Marisha

SLP Summit Recap: Practical Therapy Planning Tips

January 27, 2017 by Marisha 2 Comments

I absolutely loved getting to “meet” thousands of SLPs at the SLP Summit. I was so inspired by all of the amazing presentations, but I was also inspired by YOU. I loved getting to chat with you every night. One viewer called it her “SLP Date Night,” which pretty much sums it up.

Wait? I missed this! What is the SLP Summit? Sarah and Lisa from SLP Toolkit and I hosted a FREE online conference for SLPs, featuring practical tips and resources for SLPs to start the new year off right. The recorded sessions will be available on the SLP Summit site through February 14th, 2017, so head on over if you haven’t already!

I presented on Practical Tips for Planning Effective and Engaging Therapy. We chatted about the four key components of a therapy plan.

Spoiler Alert: You’re probably doing more “planning” than you give yourself credit for–even if you don’t think of yourself as a planner!

My goal was for you to recognize all of the things you are already doing and then help you identify one or two specific strategies/tools to implement. There are an infinite number of things we could be doing, and it is easy to get overwhelmed. Start where you are, and go from there!

Because we ran short on time, I thought I’d take some time to answer the questions that I didn’t get to during the presentation. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Routine

Q: My goal is to have a routine, but my time management with moving from one group to the next has to change first! How do you manage?
A: Here are three strategies that have helped me:

1. Using a Time Timer really helps me make sure I have enough time to transition.

2. I set up my therapy cart to keep my materials organized and close by. (It makes it easier to clean up and set up, especially if students get the “routine” and are able to help.)

3. I shared Google Calendar appointments with my teachers. They can choose to get a notification five minutes before each session, which helps them remember to send their students and saves me a few minutes of running around the school.

Q: What do you do if they say they aren’t ready to learn? Send them back to class?
A: Not at all! If students aren’t “ready to learn,” it’s often because they are frustrated, sad, or tired. A quick joke or even just taking a minute to check in with them often does the trick. We might do a quick brain break or GoNoodle, if they need a little energy boost.

For more challenging students, collaboration with teachers is key. They often know the student best and are able to share strategies. (If not, then we can brainstorm together.)

Q: Do you send homework every session?
A: Confession. I’m not very good at homework! I really struggle A) to put homework packets together and B) to get students/parents to complete the activities.

However, I started using Remind this year. It’s a free messaging app, and I’ve had a lot of success with it! I’m able to share what we did in speech and include a quick idea for how parents can continue to support the skill(s) at home. It also helps open up communication with parents and increases their buy-in. Stay tuned for a blog post with more details!

Step 2: Data

Q: Where can I find your data sheets?
A: They are included in the SLP Now Membership, but they’re also FREE on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Q: Do you take data every session or at progress report time?
A: I take “data” every session. However, it’s not always numerical data. Sometimes it’s more helpful for me to know how much support a student needed and what types of cues were most helpful. (I do use a Level of Support Rubric to make sure that I’m being consistent!) Especially since stimulus items vary from session to session (e.g., difficulty of vocabulary in a book, complexity of articulation targets), I find that numerical data isn’t always the most helpful indicator. I will occasionally probe skills at the beginning of the session to help drive my therapy planning (if I’m unsure of where to go next).

Q: How do you take data during literacy-based activities?
A: I’ll write more about this in a future blog post, but the above answer describes my general approach. I tend to focus on narrative data describing the level of support the student needed to be successful.

Q: Do you take data for all responses or for just a set number of responses (for example five, 10, etc.)?
A: See above. However, when I do take more numerical data, I typically take data on the first 10 trials. I like this approach because it’s more like the “probes” they taught us to use in graduate school. It gives me an idea of whether the student is retaining the skill or not. It also allows me to slide the data binder out of the way and focus on the student(s) for the rest of the session.

Q: Do you find that if you’re doing sticker labels for your caseload that it gets expensive?
A: Not at all! They have some very inexpensive options on Amazon.

Step 3: Materials

Q: I love your therapy cart! Tell me more?
A: Thanks! I wrote about it here.

Q: Is the SLP Now Membership just for materials? Like the skill-based packs?
A: The membership does include therapy resources (e.g., theme- and skill-based activities), as well as organizational tools and a supportive SLP community. I’m also working on building a database of video tutorials and other resources. You can find out more about the membership here.

Q: Is there a trial for the SLP Now Membership?
A: Yes! Click here to sign up.

Q: What grade levels is SLP Now for?
A: The themed books and activities are most appropriate for preschool and early elementary caseloads, although the reading passages are written at an upper elementary level. The skill-based packs can be used with any student working on a given skill (e.g., basic concepts, categories, object functions, synonyms, context clues, inferences, etc.). We are working hard to expand the range of materials, including more resources for preschoolers, secondary, and more severely impacted students.

Q: When you have a membership to SLP Now, can you access previous months’ content, or just one month at a time?
A: It depends! Monthly members will have access to all the resources posted since their sign up date. Yearly members have access to all content posted on the site.

Q: You mentioned a book list. Where can I find this?
A: You can find my list of favorite themed books here. Book guides and activities will be posted in the SLP Now Membership for the majority of the books listed.

Q: Can I use DonorsChoose to purchase the SLP Now Membership?
A: Yes! You would just need enough points to purchase from an outside vendor. Find out more here.

Q: I love the rainbow “GRAMMAR” sign and other labels. Are those in membership?
A: Not yet! They will be soon.

Q: Your grammar board/pocket chart is awesome! Any resources on how to make this?
A: I will be writing a blog post soon!

Q: How do you use dry erase on the tables without leaving a big blob mess?
A: I just write on the table, and it comes off with an eraser. (I also wipe down the tables at the end of the day.) If you happen to have a super “blobby” table (they exist!), you can also use dry erase decals.

Q: Is EET appropriate for middle schoolers?
A: You can find out more here.

Q: Where do you find reading passages?
A: Here are some of my favorite sites:

NewsELA
ReadWorks
Reading A-Z
News-2-You

Step 4: Planning

Q: Do you plan the whole week or session by session?
A: My goal is to plan for the whole week, but that doesn’t always happen! I plan for at least a day at a time to save myself some time. (This allows me to batch copies and/or gather materials.)

Q: How much time do you spend planning for therapy?
A: With all of the other components taken care of (routine, data, and a core set of materials from the SLP Now Membership), I spend about 10 minutes planning for a week of therapy. I’m putting together a video tutorial so you can see exactly what that looks like.

Q: I really liked the set up of the paper planner you showed. Where did you get it?
A: I found that planner on Amazon.

Q: Is Google HIPAA/FERPA compliant?
A: We want to be careful with the information we share on Google. I never include a student’s full name (typically only initials). I also avoid storing personal identifiers (e.g., student ID, birth date, etc.). You can read more about Google security here. If you are unsure, then contact an administrator in your district or work setting.

Q: What is a Text Expander? How do I set this up?
A: I wrote a blog post here.

Miscellaneous

Q: How many goals do your students have on average?
A: It depends on the student’s needs, but most of my students have 2-3 goals.

Q: What planner do you use?
A: I most consistently use Google Calendar and Asana. (Read more about my favorite digital tools here.) I do have a planner addiction and own the following… I’m working on picking ONE. Stay tuned to see which one wins…!

Erin Condren
Moleskine Planner
ban.do Planner
Day Designer planner from Target
Ultimate SLP Planner

Thank you again for all of your support! We absolutely loved this event!

Feel free to leave any additional questions in the comments!

I’d also love to hear/see how you’re implementing these ideas in therapy!

9 Tools for SLPs to Work Smarter: Tech Edition

January 25, 2017 by Marisha 9 Comments

Here are nine tools that help me worker smarter, not harder, as an SLP! I use these tools to help me work more efficiently when it comes to organizing materials, planning for therapy, managing progress monitoring, completing paperwork, and communicating with parents.

Caveat: If you’re not using any of these tools, then please don’t feel like you have to sign up for all of them! They won’t work for everyone, and it would probably be quite overwhelming (and counterproductive) to start using nine new tools all at once. Identify the areas that you struggle with most, and start using ONE new tool. Start where you are, and go from there. It makes it much more manageable that way.

So, let’s have a look!

1. Therapy Planning: Google Calendar

Google Calendar is my favorite! I set up recurring appointments for all of my therapy sessions, so I never forget to grab a student (which I’m embarrassed to admit would happen a lot without this tool)! I love the color-coding features.

Bonus hack? Share the event with your teachers for easy communication!

2. Therapy Activities: SLP Now Membership

Anyone else struggle to come up with fun, engaging activity ideas week after week? Even if we have amazing ideas, who has time to find and prep all those activities? That’s why I created the SLP Now Membership. It includes a database of therapy activities for easy planning. From the themed activities (e.g., book guides, crafts, and open-ended activities) to the skill packs (to help you teach and scaffold new skills), the majority of planning is taken care of. You just have to pick which resources you want to use on any given week.

3. Materials Organization: Evernote

Sarah from SLP Toolkit shares how she uses Evernote to inventory her materials. Genius! I use this to keep track of my books so I don’t buy 9348 duplicates. You could also use it to “scan in” therapy activities. I especially love the search feature for easy planning.

Evernote is also a great place to keep track of professional development notes for easy reference.

4. Materials Organization: Dropbox

I love using Dropbox to store parent handouts and other materials so they are easily accessible. This is a must for traveling SLPs!

5. Progress Monitoring: SLP Toolkit

This is a HUGE time-saver. This is my “go to” for present levels assessments, writing goals, and progress monitoring. SLP Toolkit makes it easy to gather evidence to back up my recommendations. It makes writing IEPs a breeze. The app even generates a profile of strengths and concerns that you can copy and paste into your report!

6. Paperwork: Text Expander

SLP Toolkit really cut down on my report time, because I no longer have to waste time second-guessing myself or digging through piles of old data sheets. They also have an awesome present levels summary that I use to shape my reports.

However, there is one more tool that I use to save even more time. I always used templates for the things we type in every. single. report, but it was almost more efficient to type it (rather than searching through my massive list of templates that I added to a Word document). Enter the text expander! I created “codes” for frequently uses phrases in reports, emails, and therapy notes. The app that I use automatically identifies when I’m writing things multiple times, so it helped me build my library. You can take a closer look here.

7. Paperwork (and To Do’s): Asana

I use Asana to keep track of all of my to do’s. I love that I can make lists and use their boards to keep track of processes (like IEPs and referrals). Stay tuned to learn more about how I use this.

8. Paperwork: Focus@Will

It may seem silly, but this music app really does help me focus! I put it on when I need to sit down and really focus on a project (like an IEP or progress reports). The music is actually pleasant to listen to, as well. I haven’t taken a good look at the research, but you can read more about it here. Another option is Brain.fm.

9. Homework/Parent Communication: Remind App

This has been a serious game changer for me when it comes to parent communication! I have a better relationship with my parents, and they are better equipped to help support speech/language skills at home. I send quick updates of what we did in therapy. I also use it to share homework ideas/activities. Stay tuned for more details!

Do you use any of these tools? Are there any that you want to try?

How to Use Articulation Station for Language Therapy

January 23, 2017 by Marisha 2 Comments

As school-based SLPs, we really have to be able to make the most of our resources. We don’t often have the time (or the money) to prepare materials for every possible goal. That’s when the creativity sets in. How can we use what we have to target all of our students’ goals? Articulation Station is the perfect app for this. Not only is it my favorite app for articulation (read more here!), but–with a few quick hacks–it also became a “go-to” resource for language.

Why even try? Good question. There are plenty of language apps out there. I was motivated to use Articulation Station because…

It’s my “go-to” app for articulation.

The graphics are beautiful. The real images are absolutely perfect for language activities.

It’s easier to stay in one app when working with mixed groups. The app’s group feature is amazing!

The app also makes it very easy to take data.

Many of my students have articulation and language goals. I love being able to target multiple goals within one activity.

Two Hacks

1. A Custom List

You can create your own word lists in the app! If you’re targeting action words, make a list of actions. This can take some time, but it can be a therapy activity in and of itself! “Is this an action word?”

Some other ideas?

Categories: Animals, Food, Colors

Parts of Speech: Nouns, Verbs *

Click here to find out how to make your own lists.

* NOTE: The app only includes nouns. However, there are many pictures of nouns in action (e.g., The lion is walking.). This wouldn’t be the quickest list to create, but it’s an option!

2. Custom Images

Just read an awesome book in therapy? Snap some pictures and add them to Articulation Station.

Click here to find out how to add your own images.

The Good News

You don’t have to “hack” Articulation Station to make this work. You can pick any list of works and still use them to target a variety of goals.

Activity Ideas

Goal 1: Categories

This one is easy! Have students identify which category an item is in. Articulation Station includes images of food, people, animals, places, etc. Exactly the types of categories we target in therapy! I just pick a sound, and we’ll go through the images and identify which group each item is in.

Another option! You can create a custom list of food, animals, places, etc. if you’re working on having students identify the items in that category.

Goal 2: Describing

You can take categories one step further! Use the Expanding Expression Tool to describe the pictures.

Goal 3: Compare/Contrast

The matching game is perfect for this skill! I have students tell me how the pictures they chose are the same and/or different. I use my Compare/Contrast Skill Pack with students who need extra visual support.

Goal 4: Following Directions/Basic Concepts

Have students tell each other which cards to turn over in the matching game. This is a perfect way to target those basic concepts (e.g., top, bottom, next to, under) and directions!

Goal 5: Grammar

You can have students generate sentences about the pictures. Use some sentence strips to increase student independence and to practice a variety of structures.

You could also use the unique sentences with older students who are working on identifying the subject/predicate or parts of speech.

Goal 6: Comprehension

Articulation Station includes two levels of stories. Level 1 includes a sentence with pictures of the key vocabulary words. (Perfect when you’re working on visualization as a comprehension strategy!) Level 2 includes a short paragraph (~6 sentences). You can have students read these passages. The best part? Each passage is followed be a few comprehension questions with a field of three choices. Pretty cool!

Goal 7: Fluency/Stuttering

The different levels are also perfect for fluency practice! You can give students the opportunity to use their fluency strategies while saying words, phrases, and sentences, eventually moving on to the passages.

Can you think of any other ways to use Articulation Station for language? Share your ideas in the comments!

All in all, this is a perfect solution for those mixed articulation/language groups. It gives me an opportunity to focus on drill with my articulation students, while still providing rich language practice for the other students. The app itself is very motivating for students, which increases engagement, as well!

CoughDrop: An Innovative App that is Changing AAC

January 21, 2017 by Marisha Leave a Comment

I am so excited to be featuring CoughDrop on the blog today! I met Brian at ASHA Schools in 2015, and I have been hooked on CoughDrop (the app!) ever since. This app is a serious game changer for AAC. The ease of use, automatic back-ups, team-based approach, and built-in data tracking are just a few of my favorite features.

Ever heard of CoughDrop? No, no, not the kind you use to combat cold symptoms. We’re talking about something better. CoughDrop is a powerful and versatile augmentative communication app.

You may be thinking, “There are tons of AAC apps out there; what makes CoughDrop so special?” Well, we’d love to share with you a little bit about why you should take a closer look at this AAC system.

CoughDrop was designed by a dad, Brian Whitmer, whose daughter is non-verbal. A programmer by trade, Brian believed there had to be a better way to help his daughter to communicate. He worked with dozens of speech-language pathologists from across the country and paired his mad computer skills with their powerful speech know-how. Together, they developed a program like no other.

So what makes CoughDrop different than any other AAC app out there?

To start, CoughDrop was built to live in the cloud — not a fluffy white one, but the internet kind. Being cloud-based means that all account information, speech boards, and preferences are saved securely outside the device, so even if that device gets lost or stolen (or eaten by a bear) the communicators’ speech boards and information are still safe and available.

And that brings up another way that CoughDrop is unique. CoughDrop is designed to be a cross-platform app which means it runs on nearly any device from an iPad to a Kindle and a Chromebook to an Android tablet. If a communicator’s iPad screen shatters, no problem; pull out your laptop or smartphone, open the program, and just keep talking.

CoughDrop was also created to support the entire AAC team, not just the communicator. This system offers free accounts to parents, teachers, and therapists who support an AAC user. The program includes a supervisor feature, which allows a teacher or SLP to follow and manage multiple communicators from their own CoughDrop dashboard. Logs, reports, and messaging built into the program let everyone involved with the AAC user stay connected and see the progress and growth that is happening every day. (Yes, that’s right! Built in data tracking! A speech therapist’s dream!)

Seriously, CoughDrop is not like any other AAC app you’ve seen.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. CoughDrop offers a two-month free trial for any new user so you can see if CoughDrop will be the right fit for your communicator. (It’s free for therapists and other team members!) Try it yourself or learn more by visiting us at www.mycoughdrop.com. We can’t wait to meet you!

(One bonus tidbit, in case you were wondering why the name CoughDrop, that one’s easy. When your voice gets a little bit hoarse, you pop in a cough drop to smooth things out and get yourself talking again. And that’s just what we want to do — help every voice be heard.)

A Year of FREE Open-Ended Reinforcers

January 4, 2017 by Marisha 2 Comments

Sometimes you just need some quick, open-ended reinforcers to keep students engaged. Here is a round-up of reinforcers to last the whole year!

Meredith from the Peachie Speechie has challenges for almost any season. They’re great motivators for students to get those 100 repetitions! Best of all, they’re low prep–just print and go!

And here are some other game ideas to get you through the year–from back to school to summer!

Back to School: Jenn Alcorn (Crazy Speech World) – Conversation Starters

Back to School: Jenn Alcorn (Crazy Speech World) – Pass the Pencil

Apples/Fall (September): Figuratively Speeching SLP – Apple-Themed Games

Fire Saftey Month (October): Jenn Alcorn (Crazy Speech World) – Fire Pup Rescue

Halloween (October): The Dabbling Speechie – A Spooky Ghost Game

Election Day (November): Speech Time Fun – Help the Voter Get to the Ballot Box

Hot Chocolate (Winter): Jenna Rayburn – Hot Chocolate Board Game

Snow (Winter): The Dabbling Speechie – Winter Snow Day Scene

Penguins (Winter): Schoolhouse Talk – Penguins at Play

Groundhog Day (February): Jenna Rayburn – Groundhog Day Game

Valentine’s Day (February): The Dabbling Speechie – Open-Ended Valentine’s Game

St. Patrick’s Day (March): Word to the Wise – St. Patrick’s Day Jackpot

Bugs (Spring/Summer): The Dabbling Speechie – Catch a Bug Game

Nature Walk (Spring/Summer): The Dabbling Speechie – “I Spy” Nature Walk BINGO & Book

Ice Cream (Summer): Jenn Alcorn (Crazy Speech World) – Triple Scoop!

Camping (Summer): The Dabbling Speechie – Gone Camping Board Game

S’mores/Camping (Summer): TLC Talk Shop – S’more Fun

More Year-Round Ideas

Jenna Rayburn (Speech Room News) – Football Reinforcer

The Dabbling Speechie – Swish! Basketball Game

Panda Speech – Baseball Game

Kiwi Speech – Popcorn Reinforcer

The Speech Attic – Build a Sundae

Speech Time Fun – Feed the Clown

Do you have any favorite reinforcers? Share them in the comments!

How to Use Evidence to Become a Better SLP

January 3, 2017 by Marisha 1 Comment

We have so many options available to us to continue learning and to become better SLPs. It’s exciting and overwhelming at the same time. I don’t know about you, but I struggle to keep up with it all. When I was taking Evidence-Based Practice in grad school, the professor taught us about the levels of evidence (and how to evaluate the evidence and use it to guide therapeutic decision making), how to thoroughly search a database, and how to consult a variety of sources (i.e., not just ASHA journals). That sounds like an awful lot to put on our already overflowing plates as school-based SLPs!

In the “real world” of an SLP, there are many hurdles to finding evidence for everything we do. Time and access to journals are two huge factors that come to mind! However, I do try my best to implement this piece of the EBP triangle, since it is an important component. I want to be the best SLP that I can be while setting reasonable expectations. I set goals for myself to stay informed and knowledgeable about best practices. It’s definitely not perfect, but my current “system” keeps me inspired and motivated to continue learning and improving as an SLP. Here’s what I came up with…

Getting Started

These are quick and easy resources that I check on a regular basis. Some people may not consider this to be “professional development,” but I have learned so much from these tools. It can be very lonely as an SLP, and I so appreciate the opportunity to collaborate and talk about our field with other professionals.

1. Facebook Groups: I love reading other people’s questions and answers. It helps me think critically about what I’m doing and helps me identify areas that I might learn more about.

• Speech Pathologists at Large
• School-Based Speech & Language Therapy
• SLPeeps – Middle and High School
• AAC for the SLP
• Medical SLP Forum

2. Blogs: I added some of my favorite blogs to Feedly. I love reading about what other SLPs are doing in therapy. Many of them also have a focus on evidence-based practice.

3. The Informed SLP: If you haven’t signed up for this newsletter, you must! Researchers digest the latest research for us and share all the juicy information in a monthly email. It’s a great way to stay current and identify areas that you might want to learn more about.

I jot down ideas or questions that come up in Evernote. I come back to this when I’m picking my “topic for the month.” Read more below!

Monthly Research

I set a goal to research at least one topic a month. The topic is often influenced by a student on my caseload or something that was mentioned in a group/blog post. I write my topic on a sticky note and keep it on my desk. I set aside a few times over the course of the month to research that topic. Here are my two “go to” resources:

4. Journal Articles: I regularly search through the journals on ASHA when I’m working on my “question of the month.” They have a lot of relevant articles, but I remember my graduate school professor telling me to not only rely on them. I’m not exactly keen on spending $15 for one article, but I will if I absolutely need it. I often save the abstract and head to the university library to look at a handful of articles at a time.

5. SpeechPathology.com ($99/year): I also have found that SpeechPathology.com (affiliate link) has some great presentations, too. I get to learn from experts in the field, who often help me dig through the research more quickly than I would on my own. (I check the citations if I decide I want to learn more.) I also earn CEU credits at the same time. Since I complete about one lecture a month, I don’t have to worry about CEUs!

I keep all of my notes in an Evernote folder. (This makes it easy to reference them later, although a notebook or a Word document would work, too!) Because I often come up with my “topics” with a particular student in mind, it’s really easy to make the articles/presentations relevant. I include a section to jot down any practical applications of the research, which helps me use what I learned with my students. I still have a long way to go, but–by taking a bite-sized piece every month–I’m able to keep learning and improving.

Although that is my general process, I love going to conferences and taking advantage of other free resources. Here are a few more ideas:

6. Conferences: I love attending my state conference. Although the ASHA conferences are a splurge, they offer presentations on so many amazing topics. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other SLPs.

It depends on the state, but some areas offer free (or inexpensive) conferences. For example, my previous Educational Service District offered amazing AAC conferences. Connect with your local SLPs to see what options are available in your area!

Tell us about your tips for keeping up with the evidence! Leave a comment below.

Gingerbread Man Student Gift

December 11, 2016 by Marisha Leave a Comment

I was looking for a quick, easy, and functional gift to send home with my students this year.

The theme for the month was gingerbread men. We read gingerbread man stories, made cookies using playdough, and more (inspired by the SLP Now Membership)! Watch the video below to hear why I picked these playdough mats as my student gift and to see how I assembled them.

Want the template to make your own student gifts? Click here to download the template!

Planning Essentials: Speech Therapy Cart

December 8, 2016 by Marisha 16 Comments

Is it just me, or does your therapy room look like a tornado passed through by Monday afternoon? I was struggling to keep track of all the therapy materials I was using without them taking over my room. I knew I needed a way to easily store my materials so I could simply grab what I needed without having to dig through a mountain of materials. Enter the therapy cart… (:

I got this cart at Target, but they also sell them at IKEA.

I then went on a hunt for the perfect tools to organize my materials.

What’s Inside?

I found the magazine holders at IKEA. I keep my skill packs, books, and themed activities in these holders. My iPad hangs out next to them.

We do a lot of crafts in therapy, so I grabbed these hanging containers (79 cents a piece!) from IKEA. They hook onto the cart, so I can just pull off what I need. The containers have a flat bottom, so they can stand on their own.

On the bottom two shelves, I have more containers. I found the green containers at the dollar store, and they’re great for storing cards and other miscellaneous items. I also like these plastic containers (again from IKEA). They stack perfectly!

I also used these magnetic containers to store random craft pieces (e.g., pompoms, wiggly eyes, etc.).

This could also be a great place to keep your therapy data binder.

I have a few more organizers that I use. You can read more about them here!

More Tips

I switch out the materials on a weekly basis, so I only have what I need for therapy that week. This keeps the cart from getting too cluttered (which would defeat the point)!

I love the cart’s mobility, too! The wheels are sturdy, so it’s easy to take into another classroom, if needed.

Want to see more?

Check out this video for a closer look!

Using Books to Target Basic Concepts

November 10, 2016 by Marisha Leave a Comment

I’m so excited about this series–Mixing Up Speech Therapy! I’ll be sharing a roundup of activities targeting a variety of skills using BOOKS. After all, we know the value of using books in therapy, but it can be challenging to come up with fun, engaging activities–especially when SLP overwhelm sets in. I’m hoping that this series will give you a few ideas for activities to use in your speech room right away! This week we’ll chat about using books to target basic concepts.

If you have any ideas to share, please feel free to post a comment with some of your favorite activities!

Teaching and Modeling

Of course, we want to teach a concept to a student before we expect them to use it. I like using the cards included in my Basic Concepts packet as an initial visual. I’ll model the concept and identify examples in the “real world.” It won’t work for all concepts, but it’s really fun to get the kids up and moving. We might even sit ON or UNDER the table (gasp!).

If you work with preschoolers, then circle time is a great opportunity to include some basic concepts teaching. Seifert & Schwarz (1991) include some ideas (and evidence) for this approach in this article. They also share suggestions for selecting which concepts to target.

Once you’ve done some of that initial teaching, the fun with books can begin!

Use the Book

The books we use in therapy are filled with basic concepts. You can target virtually any concept using the pictures in a book.

Students enjoy doing a “scavenger hunt” for concepts in a book (e.g., finding all of the characters that are boys). I like using visuals to help scaffold this skill.
You can have students point, draw, and/or take pictures (if you have a tablet or phone) to identify exemplars. They can then be used for additional practice in future sessions.
Students can also play “I Spy” (alternating both expressive and receptive skills). They can “spy” a target concept (e.g., “I spy something BIG!”), and the remaining groups members can identify the picture(s) that matches that concept.

Fun with Pictures

Some of my students struggle initially to identify or label concepts in the book. They may benefit from a reduced field of choices and/or the opportunity to physically manipulate the items. This is where pictures come in! By using clip art images (or images from the book), we have more control over the field of choices and can strategically choose items. Students can also manipulate the pictures for more hands-on learning. They might move the pictures around to show location or sort them to show the distinction between concepts.

For example, when reading Bear Snores On, we cut out the pictures and used a paper bag to make a cave. This was an easy way to target positional concepts. We could also practice quantitative/qualitative concepts by sorting (e.g., big vs. little) or temporal concepts by organizing the picture to show a sequence of events. These types of activities make the book more interactive and provide the students opportunities to practice these concepts in a more embedded activity (versus simply moving the picture to practice these concepts in isolation).

The Evidence

Check out these articles to see how other SLPs/researchers approach basic concepts.

Treatment Effectiveness of Large Group Basic Concept Instruction With Head Start Students. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, April 1991, Vol. 22, 60-64. doi:10.1044/0161-1461.2202.60

Effectiveness of a Collaborative Consultation Approach to Basic Concept Instruction With Kindergarten Children. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, January 1995, Vol. 26, 69-74. doi:10.1044/0161-1461.2601.69

Rate and Sequence of Positive and Negative Poles in Basic Concept Acquisition. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, October 1988, Vol. 19, 410-417. doi:10.1044/0161-1461.1904.410

Feel free to share your own ideas for using books to target basic concepts in the comments below!

Speech Room Productivity

November 6, 2016 by Marisha Leave a Comment

As school SLPs, it often feels like we have a never-ending list of responsibilities. It can be challenging to keep track of it all! This year, I took some time to think about what I need to stay on top of everything. Here’s what I came up with…

1. Brain Dump

I don’t know about you, but I’m incredibly ambitious at the beginning of the year. I have all sorts of ideas of what I want to get done. There are also a lot of things that are part of the job and must be done. I sit down and dump ALL of my ideas onto a piece of paper. Just having it all written down and out of my head really helps. I used Asana, but Evernote, a Google Doc, or even a piece of paper will do!

2. Prioritize

I identify a couple of projects (1-2) to complete. (If I know it is going to be a crazy week, then I might not put a project on my plate.) I like to break the bigger projects into more manageable pieces, so they can get done over the course of a week.
An example: organization projects (setting up new systems, purging old papers, etc.)

3. Must Do Routines

That said, we do a lot more than 2-3 things over the course of a week. There are a lot of routines involved with our job (planning, therapy, meetings, billing). It helps to schedule out chunks of time to make sure I’m able to fit those things in. I use Google Calendar to keep track of these!
Some examples: billing, paperwork, planning therapy

4. May Do Routines

There are some routines that don’t fit well on the calendar. There are some routines that don’t have to be completed every day or every week. I make a list of these and keep it by my desk. This way, I don’t forget about them, but it won’t have a negative impact if I don’t get to everything on the list all the time.
Some examples: checking in with teachers, contacting parents

5. Organization Systems

It really helps to have a routine around the tasks that we have to complete on a daily/weekly basis. Here’s a list of some of my routines! (I’ll update with links as the posts are completed!)

– All of the tasks!
– Data Collection
– Email
– Paperwork
– Filing
– Parent communication
– Teacher communication
– Referrals
– Therapy scheduling
– Therapy plans

6. Time to Review

At the end of every week, I also take some time to check in on my systems (e.g., are there any papers that I need to take care of?) and make a plan for the following week.

What systems do you struggle with most? Do you have any systems that you’ve “mastered”? Let us know by commenting below!

Using Books to Target Articulation

November 3, 2016 by Marisha Leave a Comment

This week we’ll chat about using books to target articulation, as part of the Mixing Up Speech Therapy series. There is a time and a place for more traditional drill therapy. Targeting articulation through literacy-based activities is another option, especially when it comes to mixed groups, students with multiple goals, and generalization.

If you have any ideas to share, please feel free to post a comment with some of your favorite activities!

Start with Visuals

It’s important for students to know what they’re working on. Depending on the students’ levels, I will provide them with a visual and/or have them select the visual for their sound.

Student Sound Identification

For some students, it’s appropriate to work on identifying their speech sound in context. While reading a book, we will use a magnifying glass (or a speech sound “wand”) to point out their sounds in a book. Students can use sticky notes to flag the sounds in the book. This is also a great opportunity to practice those sounds!

SLP Sound Identification

If it’s not appropriate for students to identify their own sounds, then I like to use speech sound charts to identify books that will give students a number of opportunities to practice their speech sounds in context. You can find these in the SLP Now Membership.

Picture Cards for Practice: Throughout the Hierarchy

The SLP Now Membership also includes picture cards to go with each book. These can be used as articulation targets. I like to pair them with phrase/sentence strips for higher level practice. I might also give students the cards and ask them to create sentences/stories about those cards.

It’s also easy to find images on Google (for personal use) or on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Use that Camera!

If I don’t have access to picture cards for a particular book, then I also like to use my phone and/or tablet to take pictures of target sounds in the book. It’s easy to email and/or print these sheets for practice at home.

You can also use them for more drill-based therapy later on!

• Photo Dice
• Little Spinner
• Any photo collage app!

Self-Monitoring

For my readers who are working on generalization, I will give them the opportunity to read a few pages from the book. We enjoy snapping a picture of the page using Notability so we can record and highlight sounds as we go along. I especially love this, because it allows students to replay the recording while annotating the document on the screen. The combination of audio and visual feedback is pretty amazing!

There you have it! Now, I’m curious… Do you use books to target articulation in therapy? What are your favorite activities?

Must Have Assembly Tools for SLPs

November 2, 2016 by Marisha Leave a Comment

Here are some of my favorite tools that I love to use to assemble therapy materials. It’s easy to spend a lot of money on these tools, and I hope to share some tools that might save you some time (and money)!

NOTE: The links below are Amazon Affiliate links for your convenience, but I may receive compensation if you click through and purchase one of the products. *

Printer

I’m obsessed with my printer! It prints beautifully and has all the functions I need (and more). I chose an HP printer, because HP Instant Ink is amazing. I save so much money on ink now. When you buy a new printer, they often include three free months of ink. You can also get an additional free month if you sign up using this link!

Laminator

This is a must have! I love my Scotch laminators!

Laminating Sheets

I personally don’t see a big difference in the different laminating sheets, so I stick with these cheaper ones. I’ll buy the Scotch brand when they’re on sale. 🙂

Tac

A poor SLP’s velcro…! I love this stuff. I used it in a bind when I ran out of velcro, and now I use it all the time! (I usually buy this in the store, though. It’s a little pricier on Amazon!)

Velcro

I use Tac most of the time, but I sometimes still use Velcro. This brand seems to be the best deal. It’s not my favorite because the velcro is pretty thick, but the other options are a little too pricey for me.

Paper Cutter

This is such a time saver! It’s really lightweight and easy to move around. I’ve had mine for years, and it’s still going strong (even after multiple moves and A LOT of cutting).

Binder Rings

These are great for quickly putting materials together (interactive books, decks of card, visuals).

Hole Punch

I was tired of the hole punchers at school, and I splurged on a “fancy” hole puncher. This one has been going strong for a few years!

Mailing Labels

These are great for visuals, reinforcers, and my articulation stickers. Makes for easy add-ons to therapy materials, and kids love them!

Circle Punch

These circle punches are another splurge but a great time saver. I use them for my stickers, gift tags, and craft templates!

Binding Machine

This is a definite splurge, but I bought it at the beginning of the year. I decided to treat my friends to planners, and it was cheaper to buy this (versus paying to have them bound). I love this one because it’s easy to open the spine and add/remove pages!

If your school has a binding machine (but you don’t love the comb spines), you can use these spines instead. They’re just like the spines that come with the personal binding machine listed above, but you don’t have to invest in the machine. Pretty cool! (Thanks to an awesome SLP Now member for sharing this idea in our group!)

Now, don’t be like me and spend all your money on these tools! Districts are often willing to pay for some of these tools. (I’ve been pleasantly surprised with what my district was willing to pay for.) If that route doesn’t work for you, Donors Choose is another great resource.

Tell us in the comments below! What is your favorite tool?

* Marisha Mets is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.