tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17606276210272703332024-03-13T15:45:01.723-07:00Let's Talk! with WhitneyslpA little speech, a little life, and a lot of LOVE!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-24394367251126787092019-03-08T18:56:00.001-08:002019-03-08T18:56:33.390-08:00Five Saint Patrick's Day Activities for Speech Therapy If you're life is anything like mine, things are starting to get busier right about now. The month of March means Spring is on the way and we're one step closer to Spring break, but it also means an influx of speech referrals, IEP meetings every-other-day, progress reports, state testing, and tons of extra things each week as the school year starts wrapping up. While I love March, it can get especially difficult to plan meaningful and engaging therapy sessions by this point in the year.<br />
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Below are 5 super-easy activities for Saint Patrick's Day that you can whip up in just a few minutes, but that are guaranteed to keep your students excited and engaged the entire therapy session.<br />
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1. <u>Saint Patrick's Day Books.</u> You all know how much I can't live without books in therapy. On days when I'm running from one side of the school to another, when it's pouring down rain, when the copier is broken, when I've been out sick, or just when I've had no time to plan, I can grab a book and still have an incredibly meaningful and rigorous therapy session targeting ALL student goals with just that one book and nothing else. It doesn't matter if it's below that child's reading level. In fact, I've found that my 5th graders get extremely excited about reading picture books as we work on their goals. You can use books to target just about anything, including comprehension, sequencing, story grammar, story retell, vocabulary, expanding utterances, joint attention, and so much more. <a href="http://whitneyslp.blogspot.com/2019/03/saint-patricks-day-books-for-speech.html">Click here for a post on my favorite Saint Patrick's Day books and what I use them to target!</a><br />
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2. <u>A Simple Saint Patrick's Day Craft.</u> Crafts just don't get any easier than this one. I saw this idea from my friend Jenn from <a href="https://crazyspeechworld.com/">Crazy Speech World</a>. She's a speech crafting genius. Simple use the die-cutter to cut out shamrocks. If you don't have a die-cutter, just find a template online and cut them out (or if you're super fancy, you can use your Cricut or Silhouette machine). Then cut strips of colored paper. Have your students choose several colors and glue or tape them to the back of the shamrock so they look like a rainbow. Then, depending on your students' goals, use them to target the required skills for the day. If you're student is working on articulation, write words with those sounds in them. (for sentence level, have them use the words in a sentence). For students working on categories, write a category on the shamrock and have them fill the colored strips with items for that category. There are so many ways to use this simple craft and still get your drill work in.<br />
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3. <u>Lucky Charms</u>. That's pretty much enough said, but for any of you out there who don't love snacking on rainbow and pot of gold shaped marshmallows, I'll elaborate a little more. By this point in the year, there's no shame in my game when it comes to bribery. And everyone knows that food is a really good bribe. In all seriousness, you can do so much with just one box of the magically deliciousness called Lucky Charms (see what I did there?) in addition to using them as reinforcement. Categories, describing, five senses, sorting, matching, counting, graphing, requesting, social skills like sharing, expanding utterances, increasing MLU, receptive and expressive vocabulary identification, etc. etc. etc. So grab a box or two and let your students play with their food before they eat it. (Just make sure you have permission to feed them and they're all allergy-free.) If you're not allowed to do food at your school, I suppose you could just play and then toss them, but that just seems like torture. ;)<br />
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4. <u>Make a Green Sensory Box.</u> Ok, I'll admit. I'm pretty excited about this one. Several years ago, I introduced sensory boxes into my therapy sessions for pre-school and some of my younger self-contained classrooms. My older students would come to therapy and have a fit to use them too. While I don't always use sensory boxes with the older kids, there is a lot to say for the excitement and engagement they bring. And usually when a student is that excited and engaged, a good bit of communication will follow. For Saint Patrick's Day, I threw together this "green" sensory box in about 10 minutes with items I already had in my therapy room and at home. If you do buy green things, I'd check out Dollar Tree first!!<br />
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It includes: felt foods (lettuce, broccoli, corn, green popsicle), a green gem stone, a turtle, a cactus, a grasshopper, an alligator, a chameleon, grapes, a monster finger puppet, a plastic hopping frog, small green dinosaurs, a green bowtie, a shamrock necklace, a green tugboat, and a green car. For the filler, I used green Easter grass, pipe cleaners, and green pom pom balls. Feel free to add/take out anything you'd like!<br />
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5. <u>Shamrock Shakes.</u> If you've never tried cooking in speech, you and your students are missing out! I realize that not everyone is allowed to have food at school, but if you are, I highly recommend it! I always make sure I have permission from the parents, but we've been cooking a lot this year thanks to Kristine from Live Love Speech's <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/mar2019SLPMustHave-Cooking-Craft-Visual-Recipe-Book-2714758">Cooking and Craft Visual Recipe Book. </a> It has been such a fun way to target skills like turn-taking, following directions, sequencing, comprehension, measuring, and much more. The students LOVE the cooking activities, and the Shamrock Shake lesson is no exception!<br />
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If you do find yourself with a little more prep time, you might find these other activities useful for a Saint Patrick's Day theme as well:<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Lucky-Tucker-Book-Companion-1111063">Lucky Tucker Book Companion:</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-History-of-Saint-Patricks-Day-1055977">The History of Saint Patrick's Day Comprehension Pack</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Saint-Patricks-Day-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-2422248">Saint Patrick's Day No Prep Speech & Language Unit:</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shamrock-Absurdities-1709050">Saint Patrick's Day Shamrock Absurdities FREEBIE: </a><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Old-Lady-Who-Swallowed-a-Clover-Speech-Language-Extension-Activities-1126621">The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover Book Companion</a> by Simply Speech:<br />
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Do you use a Saint Patrick's Day theme in therapy? Which activities are your go-to's? </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-9980824034988603772019-03-04T04:00:00.000-08:002019-03-04T04:00:03.920-08:00Saint Patrick's Day Books for Speech Therapy <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">Do you guys feel like the year is flying by? I sure do! I can't believe we're already into March! </span></div>
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With March comes new Springtime activities in therapy, including a Saint Patrick's Day theme. (You can find my 10 Favorite Spring Activities for Speech Therapy here). You guys know how I love incorporating books into my therapy sessions, and St. Patrick's Day books are no exception! </div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;">There are many amazing Saint Patrick's Day books out there that work great in both the classroom and at home, but </span><span style="font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;">I compiled a list of my favorite Saint Patrick's Day books for speech therapy below, as well as a few suggestions for why I love them! PS: Amazon affiliate links are also included, k? </span></div>
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1. <a href="https://amzn.to/2GMQU7x">The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever!</a>, by Teddy Slater: This is such a fun book with great illustrations and the cutest of rhymes. It's March 17th, and the leprechauns are celebrating with traditional Irish music, a parade, and dancing!<br />
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2. <a href="https://amzn.to/2GRJlwu">There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Clover</a>, by Lucille Colandro: My students love the Old Lady books and this one is no exception! It's great for introducing St. Patrick's Day vocabulary and perfect for working on sequencing! I also use it for prediction for those who have never read this one before (what do you think she's going to make with all the things she has eaten at the end?)<br />
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3. <a href="https://amzn.to/2EhVuXW">The Night Before St. Patrick's Day</a>, by Natasha Wing: These Night Before books are so cute and great for holiday-themed vocabulary, sequencing, prediction, 'wh' questions, and more! The St. Patrick's Day book is great for reading with younger students before your class leprechaun hunt or after you set out the leprechaun traps!<br />
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4. <a href="https://amzn.to/2NykiPI">The Story of Saint Patrick</a>, by James Janda: I love using this book along with my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-History-of-Saint-Patricks-Day-1055977">History of Saint Patrick's Day packet</a> with my older students to teach the history behind Saint Patrick's Day. This book does an excellent job of giving a short history of Saint Patrick himself in child-friendly terms.<br />
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5. <a href="https://amzn.to/2VnQKqA">Lucky Tucker</a>, by Leslie McGuirk: By far this is my favorite book for Saint Patrick's Day! The "Tucker series" books are perfect for my preschool students up to 1st grade. Tucker is a sweet pup who goes on all kinds of adventures for the holidays. This Saint Patrick's Day, he woke up on the unlucky side of the bed, but his luck may soon change! Perfect for 'wh' questions, sequencing, cause/effect, vocabulary, and so much more! You can also find my book companion for Lucky Tucker <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Lucky-Tucker-Book-Companion-1111063">HERE</a>.<br />
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6. <a href="https://amzn.to/2H5lloS">How to Catch a Leprechaun</a>, by Adam Wallace: This book is a new favorite! It's part of a series of books with similar plots, and my daughter is loving them right now! It's perfect for reading to your students or children before they set their leprechaun traps out!<br />
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7. <a href="https://amzn.to/2H2CwHG">Just a Little Luck</a>, by Mercer Mayer: The Little Critter books are some of my students' favorite books. I love how the characters are the same in the books so my students already know them. Little Critter has trouble being unlucky throughout the day, but his luck eventually changes. I use this one for teaching the concept of lucky/unlucky, as well as for sequencing, 'wh' questions, story grammar, and more!<br />
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8. <a href="https://amzn.to/2BXR0W6">Ten Lucky Leprechauns</a>, by Kathryn Heling: Perfect for prechool/kindergarten, this counting book is so much fun! My preschool students love using it to practice new vocabulary, counting, and more!<br />
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Did I miss any good ones? Let me know below!!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-52484113161840054682019-02-28T10:34:00.002-08:002019-02-28T10:34:57.661-08:0010 Spring Activities for Speech Therapy If you're like me, you've had just about enough of the cold weather and are itching to get outside in the warm sun. Even though it doesn't snow regularly in South Georgia, by this time of the year, I'm ready to ring in Spring!<br />
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Just like Spring brings new life outside with new green leaves, pretty blossoms, birds chirping, and more, I feel like a Spring theme also breathes new life into our therapy sessions, giving us the opportunity to try new things, get outside, and discover and celebrate the glory of a new season. I put together ten of my favorite 10 Spring activities for speech therapy below!<br />
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1. <u>Practice Being Weather Forecasters.</u> One of the first themes we do during Spring is Weather and Seasons. I actually incorporate weather themes a few times during the school year as the seasons change, because when the seasons are changing right in front of their eyes, it's easier for the students to recognize it. We do a weather unit during the fall as well, which includes hurricanes, since we live in an area that has been directly impacted by hurricanes the past few years. Thankfully, our Spring weather unit is less about inclement weather and more about sunshine, rain showers, and warmer weather! We read books about the weather and seasons, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sort-and-Stick-Seasons-2497995">sort vocabulary into the different seasons</a>, and we even turn our therapy room into a weather station and let the students take turns forecasting the weather, which they love!<br />
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2. <u>Go on a Speech Scavenger Hunt</u>. While we're studying weather and seasons, we go on a Spring scavenger hunt! I give each student a paper and we head outside to hunt for Spring-related vocabulary words! When the students find an item on the paper, we talk about it, answer questions, ask questions, make observations, and more. This is a great way to incorporate movement into your therapy which increases engagement and retention. You can find the Spring scavenger hunt worksheets <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Scavenger-Hunt-4405761">HERE</a>. PS: They're FREE! Print on white paper or colored paper for an extra pop!<br />
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3. <u>Learn About Life Cycles.</u> Teaching life cycles are so much fun in the Spring. From tadpoles to frogs, eggs to chicks, caterpillars to butterflies, and more, life cycles are the perfect way to incorporate nonfiction into your therapy. We read life cycle books, sequence the steps, incorporate crafts, practice comprehension with factual information, work on retell, and even use interactive items such as puppets, wind-up toys, and plastic frog hoppers to increase engagement, hold attention, and reinforce correct productions or positive behavior. </div>
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I also use a few books and their corresponding book companions with our life cycles units: <a href="https://amzn.to/2tQScWV">From Tadpole to Frog</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2H895E4">From Caterpillar to Butterfly</a>, and <a href="https://amzn.to/2HdApRF">Pig's Egg</a> are three of my favorite books! (Amazon affiliate links included). Click the links below to see the book companions. </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/From-Tadpole-to-Frog-A-Book-Companion-1225977">CLICK HERE FOR FROM TADPOLE TO FROG BOOK COMPANION</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/From-Caterpillar-to-Butterfly-Book-Companion-Pack-Facts-About-Butterflies-1107946">CLICK HERE FOR FROM CATERPILLAR TO BUTTERFLY BOOK COMPANION</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pigs-Egg-Book-Companion-Packet-1133272">CLICK HERE FOR PIG'S EGG BOOK COMPANION. </a></div>
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4. <u>Go on a Bug Hunt.</u> Spring is the perfect time to learn about insects! Insects are a fantastic way to incorporate nonfiction into therapy, increase movement, guarantee high-engagement, and work on describing. While some students may be grossed out by bugs, many of my students love to hunt for insects. We walk around the school looking for spider webs, ant hills, bumble bees, grasshoppers, and more. We discuss why insects are important, how important it is for insects like bees to be protected, and how everything has a purpose in life, even if you're a teeny tiny insect! I found the bug box and net in the Target Dollar Spot, but you can find them at the Dollar Tree or other places too. </div>
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5. <u>Blow some Bubbles. </u> If you're looking for a way to increase excitement and engagement, bubbles are your answer. It's amazing how something so simple can motivate students to work harder than ever, but somehow it works. Bubbles are like liquid magic. And they're also super inexpensive. So load up on some bubbles the next time you're at the store. NOT the super cheap dud bubbles, but the good kind. It's worth the extra 0.50 to get bubbles that work. Believe me. My favorites are <a href="https://amzn.to/2IFK4CJ">Fubble Bubble</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/2GQPwAO">Gazillion Bubbles</a>. The Bubble Maker is also from Gazillion Bubbles and it's the BEST. You can find it <a href="https://amzn.to/2Eitmnw">HERE</a> and the hand-held bubble blaster <a href="https://amzn.to/2BZT4gi">HERE</a>. The Fubble Bubble bubble wands are my favorite thing to gift students at the end of the year. I also use them for party favors too! You can pick these up from Walmart on sale in the Spring/Summer...stock up when you find them! </div>
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I use them for reinforcers, requesting, motivators, and to work on descriptors and vocabulary (small, big, lots, few, more, less, fast, slow, etc.) </div>
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6. <u>Draw with Chalk.</u> While you're out stocking up on bubbles, add sidewalk chalk to your list too. Now, this is where I admit to you that I hate touching chalk. It's a sensory thing, and I while I can bite the bullet and do it when I have to, I don't plan on having to anytime soon. So in case you or your students feel the same way, I have a few solutions to this. One, I just let the kids touch it and I don't. The other option is these super amazing chalk holder thingies from Melissa and Doug. The chalk comes in the plastic holder which keeps you from ever having to touch the chalk. Genius. You can find them <a href="https://amzn.to/2XoOUHT">HERE</a>. </div>
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There are so many fun ways to incorporate chalk into speech therapy. First of all, it gets the kids outside. Kids don't spend enough time outside anymore, and I'm happy to play a small part in changing that when I can. Sometimes, we draw pictures with our speech sounds, and other times, we draw pictures for describing and comparing/contrasting. We make lists with chalk, write wordless stories with chalk, practice letter names with chalk, and use our imaginations with chalk. One of my favorite books for speech therapy is a wordless book called <a href="https://amzn.to/2XuRAUr">CHALK by Bill Tompson</a>. It uses beautiful illustrations to tell a story, encouraging imagination, inferencing, and predicting. Lastly, we sometimes use the chalk to draw games like hopscotch, which we play to get the kids up and moving while they're practicing their speech sounds or answering questions. </div>
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7. <u>Plant a Garden (real or fake)</u> Some schools have amazing flower or plant gardens that the students can work in. If your school has something like this or if you have permission to start one, I say go for it! We have a small flower garden in our school that the different grades work on together, and it's beautiful! But for times when we can't work in the real garden or for my younger students who aren't quite ready for the real thing, we "plant" a garden in our therapy room with sensory boxes!<br />
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I found all of the items below in the Target Dollar Spot, but you can also find them at Dollar Tree or Walmart. They are the perfect size for little hands.<br />
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To make the sensory box, I bought a plastic container from Walmart and 2 bags of black beans for the dirt. I found the felt veggies in the Target Dollar Spot as well, along with the Fresh Food felt bag, but you can use plastic veggies too. The students have so much fun planting, watering, picking, washing, and eating the vegetables. It also works great for those students who love the sensory input of having their hands in the beans!<br />
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If you're unable to find the felt veggies or have students who won't do well with the small beans (I have a few who would put them in their mouth too), you can make a garden box like I did below which works just as great!</div>
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Just cover a copy paper box lid or other shallow box with brown bulletin board paper, cut pool noodles to fit and cover them in brown paper as well, print out pictures of veggies to laminate, and glue the pictures to the backs of Popsicle sticks. The entire project probably took me about an hour to make, and we've used it for several years. This also works great for our farm theme as well. It's perfect for teaching students the names of different vegetables they may have never had, discussing the differences in vegetables and fruits, and my personal favorite, teaching the students where our food comes from and the importance of the farmers who work so hard for us to have the food we eat (a topic that is pretty important in South GA where Agriculture is huge.) </div>
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You can also use the printable veggies in the sensory box with beans.<br />
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8. <u>Have a Picnic (real or fake).</u> There's just something so enjoyable about sitting outside on a blanket to eat in the warm sunshine. Whether you use real or fake food (these felt pieces came from the Target Dollar Spot, but plastic ones work just fine, too), picnics are just plain fun. So many goals can be targeted through pretend play with food (or with real food as well). We set up a blanket outside and use play food to target requesting, manners, social skills, expanding utterances, 'wh' questions, comparing and contrasting, describing, and so much more. On days with inclement weather, simply set it up inside! Just the action of getting down on the floor with your students or children as you play pretend or share a bag of real popcorn will bring such excitement and joy, maximal engagement and motivation, and a memorable therapy session that they won't soon forget! </div>
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9. <u>Practice Sequences (and other speech therapy goals).</u> If you're like me, you have plenty of students who need practice with sequencing events, and Spring is the perfect time for working on sequencing. Life cycles are a great way to sequence events, as well as activities such as catching butterflies, dying Easter eggs, catching a leprechaun or the Easter bunny, cooking recipes, and more! These picture cards help my students so much (available with and without the text underneath the picture, as well as in all four seasons), but you can also use real pictures or objects. You can find them <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Themed-Sequences-1775817">HERE</a>. </div>
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I also use my Spring No Prep Speech and Language Unit packet to target speech and language goals while keeping withe the Spring theme. With over 100 pages, I can almost guarantee there is something for everyone. It makes planning and implementing themed therapy much easier on days where planning time is short. (Anyone else have an IEP meeting a day in the Spring???) You can find it <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-3644423?aref=eexelnjo">HERE</a>. </div>
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10. <u>Get OUTSIDE</u>. Finally, you don't necessarily have to plan special activities in order to enjoy the springtime fun with your students. Simply moving the activities you are working on outside, be it at a picnic table, on the playground benches, or a sidewalk, can bring a new excitement to your lessons for the day. Sometimes, a change of scenery does everyone good. Many SLPs or other service providers don't have a classroom or office of their own, so if you're one of those who has been sitting in a broom closet without a window all winter, pack up your books, card decks, or whatever you're using for the day, and get some vitamin C while you're teaching. Fair warning: not all students can handle the distractions of being outside, so it's important to know your own students here. If they aren't used to changing the environment, it may be something that you need to work up to. My students have learned that as long as they are engaged and making positive choices, we can do therapy outside at times. But if they aren't handling it well that day, we may have to try it again another time. Doing therapy outside won't work for all of your students, but it will work great for some. And I can almost guarantee that it will lift your morale as well! </div>
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Do you incorporate any of these activities into your classrooms or homes? Do you have any other Springtime favorites? I'd love to hear! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-65075372497049587972019-02-22T09:24:00.003-08:002019-02-22T09:43:16.788-08:00When the SLP Has Hearing Loss<br />
When you think of hearing loss, do you think of your parents or grandparents who can't hear well and listen to the television a bit too loudly? Or do you think of students at school, possibly students on your caseload, who are deaf or hard of hearing that require hearing aids, FM systems, or even an ASL interpreter throughout the day? Well, what happens when the SLP has hearing loss?<br />
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This school year, I have more than a few students on my caseload with hearing loss, ranging from mild to profound. Some of these students spend all day in a general education setting, and with the help of their hearing aids or FM system, they do well in the classroom. Other students communicate in American Sign Language (ASL), and have a Deaf/Hard of Hearing teacher or an interpreter with them throughout the day. Though I took several sign language classes in college and thoroughly enjoyed them, my signing had gotten a little rusty from lack of use. But this year, I've had the privilege of seeing these students for speech therapy and brushing up on my sign language skills with the help of my students and their teachers and interpreters.<br />
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Ironically, right about the time the school year started, I began noticing that I was having a harder time hearing than before. At first, I thought it was because my husband is a chronic mumbler. Then, I attributed it to a speaker-gone-bad on my cell phone. But just a few months later, I was watching television with subtitles and regularly talking on my cell on speaker phone.<br />
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I also began to realize that I was having an increasingly harder time doing speech articulation therapy in small groups. Children are wiggly. They move around a lot. And when they were squeaking their stools or bouncing on their balls (flexible seating, anyone?), I couldn't make out some of the end sounds on words we were targeting. I found that I was constantly saying "shhhh!" or "you've got to be still so I can hear so-and-so say his words."<br />
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I noticed it at home, too. I currently have a 5 year old and a 16 month old. We also have a cat and 2 miniature schnauzers. Basically, my house is a zoo. Someone is always squealing or crying, barking or meowing, and there is almost always running going on. When the kids run, the dogs chase them, and the dogs' nails on the hardwood floors was making hearing almost impossible for me. I was startling easily because I didn't realize someone was right behind me, and I was finding myself incredibly frustrated with those around me, particularly my husband, who didn't understand how difficult it was for me to hear.<br />
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The more time I spent with my hearing impaired students, the more I realized that something was really probably going on with my hearing, particularly in the presence of background noise. As I worked with them on accommodations in their school environment to help them be successful, I realized that I was also inadvertently making similar accommodations for myself. I sat in the front for faculty meetings. I realized I was beginning to rely heavily on reading lips. I continued to watch television with subtitles, driving my husband crazy. I talked on the phone on speaker phone or through my car's speaker system. And I turned my keyboard volume up on high so I could hear the softest notes better when I played the piano.<br />
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Finally, after going with our Deaf/Hard of Hearing teacher to the Audiologist to take a student to have new molds made for his hearing aids, I realized the time had come to have my hearing tested. I made an appointment with our local Audiologist, terrified as I was to know what was going on. I'm only 32 years old, and I'm a Speech Language Pathologist. Hearing is an incredibly important part of my job. What would I do if I could no longer hear well enough to discriminate speech sounds?<br />
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The Audiologist conducted a pure-tone hearing test, which I fully expected to pass, as I did not think I had any difficulty hearing in quiet environments, as well as a speech recognition test with background noise. I was surprised to learn that I actually did show a mild hearing loss in my right ear. But even more telling and as suspected, I showed a significant hearing loss of speech recognition when background noise was present. So significant that where most people with "normal hearing" were able to recognize 90-100% of the words, I was only able to correctly decipher 32%. The Audiologist gave me a copy of the test words, and she had written my answers beside the word list. This was very helpful to me to analyze as an SLP, as I was able to quickly pick up on patterns, such as frequently missing the final consonant sounds in words, and particularly the higher-frequency final consonants.<br />
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While the results did make me feel somewhat validated to know that I wasn't going crazy-that I actually was having a much harder time hearing than before, they also terrified me. Right now, I'm still able to do my job with some simple accommodations. But what if it's progressive? The audiologist was incredibly understanding and kind. She talked to me about the possibility of aids; however, we both agreed that it may not be quite to that point yet for me. In my particular case, the concern would be that the aids could exacerbate the background noise, making it even harder for me to hear. But she was honest that the day may come where aids are necessary. And she recommended consistent followup to ensure that the hearing loss is not progressing.<br />
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All of this really got me thinking and researching. Did you know that according to the <a href="https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing">National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders</a>, nearly 30 million Americans could benefit from wearing hearing aids? Additionally, of the adults over 70 with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than 30 percent have ever used them. And only 16 percent of adults aged 20 to 69 (the majority of the US work force) who could benefit from hearing aids have ever used them either! According to the Better Hearing Institute, many Americans wait 15 years from the time they suspect their hearing loss to the time they get hearing aids. Why?!?! Why is there such a stigma surrounding hearing loss? We don't make judgments about a person's cognitive abilities who wears glasses or uses a wheelchair. So why do so many people, especially those who are younger or middle aged, avoid wearing hearing aids because they "don't want to be viewed as old" or "don't want to be judged"?<br />
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Whether you're a Speech Language Pathologist, teacher, professional, or parent, if you are struggling with hearing loss, you CAN do something about it. You may need hearing aids or you may not. And if you do, it's ok. Hearing aids have come so far, and many are virtually undetectable. If you suspect you have hearing loss, or if you're struggling with admitting you have hearing loss due to the stimga you feel surrounding hearing loss, here is what you can do:<br />
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1. <u>Get your hearing tested</u>. You can do this as a screening at your yearly health exam. If you need additional testing, it's quick and painless, and will give you the information you need to make an informed decision.<br />
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2.<u> If you have hearing loss, treat it</u>. Follow the advice from your Audiologist and doctor and keep your follow-up appointments.<br />
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3. <u>If you need hearing aids, wear them proudly</u>. Hearing loss does not define you or mean that you are less than capable any more than wearing glasses does.<br />
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4. <u>Tell others about your hearing loss.</u> Not only will this help people in your environment understand what they can do to help accommodate you, but it will also help to decrease any stigma surrounding hearing loss.<br />
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5. <u>Protect your hearing and encourage others to do the same.</u> Don't listen to loud music. Wear hearing protection when you're around large machinery, a shooting range, or other loud noises. This is especially important as a parent with your younger children. Even sound machines have been linked with Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in babies when turned up too loudly for long periods of time!<br />
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Since the discovery of my hearing loss, I have gradually become outspoken about my hearing loss. For one thing, it was necessary for those who care about me to make some adjustments. My family needed to understand that they couldn't speak to me from the next room while the dogs were clip clopping on the floor and expect me to hear them. They have learned to face me when they talk, to mute the television or speak a little clearer when there is background noise in order for me to hear them easier. And my husband even found these amazing <a href="https://amzn.to/2XfTPut">wireless headphones</a> (affiliate link) that connect with the television that filter out background noise and allow me to hear much better without using the subtitles (which is completely fine to do, by the way.)<br />
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Secondly, it has helped to share my hearing loss with some of my students. It's comforting to them to know that I now know first hand some of what they are going through, and it has been great to talk to them about how I've needed to speak out about things I need to help with my hearing loss and encourage them to advocate for themselves when needed. It has also made me even more aware of how difficult some tasks can be for someone with hearing loss when no accommodations are available (hello, instastories!).<br />
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Bottom line: if you know or suspect you have hearing loss, don't continue to wonder or struggle in silence. You're not alone. Get tested. Get help. Reaching out to other professionals does not make you less of one. In fact, setting an example to your students or staff that you'll do whatever it takes to continue doing quality work is as professional as it gets, and it's a beautiful thing.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-84907045724408106492019-02-14T01:00:00.000-08:002019-02-14T01:00:06.320-08:00Valentine Books for Speech Therapy <div style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;">
Hi Loves!</div>
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It's hard to believe that Valentine's Day is here!! I love incorporating the Day of Love into my speech therapy sessions because it is the perfect opportunity to focus on friendship, kindness and inclusion! </div>
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You guys know that I'm an advocate for incorporating books into your therapy session to promote literacy and to instill the love for reading into your students. But in addition to that, you really can work on articulation, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, grammar, MLU, and every other student goal using just a single book! </div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">There are many amazing Valentine's Day books out there that work great in both the classroom and at home, but </span><span style="font-size: 15.6px;">I compiled a list of my favorite Valentine books for speech therapy below, as well as a few suggestions for why I love them! PS: Amazon affiliate links are also included, k? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">1. <a href="https://amzn.to/2Gn1W3j">Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch</a> by Eileen Spinelli is BY FAR my favorite book to teach around Valentine's Day. It is a wonderful story about a man who was lonely and sad until a random act of kindness changes his entire outlook on life. It promotes kindness, inclusion, and friendship. I have two different book companions available for this one: One that is in color with a few black and white pages sprinkled in that you can find <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Somebody-Loves-You-Mr-Hatch-Book-Companion-1039826">HERE</a>, and a second that is completely no prep-just print and go-available <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Somebody-Loves-You-Mr-Hatch-No-Prep-Book-Companion-4362973">HERE</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">2. <a href="https://amzn.to/2Ie23Qn">Who Will Be My Valentine This Year, by Jerry Pallotta and David Biedrzycki</a>, is a fun, short story about a hippo looking for a valentine. She gets turned down by several other animals due to their differences, until she discovers in the end that they were only kidding, and differences are fun! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">3. <a href="https://amzn.to/2tkoetT">The Night Before Valentine's Day, by Natasha Wing</a>, is another fun favorite! Part of a "Night Before" series by the same author, it details lots of activities for the day before Valentine's Day and is full of seasonal and themed vocabulary! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">4. <a href="https://amzn.to/2Ealw0t">Happy Valentine's Day, Little Critter, by Mercer Mayer</a>, is an adorable lift-the-flap book perfect for your younger kiddos. Little Critter is at school and having a valentine's day party....so fun! We use a book companion for this one found <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Happy-Valentines-Day-Little-Critter-Book-Companion-1044127">HERE</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">5. <a href="https://amzn.to/2WVBvXz">Froggy's First Kiss, by Jonathan London</a>, is a cute book for all of your students who love Froggy! Froggy works hard to make the perfect valentine for someone special....his MOM! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">6. <a href="https://amzn.to/2N5HUe7">The Berenstain Bears' Funny Valentine, by Stan & Jan Berenstain</a>, is the perfect book for teaching about friendship for Valentine's Day. I love the character lessons taught in the Berenstain Bears books, and this one is no exception! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">7. <a href="https://amzn.to/2WTwPBk">The Biggest Valentine Ever, by Steven Kroll</a>, is another favorite for the holiday! All of the books in this series follow the adventures of two mice friends who are both extremely competitive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">8. <a href="https://amzn.to/2GIb7dN">There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose, by Lucille Colandro</a>, is another fun book from the Old Lady Series. My students love these crazy books so much! We work on sequencing, comprehension, vocabulary, and more. Jenn from Crazy Speech World has a great companion to this book that we use. You can find it <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/There-Was-An-Old-Lady-Who-Swallowed-A-Rose-Language-Unit-465575">HERE</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">9. <a href="https://amzn.to/2GGE0Hj">Will You Be My Valenswine? by Teresa Bateman</a>, is an adorable book about a pig on the farm looking for a Valentine. It's full of rhyming words, figurative language, and excellent vocabulary! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">10. <a href="https://amzn.to/2X1L9b6">Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse</a>, by Laura Numeroff is a precious little board book perfect for young students in Pre-K! I love how it introduces the character of Mouse as well as valentine vocabulary in brightly illustrated pictures! </span></div>
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11. <a href="https://amzn.to/2UYTBpU">Love Monster, by Rachel Bright</a>, is a super cute book that is a student favorite! It's perfect for teaching about inclusion, being different, and fitting in. </div>
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12. <a href="https://amzn.to/2E8pbfa">A Crankenstein Valentine, by Samantha Berger</a>, is a super funny book about a boy who becomes cranky thanks to the yucky day of love! My boys love this one! </div>
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13. <a href="https://amzn.to/2N2vcwA">The Day It Rained Hearts, by Felicia Bond</a> is a precious book about sharing, being thoughtful, and friendship! </div>
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14. <a href="https://amzn.to/2GGacuD">Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine, by Herman Parish</a>, is filled with funny figurative language that your students will love! My daughter has fallen in love with Amelia Bedelia thanks to this book. We've used it for language therapy and in our social skills group....so fun! </div>
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15. <a href="https://amzn.to/2N33eko">Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentine, by Barbara Park</a> is a great book for older students! I love the Junie B. Jones books and my students do also! It can easily be read over a few different sessions, too! </div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.6px;">Which amazingly LOVEly Valentine books did I leave off the list? Let me know!!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-91421752232467912352019-02-13T09:19:00.003-08:002019-02-13T09:19:39.412-08:00February Themed Speech Therapy ActivitiesHi Loves!<br />
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With as quickly as this school year is flying by, it's hardly surprising that we're already into February, but here we are! With three holidays in February, it's a fun month for themed therapy and introducing new vocabulary. Below, I'll detail my favorite February Themed Speech Therapy Activities, including some Amazon affiliate links for the books.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bCDK3zht7J4/XGMBPaiOSyI/AAAAAAAAbpA/UKT5lBO5ZvMipeMSArFWu0zuRLRTbtHgACLcBGAs/s1600/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bCDK3zht7J4/XGMBPaiOSyI/AAAAAAAAbpA/UKT5lBO5ZvMipeMSArFWu0zuRLRTbtHgACLcBGAs/s640/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We kick the month off with Groundhog Day. Most of my students aren't familiar with what Groundhog Day is all about, much less the history behind Groundhog Day. We use this <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-History-of-Groundhog-Day-1057677">History of Groundhog Day</a> packet to learn about how this fun holiday originated, make predictions about whether or not he'll see his shadow, debate over whether winter weather or spring weather is better, and learn awesome new vocabulary words like <i>burrow</i>, <i>dignitary</i>, <i>marmot, </i>and more! </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-History-of-Groundhog-Day-1057677"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wwOa-nEetDY/XGQfAWCaEtI/AAAAAAAAbqA/YAsxPRQ_wmwOuiPRsQaDNTIY2HnEFcsmQCLcBGAs/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-History-of-Groundhog-Day-1057677"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wCvnhiYV5T0/XGQfACo-PiI/AAAAAAAAbp8/B-CjQxmQ31sagTk8iiJ26bXOHm7dFU_8QCLcBGAs/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After Groundhog Day, we go back to Bears for a week. By this time in South GA, we're experiencing some early signs of Spring, including temperatures in the 70-80's. <a href="https://amzn.to/2TLYCBJ">Bear Wants More</a> by Karma Wilson is one of my favorite books for bringing on Spring. Bear Wants More includes the same characters as the other beloved Bear books, which is excellent for continuity when working on story elements. In <a href="https://amzn.to/2TLYCBJ">Bear Wants More</a>, Bear wakes up from his winter slumber, and he's starving! We incorporate food into this unit as well, and discuss healthy vs. unhealthy food choices too! You can find the book companion for Bear Wants More <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bear-Wants-More-A-Book-Companion-1055380">HERE</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bear-Wants-More-A-Book-Companion-1055380"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_mRM0hP_xD8/XGQfET5qJWI/AAAAAAAAbqE/bq5kcHsnouIBZgUsLJCoJuqw1dwrXWyUQCLcBGAs/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bear-Wants-More-A-Book-Companion-1055380"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8G2_2118af4/XGQfEcOj1fI/AAAAAAAAbqI/J0B0El3Vu8ka2n4Fs6clVRP31TztzKDLACLcBGAs/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After Bears, it's time for Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day is such a fun holiday to incorporate into speech! We read lots of Valentine's Day books and use Valentine's Day themed activities to work on </div>
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speech and language goals! These are just a few of my favorite Valentine's Day books! </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfIqFuKC4Nw/XGQfiNftNUI/AAAAAAAAbrE/EAJIgzNG_hoqPQuqe5yAu3e5mKbfuxrGACEwYBhgL/s1600/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfIqFuKC4Nw/XGQfiNftNUI/AAAAAAAAbrE/EAJIgzNG_hoqPQuqe5yAu3e5mKbfuxrGACEwYBhgL/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Probably my favorite Valentine book of all is <a href="https://amzn.to/2GHMSfN">Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch</a>. It is a precious story about friendship, love, and the importance of kindness. It's the perfect way to incorporate kindness into your lessons while working on speech and language goals as well. I have two book companions available for this book. One is a color book companion that requires printing and laminating (with a few black and white pages mixed in), and the second is completely NO PREP, so you just print and go! </div>
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See the colored companion for Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Somebody-Loves-You-Mr-Hatch-Book-Companion-1039826?aref=vqo48eyr">HERE</a> and the no prep companion for Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Somebody-Loves-You-Mr-Hatch-No-Prep-Book-Companion-4362973">HERE</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Somebody-Loves-You-Mr-Hatch-No-Prep-Book-Companion-4362973"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qGliVD6e8AQ/XGQfitTg2xI/AAAAAAAAbrI/03_KEn6iPgMexpsPAAca1tHHmGbYOSWagCLcBGAs/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After reading the book, we discuss random acts of kindness and brainstorm ways we can show random acts of kindness to others. There are black and white valentine cards included as well for giving to others. </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Somebody-Loves-You-Mr-Hatch-Book-Companion-1039826?aref=vqo48eyr"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmEBd8UNNKo/XGQfkxpROZI/AAAAAAAAbrw/u_FH9mOUOzYrWVb9SZ3sDBmGs6RWFwrBQCEwYBhgL/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentine-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-2351954">No Prep Valentine packet</a> has over 100 pages of various pages for targeting loads of speech and language goals. I love that this one packet allows me to work on just about every goal on my caseload for grades K-5th! </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentine-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-2351954"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XhRKFDGn-9E/XGQfhswPruI/AAAAAAAAbq8/vBdp2sgS8EsCxhciLi6iDaudyl6-raUVwCLcBGAs/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentine-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-2351954"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H9NQoiH-u2U/XGQfjGxs7jI/AAAAAAAAbrM/2WLIBjQsYcQM5UZM3DseJf92IDQWKX0FQCLcBGAs/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love using these candy counting and sorting pages with both real candy hearts and these sticker candy hearts (perfect if you're not allowed to use candy in your schools or have students with allergies!)<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentine-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-2351954"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Nu-30A1cmI/XGQfjozKsEI/AAAAAAAAbrQ/zKB0d-hyyIQAnJZPd27KXOIf6kinz_HTwCLcBGAs/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentine-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-2351954"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e5tzTUd-C2s/XGQfks5XVsI/AAAAAAAAbrY/yCAGpZ-HSa0W4LGLcHFqwYjhH_nVlcw2QCLcBGAs/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love, love, love teaching holiday histories to my students to incorporate factual information in with the fiction and fun! This <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-History-of-Valentines-Day-Comprehension-Packet-748051">History of Valentine's Day packet</a> is great for working on vocabulary, comprehension, and more!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-History-of-Valentines-Day-Comprehension-Packet-748051"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t5Ln2S8c72A/XGQfhnE6tDI/AAAAAAAAbrA/xtKczlTL6GMhRkLbHa8naMw_JhalxyuUwCLcBGAs/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, I have quite a few older students working on vocabulary and analogies. They get tired of working on the same analogies over and over, so I like to spice it up with introducing themed analogies from time to time. These <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentines-Day-Themed-Analogies-497473">Valentine-themed analogies</a> have been awesome for extra practice that also incorporates our seasonal vocabulary as well!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentines-Day-Themed-Analogies-497473"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rKn_5sS8pLc/XGQfhikPDDI/AAAAAAAAbq4/tYsiSUltbyUUvYwzhCo1Q1ajQVkd98nVACLcBGAs/s320/February%2BThemed%2BSpeech%2BTherapy%2BActivities%2B22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next, we're on to President's Day. As a history buff myself, I love incorporating history lessons into speech therapy! My <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-History-of-Presidents-Day-Washington-Lincoln-1064278">History of President's Day packet</a> is full of activities from patriotic vocabulary, to Bingo Boards, compare and contrast pages for the different presidents, short bios on many of the more famous Presidents, and even comprehension passages and questions for the history behind how President's Day became an official holiday and George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. </div>
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Finally, we wrap up the month of February by starting life-cycles, which we'll finish in the coming weeks of Spring. We always start with the frog life cycle, which is a student favorite...especially with the boys! You can find the From Tadpole to Frog book companion <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/From-Tadpole-to-Frog-A-Book-Companion-1225977">HERE</a> and the book <a href="https://amzn.to/2E939J6">HERE</a>. </div>
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What February themed speech therapy activities do you do? Are there others I've missed? I'd love to hear!!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-29515781136447604352019-02-11T18:26:00.001-08:002019-02-11T18:26:45.579-08:00Winter Themed Speech Therapy Activities Hi Friends!<br />
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January is such a fun month for theme-based therapy! Because I'm located in South GA, most of my students have never seen snow. Especially snow that sticks! I love using the month of January for a winter theme so they can learn about other parts of the world that have colder climates, animals that thrive in winter weather, and winter holidays. Using Winter themed speech therapy activities gives me a chance to teach them about meaningful vocabulary that they don't hear or come in contact with on a regular basis. While many of these students have never traveled out of our state, studying about other climates, cultures, and geographical locations allows them to realize that the world is a lot bigger than what they see in their hometown.<br />
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Below, I'll detail many of our winter themed speech therapy activities. Affiliate links are included.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pxEHyWdQVtM/XGHTdgQRslI/AAAAAAAAbOo/cOOulpzLID8ISc0BPXP2vzpKEN3qSBv5ACLcBGAs/s1600/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pxEHyWdQVtM/XGHTdgQRslI/AAAAAAAAbOo/cOOulpzLID8ISc0BPXP2vzpKEN3qSBv5ACLcBGAs/s640/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We start the month of January learning all about winter weather, winter activities, snow, and how to build snowmen. On the first day I introduce a new theme, we spend a few minutes brainstorming vocabulary related to that theme. Later, we'll learn about the Arctic and Antarctic. We study the weather, the geographical location, and animals that live there. We compare and contrast the Arctic and Antarctic as well. I draw a simple map on the board to give them a visual perspective, and I reiterate over and over for several weeks that polar bears and penguins do not live together!<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cQWFegUjcek/XGHT_sbVtnI/AAAAAAAAbO0/wKF-HMKkfP0HSIPSrhITA46ArFyV2CNgACLcBGAs/s1600/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cQWFegUjcek/XGHT_sbVtnI/AAAAAAAAbO0/wKF-HMKkfP0HSIPSrhITA46ArFyV2CNgACLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B5YW_eE5Kh0/XGIgo-9lkDI/AAAAAAAAbQY/wPZoWoZChloIPRvlcRrXHqWba_0seAlgwCLcBGAs/s1600/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B5YW_eE5Kh0/XGIgo-9lkDI/AAAAAAAAbQY/wPZoWoZChloIPRvlcRrXHqWba_0seAlgwCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love reading <a href="https://amzn.to/2GDqJzf">The Snowy Day</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2MZ209M">Just a Snowman</a>, and <a href="https://amzn.to/2SK3c6e">The Biggest Snowman Ever</a> to introduce my students to the different snow activities. I have a book companion for Just a Snowman available <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Just-a-Snowman-Book-Companion-Comprehension-Packet-984366">HERE</a>. We use the Melting Snowman to practice snowman sequencing, and then the kiddos love watching the snowman melt before our eyes! Here's the affiliate link for the melting snowman!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=letstalwitwhi-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00ESIOUGK&asins=B00ESIOUGK&linkId=4a78c1e8c5b37eac22a27b99b35e4272&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
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I also found a pack of soft, fake snowballs a few years back, and they LOVE having a (safe) snowball fight in the therapy room!<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aLnvaGmoCqg/XGIgzWuDBjI/AAAAAAAAbQg/lpzMIBn013IJez4botjjvx-_pNjfn2w9wCLcBGAs/s1600/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aLnvaGmoCqg/XGIgzWuDBjI/AAAAAAAAbQg/lpzMIBn013IJez4botjjvx-_pNjfn2w9wCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also found the snowman inflatable from the Target Dollar Spot this year, but similar items are available on Amazon. When the students answer a question or use their target sound correctly, they get to toss a snowball into the snowman's hole. Whoever has the most points at the end of the session wins!<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PivOimo7TBs/XGIgzZjLeFI/AAAAAAAAbQc/wESjW_dOn3s7dt01pHIudu1U_tl2LCr8QCLcBGAs/s1600/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PivOimo7TBs/XGIgzZjLeFI/AAAAAAAAbQc/wESjW_dOn3s7dt01pHIudu1U_tl2LCr8QCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B13.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Though we don't play games in therapy every day, we do bring out the board games for reinforcement from time to time. These are my favorites that go along with our winter theme!<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M9MQ0fhPo30/XGIgzqBQx_I/AAAAAAAAbQk/5cao7SsYNs4M0ERR-7-W_0PMGQHjrTUHgCLcBGAs/s1600/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M9MQ0fhPo30/XGIgzqBQx_I/AAAAAAAAbQk/5cao7SsYNs4M0ERR-7-W_0PMGQHjrTUHgCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B14.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This year, I also incorporated a Yeti Week into speech! I found this adorable book, <a href="https://amzn.to/2I8Z5Nb">Never Feed a Yeti Spaghetti</a>, at the book fair and made a companion packet for it specifically geared towards my younger students (pre-k through 2nd grade). The students LOVED the interactive book and the Yeti board games that pair perfectly with it! You can find the companion <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Never-Feed-a-Yeti-Spaghetti-Book-Companion-4157366">HERE</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Never-Feed-a-Yeti-Spaghetti-Book-Companion-4157366"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-wdbV9OzZw/XGIgz2GWdQI/AAAAAAAAbQo/xZmlWXupZSQVEin3PG5zyBO-_nkGzCRBgCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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These are all excellent books for a Winter Theme! I love using both fiction and nonfiction texts in therapy for each theme!<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtonsiLhHhM/XGIgzxP4fJI/AAAAAAAAbQs/ik-UsZMUXZgc1teliOZn9kRLVz56fa8TgCLcBGAs/s1600/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtonsiLhHhM/XGIgzxP4fJI/AAAAAAAAbQs/ik-UsZMUXZgc1teliOZn9kRLVz56fa8TgCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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While we talk about lots of different animals that live in the Arctic and Antarctic, we take a close look at penguins and polar bears.We spend several days talking about penguins and reading one of my favorite children's books, <a href="https://amzn.to/2GESfwf">Pierre the Penguin by Jean Marzollo</a>. You can read an entire blog post on Pierre the Penguin <a href="http://whitneyslp.blogspot.com/2019/02/speech-and-language-activities-for.html">HERE</a>. I found the inflatable penguin bowling set at the Target dollar spot, but you can also order a similar one from Amazon.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SAdxfLbyuT0/XGHUoVJMIWI/AAAAAAAAbPI/GZ89BW6wNZksm3Vp4sTcItbni2cMq3jvwCLcBGAs/s1600/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SAdxfLbyuT0/XGHUoVJMIWI/AAAAAAAAbPI/GZ89BW6wNZksm3Vp4sTcItbni2cMq3jvwCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pierre the Penguin is<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 15.6px;"> a fantastic non-fiction children's book about an African penguin named Pierre. He lives with 19 other African penguins in the California Academy of Sciences museum. Pierre loses his feathers and is too cold to swim. The aquatic biologist that cares for the penguins sets out to find a way for Pierre to get warm again. It is an amazing story about problem solving, kindness, perseverance, dedication, creativity, and love. I have two book companions available for Pierre the Penguin as well. One has color activities (with a few no-prep pages sprinkled in), and the second is completely no prep, so you just print and GO! You can find links to both below. When you're finished reading the book, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">the California Academy of Sciences museum has a </span><a href="https://www.calacademy.org/explore-science/live-penguin-cams" style="background-color: white; color: #65a723; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none;">live penguin camera</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "droid sans"; font-size: 15.6px;"> in their penguin exhibit! You can pull it up in your classroom and watch the penguins eat, waddle, dive, and swim in the water!</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pierre-the-Penguin-and-Penguin-Facts-Comprehension-Packet-1015207?aref=ots2pkqg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bAoaZ0q9Ztc/XGHUn9-gUmI/AAAAAAAAbPA/TbaZHqNfl_4okLYtB8Ztbnpva-SePSomgCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pierre-the-Penguin-and-Penguin-Facts-Comprehension-Packet-1015207?aref=ots2pkqg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4atrHNCjIiU/XGHUn7AUrNI/AAAAAAAAbPE/Th1REsNDwfI8u5m97ukrFglpR1ROGmFJACLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pierre-the-Penguin-and-Penguin-Facts-Comprehension-Packet-1015207?aref=ots2pkqg">Click HERE for the color Pierre the Penguin book companion. </a><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pierre-the-Penguin-No-Prep-Book-Companion-4191395"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p3pItZSrssk/XGHUn5a1gHI/AAAAAAAAbO8/GSP9gaya3ykE_Q_hrvDBbulm2_FHnp-NQCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jenn Alcorn from Crazy Speech World has a great penguin craft that works great with this book! You can find it on Teachers Pay Teachers <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Penguin-Craft-Activities-for-Speech-Therapy-1043973">HERE</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-edEW110m7hw/XGInfsMTOjI/AAAAAAAAbeU/tC_7mVLYLUgwPYqtLOopTXAj3icapRA3wCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide2%2B%25282%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-edEW110m7hw/XGInfsMTOjI/AAAAAAAAbeU/tC_7mVLYLUgwPYqtLOopTXAj3icapRA3wCLcBGAs/s320/Slide2%2B%25282%2529.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pierre-the-Penguin-No-Prep-Book-Companion-4191395">Click HERE for the No Prep Pierre the Penguin book companion.</a><br />
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After a week of learning all about penguins, we then spend time learning about polar bears! Another favorite nonfiction book is <a href="https://amzn.to/2IgqkWe">Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World</a>. It's an amazing book about an orphaned polar bear and his zookeeper who raised him from a little cub. The book encourages preservation of our polar bears and other Arctic animals and the importance of taking care of our environment to protect their habitat. The book companion is linked <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Knut-the-Polar-Bear-and-Bear-Facts-Companion-Pack-1074594">HERE. </a><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Knut-the-Polar-Bear-and-Bear-Facts-Companion-Pack-1074594"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mXyXDB01sw/XGIc5ukrEqI/AAAAAAAAbPg/I35_V-wO2rY7NJas_NZpVpfTvgaRxbIjACLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Darla from Ms. Gardenia's Speech Room has a great Feed-the-Polar-Bear activity <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Create-Your-Own-Feed-The-Animal-Polar-Bear-and-Penguin-3512629">HERE</a>. My students were so motivated to practice their sounds on the fish and then feed them to the polar bear! </div>
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We also use my Arctic & Antarctic No Prep Pack to practice our speech and language goals while continuing to learn about the Arctic and Antarctic. It's over 100 pages of no-prep activities for tons of speech and language goals. I use it with almost every student on my caseload from kindergarten to 5th grade! You can find it <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Arctic-Antarctic-Themed-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-2302778">HERE</a>. I also have a Winter No Prep Speech and Language Unit available <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-3628109">HERE</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Arctic-Antarctic-Themed-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-2302778"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YSX20yUAN00/XGIeOPkaurI/AAAAAAAAbP0/uk9byUMymbIUVyUdjSoyp-lIEStLgZ0OwCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Because vocabulary needs to be taught, re-taught, and taught again over and over as much as possible, I incorporate the themed vocabulary into as many activities as possible. This Arctic/Antarctic Vocabulary and Comprehension packet teaches themed vocabulary words and factual information about the animals of the Arctic and Antarctic. You can find it <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Arctic-and-Antarctic-Vocabulary-Comprehension-Activities-4332693">HERE</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Arctic-and-Antarctic-Vocabulary-Comprehension-Activities-4332693"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUwli8jD8yA/XGIeOO_5n-I/AAAAAAAAbPw/ggmLMsP5hYAvTIc7EhRcTjfA9oQFWPBugCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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These vocabulary pages are my FAVORITE! The students write the word, identify the parts of speech, synonyms and antonyms (when applicable), define it and draw it, and use it in a sentence. They have vocabulary books that we keep throughout the year with all of their themed vocabulary pages in them. At the end of the year, we can look back and review all of the vocabulary words we've learned throughout the year!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Arctic-and-Antarctic-Vocabulary-Comprehension-Activities-4332693"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0iP_XL17WvI/XGIeOdaZqsI/AAAAAAAAbP4/BMKm84wQXZEsbZ0vjXBKesbbMB3ZcfC9QCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, I use this Arctic Baby/Mommy Match-up FREEBIE as another way to work on vocabulary while also providing a game for reinforcement. You can find it <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Arctic-Animal-Mommy-Match-Up-471544">HERE</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Arctic-Animal-Mommy-Match-Up-471544"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R6QLxVLl-oQ/XGIeOf4nMwI/AAAAAAAAbP8/1ugiRH1r9C86TIMXtxZXCsLiz49dbF7VwCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After our Arctic and Antarctic units, we do a week on Bears in general. We learn factual information about the types of bears, where they live, and how they are similar and different. One of my favorite fictional books to use during this week is <a href="https://amzn.to/2I9Yo67">Bear Snores On</a>, by Karma Wilson. You can find the book companion <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bear-Snores-On-A-Book-Companion-1037631">HERE</a>. The students love learning about how bears sleep a lot in the winter (although it's not technically hibernation)!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bear-Snores-On-A-Book-Companion-1037631"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MxSAE5bFZA4/XGIjKrr5L9I/AAAAAAAAbRI/4-8XWhurEJQDlmiP7oPCAzdjbGlPism2wCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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During our Winter theme in January, we talk a lot about the season of Winter and the weather. Towards the end of January, we wrap up our Winter theme with Groundhog Day. It's the perfect transition to show how Winter is coming to a close, and Spring is on the way! I think it's really important for students to know why we celebrate certain holidays, so I often teach the history behind the holidays we celebrate. My History of Groundhog Day packet can be found <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-History-of-Groundhog-Day-1057677">HERE</a>, and it teaches vocabulary and history while targeting comprehension, vocabulary, and more! Bingo boards are also included for vocab practice and reinforcement.<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-History-of-Groundhog-Day-1057677"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PzOaTXfO6Bg/XGIjdlM2s5I/AAAAAAAAbRQ/n98lv8HaR-oNkaBesMTNA-3DMc4FfTLTwCLcBGAs/s320/winter-themed-speech-therapy-activities%2B20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My student intern helped the students make an adorable groundhog craft too. It's a puppet, so the students enjoyed making them come in and out of their burrow!</div>
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Do you use a Winter Themed speech therapy activities in therapy? Are there any activities I missed? I'd love to hear!!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-75833013464287524362019-02-01T10:00:00.003-08:002019-02-01T10:08:41.566-08:00Speech and Language Activities for Pierre the Penguin Hi Friends!<br />
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As I write this, many of you are experiencing extremely cold weather courtesy of the Polar Vortex. While we're definitely not seeing temperatures in the negatives as some of you are, things are pretty chilly here in South GA!<br />
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Many of my students in the South have never experienced snow (at least snow that sticks), so I always look forward to our Winter-themed therapy activities each year. We always designate two weeks to learn about the Arctic and Antarctic and the animals that live in both Polar Regions of the world.<br />
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One of my favorite books to teach this time of year is Pierre the Penguin by Jean Marzollo. It's a fantastic non-fiction children's book about an African penguin named Pierre. He lives with 19 other African penguins in the California Academy of Sciences museum. Pierre loses his feathers and is too cold to swim. The aquatic biologist that cares for the penguins sets out to find a way for Pierre to get warm again. It is an amazing story about problem solving, kindness, perseverance, dedication, creativity, and love. And spoiler alert: It has a really happy ending!<br />
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In addition to reading the book, the California Academy of Sciences museum has a <a href="https://www.calacademy.org/explore-science/live-penguin-cams">live penguin camera</a> in their penguin exhibit! You can pull it up in your classroom and watch the penguins eat, waddle, dive, and swim in the water!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GQwBhhgVEM/XFSEnwQby7I/AAAAAAAAbMA/05T2A1XXLaYs6I_0BRe3NIvHmWKtV4bhwCEwYBhgL/s1600/pierre-the-penguin%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GQwBhhgVEM/XFSEnwQby7I/AAAAAAAAbMA/05T2A1XXLaYs6I_0BRe3NIvHmWKtV4bhwCEwYBhgL/s640/pierre-the-penguin%2B8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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While reading this book, we take time to learn about the 17 different species of penguins. Pierre is an African penguin. Unlike many other types of penguins, African penguins don't like ice. They live in the warm waters along the coast of Africa. I also make sure that the students understand that penguins don't live near polar bears! Contrary to many beliefs, penguins don't live in the Arctic at all! Quite a few species of penguins live in Antarctica though!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uV4NYFQFjOE/XFSEmeEWhQI/AAAAAAAAbMI/RU_vAR15ktclgH1Q2oXD66XbsuCPPT2-ACEwYBhgL/s1600/pierre-the-penguin%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uV4NYFQFjOE/XFSEmeEWhQI/AAAAAAAAbMI/RU_vAR15ktclgH1Q2oXD66XbsuCPPT2-ACEwYBhgL/s320/pierre-the-penguin%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In addition to Pierre the Penguin, we read other factual books about penguins too. We compare and contrast the different species of penguins, learn new vocabulary, and learn about the penguin life cycle. We answer comprehension questions, sequence the events of the story, and with my older students, we talk about the author's purpose in writing the different books.<br />
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I love using books in speech therapy. While I'm working on all of my students' goals, I'm promoting literacy and a love for reading at the same time. From comprehension, to sequencing, vocabulary to story retell, social skills, fluency, articulation, etc., I can target just about any goal on my caseload using just one book! I have two book companions I made for Pierre the Penguin that help me target these goals. One companion is mostly in color, with a few black and white pages for worksheets or take-home practice. The second companion is completely No Prep, and includes all new activities that allow you to simply print and go! You can find both in my store on <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pierre-the-Penguin-and-Penguin-Facts-Comprehension-Packet-1015207">Teachers Pay Teachers</a> or by clicking on the pictures below!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pierre-the-Penguin-and-Penguin-Facts-Comprehension-Packet-1015207"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2OFsE02gE20/XFSEnDQiHwI/AAAAAAAAbMM/ZuZassvTaW8nWUhfAxIswAXXmtMn5J3XACEwYBhgL/s320/pierre-the-penguin%2B5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pierre-the-Penguin-No-Prep-Book-Companion-4191395"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7wNEb9oSqNg/XFSEnQJCfII/AAAAAAAAbMU/GEjWQjWY5XE-6GIq9Iey-kV9tEvfgA0xwCEwYBhgL/s320/pierre-the-penguin%2B6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We also make a penguin craft, which is a great opportunity to practice following directions for some of my younger students and writing for some of the older students. The craft is by Jenn Alcorn at Crazy Speech World, and is available in her store on <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Penguin-Craft-Activities-for-Speech-Therapy-1043973">Teachers Pay Teachers.</a><br />
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And of course, what's a good therapy theme without games for reinforcement?!?! I like incorporating new games when they fit appropriately with a theme. They keep the students engaged and excited about learning throughout the therapy session. The blow up penguin bowling set came from the Target Dollar Spot, as did the Penguin ball popper; however, you can purchase similar ones from the Amazon affiliate links below.<br />
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Thin Ice is a new favorite of ours this year. I love this game because each turn is easy and quick, which allows for lots and lots of trials each therapy session! It's perfect for articulation practice (say a sound/word/sentence, take a turn)!<br />
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In case you don't already own this amazing book, here's a link below!<br />
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There are so many options for incorporating activities into a penguin theme in addition to these. You could make fake snow, use cotton balls in a small plastic tub and add animals for an easy sensory bin, incorporate technology by watching short clips of real penguins on Youtube, bring in real ice to describe how it looks, smells, feels, and tastes, and so much more! Have you ever used a penguin theme in therapy? I'd love to hear what you do with your students!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-89437253182726068942019-01-31T05:00:00.000-08:002019-01-31T08:58:17.921-08:00Creative Classroom Storage: Storing Your Printable Teaching Materials Hi Friends!!<br />
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Therapy rooms (I use the word "room" loosely here) are a hot topic for SLPs. We all know that SLPs are notorious for having to do therapy in all kinds of spaces, including but not limited to, teeny tiny classrooms, storage rooms, closets, janitor closets, the back of the library, hallways, picnic tables, common areas, teacher break rooms, the ISS rooms, bathrooms, "shared" classrooms, and more. I'm so super thankful that I have my own space (tiny as it is), that you won't dare hear me complain. Like ever!<br />
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But because it's super tiny and I like stuff, I have to be creative about my storage so it stays tidy and organized and not cluttered and distracting for my students. One question I get asked about quite often is how I store my printable teaching/therapy materials (like those I make and buy from Teachers Pay Teachers). I'm so excited to show you what works great for me!<br />
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When I got my first job in the "real world," I was a traveling Speech Language Pathologist between two elementary schools. Neither had many materials, but I had already started quite the hoard of games and Super Duper materials while in grad school. But it didn't take long for me to realize that lugging jumbo-sized bags of games and other therapy items to and from schools, private clinics, and my car wasn't going to cut it for very long.<br />
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Thankfully, shortly after that, I discovered Teachers Pay Teachers and the art of blogs. I soon learned that I could create materials that worked for pretty much my <i>entire</i> caseload and not have to lug around heavy boxes and bags everywhere I went. Fastforward years later, and I now have quite the collection of printable therapy materials that I use daily, weekly, and yearly with my students.<br />
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With the amount of printable teaching materials I've collected, I needed an easy way to store these activities that keeps them organized and readily accessible. After trying several different options including small boxes, folders, filing cabinets, Ziploc bags, and more, I finally discovered book buddy bags, and I was quickly sold!<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2CXQKXS"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VsKWVmFo5so/XDT_eEJ0Y4I/AAAAAAAAau0/obsMrB_Uz7ESwAxL6OCn7kErYYONxQvnwCLcBGAs/s320/creative-classroom-storage-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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These Book Buddy bags are amazing. They fit 8.5x11 paper, and most books fit in them as well (especially paperback). They also have snap closures on the top, so they stay closed (unlike a lot of Ziploc-like bags). They also have little hangers on the top, so you can hang them up if you'd like as well! You can find the affiliate link to these below:<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=letstalwitwhi-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00207FOC0&asins=B00207FOC0&linkId=3aa41ff1536fdc95eaf88433276d2289&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=letstalwitwhi-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00S2XLQEQ&asins=B00S2XLQEQ&linkId=3e0ad8b39c0f4f218a4bd205a9bbe520&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
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I store all of my book companions, themed-therapy packets, and stand-alone activities in these bags! Then, if the activities are seasonal, I store the Book Buddy bags in the plastic filing tubs seen below from Walmart. You can actually find these in lots of different stores as well, but I live in a small town with no Target (I know, it's torture), so Walmart is my go-to.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2CXQKXS"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxPhMwPKOK0/XDT_eFrGCWI/AAAAAAAAau8/4bEtMALQNvcKRjVbkdYllcOoAriFjOiNQCLcBGAs/s320/creative-classroom-storage-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I made my own full-page labels for the file tubs. Since this picture, I had to separate out my Halloween and Christmas activities into separate tubs because there were just too many things to fit into one tub! </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UDvA_-p9eY/XDT_e8p_0DI/AAAAAAAAavA/Cn44mL8Eb3Utc2pvBuRWz-bDmDX7eAPswCLcBGAs/s1600/creative-classroom-storage-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UDvA_-p9eY/XDT_e8p_0DI/AAAAAAAAavA/Cn44mL8Eb3Utc2pvBuRWz-bDmDX7eAPswCLcBGAs/s320/creative-classroom-storage-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You can see how nicely the Book Buddy bags fit into these file tubs! In addition to the Book Buddy bags, I also store my other seasonal materials in the tubs too. Items for my sensory boxes, decorations, inflatables, seasonal games, mini erasers, and more fit inside them as well! </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lmq8iHhTuqQ/XDT_fScMF2I/AAAAAAAAavE/NKXzOH9dHDoQuAKeBkcY9LkfVGWCOQ-igCLcBGAs/s1600/creative-classroom-storage-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lmq8iHhTuqQ/XDT_fScMF2I/AAAAAAAAavE/NKXzOH9dHDoQuAKeBkcY9LkfVGWCOQ-igCLcBGAs/s320/creative-classroom-storage-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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For the Book Buddy bags containing year-round or stand-alone activities that don't go in the file tubs, I store them all in an empty file cabinet drawer. They fit perfectly!<br />
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How do you store your TpT or printable teaching materials? I'd love to hear!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-45599515572099179042019-01-28T05:24:00.002-08:002019-01-28T05:24:56.604-08:00Winter Books for Speech Therapy Hi Friends!<br />
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If you've been around a while, you know how I feel about books. If you're new around here, let me just tell you.....I can't do speech therapy without them! They are BY FAR my number one must-have therapy item....because I don't believe there's a goal on my caseload that I can't target with books! I incorporate books into each and every therapy session because promoting literacy and instilling the love for reading is just that important. But also because I really can work on articulation, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, grammar, MLU, and every other student goal using just a single book! </div>
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I'm also a big fan of theme-based therapy. My students stay super engaged, I stay really organized, and since the majority of my caseload presents with vocabulary deficits, themed therapy helps us target new, functional vocabulary year round. </div>
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One of my favorite themes each year is Winter. Maybe it's because I live in South GA where 99.9% of the population has only seen snow on television, but there's just something so fun about introducing my students to snow activities, winter weather, and Arctic and Antarctic animals! </div>
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I compiled a list of my favorite Winter books below, and a few suggestions for why I love them! I enjoy using both fiction and nonfiction books in therapy and believe both have an important place! (Amazon affiliate links are also included). </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml_iKVaRaSc/XE4kcI2PDTI/AAAAAAAAbJU/KAtswmxzl8g1I4sDu7AdEKtyuHIQ8W1fwCLcBGAs/s1600/winter-books-for-speech-therapy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml_iKVaRaSc/XE4kcI2PDTI/AAAAAAAAbJU/KAtswmxzl8g1I4sDu7AdEKtyuHIQ8W1fwCLcBGAs/s640/winter-books-for-speech-therapy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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1. <a href="https://amzn.to/2UiTRQ3">Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World, by Craig Hatkoff</a> -This is probably one of my favorite books to teach all year! Though its a bit wordy, you can easily paraphrase for your younger students. I love that it's a true story, and it teaches the students about the importance of conversation efforts for polar bears! I have a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Knut-the-Polar-Bear-and-Bear-Facts-Companion-Pack-1074594">book companion</a> available for this book, which targets comprehension, sequencing, vocabulary, and so much more! There is even an activity at the end that promotes a positive friendly classroom debate on animals in captivity!</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Knut-the-Polar-Bear-and-Bear-Facts-Companion-Pack-1074594"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lPAl9DPUhzc/XE8BSdR4fYI/AAAAAAAAbJ0/w02qAg_EsuMjevifnt0-YFyvEjYrb1nXgCLcBGAs/s320/winter-books-for-speech-therapy%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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2. <a href="https://amzn.to/2DCwHOW">Pierre the Penguin, by Jean Marzollo </a>- Most surely this is one of my favorite books of all time! It's also a true story, and is perfect for teaching problem and solution, problem solving, the importance of perseverance, and more! Plus....the setting of this story (the California Academy of Arts of Sciences) has a live camera feed of their penguin exhibit, so your students can watch the penguins from the story LIVE! My <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pierre-the-Penguin-and-Penguin-Facts-Comprehension-Packet-1015207">book companion</a> for this story is a best-seller, and not only targets information from the story, but also information about penguins in general (including information on the 17 different species of penguins!) I've recently made a second companion for the story too that is entirely NO PREP!</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pierre-the-Penguin-and-Penguin-Facts-Comprehension-Packet-1015207"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxFWcOwYxxg/XE8BV1y4QCI/AAAAAAAAbJ4/JCEHxQDiImMe3Ruafc4ow56Ny2Gum_-kACLcBGAs/s320/winter-books-for-speech-therapy%2B6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pierre-the-Penguin-No-Prep-Book-Companion-4191395"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kVGFII4N7nw/XE8BWjm78YI/AAAAAAAAbJ8/O9hftWy8MYcs74NELjQWw_L1KMgKdJqJQCLcBGAs/s320/winter-books-for-speech-therapy%2B5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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3. <a href="https://amzn.to/2TiuTA2">Penguins: Smithsonian Science, by Seymour Simon</a>- These books are perfect for teaching factual information about penguins, including the different species of penguins, where they live, what they eat, and more. It also teaches vocabulary such as predator and prey. </div>
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4. <a href="https://amzn.to/2Th0WR9">The Snowy Day, by Ezra Keats</a>- Of course this is a classic book, especially for Winter. I love that is details so many activities that my students have never experienced in real life. There is also now a short movie of the book, which is great for comparing and contrasting the book to the movie! </div>
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5. <a href="https://amzn.to/2S9FjEP">Just a Snowman, by Mercer Mayer</a> - I LOVE using this book each winter to work on sequencing and the character education concept of COMPROMISE! The students love Little Critter and his friends, and this book is no exception! Little Critter desperately wants to build a snowman on his snow day, but he first has to do his chores, and then his friends all want to do other things first. So much fun to have the students sequence the different activities in this story while learning about winter verbs and activities! A <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Just-a-Snowman-Book-Companion-Comprehension-Packet-984366">book companion</a> is available for this one as well! </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Just-a-Snowman-Book-Companion-Comprehension-Packet-984366"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_8FRFePmUCw/XE8BdTZqEOI/AAAAAAAAbKA/qVplK9HBoywFxAMWOWtUupeho3Y1VwdCQCLcBGAs/s320/rsz_just_a_snowman_square.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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6. <a href="https://amzn.to/2MAZhU3">The Biggest Snowman Ever, by Steven Kroll</a> -These "biggest ever" books are so much fun! There are many available for different holidays, but they all have a similar theme. Two mice compete to have the biggest item ever, but they eventually decide they can do more if they work together. These books are wonderful for teaching teamwork, communication, helping others, and more! </div>
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7. <a href="https://amzn.to/2S5N7aV">The Magic School Bus: In the Arctic, by Joanna Cole</a>- I'm an 80's kid, so my Magic Schoolbus blood runs deep. This book is perfect for the winter theme, as the students find themselves stuck in the Arctic and freezing cold! They learn about heat and how animals in the Arctic stay warm, including polar bears and walruses. The corresponding episode is available on Netflix, which the students enjoy watching as a special treat after we're finished with the book!</div>
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8. <a href="https://amzn.to/2WlGJLU">Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear, by Eric Carle</a>- While all of the animals in this book aren't Arctic animals, my pre-school students still love this one so much! We usually make a polar bear craft after reading this book, which goes great with our winter theme!</div>
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9. <a href="https://amzn.to/2CL4nZb">Bear Snores On, by Karma Wilson</a>- If you're not familiar with the "Bear" series by Karma Wilson, you're really missing out! The stories are precious, the artwork is beautiful, the vocabulary is plentiful, and the stories always promote friendship and helping others in need. What can be better?!?! I also have a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bear-Snores-On-A-Book-Companion-1037631">book companion</a> available for this one! </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bear-Snores-On-A-Book-Companion-1037631"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T3vZCzTdrCY/XE8BhXObr1I/AAAAAAAAbKE/U-qSMNZnrZ04guwc_QJCWfHckFDLLGyPwCLcBGAs/s320/winter-books-for-speech-therapy%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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10. <a href="https://amzn.to/2B9NiYV">Over in the Arctic, by Dawn Pubns </a>- I love using this book during our week on Arctic animals. It's a cute rhyming book, but it teaches the students about some Arctic animals that are much less common. Anyone know what a lemming is? You will when this book is over! </div>
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11. <a href="https://amzn.to/2WpVLA7">Never Feed a Yeti Spaghetti, by Make Believe Ideas </a>-This has got to be one of my new favorite books for my pre-school students! It's really short and doesn't have many words, but each animal has a wide-open mouth that allows students to "feed" the animals or stick their hands in the animals' mouth, which makes this book extremely interactive and fun! I made a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Never-Feed-a-Yeti-Spaghetti-Book-Companion-4157366">book companion</a> for it with activities for pre-school through 1st grade, and my students beg for this book and the activities! </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Never-Feed-a-Yeti-Spaghetti-Book-Companion-4157366"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KtqwhzpHSG4/XE8BkW-H6XI/AAAAAAAAbKI/Cj44fU-K5TESHpPa--_tz7TbSjXAMJ_VwCLcBGAs/s320/winter-books-for-speech-therapy%2B7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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12. <a href="https://amzn.to/2TiAwOP">Whales: Smithsonian Science, by Seymour Simon</a>-This is another fantastic factual book about whales, including vocabulary and the importance of conservation and the importance of taking care of our animals. I find many of my students enjoy learning things about animals they don't get to see every day! We use Youtube videos to watch the animals in action as well! </div>
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Do you use any of these in your therapy? This list certainly isn't all-inclusive, and I'm always looking for new additions, so if you have suggestions, drop them in the comments below! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-34122781516986746212019-01-15T09:00:00.000-08:002019-01-15T09:00:04.921-08:0012 Books in 12 Months: A Year of Books for Moms & Teacher-PreneursHi Friends!<br />
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Any other avid readers out there? I've always loved reading, but as I've gotten older, responsibilities started mounting up, and two kids joined our ranks, I've had to be much more intentional about carving out "me time," which also includes time to read. I enjoy many different genres including, but not limited to, mysteries, Christian-fiction, historical fiction, fantasy (Harry Potter & Twilight, anyone?), and adventure when I'm reading just for fun. There's nothing better than curling up with a hot cup of coffee and an extra-soft blanket, and getting swept away in a good book! Here lately; however, I've found a lot of joy and motivation from reading more inspirational and business-related books!<br />
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At the beginning of each year, I like to set new goals for the year. These aren't generally big goals, but rather smaller "short-term" goals if you will to help me reach bigger goals. One of the goals I sent for myself this year is to read one book a month (at least). I'm not just a book lover...I'm a book collector! I'm constantly buying new books or adding books to my list when someone suggests one, so I already had quite the stack that needed to be read. I looked over my yearly goals and chose 12 books that I felt like would fit in nicely with my goals for 2019, and I'm going to work my way through these 12 over the course of the year. You can see which books I chose below:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MBqNHTqAe2Y/XDQamLhNd-I/AAAAAAAAaso/lqalF-XMUksxpqoJiedRBW8IJ8qwcqOAgCLcBGAs/s1600/12%2Bbooks%2Bin%2B12%2Bmonths%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MBqNHTqAe2Y/XDQamLhNd-I/AAAAAAAAaso/lqalF-XMUksxpqoJiedRBW8IJ8qwcqOAgCLcBGAs/s320/12%2Bbooks%2Bin%2B12%2Bmonths%2B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some of these books are teacher-related, some are business-related, some are related to life style, some motherhood, and even some financial. A few of these I've read before and felt like I needed to read them again, and ALL of them come highly recommended by a lot of really important people. The complete list with their affiliate links are below:<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2VyV5Ih">1. Grace Not Perfection, by Emily Ley</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2LVncwV">2. A Simplified Life, by Emily Ley</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2C5oXTV">3. Girl Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2CWmMUa">4. Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2AzSyVz">5. Building a Storybrand, by Donald Miller</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2CbSkUm">6. Female Chauvinist Pigs, by Ariel Levy</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2RFy5rW">7. She Wins, You Win by Gail Evans</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2RFyryM">8. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki </a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2VCUqFG">9. The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2VEu2LZ">10. You're a Bad*** at Making Money, by Jen Sincero</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2H2BJIk">11. What Got You Here Won't Get You There, by Marshall Goldsmith</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2AyQFsi">12. Teaching With Love and Logic, by Fay & Funk</a><br />
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*EXTRAS*<br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2LYlbQu">13. Hanging In: Strategies for Teaching the Students Who Challenge Us the Most, by Benson</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2LVSyUc">14. Walking With God in the Season of Motherhood, by Kruger</a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2CXcNOt">15. Awakened, by Angela Watson </a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2LVnHHs">16. Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill</a><br />
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The plan is a review each one on my Instastories as I read through it, so if you're interested in following along with my instastory book reviews, be sure to follow me (@whitneyslp) on Instagram! (I'll save the books to my highlights in case you want to go back to them!)<br />
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First up, Grace Not Perfection, by Emily Ley! (I've read this one before, but this time I'm going all in with my highlighter!!)<br />
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Have you read any amazing business-related or life-style/self-help books lately? Or have you read any of these? I'd love to hear what you think!!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-38532111104692561872019-01-07T13:36:00.001-08:002019-01-18T08:30:21.330-08:00One Word: 2019Happy New Year, friends!<br />
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About 5-6 years ago, my family read <a href="https://amzn.to/2sflxcM">One Word That Will Change Your Life</a>, by Dan Britton, Jimmy Page, and Jon Gordon. We loved the idea of choosing a word to focus on for the year instead of goals/resolutions that we had a hard time sticking with. We started a tradition of meeting on January 1st (we're already together because it's also my birthday), and reviewing our word for the previous year, discussing what worked, what didn't, how we thought we did with our word, etc. and then revealing our new words and any thoughts behind our new word to our family members. I love this sweet tradition because not only does it give family members the opportunity to hold us accountable and check in from time to time to see how our new words are going (we try and meet once a quarter), but it also allows people the chance to speak into each other's' lives about things we may not have even realized or things we did well that we ourselves had forgotten about! It's such a sweet tradition that I look forward to now at the start of each new year.<br />
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I won't bore you with all my words from the past several years, but I will tell you that my goal last year was Grace. Actually, it was more of a phrase: Grace, not Perfection. I'm as type A as they come. Also known as 100% Type 1 on the Enneagram. (<a href="https://amzn.to/2sffR29">Click here if you have no idea what that is and are interested</a>.) Now, I happen to think that Type A people are awesome, but we are known to have a (ahem *few*) flaws. One of the most difficult things for me is rest. True rest. Like, where I'm not actually doing something while I'm "resting" kind of rest. (Does anyone else not ever "watch" tv but just listen to it as you work around the house or work on the laptop?!?!)<br />
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Even when I'm resting, I'm usually discontent and thinking about what all I could be doing. Positives: I <i>enjoy</i> working. I get a lot done. I'm successful because I hustle. Negatives: I'm tired a lot. I get frustrated easily when things don't go as planned. I sometimes have agendas that annoy my family. And I have been known to struggle when things aren't perfect.<br />
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I've been on a mission over the past year to work on that. To give others AND myself Grace. To work hard and strive for greatness, yes, but to also relax. To enjoy life and be present.<br />
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It was a difficult word for me to choose. Especially when I have A LOT I want to accomplish. But I feel like made good progress (as evidenced by the fact that we're a week into January and my Christmas decor is still up!)<br />
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2018 was a good year. When I simplified my life in a lot of areas, gave myself and others grace, took time to relax and regroup, and allowed myself the freedom to put down the to-do list for a little bit, an interesting thing happened: I found peace while also dreaming up some pretty big goals for the future. I learned that sometimes you need a break. Instead of doing all the things, you need to step back and reexamine things to determine what really matters. Then you can get clarity on your next steps....even if that means you're headed down a path you'd never have imagined before while you were too busy doing everything to find the time to dream!<br />
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With my newfound peace and clarity (just to be clear, I still need reminders from time to time to chill out), I'm entering 2019 with an incredible amount of drive, motivation, and determination. Now that I've identified my biggest goals and have developed a plan, it's time to implement my new word for 2019: TRUST!<br />
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I believe wholeheartedly that the Lord has brought forth some desires of my heart that I didn't really dare to admit before. I believe that He is calling me to pursue some dreams that I used to think were too big. It's not going to be easy, and it will definitely require lots of hustling. Sometimes big dreams and change can be scary, but I'm relying on this verse to go along with my word this year: </div>
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When I am afraid, I put my TRUST in you. Psalms 56:3 </div>
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I'm so excited for 2019. I can't wait to share some new and exciting things with you soon, and as always, I'm so humbled and honored that you choose to follow along with my little part of the speech world.<br />
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One more thing: There is a local jewelry artist in my hometown that makes gorgeous handmade jewelry. Each year, she runs a campaign in the month of January for a ONE WORD jewelry line. You can purchase necklaces and bracelets with your word on them as a constant reminder of your word throughout the year. I've bought one each year, and I love having something tangible to remind me of my words over the years! She currently has a discount code for all of the One Word jewelry items that runs through January 31, 2019. All of the One Word items are 50% off now through the end of January! You can use the code DUSTMADE to get free shipping on all orders $35+! Just go to www.dustmade.com to shop! Here's a picture taken from their site that shows one kind of the dainty necklaces!<br />
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Do you choose a word for each year? If so, I'd love to know what your word is! </div>
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PS: Affiliate links are included in this post, k? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-24995774530803874422018-12-21T08:36:00.000-08:002018-12-21T08:36:58.883-08:00Reading Your Way to Christmas: A Christmas Book Advent Tradition<br />
Hi Friends!<br />
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If you're like me, you're super busy this time of year. Whether you're teaching in a classroom, doing therapy, or being the best stay at home mom you can be, life is busy, especially in the weeks leading up to Christmas. As much as I try, it's sometimes difficult to slow life down enough to find the joy in the season. I've been guilty of packing so many things into the month in an effort to "do all the things" that I've just ended up stressed out and exhausted.<br />
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In the last year or so, I've found freedom in saying NO. No to others and no to myself. Even though my intentions were good, I've found that when I let myself get pressured into saying yes to others or when I put pressure on my own self to do too much, I lose sight of the things that matter the most. As someone who is as Type A as they come, it's never been easy for me to say no. But I learned the hard way that I needed to learn how (especially with two little ones at home). And let me tell you a little secret about saying no: Once you do it a few times, it gets easier every time!<br />
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This is not to say that I never say yes, or that I quit doing a lot of things. But I basically quit doing anything extra that didn't give me joy. I still go all out decorating my house for Christmas, because it still brings me so much happiness. I still wrap elaborate packages for my kids and family to rip into and destroy in seconds, because wrapping gifts in front of the tree while binging on the Hallmark channel and drinking coffee is one of my favorite things to do before Christmas. But I stopped putting pressure on myself to bake all the things homemade, because I really don't love baking. I stopped making sure my house was cleaned to perfection because, well, that's just never going to happen while my roommates (a husband, two kids, two dogs, and a cat) live there with me. I stopped volunteering for everything that came my way. I learned that when I stretch myself too thin and give my best to everyone outside of my home, those who live in my home that matter the most don't get the best of me. They get the leftovers. And nine times out of ten, the leftovers are never as good as the fresh stuff.<br />
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Traditions are really important to me. But not only that, traditions are really important to children. They give a sense of belonging. A sense of security. They build memories, vocabulary, language skills and prior experience. In today's world, a quick search on google or Pinterest will bring up thousands of fun traditions if you're looking to start new ones (which I also think is important). While they all seem super fun, it's impossible to do them all. Instead of getting caught up in making sure you do <i>all </i>the Christmas things, choose a few that are most important to you. And if life happens and they aren't <i>exactly</i> the same every single year, don't sweat it. Sometimes when you change them up a little bit, the new version is even better than before!<br />
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One Christmas tradition we established with our little ones is the Christmas Book Advent. Each year at the end of November, I wrap 25 Christmas books and label them 1-25. I buy a new book or two each year, but most of the books are the kids' favorites from the previous years,= and even a book or two that were mine and my husband's when we were little. You can also check books out from the local library or borrow from your personal classroom library! Starting on December 1st, our kids open one book a night for us to read as a family under the Christmas tree. The last book (#25) is always a book about the birth of Jesus, and it's the first thing opened on Christmas morning. We read it first before we start opening presents.<br />
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My little ones get so excited to open a book each night. As my daughter (5) learns to read, she is able to practice reading some to us, and my son (1) is learning to sit and listen, while pointing out pictures on each page. The SLP in me loves passing on a love for reading in my children (with a few 'wh' questions thrown in there too), and the mom in me just loves the sweet simple time together as a family. It's one tradition that I hope never changes!<br />
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Sometimes, I use washi tape and simple numbered tags to mark the books. Other years, simply a fat crayon will do! If you'd like to use the gift tags, I have a FREE set for you <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Book-Advent-Number-Tags-Freebie-4266124">HERE</a>.<br />
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Whether this is a tradition you use in your home or not, I hope you're able to slow it down enough this season to find joy in the simple moments with family and friends. Getting everything in isn't what's important. It's the quality time, the laughter, the music, the simple traditions, the love, and the togetherness that you and your family will remember forever.<br />
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Are there any simple traditions you do year after year? I'd love to hear!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-42779362302932207832018-11-29T09:31:00.001-08:002018-11-29T09:31:23.184-08:00Kicking off Christmas! Hi Friends!!<br />
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It's not quite December, but the holidays are in FULL SWING!! We're busy decorating for Christmas, planning fun Christmas activities for school and home, and trying to finish up our Christmas shopping! We had family pictures made for our Christmas card over Thanksgiving break, so that's one thing I can scratch off the to-do list!<br />
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It's true that this season is filled with lots of things to do. It's easy to get caught up in the business of the holidays and forget to relish the small things, the time with friends and family, and the memories just waiting to be made. I have to remind myself regularly to slow down and focus on being present instead of focusing on buying or wrapping all the presents! I created this Winter bucket list a few years ago that we keep on the fridge to remind us of what we should be focused on: spending time with the ones we love! We don't always get through the whole list, and that's ok! You can download a copy for free by clicking<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Bucket-List-2758667"> HERE. </a><br />
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Because I work with students in pre-school through fifth grade and have a 5 year old and 1 year old of my own, I get asked A LOT about what kinds of books and toys I recommend for gifts. I put together a quick compilation of some of my current favorites for the holidays.<br />
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Many of you who follow along on social media know that I live for children's books, and every year we wrap 25 Christmas books up at home for the kids to unwrap and read each night. They love this tradition, and it's one I hope we can continue for many years to come! I usually wrap some of their favorites, and add a new one or two each year. Besides some of the toys that are currently at the top of their lists and some great options for therapy too, I also included some of our favorite Christmas books that may help you add to your collection. <u>Everything included on my Amazon page are items that I have personally used and stand by!</u><br />
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This <a href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-1cd10516">link</a> will take you to my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-1cd10516">Amazon affiliate page </a>where you can see my suggestions for items perfect for kids during the Christmas season. There are also pages there with my game and year-round book favorites too.<br />
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I hope this helps you spend less time looking for awesome gifts for your own kiddos, family members' or friends' kiddos, or even your therapy room this Christmas, and instead gives you more time to spend with those you love!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-81041971333943279382018-04-30T09:33:00.002-07:002018-04-30T09:33:28.190-07:00Down on the Speech Farm Hey Ya'll!<br />
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Many of you know that I live for therapy themes. I'm at an elementary school with both gen ed and Pre-K through 5th grade self-contained classrooms, so I have a pretty wide range of ages and abilities. I personally find that using themes, even for my 4th and 5th grade students, keeps me much more organized and on track. I prep any new materials the month before so I stay ahead, and have activities targeting all of my students' goals that somehow relate to the current theme.<br />
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Perhaps my favorite theme to do all year is the farm. I grew up on an Angus cattle farm and spent many years traveling to cow and pig shows and helping with both the animals and the garden. (See the below picture)! I live in South GA, so farming and agriculture here is huge. It's important to me for my students to not only know where food comes from, but to also have an appreciation for farmers and how hard they work. Though I sometimes change up my theme calendar from year to year, the farm theme always has a place, and this year, I carried it on for 2 1/2 weeks because there was so much to do! Take a look at some of the activities we did below!<br />
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Me and "Annie" </div>
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The first thing I did this year was decorate my speech room. Though I don't normally decorate for themes, I decided to do so this time, and I'm so glad I took the time to do it. My students were coming off of 2 weeks of state testing. They were tired and over it and needed something to excite them about learning again....and boy did this do the trick! I covered my book cases for the barn and silo, and just used bulletin board paper to make the scenes. I covered Pampers diaper boxes with yellow bulletin board paper and drew lines on them to look like hay, and raided my kids' rooms for farm stuffed animals and the stick horse! It took about 3 hours of work after school, but it was worth it....I had some of the best engagement all year! </div>
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I knew I wanted to do a "Speech Orchard", as I wanted to make sure I taught the kiddos that some farms are fruit orchards instead of just animals or row crops. I used bulletin board paper to make the trees and printed out and laminated the different fruits. Then I put sticky magnets on the back of the fruits, and used a dry-erase marker to write words with target sounds on them. Since they're laminated, the dry erase marker wipes right off, and new words can be written. (Just a note-if you're going to do it this way, make sure your white board is magnetic. If it's not, you can use tape!)<br />
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The kiddos loved "picking" their fruit, saying their word/phrase/sentence, and putting their fruit in the baskets (bought for $1 each from the Dollar Tree!)<br />
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This homemade garden was probably my most favorite activity of all! I used bulletin board paper, a cardboard box top, and cut pool noodles to make the dirt! Then I printed, cut, and laminated the veggies and hot-glued popsicle sticks to the back! The shovel, rake, and watering can came from the Dollar Tree. The students had so much fun planting, watering, and picking the veggies! We used these for sequencing, vocabulary, sorting (by size, color, fruit/veggie, etc.), describing, and more! </div>
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This adorable "Feed the Cow" activity came from <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Early-Sounds-Articulation-Feed-the-Cow-3099505">Ms. Gardinia's Speech Room.</a> It's editable, and the students loved picking a piece of grass, practicing the target sound in words (my language students made sentences or described the word), and feeding it to the cow. (PS: Keurig cup boxes make the best boxes for these animal feeding activities.)<br />
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We also used these adorable interactive books from <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Interactive-Farm-Book-BUNDLE-2574237">Panda Speech. </a>They were perfect for Pre-K and Kindergarten!</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Interactive-Farm-Book-BUNDLE-2574237"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lmSg5H8ITZ8/Wuc-pJy5aWI/AAAAAAAAQpQ/WJf9l9v6aY0nanZfPAI3MRWwETdSuXz8ACEwYBhgL/s320/Slide22.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We used quite a few other farm books as well. These are just a few of my favorites!<br />
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My Pre-K and Kindergarten students loved using these Playdough Smash Mats from<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Preschool-Vocabulary-Smash-Mats-2019083"> Simply Speech</a>!<br />
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This Melissa and Doug egg set paired perfectly with a stuffed hen (swiped from my son's room at home) for matching colors, requesting, following directions, counting, sequencing, and more! </div>
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We used the fence and farm animals to practice prepositions, basic concepts, and following directions.<br />
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And Uno Moo and Big Roll Farm Animal Bingo worked great for this theme too as reinforcers!<br />
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I probably couldn't survive my themed therapy units without No Prep activities. This time of year (well, all year, really), I am swamped. I don't have a ton of extra time, and having No-Prep packets ready to go helps me address student goals and even progress monitor to determine any new goals that need addressed. My <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Farm-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-2539399">Farm No Prep</a> packet is one of my favorites. You can see example pages below, and see it on Teachers Pay Teachers by clicking <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Farm-No-Prep-Speech-Language-Unit-2539399">HERE</a>.<br />
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Older students practiced verbs, writing, comprehension, describing, comparing and contrasting, and more, all with activities from the No Prep packet.<br />
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And sometimes, simple coloring pages work great for eliciting authentic language samples!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0XPZQotUnY/Wuc-qIttuOI/AAAAAAAAQpo/LNQUyRFPefwrQRDguq96j7tzavaLyTKHgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0XPZQotUnY/Wuc-qIttuOI/AAAAAAAAQpo/LNQUyRFPefwrQRDguq96j7tzavaLyTKHgCEwYBhgL/s320/Slide30.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also had my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Farm-Vocabulary-Comprehension-Activities-2539415">Farm Vocabulary and Comprehension</a> packet prepped and ready. This packet has both prep and no-prep pages and focuses on vocabulary, describing, following directions, sorting categories, comprehension, and more! <br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Farm-Vocabulary-Comprehension-Activities-2539415"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdTaAqESLkk/Wuc2fluDzKI/AAAAAAAAQnA/PElQKB35_8olW_hkqwkZvZckldWt-_Q9ACEwYBhgL/s320/farm1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And what's a theme without crafts? These EASY <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Down-on-the-Farm-Craftivity-2539424">farm crafts</a> paired with writing/coloring pages make the perfect functional decor for your speech room! </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Down-on-the-Farm-Craftivity-2539424"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wm5NwDIhtjg/Wuc2w-ZvWDI/AAAAAAAAQns/bOIAG0ygM_ULfL09ZjztqWrIVx-5d4vvwCEwYBhgL/s320/farm%2Bcraftivity%2Bsquare.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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At the request of many, I bundled all three of these activities together in one money-saving <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Themed-Therapy-Bundle-The-Farm-2539428">Themed Therapy Farm Bundle</a>. You can find it by clicking the picture below:<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Themed-Therapy-Bundle-The-Farm-2539428"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Llbyz1Svwf4/Wuc2x55Io3I/AAAAAAAAQn0/ZTJj1nqMwBUPHrdHFy7LKlJhIDCes7dkQCEwYBhgL/s320/themed%2Btherapy%2Bthe%2Bfarm%2Bsquare.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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And if you know me at all, you know I incorporate books into almost every therapy session. <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Day-Jimmys-Boa-Ate-the-Wash-Book-Companion-1201880">The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash</a> is the PERFECT book for Farm week and is so wonderful for targeting comprehension, sequencing, and cause and effect! You can see my book companion for the book below! </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Day-Jimmys-Boa-Ate-the-Wash-Book-Companion-1201880"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SwNLMAFHpGI/Wuc2ia0fBQI/AAAAAAAAQnk/uvGol4ccDPEfgI3dCr7GHC1h8oNX_0-VACEwYBhgL/s320/jb%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Day-Jimmys-Boa-Ate-the-Wash-Book-Companion-1201880"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BZ5IUDcC5Gw/Wuc2jC1vssI/AAAAAAAAQnk/hRE93gch6N40GGPlNjm3Nzr16DqDipVvgCEwYBhgL/s320/jb4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Day-Jimmys-Boa-Ate-the-Wash-Book-Companion-1201880"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wQCowjqRgvY/Wuc2i7YVX3I/AAAAAAAAQn0/fWerNvBwDyMZVf5sQsLWUA0Xc4O8bUPkgCEwYBhgL/s320/jb2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Day-Jimmys-Boa-Ate-the-Wash-Book-Companion-1201880"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K-WfPSU828U/Wuc2w5dESII/AAAAAAAAQno/2QkkMoSQv7cIqFQ4SB7O4UZt0tOLWPbUwCEwYBhgL/s320/Jimmy%2527s%2BBoa%2BSquare.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you made it to the end of this super-long post, you deserve a treat. And here it is....a real-life quote from a real-life therapy session when I was being observed! (At least our job is never boring!) </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-72497831045453700922017-12-06T18:36:00.001-08:002017-12-06T18:36:27.417-08:0015 Great Christmas Books for Speech & Language<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">Hi, Friends!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><br />Can you actually believe I blogged?!?! I'm back from a super-long blogging hiatus! Between working a full-time SLP job, running my TpT and Etsy Stores, being a full-time mommy to a toddler, a wife to my hubby, being pregnant with our little boy, and having both of our sisters and two sets of friends get married, 2017 has been a whirlwind of crazy. Sometimes you just need to step back and focus on priorities, which is what I did. I didn't expect to be away for so long, but now we've managed to get through having our new baby (see pics below!) and 3 of the 4 major weddings (the last one is next weekend!), and I'm happy to be back! I have a super long list of plans and ideas for 2018, and I hope you'll hop back on board after my break to see what 2018 brings....I promise to be around more! (And quick tip....even if I'm not on the blog, I post daily on my Instagram, so you can see quick snapshots of my daily speech and home life there too--- @whitneyslp)<br />
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<br style="background-color: white; outline: none;" /><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Droid Sans;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.6px;">If you know me, you know I live for themes in therapy. They keep me organized, they are chock full of vocabulary, and most importantly, they are super fun and engaging for the kiddos! </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">You guys already know how much I love books, and my Christmas book collection just keeps growing (both at school AND home!). Here's my list of my top 15 favorite books to use during Christmas! I linked to any corresponding book companions I have as well!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X2IaPlW0YFw/Wic_3zg73XI/AAAAAAAAKRI/zSB0gXDC1l8dCa8aXtQcsMUv30lWw5a-ACLcBGAs/s1600/15%2BGreat%2BChristmas%2BBooks%2BBlog%2BPost%2BImage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X2IaPlW0YFw/Wic_3zg73XI/AAAAAAAAKRI/zSB0gXDC1l8dCa8aXtQcsMUv30lWw5a-ACLcBGAs/s320/15%2BGreat%2BChristmas%2BBooks%2BBlog%2BPost%2BImage.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">1. </span><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Turkey-Claus-Book-Companion-and-Comprehension-Packet-1024257"><span style="color: #65a723; font-family: Droid Sans;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.6px; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial;">Turkey </span></span>Claus</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">, by Wendi Silvano</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Turkey-Claus-Book-Companion-and-Comprehension-Packet-1024257"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1H6D0z3iJXs/WidAAfrHqtI/AAAAAAAAKRM/vWJNpzt3_VI31afqczig8lDhridH9_nZQCLcBGAs/s320/Turkey%2BClaus%2BBook%2BCompanion.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">2. Moosletoe, by Margie Palatini</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">3. Llama Llama, Holiday Drama, by Anna Dewdney</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">4. </span><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bear-Stays-Up-For-Christmas-A-Book-Companion-2239281"><span style="color: #65a723; font-family: Droid Sans;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.6px; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial;">Bear S</span></span>tays Up</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">, by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bear-Stays-Up-For-Christmas-A-Book-Companion-2239281"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mAkwmts5GqY/WidALjRk_BI/AAAAAAAAKRQ/pPvVb_3TQ4wuN2XO2XHDkfXvzIVAzu09QCLcBGAs/s320/Slide1%2B%252813%2529.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">5. The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">6. How The Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">7. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">8. The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish, by Deborah Diesen</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">9. <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Gingerbread-Baby-Comprehension-Book-Companion-448354">Gingerbread Baby</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">, by Wendy Pfeffer</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Gingerbread-Baby-Comprehension-Book-Companion-448354"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H65fa04Xgrk/WiihgFCEXpI/AAAAAAAAKSc/BiVfmSpggIgWU1vm4TKuHEeKsfNwrL0jQCLcBGAs/s320/Gingerbread%2BBaby.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">10. How to Catch An Elf, by Adam Wallace</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">11. There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell, by Lucille Colandro</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">12. The Sweet Smells of Christmas, by Patricia Scarry </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">13. Snowmen At Christmas, by Caralyn Buehner</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">14. How Santa Got His Job, by Stephen Krensky</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">15. How Santa Lost His Job, by Stephen Krensky</span><br />
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Bonus: (Not specifically Christmas, but Winter)<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Just-a-Snowman-Book-Companion-Comprehension-Packet-984366">Just a Snowman</a>, by Mercer Mayer<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Just-a-Snowman-Book-Companion-Comprehension-Packet-984366"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GGpqOjK-oNM/WiiofObxh-I/AAAAAAAAKSs/swfdpg5RJdkuShY6NnpcxusfnzZwrjzzgCLcBGAs/s320/Just%2Ba%2BSnowman%2BBook%2BCompanion.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px;">Do you use any of these in therapy? Are there any great ones I missed? I'd love to hear your suggestions!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Droid Sans"; font-size: 15.6px; outline: none;" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-84562763193345414382016-11-04T08:43:00.004-07:002016-11-04T08:43:40.362-07:0015 Great Thanksgiving Books for Speech & Language Hi, Friends!<br />
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Even thought I'm starting to see Christmas decorations in all the stores, there's a holiday between Halloween and Christmas that I don't like to forget: Thanksgiving!<br />
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I love teaching about the first Thanksgiving in therapy, as well as discussing with my students what they are thankful for. It helps me get to know them on a more personal level while we're working on our speech and language goals.<br />
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You all know how much I love books, and my Thanksgiving book collection grows every year. Here's my list of my top 15 favorite books to use during Thanksgiving! I linked to any corresponding book companions I have as well!<br />
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1. <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Turkey-Trouble-Book-Companion-Packet-775181">Turkey Trouble</a>, by Wendi Silvano<br />
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2. Thanks for Thanksgiving, by Julie Markes<br />
3. I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie, by Alison Jackson<br />
4. <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bear-Says-Thanks-A-Book-Companion-2213694">Bear Says Thanks</a>, by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman<br />
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5. There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey, by Lucille Colandro<br />
6. The Night Before Thanksgiving, by Natasha Wing<br />
7. The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks, by Jan & Mike Berenstain<br />
8. T is for Turkey, by Tanya Lee Stone<br />
9. <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/From-Seed-to-Pumpkin-Book-Companion-2855328">From Seed to Pumpkin</a>, by Wendy Pfeffer<br />
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10. The Very First Thanksgiving Day, by Rhonda Gowler Greene<br />
11. One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims, by B.G. Hennessy<br />
12. Ten Fat Turkeys, by Tony Johnston<br />
13. Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey, by Herman Parish<br />
14. The Biggest Pumpkin Ever, by Steven Kroll<br />
15. Just a Special Thanksgiving, by Mercer Mayer<br />
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Do you use any of these in therapy? Are there any great ones I missed? I'd love to hear your suggestions!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-49749351569839861202016-10-24T09:00:00.000-07:002016-11-01T05:31:14.294-07:00Kwik Stix {A Product Review} Happy Monday, friends!<br />
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I'm back today to review one of my favorite products EVER from <a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/">The Pencil Grip, Inc!</a> The Pencil Grip, Inc. produces several great pencil grips, including their 3-Step Grip Development Training Kit., as well as other items that are great for therapists (and moms!), like Kwik Stix! Kwik Stix is actual tempera paint in tubes similar to glue sticks. No water is required, the paint goes on smoothly, and it dries in less than 90 seconds! As a result, there's virtually NO MESS!<br />
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<i>Quick Disclaimer: A set of Kwik Stix was provided in exchange for my honest review. The opinions below are all mine. An Amazon Affiliate link is also included in this post. </i><br />
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I LOVE crafting with my kids at school and my little girl at home. But I. HATE. MESS. From time to time, I manage to be one of those really cool moms that can throw all caution to the wind and let the kids go crazy and have fun with whatever and worry about the mess later. But most of the time, that's just not me. I need order. I need cleanliness. I need organization. And that's why my newfound obsession is Kwik Stix Paint!<br />
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I was given a sample stick of Kwik Stix at a conference over the summer. When I got home, I tried it out, and could not believe how easily and smoothly it painted on the paper and how quickly it dried! In less than 30 seconds, I was able to brush my hand over the paint with absolutely no paint rubbing off on my hands. For a therapist who sees kids in 30-minute increments, quick-drying paint is a major positive. Now my kids can finish their crafts and take them with them when they go. No more craft-delivering all over the school for me!<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3wSJG5crzA/WBiGTy9miQI/AAAAAAAAIac/mE9PhfwmOkcIhAjHCYXeZLgLc6w7lq6nACEw/s1600/Slide3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3wSJG5crzA/WBiGTy9miQI/AAAAAAAAIac/mE9PhfwmOkcIhAjHCYXeZLgLc6w7lq6nACEw/s320/Slide3.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After trying out the sample, I knew I needed an entire set! This is a 12 pack set, but they also come in Neon colors, Metallic colors, a 24 pack, and a 96 piece class set. You can also order thinner paint stix as well!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyTXW9WiffM/WBiGT3te7mI/AAAAAAAAIac/q7CfF64nFjg0ylpdkJQA_V_on3ECy19AQCEw/s1600/Slide2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyTXW9WiffM/WBiGT3te7mI/AAAAAAAAIac/q7CfF64nFjg0ylpdkJQA_V_on3ECy19AQCEw/s320/Slide2.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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As you can see below, my students LOVED them. They worked great on paper, cardboard, paper plates, cardstock, and construction paper! Days later, the colors had not faded at all! </div>
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You can order the Kwik Stix 12 pack set AND see other products available by clicking the links below! PLUS, use the code: YOUWIN15 for 15% off your total online purchase! (<i>Offer good through 5/27/2017). </i><br />
<a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/p/3-step-training-kit?pp=24"><br /></a>
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<a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/p/kwik-stix-12pk">CLICK HERE TO ORDER KWIK STIX</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/"><br /></a>
You can also order Kwik Stix on Amazon!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=letstalwitwhi-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B013HO4OR0&asins=B013HO4OR0&linkId=e9bf90249ec78a65435d62038c16ce57&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
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<a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/">CLICK HERE TO SEE ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS BY THE PENCIL GRIP, INC</a></div>
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Be sure to follow The Pencil Grip, Inc. on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thepencilgrip">FACEBOOK</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/thepencilgrip/">PINTEREST</a> as well! </div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">What do you think? Have you ever seen or used Kwik Stix? These are most definitely topping my little one's Christmas list this year! I need sets for school AND home! </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-4555710924367007532016-10-12T15:01:00.001-07:002016-10-12T15:18:27.495-07:00Odd One Out {An App Review}Hi friends!<br />
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I'm back today to tell you about a new, simple app I've been using with my pre-schoolers! Many of my little ones have goals for sorting objects, identifying categories, identifying objects that don't belong, and/or understanding object function. <a href="https://www.therapy-box.co.uk/">Therapy Box</a>, an app developer specializing in apps for people with communication, physical, and cognitive difficulties, reached out about me reviewing one of their apps, and I chose an app called Odd One Out to try out with my littles! <i>Disclaimer: This app was provided to me in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed below are all mine. </i><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-INxCHJjedlY/V_6kIuBisyI/AAAAAAAAIUQ/C4pDwKXk6AYIOocS6wwMwXVXnWO2JmN0gCLcB/s1600/IMG_0911.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-INxCHJjedlY/V_6kIuBisyI/AAAAAAAAIUQ/C4pDwKXk6AYIOocS6wwMwXVXnWO2JmN0gCLcB/s320/IMG_0911.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When you first open the app, you can press the green button in the top left corner to change settings, learn more about the app, and learn about the Therapy Box team. </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eZpYnCOKACI/V_6kLfThNvI/AAAAAAAAIUY/36SyFktNaQwZ-cIEmMkJGRbbasIYxcb7ACEw/s1600/IMG_0912.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eZpYnCOKACI/V_6kLfThNvI/AAAAAAAAIUY/36SyFktNaQwZ-cIEmMkJGRbbasIYxcb7ACEw/s320/IMG_0912.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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You can alter settings, such as choosing the location where the character, Dubdub, fishes from, choosing the difficulty level (easy, medium, hard), and choosing how many words are given (3 or 6), as seen in the screenshots below. If you click on "Display," you can also choose whether only a picture is displayed, only a word, or a word and a picture.<br />
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Dubdub can fish from the beach, the boat, the dock, and more!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KyEsvH9ulGo/V_6kL-w9UEI/AAAAAAAAIUc/bAWnO0OZlWY1vVOZgwwreafTblP-8PaFgCEw/s1600/IMG_0914.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KyEsvH9ulGo/V_6kL-w9UEI/AAAAAAAAIUc/bAWnO0OZlWY1vVOZgwwreafTblP-8PaFgCEw/s320/IMG_0914.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I choose the difficulty level and the amount of fish based on the ability level of my students. (Currently, most of my little pre-schoolers are doing 3 fish on the easy level!)<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MX3kGzKCJsM/V_6kM2TSKGI/AAAAAAAAIUg/OSeCNhX6gi0W7dI4cV4CSlCbJlyoskdrgCEw/s1600/IMG_0915.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MX3kGzKCJsM/V_6kM2TSKGI/AAAAAAAAIUg/OSeCNhX6gi0W7dI4cV4CSlCbJlyoskdrgCEw/s320/IMG_0915.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Below is an example of 3 fish on the medium level. Students simply tap the fish showing the item that does not belong (the "Odd One Out.") </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBc_BAqft6E/V_6kTXZC-LI/AAAAAAAAIU0/o82ob5oh0J0PryTMlNDb3N7BoamqdULQQCEw/s1600/IMG_0922.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBc_BAqft6E/V_6kTXZC-LI/AAAAAAAAIU0/o82ob5oh0J0PryTMlNDb3N7BoamqdULQQCEw/s320/IMG_0922.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When they make the right selection, the fish changes color with a smile on his face.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rzuZMAhZMkI/V_6kUL9mMdI/AAAAAAAAIU8/u1o_NUgqbWcythatlrl7Gui4AMv7WD1IQCEw/s1600/IMG_0923.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rzuZMAhZMkI/V_6kUL9mMdI/AAAAAAAAIU8/u1o_NUgqbWcythatlrl7Gui4AMv7WD1IQCEw/s320/IMG_0923.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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When they make an incorrect choice, the selected fish changes colors and has a frown.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEJE2Va0jlU/V_6kVRnWW3I/AAAAAAAAIVA/VAom_d4grOwZe9i4gc_Nb7NnewLlRrj7wCEw/s1600/IMG_0925.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEJE2Va0jlU/V_6kVRnWW3I/AAAAAAAAIVA/VAom_d4grOwZe9i4gc_Nb7NnewLlRrj7wCEw/s320/IMG_0925.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Below is an example of 6 fish on the hard level.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JGWupNVlU5A/V_6kOWMHfLI/AAAAAAAAIUo/Cde4ToqdBcUdyE3bHGvD55uChqQdh7VRgCEw/s1600/IMG_0917.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JGWupNVlU5A/V_6kOWMHfLI/AAAAAAAAIUo/Cde4ToqdBcUdyE3bHGvD55uChqQdh7VRgCEw/s320/IMG_0917.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Each "round" consists of 20 trials. After 20 trials are completed, a short video is shown of Dubdub doing some kind of activity (dancing, flying an airplane, etc.) as a visual reinforcer. You can skip over these by tapping in the upper right corner, or you can turn this reinforcer off altogether in the settings menu.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ivsp-Rizq2M/V_6kXQJ5ybI/AAAAAAAAIVE/UglR-lVkjIwoh60dLOdSVLxjZTErQS8FgCEw/s1600/IMG_0927.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ivsp-Rizq2M/V_6kXQJ5ybI/AAAAAAAAIVE/UglR-lVkjIwoh60dLOdSVLxjZTErQS8FgCEw/s320/IMG_0927.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Following the short video (less than 10 seconds), you are given the student's data and accuracy percentage. It shows you specifically which prompts they missed, and this data can be emailed to you or a parent.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o8yaszua_BQ/V_6kYO-8iAI/AAAAAAAAIVI/3RM4G2PdRqAnJpcwA0x5rdCFkiKzrc8VgCEw/s1600/IMG_0928.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o8yaszua_BQ/V_6kYO-8iAI/AAAAAAAAIVI/3RM4G2PdRqAnJpcwA0x5rdCFkiKzrc8VgCEw/s320/IMG_0928.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Overall, this app is very simple to use and great for little ones working on identifying items that don't belong, object function, categorizing, and more. I love that it keeps data for you and gives you an option to email the data to yourself. I also like the visuals, as they are bright and engaging for my little ones. I would love to see an update that allows you to enter student names and saves student data across sessions. I would also love to be able to keep track of more than one student at a time, especially for those students I see in small groups.<br />
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Odd One Out sells in the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/odd-one-out-categories-sorting/id474797127?mt=8">iTunes</a> app store for $1.99, and it's most definitely worth it!<br />
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/odd-one-out-categories-sorting/id474797127?mt=8"><br /></a>
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/odd-one-out-categories-sorting/id474797127?mt=8">CLICK HERE TO BUY ODD ONE OUT IN ITUNES</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.therapy-box.co.uk/"><br /></a></div>
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Therapy Box has many other apps for both the iPhone and iPad!</div>
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<a href="https://www.therapy-box.co.uk/">CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE THERAPY BOX WEBSITE</a></div>
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Have you used Odd One Out in therapy? I'd love to hear what you think!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-4201008457310731452016-10-11T08:49:00.001-07:002016-10-11T08:51:04.623-07:00Mainstreet Memory {An App Review}Hey friends!<br />
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I'm back today with an app review for Main Street Memory, an awesome app by <a href="https://www.virtualspeechcenter.com/">Virtual Speech Center!</a> <i>Disclaimer: A copy of this app was provided for me to review; however, the opinions expressed below are all mine.</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.virtualspeechcenter.com/app/main_street_memory_app">Main Street Memory</a> is a great app designed to assist children and adults in strengthening skills required for auditory processing and recalling auditory instructions. The app is set in a downtown/Main Street setting, with three different stores to choose from. This theme makes the game feel a little more realistic, and helps students (and/or adults) understand <i>why</i> being able to recall auditory instructions is so important!<br />
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When you first enter the app, you'll see the screen pictured below. From here, you can learn more info on the app, adjust settings, and view reports. Or, you can click the START button to begin.<br />
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The Info page is a great way to learn how to use the app, and get additional help if you need it.<br />
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From the Settings page, you can adjust settings such as turning audio on and off, enabling reward, adding background noise, and others.<br />
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When you click START to begin, you are taken to a page to add and select students and choose the shop you'd like to use. Once you select which student(s) you'd like, as well as which store you wish to use, you can then make more specific selections for each student. I LOVE that you can choose several students to play at once and modify the specific selections for each student. For instance, one student can be working on 1-step directions, while another student works on 3 step directions. I've used this app in a group of 6 before, but you can use it for even more!<br />
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After you choose your students and the specific store, you can make additional selections for each student. For instance, for the Sweet Shop and Jewelry Store, you can choose how many items and modifiers you want to use, as well as add in temporal directions. For the Pizza Parlor, you can choose how many pizza toppings you'd like the students to work with. </div>
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Below is a screenshot from Pia's Pizza. Users are given an order to complete, such as "I'll take a cookie and pretzel, please." Then the students drag the correct items to the bottom of the screen to complete the order correctly. If they need to hear the order again, they can tap the green speaker at the bottom of the page. </div>
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Below, you can see a screenshot from Jin's Jewels. The user is prompted with an order, such as "I'll take a yellow bead with flowers and a green bead with blue triangles, please." The orders get progressively harder, and the user can't start fulfilling the order into the entire direction is given.<br />
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Here, you can see a screenshot of the Sweet Shop. Users are provided with an order that they must fill, such as "May I have an orange cupcake and red Popsicle, please?"<br />
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After 5 responses are recorded, users earn a game as a reward. You can choose to play the game then, or skip it by tapping the buttons in the upper corners. <br />
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The game is similar to Pac-man. My students love it!<br />
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At the end of the session, you get a Session Report. This tells you the data for each user. You can print the data, save it, or email it to yourself or a parent! This makes keeping data for everyone a breeze (especially during larger groups!)<br />
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By going back to Reports from the home-screen, you can pull up reports from each session on each user!<br />
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I currently have several students that are struggling with auditory processing and memory. This app is highly motivating for them, and has been an effective way of strengthening these skills. I especially like the fact that you can add background noise. You can choose between static noise, people talking, or birds chirping. This is especially effective for some of my students who do well one-on-one, but struggle in the classroom with the added distractions and noise. Overall, I love this app, and use it often! </div>
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You can learn more about Main Street Memory and/or purchase it through iTunes by clicking <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/main-street-memory/id948411911">HERE.</a> This app is available for only $14.99! Be sure to check out Virtual Speech Center's website <a href="https://www.virtualspeechcenter.com/">HERE</a> to learn more about other apps they have available!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-83846101700905242242016-10-04T05:12:00.001-07:002016-10-04T05:39:33.146-07:0010 Organizational Tips for SLPsHey, friends!<br />
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I hope your weekend was filled with just the right balance of productivity and relaxation!<br />
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The question I probably get asked the most is how I find time for everything. And I'm going to answer that question today. The answer is.....drum roll.....<b><i>I don't. </i></b>Whew. I said it. That was a difficult admission for a type A "do-er" like myself!<br />
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The truth is, no one has time for everything. But it is true that some people are, by nature, extremely efficient. I happen to love efficiency. Scratching things off my To-Do list right and left is just the best feeling ever! I also love organization, which is a good thing, because organization and efficiency go hand-in-hand. Of course, it also helps that I love my career, which makes work not feel like work (most days!)<br />
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Being a working wife and mom to a toddler is hard. Add in a second part-time job, 3 dogs and a cat, writing a blog, creating materials, exercise, meal-planning, daily chores, piano practice, and more, and it's a recipe for unorganized chaos. And the cold, hard truth is that there are days when I'm busting out tasks one after the other, and there are other times when I put my car keys in the freezer. It happens to everyone, and it's okay!<br />
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While hard work and motivation play a huge part in staying organized and efficient, following are 10 tips I live by to stay efficient at my full-time school SLP job (many of these carry over into other areas of my life as well!)<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">1. Have a place for everything. </span></b>You simply cannot stay organized if you don't have a designated place for your things. This means establish a filing system, de-clutter and get rid of things you don't need, and generally clean up your life. It's hard to focus in and stay on task when there is chaos all around you, so designate places for your items that make sense to you (i.e. don't put your trash can on the other side of the room from your desk.)<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">2. Schedule a time each day to put things away. </span></b>You know, a place for everything, <u>and everything in it's place.</u> I don't leave work until my desk is clean each day. This doesn't mean that I complete everything before I go home, but I leave my desk neat and tidy and ready for the next day before I go home. At the beginning of the day, everything is neat and clean. At the end of the school day, there are stacks of board games and artic cards on the tables, dry erase markers without tops on the floor, play-dough smashed in the rug, and a stack of files on my desk. I schedule 10-15 minutes before the end of my work day for cleaning and straightening my room. If I have extra time, I may set out the activities for the next day as well. If you don't schedule time for it, it probably won't happen.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">3. Keep ONE To-Do list and calendar for everything.</span> </b>I used to have a planner for life and a planner for work. Then I had separate To-Do lists for work, my blog, home, and Teachers Pay Teachers. I was drowning in sticky notes that were easy to lose. When I finally organized one To-Do list and calendar for everything, I stayed much more organized. I personally like to have a "month-at-a-glance" calendar where I put my bills, appointments, meetings, etc., and then a To-Do list for the week, divided into "Must Do, Should Do, & Do Eventually (as time permits). <br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">4. Pace yourself and plan ahead.</span> </b>i.e. write things down on your calendar and keep an eye on next week. This is where the month-at-a-glance calendar comes in. It helps me to see which IEP meetings I have coming up and stay ahead. I try to have my IEPs and reports written days before they are due, so I'm not stressed and my colleagues aren't either. If I know I'm going to have 14 IEP meetings in one given month, I start working on them ahead of time and pace myself, so I don't get behind. Whether or not you have to write lesson plans, having at least a general idea what you're going to do with your speech groups ahead of time helps as well. I try really, really hard to leave work at work and not take it home with me. Home time is family time. So except for extenuating circumstances, I find time during my work day to get my tasks accomplished so I don't have to stay late or take it home (even if that means sometimes giving up my lunch break.) But speaking of breaks...<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">5. Take breaks! </span></b>In addition to physical exhaustion, mental exhaustion is real, and it can be a bear when it comes to staying motivated. Mental breaks are important, and they really do help you stay focused. I try to incorporate movement breaks into my day, especially if I've been doing paperwork at the computer for hours. This may be something as simple as walking to the office to check my mailbox. Or going ahead and straightening the room. Sometimes it's reading a new quick children's book to see if it will work for a group of students. Anything that gives my mind a quick break. Then it's back to work!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">6. Don't procrastinate.</span> </b>Procrastinating and pacing yourself go together like peanut butter and jelly! It's not feasible to write 6 reports in one day, so don't have unrealistic expectations to begin with. Don't put off to tomorrow what you could (and should) do today. There are most definitely tasks associated with my job that aren't my favorite (medicaid billing, anyone?), but they've got to be done regardless. So keep it as painless as possible, and work on them all along. Don't put all of your unwanted tasks off to the last minute. You'll be stressed to the max and you'll still have to do them anyway.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">7. Use checklists for repetitive tasks. </span></b>You know, those things you do over and over and over again. Like IEP meetings and paperwork. I have an IEP meeting checklist that I run down each time before a meeting, with things like "update IEP and goals, update goals in Talk Trac, send copies to parents, update due-date list," etc. Even though I do these tasks frequently, having a quick checklist to run down before the meetings ensures I'm not forgetting anything, especially when I have 5+ IEP meetings in one week! Daily tasks, like taking out the trash, shutting down the computer, etc. can also be made into checklists. I have a daily checklist at home as well that I skim over each night. It includes tasks like "feeding the pets (I admit, I would forget this one often if I didn't write it down), exercise, take out trash, lay out clothes for tomorrow, prep meal for tomorrow," etc.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">8. Set times for meetings and/or tasks and don't go over. </span></b>We all have one in our life. It may even be you. That person that can turn a 10 minute meeting into an hour and a half. Please understand that I'm not suggesting that you rush through an IEP meeting and not give each topic or person adequate time. However, as a whole, IEP meetings or parent conferences should not take half of your morning. There are most definitely going to be situations that arise where an extended meeting is necessary, but those shouldn't be the norm. If you're not leading the meeting, let your colleague know that you have a group of students or another meeting coming up afterwards, so you need to be finished by XX time. If you're running the meeting, stay on topic, don't beat the topics to death, and offer parents the chance to ask questions or express concerns throughout the meeting. Meeting agendas help, but are not always practical. I keep a sticky note in front of me with the topics/examples I need to discuss, and try really hard not to chase rabbits. :)<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">9. Advocate for yourself and your time.</span> </b>This has just recently become more of a problem for me. Sometimes when colleagues or administrators look at my schedule, they see blocks of time without students and assume I can fill in or do something else during that time. While I absolutely love helping out my school, there comes a point when we have to become comfortable saying "no," followed by a reason if necessary. Just this week I had to explain to my administrator why I have "blanks" in my schedule. Even though I'm not seeing students during that 30 minutes or hour, I'm entering data, billing Medicaid, testing students, writing reports, writing IEPs, etc. That time is crucial to me being able to get everything done. Sometimes, it just takes a simple explanation, and they understand. I'm a "do-er", and I like to help out. But I've had to learn that never saying "no" only stretches me too thin, which in turn affects my students in the long run. Know your limits, and stick to them.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">10. Disconnect and buckle down when needed. </span></b>There comes a time in every SLPs life where she/he just has to shut their office door! I'm all about keeping the door open to portray friendliness and approach-ability, but there are just some times when I have to keep it shut. I always tell my colleagues, "if you need me, come on in!" But sometimes you've just got to shut out the distractions (including your cell phone), pull up your sleeves, and dig in. My Fridays are usually like this, when my schedule is a bit lighter and I have time to just crank out the tasks back to back. These days are needed from time to time! Turn the music to something you like (or don't if it's distracting to you), put your cell phone on silent, take off your shoes (if you're like me), and dig in!<br />
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So there you have it: My top 10 ways I stay organized and efficient! I should probably throw in a disclaimer here and say that my life is not always organized. It took me 3 hours to clean out my closet this weekend, and you should see my car right now! But it's a proven fact that the more organized and on-task you stay, the more efficient you are. <br />
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Feeling like you could use an organizational overhaul in your life? You can do it! You've totally got this! Now get to work! ;)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-91688803376885808612016-09-22T09:08:00.004-07:002016-09-22T09:08:46.448-07:00The Pencil Grip Development Training Kit {A Product Review} Happy Thursday, friends!<br />
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I'm back today with another product review, this time from <a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/">The Pencil Grip, Inc!</a> The Pencil Grip, Inc. produces several great pencil grips, including their 3-Step Grip Development Training Kit. This set of three different pencil grips helps encourage proper hand positioning for both children and adults. As a result, users obtain better penmanship while reducing hand cramps and sore fingers!<br />
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As a child, I had an "odd" pencil grip, and because it was never corrected, I still grip my pens and pencils incorrectly today. While my incorrect grip hasn't affected my writing in an extreme way, sometimes children's grips can be so poor that it affects their ability to write at all, and can even make them refuse to write altogether!<br />
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As an SLP in the schools, I see a lot of incorrect hand positioning during writing. I currently have a few different students on my caseload in particular who all but refuse to write due to their difficulties with fine motor skills and the inability to properly position their writing utensil.<br />
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The 3-Step Training Kit allows you to transition students from more assistance to less assistance as they progress with proper hand placement.<br />
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For my students who are really struggling, I started them with The Crossover Grip (Step 1). With the assistance of our school Occupational Therapist, we transitioned the students to Step 2, and eventually for those who were ready, to Step 3. Below you can see pictures of them writing/drawing with and without the Pencil Grips. We really saw a big difference!<br />
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<b>Student One:</b> You can see from the first picture that his finger position was incorrect without a Pencil Grip.<br />
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Here you can see how he started off the sentence fairly legible with the word "pirates," but then his hand grew tired and he stopped completing the words.<br />
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The third line down was again without the pencil grip. Now, he is using the 3rd-step pencil grip to write the sentence on the last line.<br />
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He was actually able to complete the entire sentence on the last line and stay fairly legible. I have no doubt as we continue to practice he will continue to improve!<br />
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<b>Student Two: </b>Student two was practicing tracing circles. He traced the first circle without a pencil grip and using incorrect hand positioning. The second circle is being traced using the Step 1 (Crossover) pencil grip, and he has much more control and pressure!<br />
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The third circle is being traced with a Step 2 grip (The Pinch Grip)<br />
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The final circle is being traced with a Step 3 grip (The Pencil Grip)!<br />
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You can see that he had much more control and pencil pressure while using the pencil grips!<br />
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<b>Student 3:</b> This student has the hardest time doing anything that involves a writing utensil of any kind (pencil, marker, crayon, etc.). In fact, he has very little motivation to even hold a writing utensil. Getting him to color takes a LOT of effort. You can see below that we put the pencil grips on bigger crayons, and they made a difference as well! </div>
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This is his grasp prior to a pencil grip. He is very weak and barely holds the utensil in his hand. </div>
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Here, he is using the pencil grip Step One (Crossover) on the crayon.<br />
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The first picture (of the sword) shows something he colored without a pencil grip. (Very light and barely noticeable).<br />
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Here, you can see what he colored with the pencil grip (much more pressure and control). (Note: this student is still using the Step One Crossover Pencil Grip.)<br />
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You can also download a free pdf. printable on Correct & Incorrect Handwriting Positions like the one pictured below by clicking <a href="https://cdn.shptrn.com/media/mfg/324/media_document/8415/GripChart.pdf?1386200620">HERE</a>! Find other free downloads on The Pencil Grip website <a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/k/exampledownloads/Free+Downloads">HERE. </a> (This is really great info to show parents!)<br />
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You can order the 3 Step Grip Development Training Kit AND see other products available by clicking the links below! PLUS, use the code: YOUWIN15 for 15% off your total online purchase! (<i>Offer good through 5/27/2017). </i><br />
<a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/p/3-step-training-kit?pp=24"><br /></a>
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<a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/p/3-step-training-kit?pp=24">CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE PENCIL GRIP TRAINING KIT</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/">CLICK HERE TO SEE ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS BY THE PENCIL GRIP, INC</a></div>
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Be sure to follow The Pencil Grip, Inc. on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thepencilgrip">FACEBOOK</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/thepencilgrip/">PINTEREST</a> as well! </div>
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What do you think? Do any of your students use these pencil grips? Do you have any students who could use them? Let me know! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-23038390524512667082016-09-21T08:41:00.000-07:002016-09-21T08:52:41.083-07:00Doing Disney for Educators: Tips for Therapists, Teachers, & Parents! Hi Friends!<br />
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I'm back today with a super fun post that I've been planning in my head for nearly a year! For Halle Jane's 3rd birthday, we decided to forgo the big birthday party and take her to Disney World! I'm a Disney fanatic and used to go all the time, but we haven't been since she's been born, because we wanted to wait until she was old enough to really experience it and remember everything. I started planning the trip almost a year ago, right after she turned 2. It felt like it took forever to finally get here, but it was more than worth the wait!<br />
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While I know there are hundreds of articles and blog posts out there with tips and tricks for Disney (I read a TON of them!), I thought I'd share my thoughts and advice from an Educator-Mommy's perspective! <br />
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Before we get started with my list of 20 Tips for Doing Disney for Educators, here's a BIG tip that's not included below: <u>Book your trip with a MY MICKEY Travel Agent! </u>We used to go to Disney all the time and were familiar with it, so we never thought to book with a travel agent before. This time, I knew it had been a few years since we had been and several things had changed (hello, Disney Bands!), so I wanted to make sure we had the inside scoop. I contacted a local agent for a quote, expecting it to be really expensive. Much to my surprise, we actually <i>saved</i> money by booking with her! She handled the Disney resort, tickets, meal plan, fast passes, itinerary, character meal reservations, and much more. We talked about what was important to us, and she made it happen. She was able to make reservations for things that I couldn't have gotten on my own. And the best part? We paid a small deposit, and then made payments until the remaining balance was due 30 days before the trip. You seriously can't get a better deal than that! So use a My Mickey travel agent if you can. It's. So. Worth it. (PS: I <i>highly</i> recommend that you use <i>OUR </i>My Mickey travel agent. Her name is Ceciley Sircy and she's simply the best! Like get-an-award-from-Disney the best. She can plan your trip remotely and send you everything. You can check out her page <a href="http://mymickeyvacation.com/team/ceciley-sircy/">HERE</a>!)<br />
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Ok, so set your iTunes to Disney's Greatest Hits Album, strap yourself in, and enjoy the ride for 20 Tips for Doing Disney for Educators:<br />
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<b>1. Make a Count Down Calendar: </b>For kids (and adults) who are anxiously awaiting a trip, a Countdown Calendar is a fun way for them to <i>see</i> how many days are left before you leave. Our countdown was simple, and Halle Jane LOVED tearing off a strip every day!<br />
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<b>2. Use Youtube and other videos to introduce characters and rides so they won't be scared: </b>In the months leading up to Disney, we watched Disney movies, listened to Disney songs, went to local Disney plays, and read Disney books so Halle Jane would be familiar with the Disney Characters and have some background knowledge. We also used Youtube to watch videos of other children meeting characters and riding rides, so she would know what to expect and wouldn't be scared. I knew we would be ok when she saw a Youtube video of the Beast and said, "Can he hold me at Disney?"<br />
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<b>3. Buy Ahead, and Pack Smart: </b>Things like ponchos, stroller covers, bandaids, Ziplock bags, sunscreen, chapstick, glow sticks, and Disney souvenirs are certainly available for purchase inside the parks, but are much cheaper to buy ahead of time, like at the Dollar Store! Your kids won't know the difference, and you'll save money for more important things. Like Disney's Dole Whip Ice Cream.<br />
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<b>4. Bring your home "staples" with you: </b>If it's something you or your kids use regularly, bring it along. Kids toys, blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals can help to calm them and provide a sense of security in new places, like hotels. We brought along Halle Jane's pillow, blanket, and Disney toys for the trip, as well as her EZPZ mats to use for mealtimes. (We were on the Disney Dining plan, but she was eating off of our plates. Having her own EZPZ mat made mealtime familiar and helped her stay focused on finishing a meal, despite the constant Disney distractions (especially with Disney Princesses and Doc McStuffins stopping by the table!)<br />
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(Click <a href="http://go.referralcandy.com/share/H6LH6PM">HERE</a> to order an EZPZ mat with my discount. You won't be sorry!! They're my favorite thing we own!)<br />
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<b>5. Utilize the My Disney Experience App: </b>You can use the app to see park hours, find characters, load and modify Fastpasses, see ride wait times, set your itinerary, view and order photos taken by Disney photographers, and so much more. Ours was loaded with our meal reservations and Fastpass choices by our My Mickey travel agent, but if you're not using an agent, you can load them on your own. It is so much faster than going to the kiosks to reload Fastpasses or tracking down characters you want to see. It's like you're walking around with a Disney cast member in your pocket!<br />
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<b>6. Set a treat/souvenir budget for your kid(s) and let them help you manage it: </b>If you have older kids, I recommend giving them a Disney gift card loaded with a specific amount. Once they spend it, it's gone. For younger kids like Halle Jane, we had a set amount we let her take (we kept the money). When she found something she liked, we had a quick discussion about how much it cost, and we counted to see if she had enough. This was a great lesson on money management and saving for something you really, really want. In her case, she's ALL ABOUT Beauty & the Beast, so we knew a Belle dress was a must, as were a few other B&TB toys.<br />
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<b>7. If possible, do the character meals: </b>If you have little ones who are dying to meet the characters, I highly recommend you do at least one character meal. They can be pricey, but many of them count as a table dining service on the Disney Dining Plan, so they're included. Even if you don't have Disney Dining, they're worth it. Our absolute favorite was the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. The food was amazing, and Halle Jane was able to meet Belle, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Ariel. Not only did they stop by the table to talk to her, but they have frequent "Princess Processionals" where they get to walk around and dance with the princesses. The princesses took time at our table and really talked with her, asking her questions, telling her Happy Birthday, and making her feel extra special! This is also a great time to practice patience and waiting your turn. For the character meals, they make their way around to each table, so Halle Jane was expected to eat her meal until they arrived to say hello.<br />
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<b>8. Speaking of Characters, Practice character questions ahead of time: </b>Our travel agent gave us a list of questions to ask/things to say to get reactions out of the characters. These were awesome suggestions! While we were waiting to meet a character, we would ask Halle Jane what she was going to say to them or ask them. Sometimes we helped her with an idea from the list, but other times, she came up with good questions on her own. (i.e. She asked Gaston if he and the Beast were friends now, and she asked Cinderella where Prince Charming was!)<br />
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<b>9. Talk About Safety Frequently: </b>For older kids, you should decide ahead of time where to meet and what time in case someone gets lost. For Halle Jane, we reiterated over and over how important it was for her to stay with Mommy and Daddy and not walk away. We also talked about what to do if she was lost (find another mommy or Disney worker), and we discussed the importance of staying in the stroller and holding our hand when appropriate. And I know this goes without saying, but don't let your kids out of your sight! (It's super easy to do with all of the distractions!)<br />
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<b>10. Talk About Schedules Ahead of Time: </b>We were at Disney for several days with a lot planned on each day. To make things easier for Halle Jane, we talked only about what we would be doing that particular day. This helped her to not become overwhelmed, and prevented meltdowns if she was expecting something that day that didn't happen. Each night in the hotel I mapped out our itinerary based off of our Fastpasses, showtimes, and our "must-dos" for the next day. This helped with minimizing stress, walking out of the way, and lost time while we were trying to decide what to do next.<br />
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<b>11. Wear the Disney Buttons: </b>If you're at Disney to celebrate something (birthday, wedding, anniversary, your first trip, etc), stop by Town Hall in Magic Kingdom and get a button. We wore them for our honeymoon several years ago, and Halle Jane wore one this time for her birthday. They will most definitely get a lot of attention from Disney cast members! She heard "Happy Birthday, Princess" a hundred times a day. She was treated to a cupcake and autographed birthday card at literally every meal, and when one of the cast members heard she lost one of her earrings in the park, he gave her a new set of Mickey Mouse earrings for free, and told her "Happy Birthday from Mickey and Minnie!" She felt so special!<br />
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<b>12. Bring things to do while waiting in line: </b>While we were extremely blessed with shorter-than-average wait times during our trip, sometimes waiting in line for rides or shows is inevitable. We brought a few books and coloring books along for the wait times, and Halle Jane even chose a Doc McStuffins book as one of her souvenirs. Side note-having Disney books with us also served as a great thing for them to autograph! We didn't do the autograph book, but when Doc McStuffins signed her book during lunch, Halle Jane was over the moon!<br />
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<b>13. Take advantage of ride sharing: </b>Disney knows how to make the trip enjoyable for everyone! They have an awesome option for parents who want to ride rides that their kids can't or don't want to ride. Simply show your child to the cast member at the ride entrance, and let them know you want to ride share. One parent goes on the ride while the other one waits with the child. Then, they switch, and the second parent goes straight on the ride. (Wait with your child in the air conditioned gift shop which is at the exit of most rides!)<br />
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<b>14. Plan time for breaks: </b>No matter how much fun you're having, Disney is exhausting. You do so much walking. And it's hot. The afternoons are usually the busiest times in the parks, so take that opportunity to zip back to your hotel for a rest, or take in a few air-conditioned shows. We went back during the afternoons to our hotel, and even though she didn't nap, Halle Jane rested in bed with a Disney movie on the iPad until it was cooler outside. Then we went back for dinner and fireworks!<br />
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<b>15. Speaking of fireworks, take those glow sticks, bracelets, and necklaces you bought ahead of time with you into the parks at night: </b>The parks at nighttime take on a whole new look. Everything is lit up so beautifully, and cast members are selling glow souvenirs before the fireworks and light parades. Bringing our own not only saved us a lot of money and gave Halle Jane something to do while she waited, but it was also a perfect opportunity for another lesson: sharing! We brought TONS of extras, and she passed them out to other children around us. The kids loved them, their parents were extremely grateful they got to dodge the glow cart purchases, and Halle Jane got to practice being a "kind and generous princess!"<br />
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<b>16. </b> <b>Take advantage of "teachable moments": </b>Teachable Moments are <i>everywhere</i> at Disney! In the lines, walking down Main Street, on the animal safari, on the rides, during the shows, in interactions with people, while eating lunch....you name it, you can use it! Several things came up while we were at Disney that we stopped to teach or explain to Halle Jane. We might have been right in the middle of sprinting across the park to meet our Fastpass deadline, but when a teachable moment arises, you've gotta take advantage of it! We talked to her about Walt Disney when we saw a picture of him, we talked about how some people from other parts of the world have different accents than us (this was prompted when a lady in the bathroom line with an English accent asked HJ if she had seen Minnie Mouse yet, and Halle Jane told her "You sound like Peppa Pig!" Thank goodness the lady replied, "I do, don't I! I love Peppa Pig! WHEW!) We frequently reviewed expectations for behavior, and pointed out how other children screaming and crying make their parents and people around them feel. We took advantage not just of educational teachable moments, but also vocabulary, manners and behavior, social skills, and many more!<br />
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<b>17. Look for opportunities for play-based learning: </b>Disney is exhausting, and it is hot in Florida. Luckily, Disney has many different areas for air-conditioned play. They've restructured the Dumbo ride, for instance, and you can choose to wait inside in an air-conditioned playground area. They give you a buzzer and you turn it back in when you're ready to ride. This was a great opportunity to let Halle Jane run free and play while we got a chance to sit down and cool off. She was able to interact with other kids and practice social skills and more. We also let her hang out in the play area of the T-Rex restaurant in Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney). It's a play area filled with sand, and the kids can use tools to dig for buried dinosaur bones. This was perfect for teaching vocabulary, science, and letting her practice getting dirty (something she is not into!)<br />
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<b>18. Talk about the day to unwind at night: </b>Each night, despite how tired we knew she was, our little one was still wound up from the exciting day. We would lay in bed and ask her follow-up questions about the day (i.e. What was your favorite ride? Who did you like meeting the most? What would you like to go back and do again tomorrow? What was the best treat you ate?) This was a great way to trigger her memory, help her process everything we did, and help her unwind. She was usually asleep before she could answer the last question!<br />
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<b>19. A SMILE and KINDNESS goes a long way-even at the Happiest Place On Earth!: </b>Disney employees (called cast members) spend their days with a smile on their face, calling kids "prince" and "princess", helping people constantly, standing in the heat or rain, cleaning up trash on the streets, and more. Customer service is paramount at Disney, and they do a very good job of staying in character-even those employees not walking around in character costumes. We tried to keep this in mind and be extremely nice to everyone we came in contact to. When they told Halle Jane "Happy Birthday, Princess," we made her stop what she was doing, look them in the eye, and tell them "thank you." Most of the time, our little social butterfly then asked them a personal question, which is her favorite thing to do (What's your name?, How many kids do you have?, etc). They loved talking to her! We thanked everyone over and over who helped us, made sure we allowed others' kids to get in front of us during the parade so they could see, struck up conversations with other parents in the lines, etc. We tried our best to pass along kindness while we were there, and other people responded back in the same way. We modeled this for Halle Jane, because we always want her to know that everyone is important and worthy of love and kindness.<br />
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<b>20. Compile a video/scrapbook of clips and pictures to help them remember: </b>I'm a big scrapbooker, but you don't have to be. You can compile all of your pics in a photobook on Shutterfly, or just print them and slide them into an album. I'll get to this eventually, but on the way home, I used the iPhone app "Fliptastic" to compile a quick video of our favorite pictures. Halle Jane has watched this 28 times a day since we got home, and it helps her remember the memories we made and talk about the trip with family back home who want to hear all about it!<br />
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Well, that's it! If you made it to the end of this super-long blog post, you're a trooper and definitely cut out for a trip to Disney World!<br />
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I'd LOVE to hear from you! What are your best tips for Disney? I may just add them to the list!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-13939284708042438042016-09-20T05:37:00.000-07:002016-09-20T07:27:18.760-07:00Making Mealtime EZPZ {A Product Review} Happy Monday, Peeps!<br />
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It's no secret around my blog and social media accounts that I love EZPZ! If you haven't heard of them yet, they created a silicon plate/placemat combination that is revolutionizing the feeding industry for therapists and parents! Not only do they aid with feeding therapy (making mealtime fun and engaging so kids will, wait for it....actually eat! But they also keep the mess contained! The silicone mats stick to the table, so the plate or bowl doesn't go flying (accidentally or on purpose!)<br />
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You can see other blogs I've done on EZPZ products here:<br />
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<a href="http://whitneyslp.blogspot.com/2016/01/ezpz-happy-mats-product-review.html">EZPZ Happy Mats</a></div>
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<a href="http://whitneyslp.blogspot.com/2016/04/tacos-ezpz-play-mats.html">Tacos and EZPZ Play Mats </a></div>
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But I'm back today with a new product from EZPZ that is even more awesome: The Making Mealtime EZPZ BOOK! </div>
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Haven't heard of it yet? Well it's just amazing! My friend Dawn, EZPZ's own SLP, Lindsey, EZPZ's founder, and Kia Robertson, creator of the award-winning Today I Ate A Rainbow!®, collaborated to produce a super-fun book highlighting fun food art, grocery lists, family mealtime tips, recipes, typical feeding and swallowing skills for 2 year olds (my favorite!), and more!<br />
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Coming from an SLP and SLPMommy perspective, this book has become a staple in our house! I've written a little before about how Halle Jane has had some mealtime struggles, from not wanting to stop playing long enough to complete a meal, to having some sensory issues with touching and handling food. (Not so much with eating-she'll eat just about anything-but she doesn't like to get dirty or touch anything wet or sticky, so she's not thrilled with finger foods.) When I brought the EZPZ Happy Mat home for the first time and we did a little creative food art, that all changed! She may not want to pick up bite-sized pieces of watermelon (wet and kinda sticky when it dries), but she'll work through it to pick up a watermelon starfish like the one pictured above! </div>
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In addition to giving us great tips on groceries to buy, healthy food options, recipes, feeding and swallowing developmental norms, and so much more, we also had great language content with pointing out and naming foods that my little one may have never seen before. </div>
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As an SLP, I was thrilled to see a page in the book devoted to typical feeding and swallowing skills for 2 year olds! As I talk with parents about their child's feeding and swallowing, it will be wonderful to bring this book along to <i>show</i> them what I'm talking about!<br />
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While we haven't made every single recipe in the book yet, we made it a goal to try! It's easy to modify the food art based on what you cook at night....the food art doesn't have to be identical to the book...just let the book inspire you and get creative!<br />
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Best of all, the book inspired me to get my child in the kitchen with me. All too often I had been guilty of setting her up with an activity so I could cook dinner and just calling her when it was time to eat. Now, if there is a way for her to safely help, I let her. She takes ownership in helping me prepare dinner, and then she's more likely to eat it all up! (She also LOVES helping me design the food art!!)<br />
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One other thing: I recently ordered the EZPZ Snack mat for Halle Jane thinking it would be a good alternative to having trail mix all over the floor in the living room for the dogs to scavenge. We absolutely love it! Because trail mix is a "go-to" snack in our house, I had Halle Jane sort out each type of food and practice counting the pieces while she was snacking. (of course the M&Ms were gobbled up first, but she eventually got around to the raisins!)<br />
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Ok, ok, last thought for real: Take your EZPZ mats with you when you go! We went to Disney World last week for Halle Jane's 3rd birthday and all of our EZPZ mats traveled with us! We did the Disney Dining Plan (seriously the best), and because she ate off our plates, having the EZPZ mats there was such a big help! As I'm sure you can imagine, Disney is full of so many things to see, hear, smell, do, (especially when Disney princesses and Doc McStuffins are stopping by your table) that it's one distraction after another. It was wonderful to watch her take it all in, but frustrating to try and get her to eat. Having our EZPZ mats created a familiar aspect to eating, which really helped her finish her meals and get back to having fun! </div>
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If you haven't taken the plunge, I promise you won't be disappointed! You can click the links below to order away! </div>
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<a href="http://wwwezpzfuncom.refr.cc/H6LH6PM">CLICK HERE TO USE MY COUPON CODE</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ezpzfun.com/making-mealtime-ezpz-fun-ways-to-fill-the-happy-mat/"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ezpzfun.com/making-mealtime-ezpz-fun-ways-to-fill-the-happy-mat/">CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEW EZPZ MEALTIME BOOK!</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ezpzfun.com/">CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EZPZ!</a></div>
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Be sure to follow EZPZ on Social Media for more pictures, tips, and inspiration from other mommies! </div>
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Talk to me!! Have you used the EZPZ mats? What about the new EZPZ Mealtime Book? What do you think??? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1760627621027270333.post-43758166431134250912016-09-12T07:06:00.000-07:002016-09-12T07:06:10.644-07:00The Fiddle Focus {A Product Review} Happy Monday, friends!<br />
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I'm back from a super fun (but super exhausting) trip to Disney World! We took my little girl for her 3rd birthday! I'm a Disney fanatic, but the excitement of Disney took on a whole new meaning as we watched Halle Jane experience it for the first time! With about a thousand pictures in 3 days, there were WAY too many to share, so here's just one for now. (I'm going to do a Disney for Educators blog recap later.)<br />
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Anyway, I'm back today with a new product review for the <a href="http://www.fiddlefocus.com/">Fiddle Focus™! </a> Fiddle Focus™, from <a href="http://www.fiddlefocus.com/">Creative Educational Strategies & Services,</a> is a product created to assist children in managing "their social and emotional regulation". I met the ladies behind the Fiddle Focus™ at the American Speech Language & Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention last year. At the time, I was roaming the convention hall looking for something that might help with some of the sensory issues my own little one was experiencing at the time.<br />
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Though I haven't written much about it, Halle Jane has definitely had some sensory issues that we've had to work through. I have a family history of clinically diagnosed OCD. Though she does not have a diagnosis of any kind at this point (except of perfectness by her parents and grandparents), she definitely has some "hang-ups" that we have to work through. To make long stories short, we have worked/are working through walking in bare feet (still wants to wear shoes to bed), eating food with her fingers-especially sticky food like donuts, pancakes, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (still needs to see a wet napkin nearby), getting water in her eyes (still needs a cue to "use her windshield wipers"), wearing tags (still asks to have them cut out, which we rarely do), playing with play dough (still hates when it gets under her fingernails), loud noises (the vacuum, toilets, thunder), and a few more. Currently, we're dealing with her not wanting to ever go without pants! (She doesn't want to wear a gown to bed or a dress unless she has on shorts/pants/bloomers underneath). It seems like whenever we work through one hang-up, another one comes along.<br />
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In addition to these listed, we've also had to work with her on using her hands appropriately when her sensory needs are high and she needs a release. There are times when you can actually "see" the need for a sensory release build up in her. This is usually followed by her grabbing tightly to or squeezing something around her, even if that means your arm or leg. She's little, so it doesn't necessarily hurt when she squeezes you (and her intention is never to hurt), but its not appropriate for her to squeeze other kids at preschool either. So we had to teach her how to appropriately get that release she sometimes needs.<br />
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When I met the Fiddle Focus™ ladies, I was intrigued by their products. They have both the <a href="https://shop.cessllc.org/collections/fiddle-focus-for-busy-fingers-and-busy-hands/products/fiddle-focus-for-busy-fingers">Fiddle Focus™ Busy Fingers</a> and the <a href="https://shop.cessllc.org/collections/fiddle-focus-for-busy-fingers-and-busy-hands/products/fiddle-focus-for-busy-hands">Fiddle Focus™ Busy Hands</a>. They graciously provided me with a Fiddle Focus™ Busy Hands to try with Halle Jane in exchange for my review. <i>Disclaimer: While the Fiddle Focus™ Busy Hands was provided to me, no other compensation was provided. The opinions in this post are all mine. </i><br />
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So let's get started. The Fiddle Focus™ Busy Hands is a "quilt-like" square of five different fabrics combined together. The fabrics are different colors and have different textures, created to provide needed sensory experiences. The outside boarder includes a loop feature which is great for connecting other focus/sensory items or hanging the Fiddle Focus™ onto something (i.e. the stroller or car-seat). You can also add Velcro to the back to attach it to the desk, chair, etc. The Fiddle Focus™ Busy Hands and Busy Fingers™ (a smaller more "plush" version) come in different color patterns, are handcrafted in the U.S., are recommended for all ages, and meet CPSC Safety Requirements.<br />
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The Fiddle Focus™ can be used in many different ways, but the general idea is that children (or adults) can stroke, rub, touch, push, feel, etc. the different textures when they need a sensory release, need to calm down, or need to focus. They can work in the same was as a fidget, although I find these placed in a students lap or Velcroed to the inside of a desk much less distracting for the student using them (and for other students/teachers nearby) than other fidgets.<br />
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When I first gave the Fiddle Focus™ to Halle Jane, she determined it was a baby blanket. She used it to play with her baby dolls, but she also learned to rub it when she was extra excited/worked up and needed a sensory release. We have also taught her to squeeze it (or a stuffed animal) instead of squeezing a real person!<br />
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Even though she uses it a lot to play with her babies, when it's bedtime, the babies give it up, and its hers to use at night. Halle Jane is very picky about blankets. She doesn't like to keep covers on, but she wants something over her legs. We don't do "blankies" out of the house, but she does keep one in the car to cover up with and in her bed. The only blanket she uses are Muslin blankets that we used to swaddle her when she was a baby. I love them because they are soft, but very light-weight, so not too hot in humid South GA. She carefully lays out her Muslin blanket over her legs at night, and rubs the Fiddle Focus™ between her fingers while she calms down and falls asleep. </div>
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Pure precious-ness right there :)<br />
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So let me sum it up: The Fiddle Focus™ is awesome! We use ours at home, in the car, on trips (yes, it traveled to Disney) etc. <u>And we've seen a big difference!</u> Though she doesn't always need it (and the times she does are becoming less), when she does, it definitely provides an appropriate way for her to calm down, get a sensory release, or focus on what she's doing.<br />
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If you're a parent in the same boat as me, this might be a good option for you. (And side note-hang in there! You're doing a great job! Sensory needs can be challenging and tough, but you can and will make it through!) If you're an SLP (like me) with a student(s) that need sensory experiences to focus, this might be a good option for you! And the same goes if you're a teacher or other service provider as well!<br />
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Think you want to try it, or want to know more? </div>
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<a href="http://www.fiddlefocus.com/"><br /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.fiddlefocus.com/">CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE FIDDLE FOCUS™ WEBSITE</a><br />
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I'd love to hear your thoughts!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09040650199495677945noreply@blogger.com1