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Where the Magic Happens: Inside Primary Expressions
Where the Magic Happens: Inside Primary Expressions
By Junior Gonzalez
Every child deserves the opportunity to express themselves. But for students with severe speech and language disorders, this can be a significant challenge that affects their academic performance and social interactions. Enter Primary Expressions, an innovative speech and language therapy approach that revolutionizes early education by blending therapy seamlessly into the curriculum.
This intensive, two-year program provides a nurturing and inclusive environment from kindergarten to first grade, enabling young children to overcome their communication barriers and thrive academically. With Primary Expressions, students are equipped with the necessary tools to navigate the rest of their education with limited or no additional support. It’s no wonder that with decades of successful outcomes, a natural tagline has emerged for the program: “Primary Expressions classrooms are where magic happens!”
360-DEGREE SUPPORTS
In most school environments, a student with a speech-related IEP (Individualized Education Program) may receive one or two weekly sessions with a speech language pathologist (SLP). Primary Expressions goes beyond traditional speech and language therapy by smoothly integrating it throughout the school day and across subjects.
Primary Expressions is a year-long learning incubator designed for students at the dawn of their academic journey. “These kids are getting 360 degrees of speech and language services five days a week,” said Thomas Rea, director of Speech and Language Services at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU).
That is where the magic lies — students receive continual reinforcement of their pronunciation across subjects, often and for longer periods than in typical school environments. It is a strategy Joanna Wallander noticed when her two daughters each spent two years in Primary Expressions.
In addition, a harmonious rotation of individual speech sessions with an SLP occurs throughout the week, providing students with one-on-one attention to work out sounds to bring back to a room of their peers. “Just to have that attention because the speech is such a big part of school — we’re so appreciative,” Wallander said.
Highly skilled speech language pathologists teach with research-backed structured literacy approaches, creating an environment that optimizes learning opportunities for all students. “We like to think of Primary Expressions classrooms as a turn-key operation that unlocks future success,” Rea said. Through this approach, Rea said students with complex speech and language needs can engage in academic subjects while receiving tailored interventions, which allows them to develop effective communication skills within a natural learning context.
PROVEN OUTCOMES
Recently, data has proven the efficacy of Primary Expressions. Analysis of data compiled by the Speech and Language team compared outcomes in students with similar speech and language deficits enrolled in Primary Expressions with those in a traditional speech service model. The data showed benchmark scores increased among Primary Expressions students on phonics-based assessments, such as nonsense word fluency and oral reading fluency, by an average of 41% by the end of the school year, compared with a 26.3% average increase for students receiving speech support in regular school environments in kindergarten and first grade.
“The data backs up what we’ve always been able to say anecdotally [about] this program,” Rea said. “Some students were well below benchmark and [the Primary Expressions program] got them to benchmark or even slightly above benchmark.”
INDEPENDENCE THROUGH 'EXPRESSIONS'
Parents often have mixed emotions leading up to their child’s first day of kindergarten. Mt. Lebanon parent Shannon Casillas said she experienced an extra dose of nerves for her youngest son Freddie.
Freddie, now 8, was previously diagnosed with apraxia of speech, a motor disorder that affects his ability to plan and execute the precise movements required for fluent speech production. Because Freddie used an iPad to communicate during preschool, Casillas said she was uneasy about how he would communicate in a regular school environment.
“I was super, super nervous about putting him into a [traditional kindergarten] classroom because I didn’t think [teachers] would call his name,” she said. “The hardest thing with Freddie growing up was having to translate for him. I knew he had the words but just couldn’t get them out.”
Through conversations with district staff, Casillas became aware of a nearby Primary Expressions program at Hoover Elementary in Mt. Lebanon. The AIU has operated the program for 20 years. Freddie’s parents met with the Primary Expressions team and school district officials to determine the best approach forward. After a brief tour of the classroom, Casillas was instantly sold.
“Oh my god, I loved it,” she said with a laugh. Primary Expressions teacher Angie Markwood (photo upper right) calmed all of her concerns on the tour.
Freddie experienced dramatic improvements in his speech throughout his 2020-2022 enrollment, Casillas said. Freddie is now enrolled at his neighborhood school with little need for support, as is the goal of the program.
“He transitioned so smoothly into a second-grade classroom, and at a new school no less,” Casillas said. She said Primary Expressions gave Freddie independence and confidence to be able to do things we take for granted, like placing an order at a restaurant.
WHAT'S NEXT
As Primary Expressions continues to change lives, Rea and program supervisor Eileen Cirelli have big aims, including expansions to other parts of Allegheny County. Future ambitions include an online version of Primary Expressions that could be used across the state — or perhaps even across the country.
“We have big plans!” Rea said. Big plans, indeed.
For more information about Primary Expressions, please contact Eileen Cirelli.
Read more from this issue: Fall 2023
