Professional Development Trainings for Pre-Schools & Daycares

Empower Your Educators, Enrich Your Classrooms Word Play Speech Therapy provides dynamic, in-person, DESE-approved professional development trainings crafted specifically for early childhood educators in St. Louis and St. Charles counties. Led by experienced speech-language pathologist Ali Manahan, who brings over 15 years of early childhood expertise, these sessions emphasize the power of collaboration to support stronger communication skills in young learners.  Each training is evidence-based and packed with practical, easy-to-implement strategies that teachers can use immediately to boost student engagement, reduce frustration, and support language development in your classrooms. Invest in your team and watch your student’s communication skills grow.  Building Blocks of Communication: A Teacher’s Guide to Speech and Language Development  Retail Value: $200 Building Blocks of Communication: A Teacher’s Guide to Speech & Language Development is a 1 hour, MOPDS approved, professional development session designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and tools to better support their students’ communication growth. Participants will learn to differentiate between speech and language, recognize key developmental milestones, and identify early social communication skills that serve as the foundation for learning. Practical strategies will be provided to help teachers navigate referral decisions and resources effectively, and engage in neuro-affirming conversations with parents about concerns. This course emphasizes collaboration between teachers, families, and speech-language pathologists to ensure every child has the opportunity to be authentically heard and understood. Building Language Skills in Pre-K: Practical Tools for Teachers Retail Value: $400 Building Language Skills in Pre-K: Practical Tools for Teachers is a 2 hour, MOPDS approved, professional development session designed to provide participants insights on how to expand children’s vocabulary, facilitate social interactions, and enhance communication skills. By integrating language-building techniques into preschool learning centers-such as dramatic play, art and fine motor activities, teachers can create enriched language experiences tailored to each child’s developmental level. The course also covers effective shared book reading strategies and ways to make snack and recess times opportunities for peer interaction and communication.  “We had the pleasure of training our staff with Ali, using her Building Blocks training for Pre-K. What a worthwhile and amazing experience she put together for educators! Our staff left feeling excited to try new techniques, validated in the setup of our curriculum and empowered to help all of our students get the best all-around education. Thank you for offering such an educational and fun training!” Professional Development Scheduling & Location Policy All professional development trainings must be scheduled within one (1) year of purchase and will take place on a mutually agreed-upon date and time.  In-person trainings are available to sites located within a 60-minute radius of ZIP code 63386. If your location falls outside this area, please contact us at ali@wordplayspeechtherapy.com to discuss virtual options or potential travel accommodations.