The Seeds of Learning: A Cognitive Processing Model for Speech, Language, Literacy, and Executive Functioning

by Tera Sumpter

Tera Sumpter, M.A., CCC-SLP, offers a groundbreaking and holistic approach to the assessment and treatment of childhood learning disabilities. This revolutionary method assembles the puzzle pieces of learning, connecting the dots from the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and speech language therapy to provide a comprehensive process for understanding and assisting children who struggle with learning. This book is written for speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, teachers, parents, psychologists, reading specialists, and more. "We have all looked into the eyes of a child who struggled with communication and/or academic development. You probably vividly remember feeling disappointed and helpless as you tried various interventions and made recommendations, only to be disappointed with minimal improvement. Tera Sumpter offers a brilliant, beautifully written ray of hope as she explains a cognitive, holistic framework that provides practitioners with a path forward. Thank you, Tera, for continuing to push the boundaries and to think outside of the box, and for challenging all of us to do the same." −Myrita S. Wilhite, PhD, AuD, CCC-A, Director, Speech and Hearing Program, Cleveland State University "Tera Sumpter’s book succinctly and eloquently provides an integrated neurobiological model and intervention process for strengthening a child's cognitive processes and executive function. The idea that speech and executive function are interconnected and that by working through specific skill enhancement in multiple functional domains one can achieve greater success in overarching cognitive abilities is beautifully illustrated in case examples and based in well researched models. By looking at the whole child and fully assessing areas of strengths and weaknesses, she is able to provide a better rationale for targeted interventions that go beyond the superficial diagnoses of reading disabilities or speech disorders to effect real change." −Joseph Austerman, DO, Section Head, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, The Cleveland Clinic "Mrs. Sumpter's book is a description of the model and diagnostic techniques that support her successful approach to young children with learning disabilities and it has the potential to be a very useful manual for the practitioners in her field. I recommend Mrs. Sumpter's manual as much as I have recommended her service to friends and colleagues who happened to be parents to these beautiful children." −Bartolomeo Giannattasio, MD, PhD, Director of Electrophysiology, Southwest General Health Center, Middleburg Heights, OH "Tera's cognitive model has helped me understand areas of speech therapy that I've grappled with for years. It's the missing piece that I wasn't taught in school." −Heather Eisenman, MS, CCC-SLP (Fairbanks, AK) "A must for ANYONE working in schools!" −Mehreen Masoud, MSc Cert MRCSLT (London, UK) "Tera provides a fresh perspective on how to address the underlying issues for all areas of therapy. It makes you think and re-wire your own brain to better serve your students. She make it easy to understand, and she gives you the research behind it." −Jamie Blakeley, MS, CCC-SLP (Johnson Creek, WI)

Genres: Nonfiction, Education

119 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2021

Reviews

[Natalie Kemp · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is clunky. She developed a graphic and is very proud of this graphic, because it’s on every other page. This book was already short, so combine that with a graphic taking up a 1/2 page lots of times….very little content.

The prologue irked me, “I asked all the questions…” said 2x. No you did not. It’s impossible to ask all the questions.

How many times is she going to say buy my next book? You should have put treatment in with this slender book. This is a problem within our field, so much time on the diagnosing and not enough on the treatment plans.

She also wants to have elevated writing, but then there are some casual phrases mixed in (“louder for those in the back”). It didn’t work for me.

Get a new cover.

Save your pennies, don’t purchase.

[Angela Ziegler · Rating 2 out of 5]

"That's it?!" Was exactly what I said when I was done reading this 79 page collection of information. It's a good start but it does not provide really any answers, solutions, or intervention examples. If you're a parent who has concerns about their kids' effective functioning it's a good primer. If you're an SLP you should know just about everything in there and you won't likely find it helpful in terms of next steps. If I could give 2.5 or 2.75 stars I would because it does deserve more than 2 stars only, but in my eyes it falls short of 3, unfortunately.

[Brittney Hardro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeds of Learning seamlessly integrates executive functioning, speech/language, and literacy into a cognitive processing model that helps identify a student’s primary learning challenges. She proposes to start at the foundational cognitive processing challenge and build upon areas of weakness to support more efficient learning rather than teaching to skills. This book easily and succinctly includes the knowledge necessary to help a team of specialists and interventionists collaborate to support the whole child toward becoming a more effective learner. I cannot wait to read how she translates her knowledge of assessment and diagnostics into intervention.

[Emma Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Omg give us therapy tips

[Emily Dockall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great for what it is — a brief introduction/manual for SLPs to think about our assessments (and as a result, therapy) from a more holistic, cognitive view. My only complaint is I wanted more in depth explanations and examples of both evaluations and therapy (which I know can be found in Tera’s other resources). I’ve been fascinated by cognition since entering the field, and this brought a lot of my reflections/questions together in terms of being an SLP and looking at a child’s function from a holistic cognitive standpoint.

[Sidney Donnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this book provided a nice overview of Tera’s cognitive processing model. I would recommend reading as a starting point in developing a basic understanding of speech/language/literacy/executive functioning- or if you are needing a resource that summarizes these topics.

[Samantha Delp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book for work - great stuff! Really applicable and brought a new light to the way I approach my students. Will go back to my notes/highlights on this book frequently.

[AngieM · Rating 1 out of 5]

So…I have to wait for all of the “coming soon” books the author said she’s working on to get any therapy suggestions???

[Jennifer Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tera Sumpter writes so that teachers, speech-language pathologists, parents and others can access and use the information, with limited professional jargon and clear explanations. Her approach takes us past labels and into practical and functional ways to address the cognitive processes that support literacy, communication, and learning. Beyond offering a different perspective in assessment and treatment rather than treating a symptom at a time, Tera Sumpter presents a clear and actionable guide to supporting kids where they are, as individuals, and looking for strengths as well as weaknesses. I recommend that all parents of children who struggle in school read this book and then approach their school prepared to ask the right questions and identify better interventions. I recommend that all professionals who work with children read and consider this model.