Yes! Another chance to share my favorite books to use in speech therapy. January is the perfect month to make a resolution to start using books in therapy.

*This post has been updated to include some teletherapy and digital solutions!

If you have been reading this series (Don't forget to head back to December for links to months in the first half of the school year.), the books I share can be used for traditional elementary caseloads and often for your entire caseload and for multiple weeks, using one book. For me, currently, pushing into classrooms has changed my pace to reflect that of the teacher's and focus to a single grade level per book. 

Here’s the list of books I have in my January bin.

This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

Snow Day! by Lester L. Laminack

Where is Home Little Pip? by Karma Wilson

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Beuhner

Tacky and the Winter Games by Helen Lester (January or February)

Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen

Flight School by Lita Judge

Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright

Check out these YouTube Videos for use in teletherapy (no affiliation and always preview prior to using in therapy).

Sneezy the Snowman

Flight School

Here’s what I target with just about EVERY book:

→Sequencing, retelling, summarizing, story grammar/elements (character, setting, problem, events, consequences, ending/solution)

→Tier 1 describing, Tier 2 vocabulary, synonyms & antonyms

→Comparing & contrasting/similarities & differences

→Basic concepts, direction words, temporal concepts

→WH questions-basic and inferential

→Inferencing-social/pragmatic

→Verbs & pronouns

→Sentence generation-higher level structures, conversational, expansion

→Articulation

Here are my "top targets" for each book.

Snow Day!
Predicting
Inferencing
Summarizing
Describing

We all wish for snow days, am I right? Your students will love the unexpected twist at the end of this story. Here is the link to my book companion.

Where is Home Little Pip?
Describing
Where questions
Tier 2 Vocabulary
Social Inferencing

Curiosity will attract the listener to this story. The descriptive language and character feelings make this a great language and engaging read aloud. Check out my companion activities, here.

Snowmen at Night
Predicting
Describing
Rhyming

Have you ever wondered what snowmen do at night? This is a great book to spark your imagination. Check out this FREE language expansion booklet to use with this book.

Tacky and the Winter Games
Summarizing
Problem/Solution
Sequencing
Verbs

Tacky is a classic character. His uniqueness and zest will have your students entertained through his winter sport adventures. You can find quick prep activities to go with this book, here.

Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee
Story Grammar
Predicting
Rhyming
Tier 2 Vocabulary

I truly adore the Mr. Magee books. These are books that can be read over and over again! In his winter adventure, find out who might be better suited for skis. Take a look at my interactive notebook companion.

Flight School

Problem/Solution
Growth Mindset
Social/Pragmatic

This is a great book to pair with a penguin unit in the classroom. Penguins aren't built to soar, but this one has a dream! Check out my companion activities, here. This product now includes a Google Slides(TM) version!

Sneezy the Snowman

Problem/Solution

Basic Inferencing

Rhyming

Past Tense Verbs

Check out my Boom Cards(TM) Book Buddy Deck for this book. I've include just the right amount of activities to support language development for your early elementary students. Target WH questions, story sequencing/retell, vocabulary describing, rhyming, basic sentences, categorization, and concepts.

Have I missed any of your favorites? I already have my eyes on a few new ones!

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Sparklle SLP

If you caught my September post about books in speech therapy, here is the October edition! If you have been around here before, you might have a hunch that I love using books in therapy. Honestly, it's my favorite way to plan lessons. Using a book really takes the chore out of planning, makes the perfect material for mixed groups and can be used for multiple sessions!

I've gathered some of my favorite books for October. The list is already long and keeps growing. I really have a hard time not using ALL of these books, as I really love this collection. Below you will find links to the books as well as a long list of general targets and a short "top targets" list to help your therapy planning needs for each book. There are MANY surrounding . Halloween, so if you don't use holiday books, check out some of the non-holiday titles in my Interactive Notebook Book Companions Bundle.

Here’s the list of books I have set aside for October.

This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll

Crankenstein by Samantha Berger

Big Pumpkin by Erika Silverman

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds

Monsters Love Underpants by Claire Freedman

The Hallo-Wiener by Dav Pilkey

Turkey Trick or Treat by Wendi Silvano

Otis and the Scarecrow by Loren Long

Here’s what I target with just about EVERY book:

→Sequencing, retelling, summarizing, story grammar/elements (character, setting, problem, events, consequences, ending/solution)

→Tier 1 describing, Tier 2 vocabulary, synonyms & antonyms

→Comparing & contrasting/similarities & differences

→Basic concepts, direction words, temporal concepts

→WH questions-basic and inferential

→Inferencing-social/pragmatic

→Verbs & pronouns

→Sentence generation-higher level structures, conversational, expansion

→Articulation

Here are my "top targets" for each book.

I Need My Monster

Describing characters, similarities & differences

Synonyms & antonyms

Asking questions

I just LOVE this book and so do my students. It's the perfect combination of sweet mixed with scary. Here is a link to my book companion. Are you using Boom Cards(TM)? Check out this digital story check.

Crankenstein

Inferencing-social/pragmatic

Problem solving

When questions-complex sentence structure (ex: When there's no more syrup, Crankenstein feels...)

This, too, is a MUST read. It's a quick read and will be one you may read over and over again. You can find my book companion activities here.

Big Pumpkin 
Sequencing
Tier 1 describing
Predicting
Problem solving
I've been using this book for so many years. Earlier in my SLP career, we used to do a whole interactive skit with our students, complete with costumes and all. Check out my book companion here. It has been updated to include a Google Slides(TM) version!

Room on the Broom
Sequencing
Predicting
Tier 1 and Tier 2 vocabulary
This book is full of colorful language. My quick prep book companion can be found here. It has also been updated to include a Google Slides(TM) version.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

Sequencing

Problem solving

Onomatopeia

Tier 1 describing

I have been using this book since I was in grad school. I also have been known to bring in all the props and make a scarecrow with my students to leave up for the month. You can find my (first ever) book companion for this book here.

Creepy Carrots
Problem solving
Sequencing
Conjunctions
This book is a great reminder for anyone that might be getting too greedy! You can find my interactive notebook activities in this set.

Monsters Love Underpants
Story grammar
Rhyme
Some giant chuckles AND added language.
Combining monsters and underpants is definitely a win! Check out the interactive notebook activities in this set.

The Hallo-Wiener

Story grammar/elements

Inferencing-social/pragmatic

Similarities & differences

A great book for teaching students to rise above challenges. You can find interactive notebook activities within this set.

Turkey Trick or Treat

Predicting

Tier 1 describing-costumes/disguises

Regular past tense

Inferencing-social/pragmatic

The entire series by Wendi Silvano is just perfection. Your students will be rooting for turkey and all his disguises. You can find interactive notebook activities here.

Otis and the Scarecrow

Perspective taking

Tier 1 and Tier 2 vocabulary

Otis is seriously the sweetest character around. While this book tends to be on the long side when trying to fit it into a short session, the story line is absolutely worth it. You can find my quick prep companion here.

Now, which ones to choose this year? Do you have any other favorites? I'd love for you to check out my October Book Companion BUNDLE to start your therapy planning now.

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Sparklle SLP

Literature books provide ALL the vocabulary we need to help our students develop their speech and language skills. Classrooms are full of varied children's books providing easy accessibility for the school SLP.

While pushing into classrooms, I've focused on finding ways to support communication skills within everyday activities. Book bins, or containers for housing student selected books that fit their reading level, are prevalent within the classrooms around my building. I decided to adapt a way to use this container for further articulation and vocabulary practice. I created the Book Bin Buddy to keep within containers for writing and/or drawing articulation or vocabulary words as encountered within text.

These are easy to download FREE, then print, copy and place in student book bins. You can provide explicit instruction by modeling their use during speech therapy sessions. You can have students focus on finding words with their speech sounds or new vocabulary encountered within text. Encourage students to use their Book Bin Buddy during their independent reading time within their classroom. These also lend themselves nicely for a follow-up therapy session for review and even for sending home for more practice.

What other ways have you found to promote generalization and utilize routines in the classroom to build communication skills?

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Sparklle SLP

This is the first, in hopefully a series of posts about monthly books for use in speech therapy sessions. This has been a long time coming and after I realized just how many books I have collected and routinely use in therapy, I finally decided to share.

Please know that I don’t use ALL of these books each month every year. I tend to choose about two books a month each for 1st & 2nd graders. Often times these are books being used in the classrooms by teachers, so that is why I separate these grades. I do use literature books for K and 3rd grade, too (maybe I can get around to sharing that process someday), but the ones I use for 1st & 2nd grade are those that I generally have established plans surrounding and can suggest for use with your entire elementary caseload. That being said, if you are just starting out with books, I recommend you pick two per month that meet the interest and needs of the majority of your caseload, to start. Then begin to plan ways to incorporate these into your groups.

Here’s the short list of books I have set aside for September.

This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

• Sylvie by Jennifer Sattlery
• Pirates Go To School by Corinne Demas
• Pirates Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort
• A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
• Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester
• Miss Nelson Has a Field Day by Harry Allard
• Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin
• The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

Here’s what I target with just about EVERY book:

→Sequencing, retelling, summarizing, story grammar/elements (character, setting, problem, events, consequences, ending/solution)

→Tier 1 describing, Tier 2 vocabulary, synonyms & antonyms

→Comparing & contrasting/similarities & differences

→Basic concepts, direction words, temporal concepts

→WH questions-basic and inferential

→Inferencing-social/pragmatic

→Verbs & pronouns

→Sentence generation-higher level structures, conversational, expansion

→Articulation

Here’s what each book is particularly great for (don't forget about all the targets above, too):

Sylvie

Simple predictions

Tier 1 describing

Story grammar

I just LOVE this book about a curious flamingo. You can find my book companion with 1st grade standards here.

Pirates Go to School

Similarities & differences

Inferencing-social/pragmatic

Rhyme

This is a quick read and best for younger students. You can find my quick prep book companion here.

Pirates Love Underpants

Story grammar

*Lots of giggles AND language:).

This entire series is one in which your little ones will request over and over again. You can find interactive notebook activities for this book here and the FREE craft activity shown above here.

A Bad Case of Stripes

Inferencing-social/pragmatic

Tier 2 vocabulary

This book is perfect for the beginning of the year and building rapport with your students. You can find interactive notebook activities for this book here.

Hooray for Rodney Rat

Articulation/discrimination /r/

Similarities & differences

Inferencing-social/pragmatic

This is right in line with the feelings associated with speech sound disorders in which your students might find a connection with the events of the story. You can find interactive notebook activities for this book here.

Miss Nelson Has a Field Day

Tier 2 vocabulary

Figurative language

This is one of my favorite series from when I was young. My students get a chuckle out of the plot and vintage language. You can find my book companion here.

Those Darn Squirrels

Sequencing

Problem solving

This is a new story for me about a grumpy old man and a problem with squirrels. One read will have you hooked on the quirkiness of Old Man Fookwire and the clever determination of the squirrels. I must add this to my list of companions to create!

The Invisible Boy

Synonyms & antonyms

Inferencing-social/pragmatic

This is a great book for empowering students to embrace their talents and gain perspective. You can find my book companion here.

If you want to take the leap into using books, try my September Bundle of book companions. Do you have favorites that I have missed?

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Sparklle SLP

I admit I have a problem with purchasing children’s picture books. Luckily, I find most of them at Thrift Books (no affiliation). I generally use 2-3 books per month for students on my speech therapy caseload in grades 1 & 2. Since I push into these classrooms during literacy time, I often find new picture books right in those classrooms, either as teacher read alouds or in my students’ book bins. Language therapy planning using books makes the prep simple and the routine predictable; however, also adds meaningful context using classroom/daily materials which is varied to allow for new vocabulary, knowledge and thematic content.

Here are some quick tips for using books in your therapy planning.

• VERBAL SEQUENCING/RETELL:  My 1st graders love to draw their own retelling of the stories. I focus on 3-4 part retelling (first, next, last OR first, next, then, last) with this age group. Often times this is done after my therapy lesson and during the students' independent time during literacy within their classroom. Using the book, they make their own drawings and then bring back their product to verbalize their 3-4 part retelling before I leave their classroom.

The Speech Therapy Book Companion Open-Ended for Any Book

• VOCABULARY/SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES:  Explicitly teaching compare and contrast was a district focus this year. My 2nd graders drew their Venn diagrams or Top Hat organizers right on the therapy table using dry erase markers and chose items right from the story to talk about similarities and differences. You can find both types of compare and contrast visuals in my graphic organizer product.

• WH QUESTIONS:  I start with basic WHO, WHAT, WHERE, & WHEN questions which can be targeted on every page using books.

One Page Language Book Plan for Hotel Bruce

• STORY GRAMMAR/NARRATIVE DEVELOPMENT:  I focus on teaching Story Grammar using a visual support. The predictable visual support is constant which allows independence for students when practicing their summaries. This sheet below is from my Essential Visuals for Student Success Signs packet.

• SYNTAX:  Spoken grammar targets can be directly practiced using books which allows for a more structured approach as compared to drill activities since it is contextualized. The vocabulary and structures presented within the story are meaningful and relevant. 

Don't Feed the Bear Companion Activities

• PREDICTING & INFERENCING:  Making predictions and inferences are also great targets for using story books in speech therapy. A quick tip is to use the cover of the book for making predictions. We focus on the words and pictures to make our predictions about the story. Often times the vocabulary used in the title needs explanation for my students as in this book, Nugget and Fang, pictured below (no affiliation). We talk about what students already know and then make connections to help with their predictions. Inferencing is targeted through how and why questions about character feelings, which also lends itself to pragmatic language development. 

If you haven't tried using books in speech therapy, I challenge you to give it a try using some of these tips. It is my favorite way to plan for therapy, I can target all the goals and my students are highly engaged!

I’d also love for your to follow by Book Companion Pinterest board for links to all these activities!

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Sparklle SLP

Summer break has arrived and although I plan to turn off my SLP brain and relax for a good portion of my summer, therapy finds seem to always catch my attention, even on vacation! All of my children have enjoyed 'I spy' type books. We have acquired a collection, so while I was once again cleaning out a bookshelf, I found myself tempted to pull these unique books for my therapy room rather than find a place for them back on the shelf. This is a habit of mine and my children will often inquire about their missing items or even ask when a new item is bought if it is indeed for my therapy room. Hmmm.  Maybe? Caught once again!

So today, I am blogging about using I spy type books during a therapy session. First, here are a few from my collection. Disney addicts like us would obviously have an assortment of princess and movie-themed books. I also have a collection of Highlights magazines (no affiliation) which are always a place for hidden picture scenes for more spying fun!

This Usborne The Great Castle Search book (no affiliation) was given to my son by his grandmother after she visited the British Isles years ago. The vocabulary in this book is rich with historical references and could be of high interest for many students.



Now let's discuss some SPEECH THERAPY IDEAS for using I spy/look & find/hidden picture type books with your students.

• Incorporate these books into your themed-therapy planning coordinating with the book topic/theme (e.g. beach, castle, monsters). The images will provide visual supports to enhance the vocabulary development of the target thematic vocabulary.

• Use for increasing utterance length. Use carrier phrases (like these) to aid expansion of sentences as your students search and find items.

• Use for asking and answering questions. Do you see?  Can you find?  Where is ...? What can you do with?

• These are perfect for defining and describing items using category, function, and attributes. You can also practice associations.  What goes with ...?

• Try targeting compare and contrast. Choose two images and discuss similarities and differences.

• Usually the text in the book contains a short story on each page, making these great for listening comprehension and recall.  

• You can students search and find for target articulation sounds. Give the student a target speech sound and have him find and say the items to practice articulation targets.

• Additionally, have students create their own list of items for peers to find. Give the student category, defining feature, or speech sound constraints when creating. This is great for expanding expressive language and vocabulary.

You can even incorporate technology by using a search and find app, such as Highlights Hidden Pictures App (no affiliation) or allowing students to use a camera to take a close-up picture of their discovery within the books.

What other ways would you incorporate these types of books in your therapy?

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Sparklle SLP