[Source: Bilinguistics]

Why focus on categorization in speech therapy?
Whether a child is monolingual or bilingual, focusing on categorization in speech therapy helps us get a more thorough understanding of word knowledge than single-word vocabulary tests. How a child produces vocabulary when asked to name items related to a theme tells us about how she learns and the semantic knowledge she has.  A fellow SLP once said, “Categorization is a pivotal skill.  Once a child knows how to do this, he is catapulted to the next level of language ability.  He can now describe, compare and contrast.  From a functional standpoint, being able to put objects into categories is a big deal.”

Why it’s REALLY good to bother with categorization when it comes to bilingual children:
A broader measure of language knowledge not only enhances our understanding of a particular student’s language abilities; it is also more appropriate when evaluating diverse populations. Research points to significant variability in vocabulary size between students of different ethnic and social backgrounds, but these differences have not been accounted for in the norms of single-word picture vocabulary tests. Clinicians and researchers alike have questioned the construct validity, diagnostic accuracy, and appropriateness of using these measures with a variety of populations. Let’s move beyond simple measures of children’s word knowledge. We’re glad you’re joining us!

Read the Rest of this Article on Bilinguistics