SpeechPathology.com Phone: 800-242-5183


eLuma Online Therapy - Love What You Do - August 2024

What is the impact of weaknesses in grammar and syntax on achieving grade-level standards

Monica Gordon Pershey, EdD, CCC-SLP

January 22, 2024

Share:

Question

What is the impact of weaknesses in grammar and syntax on achieving grade-level standards for the academic content areas?

Answer

Language arts, with its focus on reading, writing, speaking, and listening, and its emphasis on the narrative and expository genres of language, is apt to be a curricular area that is challenging. Science and social studies, each with an emphasis on expository language, may require intensive amounts of classroom listening and assigned reading. Students are often graded on how well their oral and written responses show comprehension of the material they read. Lesser syntactic capabilities can contribute to reduced comprehension of complex sentences and difficulties manipulating multipart sentences. Comprehension of syntax can be a factor in being able to evaluate information and make inferences. Weaker syntax can interfere with the cognitive abilities needed for information processing. Students may have difficulty remembering, thinking about, and repeating information they have heard during instruction. Some students may have difficulty following spoken directions or keeping a sequence of steps in mind. When syntactic processing is not strong, it can contribute to difficulty in organizing thoughts and remembering a series of points within an informational context. Students may be unable to effectively extract details from the verbal messages they have heard or read. Expressively, students’ language may seem disorganized. They may be unable to speak their thoughts succinctly. Their messages may lack detail, or they may not express concepts effectively.

This Ask the Expert is an excerpt from the course 20Q: Grammar and Syntax for School-Age Learners, presented by Monica Gordon Pershey, EdD, CCC-SLP.


monica gordon pershey

Monica Gordon Pershey, EdD, CCC-SLP

Monica Gordon-Pershey, EdD, CCC-SLP, is a professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at Cleveland State University (CSU), Cleveland, OH. Since joining CSU in 1995, her teaching experience has included a variety of courses in communication sciences and disorders, with a specialization in graduate language disorders courses. Dr. Gordon-Pershey has authored numerous articles, chapters, and presentations on language and literacy and the pre-professional and professional development of speech-language pathologists and teachers.


Related Courses

20Q: Grammar and Syntax for School-Age Learners
Presented by Monica Gordon Pershey, EdD, CCC-SLP
Text

Presenter

Monica Gordon Pershey, EdD, CCC-SLP
Course: #10324Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'Helpful info- could use more examples and tangible ideas for treatment'   Read Reviews
This course discusses why it is important for SLPs to diagnose and intervene to help school-age children and adolescents who struggle with grammar and syntax. Information on the development of grammar and syntax, procedures for assessment, academic challenges for students with grammar/syntax impairments, and curriculum-based interventions are provided.

20Q: English Learners and Developmental Language Disorder - ​Strategies to Develop Academic Vocabulary Skills
Presented by Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin, PhD, CCC-SLP, F-ASHA
Text

Presenter

Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin, PhD, CCC-SLP, F-ASHA
Course: #10266Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'Very practical'   Read Reviews
This course discusses Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in English Learners (EL). Specific, research-based strategies are provided for developing academic vocabulary skills and phonological awareness skills in this group of students.

20Q: Providing Supportive Intervention for Trauma-Exposed Students with Communication Disorders
Presented by Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin, PhD, CCC-SLP, F-ASHA
Text

Presenter

Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin, PhD, CCC-SLP, F-ASHA
Course: #10310Level: Introductory1 Hour
  'A good basic intro to trauma informed practices'   Read Reviews
The definition of childhood trauma, the experiences that constitute trauma in a student’s life, and the concept of trauma-informed intervention are described in this course. Practical, hands-on suggestions are provided for strategies that support students with communication disorders who have experienced trauma, and activities to improve their social and executive function skills.

Dyslexia and Developmental Language Disorder: School-Based Screenings, Assessments, Interventions, and Implementation Science
Presented by Tiffany Hogan, PhD, CCC-SLP, FASHA
Video

Presenter

Tiffany Hogan, PhD, CCC-SLP, FASHA
Course: #11016Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'Very informative course!'   Read Reviews
Developmental language disorder (DLD) – a neurodiversity that occurs in 10% of the population and that makes learning vocabulary and grammar difficult - is the most commonly co-occurring learning disability associated with dyslexia, a word reading difficulty. DLD and dyslexia are described in this course with a focus on how they are the same and different. Actionable, practice solutions for improving educational outcomes for those with DLD and dyslexia through response to intervention and implementation science are discussed.

Reading Comprehension and the SLP: Foundational Understanding
Presented by Angie Neal, MS, CCC-SLP
Audio

Presenter

Angie Neal, MS, CCC-SLP
Course: #10763Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'Interesting and helpful information related to literacy'   Read Reviews
This is Part 1 of a two-part series. This course provides SLPs with foundational knowledge needed to directly address and collaboratively support reading comprehension across all grade levels. Models of language and reading comprehension, comprehension processes vs. products, instruction in comprehension skills vs. strategies, factors in reading comprehension difficulties, and connections to general education are discussed.

Our site uses cookies to improve your experience. By using our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy.