Peake Speech Therapy & Consulting

04/29/2026

Maisy Makes Lemonade 🍋

This adapted book is a favorite—not just because it’s engaging, but because it’s meaningful.

The story follows a clear, familiar event sequence: making lemonade. That predictability helps our learners organize, anticipate, and understand what comes next…all while connecting to something they’ve experienced in real life.

But there’s more to it.

When Maisy realizes the lemonade runs out, she chooses to make more—for her friend. That moment opens the door for deeper conversations about thinking about others, perspective-taking, and what it means to do something kind.

And to bring it all to life, we pair the story with real, 3D objects—lemons, sugar, water, cups. Because when learners can see it, touch it, and experience it, the words on the page start to truly make sense.

This is what we mean when we say learning is intentional.

It’s not just reading a book—it’s building language, connection, and understanding through experiences that stick.

04/15/2026

Another day, another OG lesson, another set of emerging readers.

Two seats. Two binders. One plan—built with intention.

Every piece of this setup is designed to reduce overwhelm and increase clarity. Visual schedules create predictability. Structured materials create consistency. And step-by-step instruction helps learners connect the dots in a way that finally makes sense.

For students with dyslexia, reading isn’t about trying harder—it’s about being taught differently.

And this is what that looks like.

04/02/2026

Today is World Autism Awareness Day 💙

At Peake, this day is personal.

Many of the individuals and families we serve are on the autism spectrum. Over time, this work has shaped how I see growth, connection, and what meaningful support really looks like.

We believe every person is uniquely made—with strengths to build on and challenges we can support.
Not to change who someone is, but to help them navigate the world in a way that feels authentic, connected, and empowering.

For us, intervention is about equipping.
It’s about understanding.
It’s about helping each individual develop the skills they need to connect, relate, and thrive.

Today, we celebrate the individuals we serve—not with labels, but with respect, intention, and a deep commitment to meeting each person where they are.

Thinking of you all with so much love,
—The Peake Team 💙

02/23/2026

When we’re teaching executive function, we don’t start with “just do it.”

We start with:
👉 What does DONE look like?

In this activity, the final burger is on the screen.
The student can see the end result clearly.

That’s the first step.

Because planning isn’t guessing.
Planning is knowing the target.

At Peake, we use the Get Ready, Do, Done framework:

✔️ Get Ready → What’s the goal? What does the final product look like?
✔️ Do → Follow the steps in order.
✔️ Done → Check it against the model.

We work backwards to execute forwards.
Or another way to say it:
We know our plan… and then we work our plan.

Executive function isn’t about trying harder.
It’s about making the invisible process of planning visible.

And when kids can see “done,”
they’re far more likely to get there.

02/02/2026

📘 Good Book Resource: Talk by Alison Wood Brooks

I’ve been doing social communication work for a long time, and this book felt like such a refreshing validation of what we see every day in practice.

One of my favorite ideas: conversation isn’t automatic — it’s a coordination game.
Two people constantly adjusting, planning, responding, and repairing in real time.

Brooks also introduces:
• A conversational compass
• The value of planning topics ahead of time
• Why good questions, kindness, and flexibility matter more than saying the “right” thing

This book reinforces something we believe deeply at Peake:
social communication is a skill set — and skills can be supported, strengthened, and taught.

Highly recommend for parents, educators, clinicians, and anyone who wants to better understand how connection actually works.

01/27/2026

Reading isn’t just one skill.

It’s decoding.
It’s fluency.
It’s vocabulary.
It’s comprehension.
It’s understanding stories and meaning.

Every child brings a different reading profile—strengths in some areas, challenges in others. And real support means nurturing all of it.

Because reading is one of the strongest predictors of long-term academic and vocational outcomes.

And at Peake, we believe every child deserves that.

01/25/2026

❄️ Weather Closure Notice ❄️

Due to the snowstorm, Peake will be closed on Monday, January 26th to ensure the safety of our clients, families, and staff.

With road conditions expected to be hazardous, we won’t be able to safely open the office. All scheduled sessions for the day will be canceled, and our admin team will follow up to reschedule when possible.

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. Please stay warm and stay safe ❄️

— The Peake Team

12/31/2025

As 2025 winds down, Deirdre and I can’t help but feel proud of the incredible growth we’ve seen this year — from our clients, our families, and our Peake team. 🌟

Here’s to a new year full of progress, confidence, and connection — one word at a time!

Thank you for being part of the Peake family. We can’t wait to see what 2026 brings!

Michael 💙

NewBeginnings CommunicationGoals

12/24/2025

See you all in 2026! - Michael & Deirdre 💙

12/22/2025

As we wrap up the year, we want to take a moment to say how much we appreciate each and every one of our Peake families.

The holidays remind us that connection — the conversations, laughter, and stories we share — is at the heart of what we do. Thank you for letting us be a part of yours.

From all of us at Peake Speech Therapy & Consulting, we wish you peace, joy, and meaningful moments this holiday season.

Michael and Deirdre 💙

12/07/2025

Holiday schedules can feel unpredictable for kids. A few simple anchors help: a consistent morning routine, previewing what the day will look like, and familiar bedtime moments like reading together. Routines don’t have to be perfect—just predictable. A little sameness goes a long way.

11/27/2025