About Language-Learning Connections

Children lying on grass in a circle

As a speech language pathologist, my mission is to improve communication and learning skills of school-age children. My goal is to help them gain a love of reading and lifelong learning. I bring over 20 years of experience and intensive training to provide a variety of high-quality services and programs that are research-based and results driven. I work with children ages 3 to 21 years of age in Southeast Portland and the surrounding area – delivering speech, language and literacy services in their natural environment – in their home or school.

I invite you to explore my website and become familiar with how I provide the highest quality services and support to children and their families.

MARLA RESNICK, M.S.

MARLA RESNICK, M.S.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree from Gonzaga University and Masters of Science from Western Oregon State University in Communication Disorders.  I am licensed through Oregon Board of Examiners for Speech Language Pathology, and hold Teacher Certification from Oregon Department of Education; am a Certified Barton Reading and Spelling instructor, a member of  Oregon Speech Language and Hearing Association,  American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology, Audiology,  and the Oregon Branch of International Dyslexia Association. I continually update my knowledge of best practices by attending workshops and conferences. I have been a speech pathologist for 14 year in public schools in Clackamas County and in private practice for nine years.  I specialize in assessment and treatment of speech, language, and literacy deficits in school age children.

I provide direct 1:1 instruction at least two times per week with each client using research-based instruction.

WHAT MAKES MY SERVICES SUCCESSFUL?

I customize the pace of my instruction to help students progress as quickly as they can, but as slowly as they need.

This is my focus year-round. I provide ongoing instruction to my clients to help close the learning gaps as quickly as possible. I offer 4 days/week summer intensives to allow clients to take advantage of the time when students have a more relaxed schedule.

I provide instruction for those who are not quite ready for Orton-Gillingham based systems to prepare them for success in my program.

I partner with parents to discuss areas that need improvement, how they can support their child’s learning at home and how to maximize other areas of strength in their children.

Each session usually lasts about 60 minutes and occurs at least twice a week. This frequency is needed to help close the gap in academic achievement and to fully incorporate what they are learning during tutoring.

Students progress through an established sequence of reading and spelling concepts, moving from the most simple to the more complex.

All work is completed in a simultaneously multi-sensory fashion; your child will see it, hear it, say it out loud, touch it and moves it around, all at the same time to increase their ability to engage more areas of their brain and allow learning to occur more easily.

Each child is tested periodically during the instructional process to ensure mastery of concepts and materials learned. Opportunity for practice is provided during each session so that mastery is achieved for each concept. Mastery is critical for progression through my system.

I focus on building self-esteem for each child.  Each is unique, in their interests and gifted areas.  I draw on those strengths to increase their confidence and self-esteem.

My services change how children view themselves and their ability to learn. This often reduces secondary problems caused by children’s’ struggles, such as anxiety and behavioral problems.​