Piecing It Together

The goal of this book is to reach speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in order to best help the language-learning disordered (LLD) child’s development of language skills. Piecing It Together was created from conversations Cheslow had with graduate students along with new SLP teachers who frankly encouraged her to write down her advice in book form. The book is abundant with well-supported research and written in clean, clear prose. Though the therapeutic methods in the book are targeted for school- age children, Cheslow devotes an entire chapter to adolescents. She is aware and inclusive of all learners, clearly revealing her passion for education and language.

The preface provides a detailed and concise overview of Cheslow’s experiences as a speech-language pathologist. Many of the difficulties of language therapy are introduced which are discussed later in the book. Readers will empathize with her personal story about her youngest daughter; who was the inspiration for the type of therapy discussed in the book. When her daughter was born with a language deficit, Cheslow began to better understand techniques that frankly didn’t work with her daughter. She made modifications to her techniques, tested them out first with her daughter, and then brought them to her own students. Cheslow emphasized, “It is imperative, therefore, when choosing goals for intervention, that we attain a clear and precise understanding of the reasons our students make the errors they do.” She reminds us not to make assumptions about what students know; while at the same time provides strategies and techniques for tailoring therapy to an individual student’s needs.

Cheslow’s language is active, descriptive, and accessible, as she uses examples, activities, tables, and additional resources to breakdown multiple intelligences pursuant to the MARCH model of therapy. The book is organized around 14 skill areas, ranging from Play Skills to Listening Skills to Social-Pragmatic Language Skills. Cheslow provides a background on each area, then applicable ideas for intervention. She lists dozens of ideas for each chapter, drawn from her own experiences and from research as well as by other experts in the field. Finally, each skill area chapter ends with practical, clear therapy goals listed in bulleted form. For example, in Chapter 5, Skill Area 3: Vocabulary, Cheslow lists five ideas for intervention, including: word banks, semantic mapping, and grouping vocabulary into genres. These ideas are clearly described, and supported with research, as Cheslow aligns her ideas with those of other leading experts in the field.

Piecing It Together: A Systematic Approach Toward More Effective Language is a comprehensive manual for both new and veteran SLP teachers. Cheslow embodies the role of a guide throughout the book. The personal, compassionate touch to this manual is what makes it more humane, less technical, and more applicable in its sincerity. She manages to be informative without becoming preachy. Piecing It Together should be required reading for language therapists as well as traditional classroom teachers. Parents of LLD children could also benefit from browsing this manual, and if a wish could come true, they would want Cheslow herself to work with their children.