It's the end of my favorite month of the year.  Not because it is cold and snowy, rather who doesn't love their birthday month, even if it means for me being on the road to 40.  Regardless of my internal emotions right now, I'm embracing the journey {maybe}.  Today, I'm again joining Old School Speech as she hosts a favorite posts linky.  Remember my reason for starting this little blog?  To keep myself organized and have a spot to house all the ideas I come across.  Mary has come up with a way to store, if you will, favorite posts from the month for future reference.  Grand idea to give a boost to the old memory.

Here goes my short list of favorite posts from January.

#BecauseImASLP is a sweet little post by Jenna, highlighting her affirmations revealing why this profession is truly a gift.  I am definitely feeling the warm fuzzies each time I read a post on Instagram!

#BecauseImASLP I get to live our school motto "every kid, every day, you matter!"  @sparklleslp

Have you checked out the Frenzied SLPs yet?  This month, Mia {you know she is a favorite of mine if you have been reading} tells us a little about herself.  I never knew this part of blogging, getting to know so many SLPs from across the country, would be so fulfilling!  I often find myself thinking about these lovely ladies that I have "met."  Some of my other Frenzied SLP favorites are Peachie Speechie and All Y'all Need.  These three ladies are truly the sweetest around.

Speaking of All Y'all Need.  They often link up for Five for Friday and well I just love reading these 5 snippets each time.  This reminder of my favorite posts is also a kick in the old rear to link up sometime!

As I said last month, you can never go wrong with a post over at Speechie Freebies.  Good golly I need to organize my materials on my desktop.  I am way too embarrassed to show you what it looks like on a regular basis.  I'm saving this post for a snow day!

Another month of inspiring posts here in blogland.  I'm again grateful for this little endeavor for allowing me to gain more than I could have expected.

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Sparklle SLP

I'm in LOVE with so many Valentine themed books which makes it so hard to choose one for therapy.  I might think of a way to extend the theme a bit, but I can always use Old School Speech's quick tip for keeping track of which books I use this year by adding a little sticky note to the cover with the school year.  Until I figure it out, I'll share some therapy ideas for I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt.

I'm once again linking up with Scarlett for Wild About Books Wednesday.

Although I am not affiliated with this book, I truly adore the Stinky Face books.  I've been reading this particular book to my son since he was a little guy.  It's truly perfect for active imaginations with big worries.  Lisa McCourt writes about a little boy that relentlessly asks questions inquiring if his mama would still love him if he were to present as a number of different creatures with unique character traits.  So, when he asks if she would still love him if he were a super smelly skunk, mama continues to offer detailed responses to show her unconditional love.

This book offers rich vocabulary and detailed descriptions perfect for defining and describing.

I am always in need of practical carryover activities for past tense verb usage {both regular and irregular verbs} in which this book offers ample opportunities for retell of what mama would do to show her affection if really her son transformed into a swamp monster or alligator or cyclops.

Sequencing events as well as summarizing using the Somebody Wanted But So Then {SWBST} strategy are also easily addressed using this book.

Addressing character feelings throughout the story is a great way to work on perspective taking.

Stinky Face asks a great deal of questions.  Students can work on asking their own questions or creating their own creature with descriptive details.

Articulation groups can practice discrimination by listening for target sounds in words and then practicing correct production at the word or sentence level as well as through retell of the text.

I have also created a book companion.  I must say it is becoming a bit of an addiction!  I just can't stop!  This book companion includes a variety of activities to address vocabulary, verb usage, articulation, summarizing and retelling, asking questions, describing, following directions, and answering comprehension questions.

If you download the preview, I have included Roll & Color Hearts for your use as a freebie!  Whether you read I Love You Stinky Face or another Valentine themed story, this is an easy reinforcement activity to use when targeting any skill!

Thanks for stopping by.  Do you have any favorite Valentine themed books?  I'd love to add them to my collection.  Don't forget to check out the other book recommendations over at Speech is Sweet!

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Sparklle SLP

Being a school-based SLP, I feel I can never learn enough tips for therapy and streamlining workload.  I thought it would be nice to post a tip {on Tuesday} here and there to remind myself of advice learned along the way.  I assure you that most of my tips will be those gained from others, with this just being a central location for collecting those tips!

A few weeks later...Call it procrastination or impulsiveness gone wild with no organization of my ideas, but I spent the last few weeks thinking about this idea often with absolutely no action.  I got as far as typing my intro (paragraph one) and finding some tips for speech-lifting (I'll share them below) and then it fell by the wayside.  Enter Kim Jarvis, the super cute and creative School SLP!  Her timing was impeccable for her Quick Tip Tuesday Linky Party.  Now all I have do is link up and share tips, while finding even more over at her linky!

Here are some tips!

For starters, check out Nicole Allison's quick tip for data collection.  She talked about "writing each trial/month in a different color so it's easy to spot how many trials you have." Nicole further states that she takes data this way once every 5 weeks.  Best part, she even uploaded her editable data sheet to TPT as a freebie!  I asked Nicole if I could link to her quick tip {she said yes} and then I laughed with a colleague about trying to find the correct marker on the day I was collecting data.  You can follow Nicole @nrallison on Instagram for more on her color-coded data collection system {and much more}!  You can also check out her spectacular blog, Allison's Speech Peeps.

I also reached out to Felice Clark, The Dabbling Speechie, as she posted a quick tip for TPT sellers. She posts, "keep all your graphic credits with hyperlinks on one page, so you can quickly cut n'paste into your product!"  Genius I tell you, especially if you were to take a look at my desktop you would know I need this tip!  And although she sent me a picture to include, you won't see it here {my technology fail}, but more reason to go check her out on IG @thedabblingspeechie.  You might also want to see this fabulous post on her blog.  She has a little addiction to magnetic hooks, wash tubs, and plastic pouches too!

Head back over to the linky for more quick tips!

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Sparklle SLP

I've been pumping the literacy into my speech room this year and as any SLP would, I am always second guessing self-reflecting on the effectiveness of my therapy choices.  One special little 1st grader was so excited to see me after break, especially because he was thrilled to tell me about his Christmas gift.  Luckily my therapy plans included time to discuss winter break happenings using this TPT freebie.  We were nearing the end of our session and I suggested that we might have time for another activity.  He squealed in delight about the possibility of me reading them another story!  Did he just say the perfect line to this SLP or what?!  He absolutely did not ask to play a game {and if you are an SLP, you totally know we do more than play games}.  I assured him there would be more stories to come.  And that my friends solidifies my quest to continue with books and therapy companion activities.

So, in linking up with Scarlett for Wild About Books Wednesday, I bring to you another in the old lady series, There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow by Lucille Colandro.  Although I am not affiliated with this book, I truly adore her series.  So, I've scoured TPT to bring you a collection of freebies that may just be what your lesson plans ordered!

Emergent Reader Freebie

Following Directions Freebie

Snow Experiments Freebie

Snow Day Quick Drill Freebie

Snow Senses Describing Activity Freebie

Snowy Speech Articulation Freebie

Snow Day Language Fun Freebie

Roll a Snowman Reinforcement Freebie

If this isn't enough for your needs, I have also created a book companion.  I love creating and using these companions in therapy.  Clearly, at least one little guy agrees!  Whether you purchase my companion, one of the many others created by SLPs, or just plan to read the book within your speech room, this is a great text to target retelling of events, regular verbs, and of course describing a snowman!

Don't forget to check out the other book recommendations over at Speech is Sweet!  If you'd like to win a copy of my book companion, just comment below and I'll let random number generator choose one winner!

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Sparklle SLP