Conferences

Need a speaker?

Rachel Arntson, Speech-Language Pathologist, has been speaking to groups on a variety of speech and language topics throughout her career. She has taught classes and seminars for parents, speech-language pathologists, early childhood educators, daycare providers, and pre-school teachers.
Recently, she has focused her speaking on two topics entitled, "Music, Music, Music, Use It, Use It, Use It" and, "Kids' Express Train - a therapy format for training kids to express themselves". Each seminar can range from 2 hours in length to a full day. Two day seminars covering both topics are especially enjoyable as they allow for “make and take” sessions each day. The summary of each class is included below.

This is Rachel Arntson’s speaking schedule during the 2008-2009 years.

June 26-27, 2008 - St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN

July 30, 2008 – Long Island, NY

Aug. 7-8, 2008 – Bay District Schools, Panama City, FL

Oct. 28, 2008 – Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families – Minneapolis, MN

Jan. 10, 2009 – Bakersfield, CA

If you would like to invite Rachel to speak at your convention, to your organization or staff development activity, please contact Kids' Express Train at kids@expresstrain.org or call our toll free number: 877-876-3050.

A thank you from the SD Speech-Language-Hearing Association president...
"On behalf of the SDSLHA, I offer you my most sincere thanks for coming to South Dakota to share your time, talent, and enthusiasm with our group. I heard nothing but WONDERFUL comments. You have generated a lot of interest."

What others have said about Rachel’s seminars:

Regarding “Music, Music, Music, Use It, Use It, Use It”...

	Loved it, loved it, loved it!
	Wow! Great presentation! This was fun, and I can really see how children would get into this. We could have used the entire morning. I want to learn more!
	This is the best session I attended at the convention! Great job!
	Excellent! One of the best speakers! You could do a full day! Great practical application and ideas!
	Excellent job. Very inspiring.
	Great presentation! Definitely worth my time!
	Wonderful! Great speaker! Practical ideas!
	Rachel was fantastic! So many times conferences are more of the same old thing. I could have listened to her all day. I now have some new ideas with music to try.

Regarding “Kids’ Express Train: Training kids to express themselves”...

	Great information and energy from Rachel!
	This was a wonderful session (both were)! Rachel was dynamic, fun, and engaging.
	I would like to listen to you for a whole day! You have wonderful ideas.
	You were awesome. I wouldn’t change a thing. You need to write a book to share!
	Awesome! Your enthusiasm is terrific.

Rachel's credentials

Rachel Arntson, M.S., CCC, has been a speech-language pathologist in the greater Minneapolis, Minnesota area since 1980. Her professional arena has included a hospital, medial pediatric clinic, and public school. Since 1991, she has worked in Early Childhood Special Education in the Osseo School District in Maple Grove, Minnesota, where she provides family-centered speech and language intervention to infants and toddlers in their homes.

Rachel completed under-graduate work in 1978 at Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1980, she earned a Master of Science from Phillips University, Enid, Oklahoma.

Rachel is passionate about music and uses it often in her work with children and families. She has recorded 6 CDs, which serve as simple and fun speech imitation tools for young children – enjoyable to parents and siblings as well. Along with her business partner, Chez Raginiak, she started Kids’ Express Train, LLC - a company dedicated to “enhancing children’s speech through music, imitation, and FUN!”

The summary of "Music, Music, Music, Use It, Use It, Use It" -
“Enhancing children’s speech through music, imitation, and fun!"

If music “warms the heart and feeds the brain”, then how can we use music to help non-verbal children imitate and communicate successfully?

Rachel Arntson will share how she uses music to improve verbal skills in children - changing them from silent observers to active verbal partners. Techniques and songs used to improve interaction skills, imitation, articulation, and vocabulary for play schemes and daily routines will be presented. This seminar will include suggestions of original songs, classical pieces, common children’s songs, and rock and roll tunes.

Come prepared to have FUN!

Objectives
Participants will learn:
1. The effect of music on language, interaction, motor imitation, and speech.
2. Music techniques to improve a child’s ability to imitate.
3. Specific songs to facilitate speech and language development.

The summary of "Kids’ Express Train"
A therapy format for Training Kids to Express themselves.

If you want practical intervention ideas for young children and their families, this seminar is for you. Kids’ Express Train, a family-centered therapy format, consists of 4 elements:
1. Determining techniques and activities that help children at the early stages of communication.
2. Creating family-centered intervention that empowers all participants.
3. Determining realistic objectives and documenting progress simply and effectively.
4. Developing the sense of urgency in therapy, so life-long results occur quickly.

Rachel believes that children and adults learn best when sessions are fun, engaging, and practical. This seminar will be no exception.

Objectives
Participants will learn:
1. The 4 components of Kids’ Express Train therapy format.
2. Why and how to include families in therapy sessions.
3. Specific techniques, activities, and toys to improve attention, imitation, and functional speech in young children.
4. Documentation strategies used in reporting progress.

Rachel Arntson, M.S., CCC
Speech-Language Pathologist with the Infant-Toddler Program, Osseo Public Schools, Maple Grove, MN

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