Speech Community

10/30/2025

🎃🕷️ Homemade Halloween Game!
We made our own spooky version of Kerplunk using spaghetti noodles, a strainer and Halloween creatures! A great way to work on turn-taking, fine motor skills, and language while having fun.

Wishing everyone a happy, safe, and inclusive Halloween from Speech Community! 👻

10/30/2025

10/10/2025

We’re reflecting on the incredible families, clients, and team members who make Speech Community what it is!
Thank you for being part of our journey. 🧡

10/04/2025

✨ Exciting news! ✨

Our new stair risers are up at the Woolwich Memorial Centre, a place where so many community members come together to stay active, connect, and feel safe.

I also couldn’t resist wearing another one of my favourite meaningful tees today, “Meet Kids Where They Are,” which feels perfectly fitting for our mission at Speech Community!

Next time you are at the WMC, keep an eye out for our stair risers and say hi if you see me around!

09/30/2025

Today we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour the children, families, and communities impacted by residential schools. It is a time to reflect, learn, and move forward together in the spirit of reconciliation.

At Speech Community, we believe every child’s voice matters. This day reminds us of the importance of listening, learning, and creating a community where all children feel safe, valued, and heard.

Here are some meaningful ways families and classrooms can engage today:
📚 Read books by Indigenous authors and storytellers
🥣 Try traditional Indigenous foods and talk about their history
🎨 Explore Indigenous art, music, and dance
🌱 Learn about the land you live on and its traditional caretakers
💬 Have open, age-appropriate conversations about why “Every Child Matters”

Speech Community operates on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Chonnonton, and Haudenosaunee peoples. We are grateful to live, learn, and work in this community and remain committed to ongoing reconciliation.

09/29/2025

🌟 Exciting News from Elmira Community Nursery School! 🌟
Since 1974, ECNS has been a place where young children in Elmira learn, play, and grow in a warm and welcoming environment. Now, we’re thrilled to announce our next big step — we’re building an outdoor playground! 🎉🌳

This new space will offer our little learners even more opportunities to explore, be active, and connect with nature — all while learning through play. 💛
But we can’t do it without YOU.

👉 We’re reaching out to our amazing community to help bring this vision to life. We’re asking for financial support to make our outdoor play space a reality. Every donation — big or small — brings us closer to our goal and makes a lasting difference in the lives of local children.

📢 Please consider donating, sharing this post, and helping us spread the word. Together, we can create something truly special for the next generation of learners!
Elmira Community Nursery School is a non-profit organization. While we gratefully welcome all donations, please note that we are not a registered charity and are therefore unable to issue tax receipts.

📲 Donate here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/peer-to-peer/elmira-community-nursery-school-playground-project

Thank you for being part of the ECNS family! 💕

09/23/2025

TOY TUESDAY: Toy Bus 🚌

This little bus isn’t just fun to drive around – it’s also a fantastic tool for practicing speech and language skills!

Speech Sound Practice:
- Practice sounds like “b” for bus, “d” for door, or vehicle words like go, beep, and stop.

Receptive Language:
- Follow directions such as “put the driver in the bus” or “open the door.”

Expressive Language:
- Encourage children to request (“I want the bus”), narrate play (“the bus is driving”), or use social phrases like “all aboard!”

Play Skills:
- Pretend play opportunities are endless; drive to school, pick up passengers, and practice turn-taking with the bus and driver.

Everyday toys like this can create exciting opportunities for communication!

09/17/2025

✨ Progress is Not Linear ✨
Such an important reminder, not only for our clients but for ourselves too. Growth takes time, patience, and self-kindness.

This amazing shirt is from and I absolutely love the bright colours and positive message (I can't resist a meaningful shirt).
The coolest part? I had already heard about them and when I finally ordered, I realized the pick up spot was literally across the street from my place right here in Elmira!

09/13/2025

Shout out to Dollar Tree in Elmira for carrying these inclusive children’s books!
Each one shares powerful social-emotional messages (confidence, caring, and empowerment) through engaging, interactive flaps. The diverse illustrations make them a wonderful tool for building empathy, self-esteem, and positive identity in young readers. And at only $1.75 each, they are such an affordable find! 🍂

Couldn’t resist the cute fall pumpkins either 🎃🍂

09/09/2025

🐊 TOY TUESDAY: Crocodile Dentist AHHH!

This classic game is a hit with kids and brings plenty of opportunities to practice communication skills while having fun!

Speech Sound Practice:
- Target sounds like “c” for crocodile, “t” for teeth, or “b” for bite.

Receptive Language:
- Practice following directions such as “press the tooth on the left” or “choose the top tooth.”

Expressive Language:
- Encourage children to comment (“He’s going to bite!”), make predictions (“I think it’s this one”), and use complete sentences while playing.

Play Skills:
- Take turns pressing teeth, practice waiting, and enjoy the excitement of surprise play.

Simple games with a twist of suspense can spark laughter and communication growth!

09/07/2025

✨ That’s a wrap on our Let’s Resonate Campaign!
Over the past few weeks, we’ve celebrated all the powerful ways communication can be used: to connect, listen, imagine, ask, share, laugh, and play. 💬

At Speech Community Elmira, we believe every voice matters and deserves to be heard. Thank you to everyone who joined us in highlighting the joy and power of communication!

09/01/2025

🍂 September is here, and that means it’s almost time for the Multicultural Festival of Elmira hosted by HOPE (Hearts Open for Everyone)! 🌍

Cassie is proud to serve on the HOPE board, where our mission is to foster inclusivity, connection, and community. These values are also at the heart of Speech Community, where we believe every voice deserves to be heard and celebrated.

The Multicultural Festival is one of the ways HOPE brings people together to celebrate diversity in Elmira. Join us Saturday September 20th from 11am-6pm at Gibson Park!