Popular Posts

Showing posts with label TpT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TpT. Show all posts

I have learned NOT to enter my first week in speech without my trusted behavior support visuals. I have a whole filing cabinet drawer of visuals, one that you would get lost within, yet I have developed a few tried and true favorite visuals that make my first week and beyond a bit more successful! I'm sharing my top 4 categories of behavior support visuals. You can find the entire packet here (linked in each section below, as well).



SCHEDULES

Did you know that visual schedules help to alleviate stress and anxiety students feel about expected routines? They greatly help with comprehension of tasks. Visual schedules also help students with ASD in becoming independent of adult prompts and cues (Mesibov, Shea, & Schopler, 2005).


I use a simple 4 part schedule for my speech therapy sessions. I can easily switch it out for the session activities. Students can move each task to the finished spot. Despite my best intentions, not all of my students love staying in my sessions, so knowing there is an end is motivating. 



TOKEN BOARDS

We all work for rewards and reinforcement. Whether you finish your work before you eat your chocolate bar, do your have-to-dos before your want-to-dos, or push through to meet a deadline for a promotion, we all find incentives motivating. 


Allow your students the same benefit of working to accomplish a task and be rewarded for their efforts. Easily use token boards by offering intermittent reinforcement with an end reward in mind. 




SELF-MONITORING

Help your students self-monitor with visuals. Taking breaks, learning to wait (read about how to teach wait), asking for help, having countdowns or parameters, and choosing tools to aid attention and focus help with student self-monitoring. Teach your students how to advocate for what they need using visual supports.



GOALS

Goals are essential for progress. You can change the plan, but keep the goal. Easily set students up with achievable behavioral goals and watch them master the skills necessary for success with these visual goals.




Join me in preparing for behavior management with visual supports. You can grab all the visuals here.

Read more »

Sparklle SLP



I gathered my back to speech routines, organized them into 5 categories, and linked some products to provide you with tips for starting the school year off right!

With over 20 years as a school-based speech language pathologist, I would like to think that after all these years I would have back to school mastered; however, there is always so much to do it’s easy to forget steps. 

1.  CREATE

  • BULLETIN BOARDS:  If you are lucky enough to have a bulletin board in your speech room, fill it up with evergreen decor, perfect for the entire school year. Add some modern rustic decor or abstract colors found within my Back to Speech product.                                        



  • PARENT LETTER:  Consider writing a beginning of the year parent letter. I like to have this initial contact to remind parents about their child's participation in therapy, to share my expectations and any logistical information, as well as encourage home practice. I have a sample parent letter and template in my Back to Speech packet.
  • IEP AT A GLANCE:  Prior to the first day, I make sure to share with teachers and staff an IEP at a glance for each student. This summary of goals, services, and accommodations will give the teacher a quick reference regarding speech and language needs of their students. I use one generated from our IEP software.
  • FIRST SESSION ACTIVITY:  I always plan a first day in speech activity that includes goal setting and gathering of baseline. You can check out my Speech and Language Snapshot or Goal Setting Foldable Activity within my Back to Speech packet or my Back to Speech Lap Book.
                                         

                                          

2.  ORGANIZE

  • CASELOAD:  I always go through files to create a caseload list with student names, date of birth, grade, teacher, IEP and evaluation deadlines, type of service delivery and minutes. I use this information to create my own caseload spreadsheet in Google Sheets™️ so I can update it live throughout the year.
  • BILLING:  Whatever I can do to add information into billing software, I do! SLPs know how time consuming billing can be and how easy it is to get behind. Every little bit of organization helps.
  • LOGS/LISTS:  I organize paperwork for logging lesson plans, testing, and screening. I keep these in a binder and add to them during the year. Check out my SLP Planner and Workload Forms packets for a variety of logs. My favorite is a my digitally fillable weekly checklist. I never start a week without it completed!
 

  • DEADLINES:  For those IEPs and evaluations that will expire quickly upon the start of school, I add the student folders to my working file and attach sticky notes as flags to remind me of deadlines. The start of a new school year is always fast-paced and staying on top of deadlines is a must.
  • ASSESSMENT:  I also organize folders for screenings and testing. I keep different colored 2-pocket folders for quick grab and go. For screenings, the tools I use are right in the folder. The testing folder is a working folder with assessment protocols.  
                                         
  • THERAPY BAG/BIN:  Since I often push into classrooms, I organize my therapy bag with must have supplies. Many of my go to materials stay put all year, including this Speech Sound Board which you can grab for free.


3.  COPY

  • KINDERGARTEN SCREENING:  We screen all kindergarten students in my district, so I copy kindergarten speech and language screening forms to immediately tackle this task at the start of the year. You can find my kindergarten screening tool here with both printable and digital options!

  • WORKLOAD FORMS: I restock copies of my most used forms, including homework logs, observation forms, 100 word samples, screening permission, parent communication logs, as well as baseline and progress monitoring tools. You can find some of these in my Workload Forms packet.
                                            

4.  PREP

  • STUDENT FOLDERS:  I prep student folders for my youngest students. I print labels for name, therapy day/time, and to-do and finished for the inside pockets. I also add a home communication session update log. You can also find these materials in my Back to Speech packet.
        

  • SPEECH TIME REMINDERS:  I also prep student reminder cards to encourage my pull-out students to show independence in coming to therapy. These are FREE in my TpT store.    
        
                                            


  • SLP WORKING FOLDERS:  I use working folders for organizing groups. The plastic folders with prongs hold up for years. The folders are numbered to match the group number on my schedule and contain data sheets, IEP at a glance sheets, individualized student visuals, and materials for students in that group.
                                           

5.  EXPLORE/REFRESH

  • MASTER SCHEDULE:  Before the school year starts, I explore the school master schedule, so I can anticipate a draft of my therapy schedule.
  • DATA TRACKING:  I am always exploring more efficient ways to take data and once I establish my system, I can import goals and objectives. I have successfully used a data tracker app over the past 4 school years. Prior to that I used a printable group data collection form, which can be found in my Workload Forms packet.
  • TECHNOLOGY:  Take a look at your technology and ensure everything is charged and functioning properly. This also goes for making sure you know passwords and how to log into frequently used programs. It's amazing what a summer does to the memory!
  • MATERIALS:  Familiarize yourself again with your materials. I am always pleasantly surprised by the collection that has accumulated. I can pull favorites for my first weeks easily while exploring.

What have I missed? Are there other tricks I can add to make the year go off without a hitch? 


Read more »

Sparklle SLP

Do you have a routine for starting your speech sound sessions? While I find myself mixing it up to prevent the sometimes monotonous pattern of articulation drill therapy, I do tend to be a routine therapist, at least to start. 


When I first meet my kindergarten speech sound students, I need to know their stimulability for sounds. I also want to start my explicit instruction on placement techniques and pair print (letters) with sounds. I started using a speech sound warm-up board at the beginning of my sessions and I haven't stopped that routine for these youngest students on my caseload.

My isolation speech sound board was created to follow progression of speech sound placement in the mouth (front to back). It starts with bilabials and ends with the glottal /h/. I attached my isolation sound board to a MALMA mirror from IKEA that I purchased years ago. They don't seem to be made at this time, but that shouldn't stop you from making your own board.  Another SLP used a plastic mirror adhered to the center. I found these by searching on Amazon. You can also just print your board and pair it with your favorite speech therapy mirror. I know you have one of those!

Once your speech sound board is prepped with your mirror, I also like to have the students use a pointer as we practice. It adds some fun and they love taking turns being the SLP! At the beginning of the year, I go a lot slower to instruct each sound, talking about lip and tongue placement, airflow, and voicing. We also talk about phonics terms, like digraph, and we use motions paired with our sounds. It is very important that the students isolate the sound, as to not add a vowel. They get pretty good at following my SLP rules and in what seems like a short time, they are independent with practicing their sounds in isolation! This simple activity remains motivating and is accomplished in a short amount of time.

I can track productions periodically to add new sounds students are able to produce in isolation. This is very helpful is choosing targets. Once we start working on new targets, they are already successful at knowing the sound in isolation, talking about placement, and awareness of the print/text pairing. Whether I am in my speech room or in a classroom, this sound board is always close by. 

Are you ready to make your speech sound isolation board? You can get yours free. It also includes a vowel board. 

If you are looking for a digital version, check out this Boom Cards(TM) deck and Google Slides(TM) option. 

If you like this sound board idea, I have an entire packet of sound boards with words/pictures for all sounds and blends. Check it out.

Tell me some other ways you warm-up speech sounds during your sessions.






Read more »

Sparklle SLP




This was originally posted in 2014 and updated in 2021. It includes links to FREE spring speech therapy resources! Whether spring has decided to enter your region or not, these free activities will fill your lesson plans!  Thanks to all these wonderful creators for offering freebies. 

Boom Cards(TM)

Articulation

Read more »

Sparklle SLP

Are you in need of a home practice program for articulation intervention for later developing sounds?


I created this articulation program that focuses on automaticity of speech sounds. This program is PARENT FRIENDLY and includes 5 minutes daily practice for 4 days each week. It includes 12 weeks for each sound. It is also great for intervention.

I have programs for /s, l, r/, "th, sh, ch" sounds.  The first four targets are sold separately, as well as in a money saving bundle. The latter targets "sh, ch" are sold as a combo or in the bundle.

Want a FREE sample to see if this product may work for your students? It includes one week for each sound.


EDIT:  This post originally (2016) included a giveaway that has ended.

Read more »

Sparklle SLP

For the first time, I am providing summer extended school year services for a few of my students. I compiled a collection of summer theme resources to help support my lesson planning. These materials are perfect for continued distance learning or for future in-person speech therapy. The goals I am targeting focus on articulation/phonology, describing vocabulary, basic sentence structures, following directions and WH questions for early elementary students. Check out the themes below for some ideas.



THEME:  CAMPING

Books

  • A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen (For in person therapy, check out my interactive notebook book companion.)
  • Don't Feed the Bear by Kathleen Doherty (This No Prep Book Companion can be shared on screen and paired with an app with mark-up/annotate tools.) 
  • Up the Creek by Nicholas Oldland


Boom Cards™️



No Prep Worksheets
(These are static PDFs that lend well to screen share paired with a digital spinner like this free one. I also use mark-up/annotate features on screen to make it interactive.)



    Additional Resources/Ideas
    • Find a camping background doing an image search and add it to your teletherapy platform, if able. It provides a therapy session in itself. Even better, search for a camping picture scene with various elements.
    • Do a quick search for free camping speech therapy resources on TPT.
    • There are also many activities you could do for in-person therapy, like toilet paper roll craft binoculars, making s'mores, pitching a tent/fort, having a pretend campfire, fishing using a magnet and paper clip to catch target words, or using a flashlight to shine on targets.

    THEME:  BUGS

    Books

    • Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe
    • Please Please the Bees by Gerald Kelley (Boom Cards™️Story Check Deck)

    Boom Cards™️

    No Prep Worksheets
    (These are static PDFs that lend well to screen share paired with a digital spinner like this free one. I also use mark-up/annotate features on screen to make it interactive.)


    Additional Resources/Ideas
    • This packet has open-ended printable games and ideas for a bug theme. 
    • Check out the National Geographic Kids insect site to get kids talking!
    • Bug crafts are always a fun in-person therapy idea, too.

     THEME:  BEACH/OCEAN  

    Books

    • Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen (For in person therapy, check out my interactive notebook book companion.)
    • Nugget and Fang by Tammi Sauer (Check out this One Page Language Book Plan.)
    • If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don't! by Elise Parsley

    Boom Cards™️


    No Prep Worksheets
    (These are static PDFs that lend well to screen share paired with a digital spinner like this free one. I also use mark-up/annotate features on screen to make it interactive.)


    Additional Resources/Ideas
    • This packet has summer barrier activities for in-person therapy. 
    • Search for live beach cams for on-screen sharing.
    • Follow directions to draw a sandcastle.

     THEME: PICNIC/ICE CREAM

    Books

    • Carla's Sandwich by Debbie Herman (Boom Cards™️Story Check Deck)

    Boom Cards™️

    Additional Resources/Ideas
    • Try taking a Ben & Jerry's Virtual Tour.
    • In-person ideas include making ice cream and having a pretend picnic.

    I am looking forward to my summer-time themes. Thanks for reading. I hope some of these ideas help to support your summer lesson plans!






    Read more »

    Sparklle SLP

    Don't miss our Instagram giveaway that begins 1/6/2017 at 7:00am EST and ends 1/8/2017 at 8:00pm EST!  Start @sparklleslp. You could win four Yeti-themed products, a Yeti mug, and Yeti in My Spaghetti!  

    My students had so much fun with Gingerbread Speech and Language that I created Yeti Speech and Language. I never knew I would learn so much creating these units. Do you believe in Yetis? Would you like to stay in the Yak & Yeti hotel in Nepal?  I have experienced Expedition Everest quite a few times at Animal Kingdom and even enjoyed the cuisine at the Yak & Yeti restaurant there. This Yeti theme is already a huge hit with my students. My daughter received the game Yeti in My Spaghetti for Christmas and it has already made its way to my therapy room!

    Check out a few of the contents in my unit, which will be on sale for 50% off on 1/7/2017 for the #jan17slpmusthave SALE too!

    Reinforcement activities galore!


    A non-fiction text, conjunctions, analogies, listening for details, and Tier 2 vocabulary.


    A barrier activity, word list and articulation open-ended worksheet, Tier 1 describing, and Yeti-themed recipes!


    Regular and irregular verbs, verb worksheet, and location concepts.

    Don't forget to check out these other Yeti-themed materials from my SLP friends!

    Yeti Inferencing and Vocabulary

    Yeti Subordinating Conjunctions

    The Abominable "No"-Man

    Are you Yeti for a fun speech and language theme? I'm Yeti for a giveaway here too! Comment below with your email for a chance to win my Yeti Speech and Language Unit.

    Read more »

    Sparklle SLP

    Mmmm! I can almost taste those delicious cookies now. Before long gingerbread cookies will be in my belly most definitely. My speech room already emits the aroma thanks to my gingerbread play dough! The recipe and a set of smash strips are included in my newest product update.  It just so happens to be part of my plans for the next week or more.

                    

    Gingerbread Speech and Language is filled with activities for mixed groups.  Vocabulary, lots of grammar, a barrier activity, plenty of reinforcement, and even a non-fiction text round out this product.

    I'll also be using an old, but effective sequencing worksheet for Gingerbread Mouse by Katy Bratum. You can grab it for FREE. I suggest this story for students in grades K & 1 and target just about any goal through a retell.

                  

    Let's do a giveaway! Comment with your favorite type of Christmas cookie for a chance to win Gingerbread Speech and Language.  I'll choose one winner randomly. 
    Read more »

    Sparklle SLP

    While it is the time for raking leaves, which may not be a fall favorite unless you are jumping in them, why not also rake up some fall themed activities for your speech room?  I didn't have to search long for a collection of thematic materials to accompany There Was and Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro since my current student teacher chose this as her weekly theme in my speech room.  While I observed her therapy skills, I also quickly downloaded the materials she was using!  Woot woot!

    Here are some great freebies from creative minds.

    Target regular verbs with All About Fall from the TLC Shop.

    A story sequencing black and white cut and paste activity from Erin from Creating and Teaching.

    Little Miss Kindergarten has a Sammy the Scarecrow roll and color activity.

    You know I love some open ended articulation worksheets and LyndaSLP123 has just the freebie.

    First Grade Fanatics bring you a collection of activities to go with the story.

    While these activities targeted quite a few objectives, we needed more to round out our K-2 language needs.  Here is a Mini Language Book Companion that you can find in my TPT store targeting following 1 and 2-step directions with basic concepts, pronouns and possessive nouns, describing vocabulary, and answering 'wh' questions from the story.



    Happy Fall Y'all!


    Read more »

    Sparklle SLP

    It's been a long time since I was in graduate school, but at least one activity created while logging those clinic hours is still with me today.  Although there is nothing wrong with my hand colored clip art spooky tree game, I thought it might be fun to share a classic with all of you.  Here it is!



    Print one tree for each student.  


    Cut and laminate each item.  I backed my original set with construction paper {I'd use card stock today} and trimmed closely around the shapes.  Make multiple sets for each student in your group.


    After practicing a target skill, have each student roll a dice.  Match up the number with an item and add it to your tree.  Collect one of each item to win!

    You can find a copy here for free in my TPT store!  


    Read more »

    Sparklle SLP

    I finally made it to a Wild About Books Wednesday Linky! hosted by Speech is Sweet.  I have enjoyed reading these posts and totally have been wanting to jump on this awesome adventure.  


    I'd almost bet most of you reading have read Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard?  A classic book and actually one of my all time favorites.  I want to think I am more like Miss Nelson, but Miss Viola Swamp, can she really get results?  Absolutely admirable!  Well, when thinking of my upcoming football theme, I've been totally into book companions, so Miss Nelson Has a Field Day was a perfect choice for a new material.  In this story, a football team that hasn't won a game all year, gains a new coach.  Any guesses who the mysterious coach might be?  

     I was drawn to this book, not only for its theme, but also for the generous amount of figurative language included.  Can I tell you how much my 4th and 5th graders have enjoyed the higher level picture books?  I was a bit skeptical, but they are totally into the stories and discovering the vocabulary within.  This just makes my heart go on a series of back handsprings!

     Here I present to you my newest book companion!

    Contained within the companion, including both color and black and white materials, is a collection of activities targeting articulation (word lists and word cards for elementary age sounds, plus an open ended worksheet), sequencing events, comparing and contrasting, describing vocabulary as well as higher level vocabulary, following 2-step directions (color and black and white versions), 'wh' story comprehension questions, pronouns (color and black and white), figurative language (phrases and definitions on colored cards), a roll and color page, and an open ended football reinforcement activity.


     I grabbed a copy of this book in my school library.  Give it a try!  I am sure your students will enjoy the humor.  Talk about the figurative language contained within the book and even draw up a Venn diagram to compare and contrast Coach Armstrong and Miss Viola Swamp.  

     Check out some other books over at Speech is Sweet today and every Wednesday!


    Read more »

    Sparklle SLP

    Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
    Back to Top