Expanding Expression Tool (EET)

Expanding Expression Tool (EET)

Imagine a world without adjectives and descriptors: Car go. That doesn’t tell us much, does it? Describing sounds so simple, but it is a higher level language processing skill that is essential for verbal and written communication. It’s a foundational skill for defining vocabulary words from the curriculum and for organizing information to communicate effectively. Many of the students that start off in speech and language therapy simply cannot describe effectively.

The Expanding Expression Tool, also known as EET, is this incredible little tool that helps me teach the students I work with how to describe. It helps students understand what I mean when I ask them to tell me more about an object. EET breaks down the describing process into an easy-to-follow sequence that is visual, tactile, and auditory. It can be used in a hierarchical way from verbal single word level up to written expression at the multi-paragraph level, so I’ve been able to use it with almost every student in some capacity.

The kit comes with this big cardboard visual, and the best part of all: Eetchy, the color-coded beaded character that students hold and use as a mnemonic device to help them recall the seven different ways we are asking them to describe. Each color represents a different question.

• Green = Group (What category? It’s a type of ___.)
• Blue = Do (What does it do or what do you do with it?)
• White (eye) = What does it look like? (I focus on color, size, shape)
• Brown = What is it made of (composition)?
• Pink = What are the parts?
• White = Where do I use it or find it?
• Red (?) = What else do I know about it? This includes fun facts, something from their own experience, etc.

Check out this example of one of the many companion activities that people have created to use with the EET kit. I’ve even used games like Headbanz while working on this skill, using the framework and cues from EET. As we get closer to officially entering winter, my students will be using Eetchy to guide them through describing objects at home and school that are related to the chilly season.

~Mrs. Odom, Speech and Language Pathologist ~