for people learning a new language AND also students who struggle with language processing overall. However, it’s important to note, all our materials and strategies are in English and designed to improve functioning in that language.

Specific learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc).

This framework will help students with dyslexia and dysgraphia. Since we know those disorders are language-based, addressing underlying language issues at the word and sentence level and focusing on metacognitive skills can make a huge difference for them. Also, we will show you how to focus on morphology, orthography, and phonology-which is critical for those populations.

What we’ve found is that a lot of programs out there will show you frameworks for working on those skills, but not in a way that’s feasible for SLPs with only one or two sessions per week (a lot of programs are more for teachers and reading specialists who have daily sessions). However the “essential 5” framework will help you address those skills in a way that’s manageable with a typical SLP schedule.

Autism/ADHD (pragmatics and executive functioning)

If you have a student who needs to work on vocabulary and comprehension and who also has ADHD or autism, this process will help to address those issues. While the framework does not address pragmatic language specifically, becoming more aware of how you use language can have some carryover effects and make people more aware of the perspectives of other people.

However, since we don’t address nonverbal communication and social skills directly, there might be some other strategies you might need to teach students with autism or ADHD.

The same thing applies for executive functioning; building language processing skills can reduce the cognitive load; which can often make it easier to attend to tasks. Attending issues can become worse if you layer language processing difficulties on top of it. Reading comprehension, writing, and many other functional day-to-day activities require executive functioning skills.

However, we need to have the underlying language skills to support those skills; which is why this framework can support those other skills. There are definitely some students who DO need direct work on those high-level skills once they’ve established a foundation; but they will respond more favorably when you address some of the processing issues.

Low IQ, moderate to severe language delays

The essential 5 framework is focused on building academic language skills needed for language processing and literacy skills like reading and writing.

It is a good fit for individuals in the mild to moderate range, who are anticipated to have a decent amount of access to the general education curriculum, and who will be expected to be on an academic track through school rather than a functional/life skills track. It’s not a fit for individuals who are minimally verbal and who are using AAC.

If you have students who are in a life skills curriculum or who have cognitive delays, and they are in early elementary school, it’s possible that they may still benefit from this process because at that age, cognitive skills are still developing. I tend to err on the side of exposing kids to the materials and having higher expectations rather than assuming that they won’t be able to learn the information.

So if you have students who have moderate language issues and you aren’t sure if they are high functioning enough to benefit, I would still recommend trying the framework with them

This is NOT a program that addresses CORE vocabulary. It isn't for treating kids who are minimally verbal, who use AAC devices, or kids who are younger than Kindergarten.

If you still have questions about whether this program makes sense for you to join, please don't hesitate to email me: talktome@drkarenspeech.com

How do I handle evaluations and writing goals with this framework?

Since the techniques I teach you are simply a different strategy to achieve the same end goal that you’re probably already working towards (e.g., better processing skills/better comprehension/better academic performance), there’s no need to re-write any language therapy goals before implementing the strategies in the program-you can simply start doing them and tweak your language goals over time as IEPs and evaluations come due.

In Language Therapy Advance Foundations, I provide you with a manual called the SPOT framework guide where I walk you through how to write goals, how to collect data and track progress, and how to use various data sources to make decisions (like classroom assessments, work samples, standardized language assessments). I show you how to gather information from the information you have rather than requiring you to start from scratch and have to re-evaluate each student.

Does the program address verb tenses, parts of speech, pronouns, antonyms/synonyms, and categorization?

When you use the essential 5 framework, you’ll focus on the highest priority skills that have the biggest impact on overall language processing. The truth is, not all language skills need to be targeted directly or deserve to have a goal devoted to them. This is a good thing-because you wouldn’t have time to address all of these things anyways!

Working on pronouns doesn’t have a huge impact on comprehension and overall expression, so I don’t recommend targeting pronouns as an attempt to improve language processing. I know there are other conversations to have here, such as the clarifying pronouns people use to address themselves; but pronouns goals don’t need to be on a language IEP.
Instead, we want to focus on high priority skills, such as those that enable people to expand their use of different sentence types.

Doing this has an impact on overall comprehension, which increases the chance that they’ll be able to read complex texts or compose longer, written essays. Both of these things will give kids more experience using language, which increases language growth over time.

Other skills like antonyms/synonyms, parts of speech, categorization, and verb tenses are relevant to target when done in the RIGHT CONTEXT. I show you how to do that in Language Therapy Advance Foundations.

What age groups can I treat with this framework?

I have SLPs who use this framework we teach for students ranging from Kindergarten all the way through high school. I also have a fair amount of SLPs who work solely with students in junior high and high school and they’ve found it a great fit for their students. If you have students who are very young, preschool and younger, it won’t be a good fit for you.

This is a framework for building metalinguistic awareness and word study. I teach a set of strategies that you can use with students all the way from K through 12. You can simply modify the content you’re using (so typically, the vocabulary you’re studying) to make it more or less difficult using the same set of strategies. This way, you can tailor it to your students’ unique needs and what’s specifically being covered in their curriculum, and still stick with the same core strategies and framework; which ensures that you and your students get very proficient with those core techniques.

Since grade level curricular materials and what’s age-appropriate for a given age is so dependent on exposure and environment, as well as geographical region; it would be hard to come up with one set of curricular materials that would work for every single situation (which isn’t really what you’d need anyways).

What you want to do instead is have a process that you can customize based on your local curriculum and the needs of your students. You also want something that you can easily replicate with simple materials and activities-which is what the essential 5 framework helps you do. I show you how to do this; plus share worksheets and materials you can use to do this.

Who is this program for?

Language Therapy Advance Foundations was designed to show speech-language pathologists for language therapy. It's also appropriate for speech-language pathology assistants working under the supervision of a licensed SLP.

If you're a related professional (teacher, therapist, administrator, etc.) you're certainly welcome to join us to learn how you can better understand and collaborate with SLPs.

If you're a parent of a child with a language disorder or other disability, be aware that this was designed as practitioner training; however you're welcome to join us if you'd like to learn more about how to help your child or collaborate with your child's SLP.

When does the program start?

As soon as you enroll, you’ll receive access to all content in this package described on the page, including all Language Therapy Advance modules, materials, and bonuses. 

You’ll have lifetime access to the modules and you can start or revisit them at any time.

How does this framework compare to strategies in other literacy programs or memberships for SLPs?

A lot of other programs and materials out there for SLPs provide strategies for discrete language skills. For example, you’ll find a lot of worksheets and flashcards focused on things like categories, verb tenses, or even “wh” questions. There are even some that focus on thematic units and vocabulary. All of these things are fine; but SLPs often experience information overload.

There are so many different options as far as materials and activities that figuring out how to sequence them together into a good system takes a lot of time.
I experienced this frustration first hand when I first started as an SLP. The “essential 5” framework, on the other hand, does not require you to sift through a ton of different materials and activities. Instead, it helps you laser-focus on just a few simple techniques-which minimizes the time it takes you to plan your sessions.

You can implement it effectively with just a dry erase board, markers, and some simple word lists once you get good at utilizing the core strategies.

The main difference in this framework is that it is a system instead of discrete strategies. There’s nothing wrong with a lot of the other resources out there as long as they’re sequenced in the right way (and as long as you don’t spread yourself too thin trying too many things).

When it comes to some of the literacy curriculums out there (like Wilson, Orton-Gillingham, etc.) the “essential 5” would definitely fall in line with some of the principles in that program. Using it in conjunction with one of those other programs would be complementary; but the essential 5 is is not the same as a lot of literacy programs because covers how to do word study from the SLP’s perspective (incorporating phonology, orthography, morphology, semantics, and syntax).

A lot of programs are more geared towards teachers/reading specialists who have sessions every day with kids, while a lot of SLPs might only see their students once a week, which makes them hard for SLPs to implement.

On the other hand, the essential 5 framework is feasible for SLPS even with 1 session per week (and you can customize it for more frequent sessions as well).

What is your refund policy?

When you sign up for Language Therapy Advance, you sign up for your payment option of choice. Then, you have 60 days to implement the material.

The minimum requirement for a refund is that you complete the 6 modules in Language Therapy Advance Foundations. If you aren't satisfied after making an honest effort to use the techniques, I'll just have a form for you to fill out where you can show me the 60-days worth of work you've put in, and I'll give you a full refund.

This sounds great but I'm super busy right now. How much time will this take?

Many SLPs find that as they work through the program and implement the strategies, they win back several hours a week and even cut their planning time in half.  

This is an investment that will keep paying for itself, week after week, with all of the time you’ll save in the long run. Plus, when you enroll, you have lifetime access to the modules, materials and our members-only community, which means that you can work through the entire program from the comfort of home, at your own pace.

A lot of our members choose to spend about 2-3 hours a week working through the program over the next 2-3 months.

But, if you don’t have that much time each week, it’s OK to go a little slower or take a break.

Once you’ve enrolled, the program will always be there for you whenever you’re ready. Each training module is pre-recorded, so it’s easy to jump back in if you fall behind and need to catch up.

Can I earn CEUs for this program?

You will earn professional development hours (PDHs), which are similar to CEUs (formerly CMHs). This is what your professional development hours are called if you earn them from an organization not directly sponsored by ASHA.

ASHA will accept PDHs as professional development hours “non-ASHA” sponsored organizations such as mine, and there is information about the translation from PDHs to CEUs here, as well as what you’d need to do in order to track them. I will provide certificates you can use to document your hours in the case you are ever audited.  

State licensing boards vary as far as whether they accept PDHs or CEUs — if you’re not sure, check the requirements for your specific state.

You will earn a total of 10 PDHs for Language Therapy Advance Foundations coursework in modules 1-6. There will be opportunities to earn additional hours each month if you choose to attend the Q & A sessions or watch the replays.

What if I'm waiting for my employer to reimburse me?

Some of our students have successfully sought reimbursement from their employer, while the majority have paid for the program with their own funds and are now reaping the benefits (you can read some of their stories on this page).

If you're waiting for reimbursement or have a question about how to handle a purchase order, and if you're concerned about missing the enrollment deadline because you're waiting for funding, email me at talktome@drkarenspeech.com and I can walk you through that process so you'll save your spot in the program.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve noticed that the most successful SLPs with the highest job satisfaction are often the ones who are willing to invest in themselves and surround themselves with the support they need to succeed. 

Why should I enroll when I can find resources that are cheaper or free?

Many cheap solutions end up being very expensive when you realize they don’t work and you’ve wasted your time and money. (And the truth is that a lot of continuing education doesn’t give you the ongoing support and accountability you need to successfully implement the strategies you learn.)  

Bottom line, Language Therapy Advance Foundations is the definitive program to help SLPs learn how to plan, structure and execute an effective language intervention with K-12 students, and it is specifically structured to eliminate overwhelm and get you taking action right away (I give you the step by step resources, materials and ongoing support you need to make it happen).

I don’t want to help you just tick a box for your professional development requirements. I want to help you become the best clinician you can be.

Still have questions? 

Just send me a note by emailing talktome@drkarenspeech.com and I'll be happy to answer.

"I was the only SLP in my district, and I needed all the help I could get! I was just coming back to work after being a stay-at-home mom...Language just seemed like this massive beast. You showed me its okay to not know everything."

-PAULA REEVES-SANTOS, RHODE ISLAND

All that's left for you to do is join us in 3 easy steps.

STEP 1 Use the buttons on this page to select your payment plan and complete payment via our secure checkout.

STEP 2 You’ll receive your login information to your online learning portal via email within 15 minutes.

STEP 3 Start working through module 1 as soon as you’re ready, and post your questions in our private members-only community. 

And then…

Bust out your calendar and decide what you’ll do 60 days from now to celebrate your progress and student breakthroughs!

(Something bubbly and/or chocolate-y is highly recommended.)

You can join Language Therapy Advance Foundations now and transform your therapy.

  • SUCCESS PATH MODULE: To show you the language therapy system ($497 value).
  • SEMANTIC & DEFINITIONS MODULES: To boost word-retrieval and retention ($497 value).
  • SYNTAX MODULE: To show you comprehension-boosting syntactic skills and strategies ($497 value).
  • WORD STUDY MODULE: Improve literacy with morphology, orthography & phonology ($497 value).
  • GENERALIZATION MODULE: To leverage language skills for high-level comprehension ($497 value).
  • SPOT GUIDE & PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS: To streamline your paperwork and prep ($197 value).
  • ULTIMATE SYNTAX WORKBOOKS: With other 300 probes for boosting syntax skills ($197 value).
  • MORPHOLOGY & WORD STUDY TOOLKIT: To build word knowledge for literacy ($197 value).
  • SEMANTICS & DEFINITION TEMPLATES: To boost expression and word retention ($97 value).
  • "WH" QUESTIONS TEMPLATES: To support carryover and functional language ($497 value).
  • MEMBERS' FORUM & Q & A: To support you every step of the way ($1997 value).
  • BONUS GROUP Q & A CALLS: Get live support with troubleshooting & case studies ($497 value)

TOTAL VALUE = $5,764

GET STARTED TODAY

$197

(3 monthly payments)

BEST VALUE (save 15%)

$497

(One-time payment)

Give Language Therapy Advance Foundations a risk-free shot if...

You want to feel like you're changing student's lives without sacrificing your own.

You want to be a seen as trusted expert and not a glorified teaching assistant or the "speech teacher".

You're tired of feeling stuck, and you don't want to go another day without giving students the help they need.

You spend more time "behind-the-scenes" on admin, reports, and prep that you do in therapy.

You want to finally have a clear-cut method to support K-12 students who struggle with comprehension, grammar, word retrieval, reading, writing, and academic vocabulary.

JOIN US if you're ready to STOP wasting time on language strategies that don't create meaningful results.

...and instead start creating CONSISTENT wins like these SLPs who learned the system:

"Dr. Karen leaves out the fluff and gets straight to the facts...She brings a much-needed element of simplicity to an otherwise very broad area of language therapy.”

-RACHEL SMITH, UTAH

"I have take her course and it is amazing. She is brilliant an so accessible...Language can be sooooo complex and overwhelming and she organizes it in a way that makes sense.

-WENDY EINHORN, CALIFORNIA

"I had a great session with one of my struggling 3rd graders...I told him how grown up his long sentences sounded. He loved it!"

-JESSICA HARMON-JOHNSTONEAUX

One last thing you should know...

Before I mastered the strategies I’m sharing with you inside Language Therapy Advance Foundations, I had dreams of leaving the school system.

I couldn’t believe how undervalued I felt (because nobody understood what I did).

The frustration of not knowing how to help almost half of the students on my caseload because I didn’t know how to treat language conditions was almost unbearable.  

And, on the really hard days where it felt like nothing was going right… I even wondered whether I should leave the SLP profession altogether.  

I jumped between feeling angry at my circumstances, and embarrassed because I felt like a failure.

I was faced with a choice.

I could throw in the towel. Or I could make a change.  

I chose the latter. And it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

 
In that moment, I took back control of my happiness, my job satisfaction, and my potential to create the life and future I wanted.

This is so much more than a framework for helping you tackle your students’ language difficulties.

It’s an entirely new way of thinking.

One that will create positive ripples in almost every area of your work and life:

  • The results you’re able to achieve with your students. 
  • The confidence you have in yourself to make expert decisions. 
  • The relief of having a system you can depend on, time and time again.
  • The respect you’ll command as an expert who changes children’s lives.
  • The time and energy you’ll reclaim when you stop doing what doesn’t work, and focus on what does.

This is your career, and it’s your life.

I invite you to make a decision today that will put you back in the driver’s seat, instead of feeling like you’re stuck in a spiral of constantly reacting to everything that gets thrown on your plate each day.

If you want to wake up every Monday excited for the day ahead, knowing that you’re fully equipped to handle whatever the week may throw at you — because you’re more organized, efficient, and capable than ever before…

Then now is the time.

I can’t wait to help you make it happen with Language Therapy Advance Foundations.

~ Dr Karen 

GET STARTED TODAY

$197

(3 monthly payments)

BEST VALUE (save 15%)

$497

(One-time payment)

Here's more feedback about Dr. Karen's work:

GET STARTED TODAY

$197

(3 monthly payments)

BEST VALUE (save 15%)

$497

(One-time payment)