Problem

Limited vocabulary
usage

Use of short, simple

sentences

Area(s) of Concern
Oral Expression, Written
Expression

Oral Expression, Written

Expression

Area(s) of
Language
Semantics

Teach new vocabulary using picture

representation and multiple exposures
Pre-teach vocabulary words for a unit
Explicitly teach strategy use (word analysis,
context clues, reference tools)

Semantics,
Syntax

Expand and extend utterances to model

sentence length/content
Provide visuals to create sentences using
lengthy sentences with a variety of word types
Provide sentence starters

Difficulty repeating
sentences

Oral Expression, Written

Expression

Semantics,
Syntax

Use of non-specific
vocabulary, wordfinding difficulties, or
use of false starts

Oral Expression, Written

Expression, Social
Interaction

Semantics,
Pragmatics

Difficulty following
directions

Listening Comprehension,
Reading Comprehension,
Social Interaction

Semantics,
Syntax,
Pragmatics

Difficulty answering
questions

Listening Comprehension,
Reading Comprehension,
Social Interaction

Semantics,
Syntax,
Pragmatics

Difficulty with multiplemeaning words

Listening Comprehension,
Reading Comprehension,
Social Interaction

Semantics,
Pragmatics

Difficulty understanding
abstract concepts

Listening Comprehension,
Reading Comprehension,
Social Interaction

Intervention Suggestions

Semantics,
Pragmatics

Provide manipulatives to represent words in

sentence for visual reference
Start instruction with word repetition before
increasing sentence length
Direct instruction of a variety of word types
Provide instruction in synonyms and
antonyms for words to avoid
Explicitly teach word retrieval strategies
Scaffold verbal directions with pictures/written
directions
Start instruction with single-step directions
and simplified vocabulary before more
complex directions
Direct instruction of question words and
response starters with visuals
Scaffold questions with visual support
providing information for answering
Explicitly teach concept with common
multiple-meaning words
Pre-teach vocabulary with picture
representation for multiple-meaning words
Provide picture representation & concrete
examples to connect knowledge
Pre-teach and re-teach using examples

Progress Monitoring Suggestions

Classroom-based vocabulary
assessments, rubrics assessing
implementation of vocabulary
strategies, narrative analysis of
vocabulary use
Rubrics assessing sentence
length/content in writing, narrative
analysis for Mean Length of
Utterance or T-Units, data for length
of utterance or use of complex
sentences
Data for ability to repeat sentences
appropriate in length
Rubrics assessing content of writing
for specific vocabulary use, narrative
analysis of vocabulary use
Performance on assignments
requiring following directions, Data
for number of steps in directions,
accuracy of following directions,
routine vs. novel directions
Classroom-based comprehension
assignments on students reading
level, data for accuracy of answering
verbal/written questions
Classroom-based vocabulary
assessments, narrative analysis of
multiple-meaning word use
Classroom-based assessment of
concepts and comprehension, data
collection for mastery of concepts
targeted

Confusion with
figurative language

Listening Comprehension,
Reading Comprehension,
Social Interaction

Semantics,
Pragmatics

10

Incorrect verb tense or

plural usage, leaves off
word endings while
talking/writing

Oral Expression, Written

Expression, Phonological
Processing

Morphology,
Phonological
Awareness

11

Lack of subject-verb
agreement in sentences

Oral Expression, Written

Expression

Syntax

12

Incorrect word order in

sentences

Oral Expression, Written

Expression

Syntax

Difficulty producing
13 sentences using a given
word

Oral Expression, Written

Expression

Semantics,
Syntax

Oral Expression, Written

Expression

Semantics,
Syntax

14

Difficulty using
pronouns accurately

15

Does not consider

perspective of
conversation partners

16

Difficulty with
conversational turntaking

Social Interaction

17

Cannot stay on topic

during narrative or
interaction

Social Interaction, Oral

Expression, Written
Expression

Social Interaction

Pragmatics

Pragmatics

Pragmatics,
Syntax

Direct instruction of common figurative

language with multiple exposures
Pre-teach figurative language concepts in
classroom content
Word sorts using a variety of morphological
endings
Direct instruction with visuals for word
endings in single words and sentences
Model correct production of sentences
Provide manipulatives to represent accurate
subject-verb agreement
Model correct production of sentences
Provide visual representation of incorrect
word order for correction
Expand and extend utterances using target
word to model
Teach sentence building using synonyms and
replacing with target
Explicitly teach vocabulary strategies (word
analysis, reference tools)
Direct instruction of pronoun meanings
Matching and practice using pronouns
Explicitly teach pronoun references in
sentence production
Direct instruction on theory of mind and
practice with perspective-taking
Social stories or comic-strip conversations
providing visual support
Establish turn-taking in games
Direct instruction of conversation rules using
visuals (social story, video model)
Provide visual/manipulative cue for taking
turns
Use graphic organizers to scaffold planning
for narratives
Provide visual support for conversation topic
Direct instruction about topic maintenance

Classroom-based assessment of
concepts and comprehension, data
collection for improvement in
figurative language understanding
Classroom-based assessment, data
collection of accurate usage in
writing, narrative analysis for
morphological endings
Narrative analysis of subject-verb
agreement, analysis of writing for
accurate subject-verb agreement
Narrative analysis of word order,
analysis of writing for accurate word
order
Classroom-based assessment,
rubrics to gauge strategy use
through observation, data showing
sentences written when given a
target word
Classroom-based assessment,
narrative and writing analysis of
pronouns use
Pretest with progress monitoring
probes, rubric assessing perspective
taking during conversation/problem
solving
Rubric assessing use of
conversation rules, data for number
of turns taken in multiple
conversations
Narrative and writing analysis for
topic maintenance, data collection
for topic maintenance during
conversation

18

Frequently asks
inappropriate/unrelated
questions

Social Interaction,
Listening Comprehension

Pragmatics,
Syntax,
Semantics

19

Makes demands
instead of requests

Social Interaction, Oral

Expression, Written
Expression

Pragmatics,
Syntax

20

Inappropriate nonverbal
language during
interaction

Social Interaction

Pragmatics

21

Struggles to express
wants and needs

Social Interaction, Oral

Expression, Written
Expression

Pragmatics,
Semantics,
Syntax

22

Impairment in reading
and comprehending
material

Phonological Processing,
Listening Comprehension,
Reading Comprehension

Phonological
Awareness,
Semantics,
Syntax,
Pragmatics

23

Limited memory for

songs and rhymes

Phonological Processing

Phonological
Awareness

24

Difficulty learning
letters, letter sounds,
and numbers

Phonological Processing

Phonological
Awareness

25

Mixes up the order of

letters in words while
writing

Phonological Processing

Phonological
Awareness

26

Difficulty with decoding

words due to phonemic
awareness deficits

Phonological Processing

Phonological
Awareness

Explicitly teach on-topic class participation

and self advocacy
Provide visual support for syntax/semantics
Teach differences between sentences and
questions
Direct instruction on appropriate interactions
Direct instruction of appropriate nonverbal
behavior during conversation using visuals
(social stories, comic-strip conversations,
video modeling)
Teach vocabulary for requesting
Provide sentence starters
Provide visual supports/choices
Assess area of reading deficit and provide
explicit instruction
Activate background knowledge before
reading, preview reading, and complete
graphic organizer to support comprehension
during/after reading
Provide visual supports with song/rhyme
Target rhyming words with word sorts, onsetrime manipulatives, and drill
Provide multi-modal practice and multiple
examples of letter sound representation
Drill activities to increase retention
Direct instruction using manipulatives to
represent letter sounds
Scaffold spelling with verbal phonemic
awareness practice
Drill activities targeting sound-letter
correspondence and vowel sounds
Use manipulatives to teach sequencing and
blending of sounds during decoding
Direct instruction of vowel and consonant
patterns using word sorts and drill

Rubric assessing on-topic

participation during classroom
activities
Rubric assessing use of requests
during classroom activities and
writing
Rubric assessing nonverbal
language use during conversation
Data collection for requesting using
appropriate means, Pretest and
progress monitoring probes
Classroom-based assessments,
pretest and progress monitoring
probes
Data collection for targeting
songs/rhymes, pretest and progress
monitoring probes for rhyming words
Classroom-based assessment,
pretest and progress monitoring
probes
Classroom-based assessment,
pretest and progress monitoring
probes

Classroom-based assessment,
pretest and progress monitoring
probes