7a. Through both my work and my internship, I have had the opportunity to observe and practice across all ages of early childhood.  One of the most startling observations during my internship, was the very real impact of the 30 million word gap.  I had the opportunity to witness, first hand, the differences based on income of children's language development.  I was instantly inspired to begin tracking conversational turns during my therapy sessions, placing an increased emphasis on language interaction for children who have additional learning challenges.  

7b. I work in centers and homes, as well as having participated in a preschool classroom.  All have influenced my practice in unique ways.  Nowhere, however, has my practice been influenced more than by working in a family's home.  The challenges are unique, but the potential for increased outcomes for children and families is huge.  Building positive rapport quickly with parents is one of the greatest benefits, as well as seeing first hand the challenges parents are facing daily.  It is also beneficial for parents to see that I am seeing, as opposed to hearing.

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