Speech-Language-Play Preschool (Local Austin Pre-K)
Now Enrolling for Fall!
About:
A private, small-group, in-home preschool. Curriculum is centered around communication and play skills for enhancement of school-readiness and social relationships.
Meet the Teacher!
Now, this will tell you how small of a world we live in when I actually KNEW about Anne before meeting her because her husband was in the Austin Stay At Home Dad’s group with MY husband! How cool is that? I knew her kids, I had met her hubby during one of my days off work and hung out with the dad’s’ group to meet all the people Bob always talked about. And….they welcomed me with OPEN arms. It was fab. In fact, I even wrote a piece for Austinot.com about it. But, I never met Anne. We were the working parents in this friendship equation, so we never seemed to connect. Until now. And, boy, am I glad we did.
So who is this Anne Catherine Hughes, MS, CCC-SLP?
Here’s Anne! Read her Bio Here!
But, if you are my usual readers, you know I like to dig deeper than websites. I like to know backgrounds, histories and decisions to what led people to do or make what they do. So, Anne agreed to a Q&A session for my blog post so you (Austinites, I’m talking to YOU) will get to know her and learn about her Pre-K options.
- What was your ‘ah ha’ moment when you realized you wanted to be a Pre-K teacher?
I always loved working with preschool age children. When I graduated from high school I thought I wanted to be a special education teacher in early childhood education. I got a job in Irving ISD as a teacher’s aide in one of their early childhood special education classes. My mom, a special Ed. teacher, suggested I do that before zooming off to college. I loved the children, no surprise, but I did not want the teacher’s job. I wanted the speech therapist’s job. She was doing all the fun stuff with them!
After earning my degree, license and certification, I went into the public schools. I worked with elementary school students for fifteen years. Not every school where I was employed had a Pre-K program for students with disabilities, and I did not always get to work with a Pre-K population. When I did, I found it so rewarding – I always loved the children, the parents, the teachers and being welcomed into their classrooms to integrate my services into their routines.
My ah-ha moment came last year on a camping trip. I met a teacher who opened a preschool in her home. A light bulb went off in my head, and I realized I should follow my dream and create a place where I can specialize in age 2-5 all the time!
- Do you follow a certain teaching method (Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio, etc.) in your classes?
No, not specifically or systematically. I am inspired by Montessori teaching. I am inspired by the Tools of the Mind programs. I am inspired by Conscious Discipline. These methods have served me well, professionally with the Speech Impaired population and at home as a parent.
- You are a certified Speech Pathologist. What exactly does that mean for my readers who may not know?
I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Speech and Hearing Science, my Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology and I am licensed to practice by the Texas State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology. The “certified” part means that I met the standards set out by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for rigorous training, testing and continuing education as a clinical practitioner. The “C’s” (certification) must be earned every year to be a “certified” Speech Pathologist.
- What would you say to parents of children who do not have speech issues and how they could benefit from going to your Pre-K program?
The Pre-K years are ALL about learning the benefits of appropriate communication and play! Communication is key to behavioral and emotional regulation, pleasure in relationships, feeling understood and appreciated, expressing needs… oh my gosh, don’t get me started. And at this age, PLAY is how kids learn! The importance of good communication skills, social skills, and cooperative play skills at this age cannot be overstated, and it is certainly not limited to children with speech impairment. I have extensive training and experiences in making sure speech impaired children do not miss out on what ALL children need. All children enjoy the benefits of improved communication and play skills.
- Your classes are currently only part-time. Do you have plans to become a full-time Pre-K program coordinator?
That may be in the future. At this time, I am excited to fill a need in Austin for high quality, part-time childcare. I intend to specialize in the private, in-home, small-group preschool market for now, as that is the most appropriate way for me to provide, well, what I do! This is developing on-the-spot strategies to build communication and social skills at each child’s individual level, through the context of play.
- As an Austinite, what would you say about your program to our local readers who are looking for potential Pre-K programs as to how your program may be different or more beneficial to your students?
I am not teaching little children to read, count, or walk in line. I am teaching little children to listen, understand and remember. To speak out, rephrase, and clarify until their point of view is understood. To build relationships. All while PLAYING all the time!
- What is a typical day for a child in the Speech-Language-Play program?
First we use pictures to “make our day.” The child will line up their activities so that the child is able to know what is coming up next and start to keep track of time and make smooth transitions. The child will see from his or her “day” that the child has a pet to feed, and he or she will do that job. We will play a structured game together on the rug, and then sit at the small tables for paired games. The child will listen to music and talk to friends while playing a game, facilitated by me as needed. The child will check their “day” and see that it is snack time. We will sit together at the table and “socialize” with each other over snack, practicing social skills and language. Then we will go to the make-believe room and work on a story together. The child will contribute her ideas for a character, setting and problem for our story. The child will dress up and choose props. We will play pretend as a group. As he or she continues to check her “day” we will move on to other activities accordingly, which may include art, water play, running games outside, lunch. All activities will be cooperative play-oriented and incorporate communication building skills including articulation, receptive and expressive language, fluency, listening and memory, social skills.
So, yeah, I was impressed.
Well, she sold me and my husband and thus begins our lovely journey in the world of Speech-Language-Play through our fantastic-ly (yeah, yeah, I know that’s not a word, English majors! Or – wait, is it? Oh auto correct!!! Anyway….what was I saying?) talkative child, Ms. Brooke (I wonder who she gets that from…..) Interested in joining this journey, too? Anne is currently accepting fall applications, so be quick because spots will fill up FAST! For locals, the Speech-Language-Play preschool is located on a quiet street in the Heritage Hills neighborhood in Central-North Austin.
Speech-Language-Play Preschool (Local Austin Pre-K)
List Price: $ Varies per Program
Momma's Bacon 