The Frenzied SLPs are back in true frenzied fashion to talk middle school.   #slpstrong 
In my opinion, one must be frenzied to work successfully with middle school students.  Not this girl. Never have and well it might be better that way.  I don't think I'm tough enough, likely too naive, and clearly I would not handle drama very well.

You are probably wondering why I would even participate in this linky based on my dramatic reaction to middle school students.  Well, I know I've mentioned this major detail before.  I have the privilege of working with a phenomenal group of SLPs in my district.  You ask for support and you get it.  Immediately!  I quick polled and here is what was shared.

1.  In general, middle school students respond best to competitions.

Answer as many questions as their team can before a sand timer runs out.

Pair any drill activity with picking a card that gives points.  Check out this FREEBIE found on Speaking of Speech.

2.  Plan bigger projects.

Create a game or plan an event.

Make a how-to on their favorite subject.

Follow recipes to make something edible.
Even record and create movies to highlight these cooperative projects.

3.  Idea for social skills groups.

Choose Apps that focus on working together and discussing, like 4 Pics 1 Word.

Between the Lines is also a great App to engage students and discuss social nuances.

4.  To align with transition goals on the IEP try researching colleges on the Internet. Look at offered majors as part of the goal and then play the school's fight song, check their sports winning records, and even choose a dorm.

5.  Favorite commercial products to target goals.

Spotlight on Social Skills Adolescent by Linguisystems

Spotlight on Listening Comprehension by Linguisystems

Visualizing and Verbalizing by Lindamood-Bell

6.  And don't forget the Dum Dum suckers!  For every session!!

This list actually really makes me want to try out middle school someday, seriously.  I love planning and creating, researching, making movies, pragmatic language teaching with high functioning students, random reinforcement games with numbers, reminiscing about college days, and of course suckers (maybe chocolate more). 

The ideas in this post were not mine, rather from dear colleagues always supporting my every request!  Thank you!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Sparklle SLP

The Frenzied SLPs are back this month to talk about Speech/Language Screeners.  I can proudly say that I have finished screening over 100 bright-eyed kindergarteners as well as about 15 students that received interventions during last school year.  I am all screened out, but grateful for all the screening tools available.  Remember, follow The Frenzied SLPs on Facebook so you won't miss the next installment in our linky series.  

Without further delay, I bring to you my screening regimen.

Kindergarten Screening

I use the Joliet 3-Minute Speech and Language Screen.  While this screener does not even appear to be in print any longer, I'm here to tell you it still provides me plenty of screening information.  A receptive vocabulary section is included as well as a sentence repetition task.  A little spontaneous sample and observations of voice, fluency, and pragmatic language through conversation and I'm onto the next student in 3-7 minutes.  The screening was originally made for K, 2nd, and 5th grade students.

During my screening time, if multiple sound errors are observed,  I use a word repetition screener. The Articulation Screener provided within the Preschool Language Scale, Fifth Edition (PLS-5) is a favorite of mine, although I am not affiliated with the PLS-5.

Once I am able to screen all kindergarten students, I divide the screening forms into three piles.  Most students pass the screening and are therefore moved into a file folder and into the cabinet.  The other two piles are reserved for re-screens and monitoring.  My re-screen pile is created for students that did not pass the screening in one or more areas and are likely moving toward a more in-depth screening as well as follow-up with the teacher and parents.  Many of these students will likely receive interventions during the year.  The final pile of students that will be monitored are kept within my screening folder. Teachers are notified of my list and asked to monitor the area(s) in which performance was borderline.  Some students may be re-screened after the first semester, if warranted.

Screening for Grades 1-5

Articulation:  I also use the Joliet 3-Minute Speech and Language Screen sentence repetition task for baseline/screening for any students with speech sound errors.  Another favorite sentence repetition screener that I previously linked was no longer available when I wrote this current post.  {Insert very sad face.}  I am glad I have a hard copy in my possession; however, extremely disappointed that I cannot share it with you anymore.  Time to start creating my own!

When I want to gain a more in-depth screening of articulation and phonology, I use the Articulation Test Center app.  You can read about my review.

Language:  Thanks to some amazing SLPs on TPT, I now have my go-to screeners for language.  I am partial to both Nicole Allison's Curriculum-Based Language Assessments and Super Power Speech's Language Informal Assessments.

Documentation

When it comes to keeping track of screening results and sharing information with parents, I have found a few forms very handy.

Within this document, you can snag my Kindergarten Screening spreadsheet.  I use this to notify teachers and keep a log for myself.  I use this only for kindergarten since it is a mandated grade for screening all students.  We have a suggested Documentation of Interventions Form as well as additional RtI Problem Solving Forms used within our district.  I complete these for kindergarten students in which I initiate interventions.

For articulation, I will happily share this Articulation Screening Review Form that I absolutely LOVE!  If I ever meet the author, I may give him/her a big bear hug, seriously!

That about does it.  I'm off to work on my kindergarten spreadsheet and documentation of interventions forms now that my initial screenings are complete.  Thanks for stopping by.  I am anxious to learn some new speech/language screening tips through this linky. Don't forget to link up or comment below with your ideas!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Sparklle SLP

Arrrrgghhhh!  Talk Like a Pirate Day and therefore, pirate week, is upon us. Pirate-themed speech and language lessons are therefore a MUST! Check out some ideas below.

*This post has been updated and previously featured over at Sweet Southern Speech and at Gold Country SLP as link ups.

I snagged Pop Up Pirate at a local thrift shop many years ago. This game is easy for pairing with any target skill and using as reinforcement. We call the swords pirate tickling tools. If he’s tickled in the right spot, he’ll pop up. Students can collect colored tools for each trial or task completed to be ready for the game.

Pirate Says Following Directions
This product is great for working on following directions, recalling details and articulation carryover. Included are 1, 2 and 3-step directions is a fun, "pirate says" game.

Pirates Go to School Book Companion

This is a quick read pirate-themed read aloud for your students. The companion includes a simple, yet fun “X Marks the Spot" reinforcement activity, along with several no prep activities to target a variety of goals.

                                      

Pirates Love Underpants by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort is a book that will get yours students giggling and talking. You can try out my Interactive Notebook Companions packet, which includes activities for this story. Interactive notebook activities for this book include include an open-ended articulation pirate-themed page, following directions with temporal concepts, synonyms, story grammar, and pronouns. If you want a quick interactive craft, check out this FREE Pirates Love product. 

Pirates and Pronouns
Target pronouns and has/have in sentences with these quick drill cards.

Pirate-Themed Speech Interactive Activities

Pirate-Themed Game Board

If you like quick, interactive, cut and paste activities or no prep game boards to pair with your own therapy materials, check out the products above. Make planning a breeze and use your favorite materials with these interactive activities!

I got on a bit of a spinner product creation kick. I also wanted something that I could use monthly for easy progress monitoring. My spinner articulation and language products were born! The articulation set includes 25 targets on each page and includes K, G, F, V, S, Z, SH, CH, TH, S,  L, R and Blends. The pictures remain constant, but the themes change each month. The language product includes vocabulary, following directions, syntax, and WH questions. 

And finally this FREEBIE for articulation homework. Just print and add target articulation words.

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Sparklle SLP