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Marisha

Planning Essentials: Speech Therapy Cart

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Using Books to Target Sequencing

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I’m so excited to be starting this new 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 sequencing and/or story retell.

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

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 books. *

Start with Visuals

If you know me, then you know I’m all about visuals. I find that it makes the teaching process so much easier, and it’s a great way to increase independence. We can start modeling a skill using a visual and then gradually fade our support so that the student is able to use the visual independently (in the speech room and in the classroom). There are so many different visuals we could use, so I’ll share a few. (Again, feel free to share your favorite ideas in the comments!)

TEACHING VISUALS

I created these so that I would always have visuals handy. We can manipulate the strips (e.g., change the order, write on them using dry erase markers, etc.) for more interactive teaching and practice. You can find them on TPT or in the SLP Now Membership.

A photo posted by Marisha (SLP Now) (@slp_now) on

ANCHOR CHARTS

You can print up a fancy once, or you can create your own with the student. This really varies on the student’s level and goal type, but I like to try to use (and/or adapt) what the teacher is using in the classroom.

SEQUENCING STRIP

I made one for four-step sequencing, but you can easily cut up strips of paper and customize a strip to your liking. Using a paperclip, a clothespin, and/or a bead on a pipe cleaner are easy ways to add some kinesthetic support, too.

Prefer to have a visual to print? Click here to download the sequencing visual!

Pictures

There are so many ways to incorporate pictures from the book to support our students. Here are a few ideas…

  • You can copy/scan pictures out of the book (for personal use).
  • I like to take pictures with my phone. I find it’s easier and faster, and students can be involved in the process, too.
  • You can use Google Images (for personal use).
  • Teachers Pay Teachers is also a great source of clip art, especially if you want to share your visuals with others.
  • The SLP Now Membership also includes visuals for themed books.
  • These No Print Book Companions include pictures basic sequencing, as well.

Sticky Notes

If you don’t have access to a printer, then sticky notes (or cut up pieces of paper) are an option, too. Students can identify the key events, draw a quick picture (and/or write a sentence) of each event, and then practice telling the story.

If you’re working on higher level sequencing, these sticky notes are awesome, too! Students love being able to make their own booklets with tabs.

Graphic Organizer Fill-In

This is a more traditional approach, but teachers use a lot of graphic organizers. I love giving students the opportunity to practice using a graphic organizer that he’ll also be able to use in class. You can make it “fun” by using sticky notes and/or using dry erase markers to fill in the organizer.

Comic Strips

This is a lot like using a graphic organizer, but kids get excited about making a comic strip. It’s as easy as folding a piece of paper into however many parts, and you’re ready to go!

Apps

Like I mentioned before, using the camera on your phone or tablet is a great way to get quick visual supports. Here are some of my favorite apps…

PicCollage (Free, with upgrades): You can use the pictures you took and have students put them in a collage. Super easy to print for homework and/or repeated practice.

VidStich (Free, with upgrades):  This is like PicCollage, but you can record videos! We take a video of the scene in the book and tell what is happening. This also works well if you choose to use other visuals (cutting out pictures for a “play,” sticky notes, etc.).

Puppet Pals HD (Free, with upgrades): A very fun way to “act out” their sequences! I find that this activity is most successful as “additional practice.” Students tend to benefit from a completed graphic organizer before diving into this task.

Puppet Pals 2 (Free, with upgrades): Similar to Puppet Pals HD, but with more options to customize with your own pictures/backgrounds.

Notability (Paid): This works well with groups, but you can draw and record audio at the same time! When you replay the audio, the drawings pop up in sequential order. Pretty cool!

Pictello (Paid): This is another fun app, and you have the option to share stories with teachers and/or parents.

And that’s a wrap! Feel free to share your own ideas for using books to target sequencing in the comments below!

* 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.

Books in Speech Therapy: Why

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Why use books in speech therapy? Here are five reasons why I love using books in speech therapy!

1. Embedded Practice

Students of all ages are expected to read and respond to books/stories in the classroom. If we are able to target speech/language skills using books (in the therapy room or in the classroom), then the research shows that students benefit (Ukrainetz, 2006). They learn to use their language skills in a meaningful and “authentic” way.

2. Language Rich

Books are full of rich vocabulary and other targets. You can use them to target virtually any goal! Stay tuned to learn all about how I use books to target a variety of speech and language targets!

3. Mixed Groups

Because they are filled with speech and language targets, they are perfect for mixed groups.

4. Empower Readers

Literacy is clearly a huge emphasis in school. By breaking down books with our students, they experience success and are often empowered to read more on their own.

5. Easy Planning

Because books are such versatile therapy tools, you can use them with a variety of groups. They may not work for your entire caseload, but it sure makes planning easier if you can use one book for multiple groups!

Looking for inspiration? My SLP Now Membership also includes two books for every theme!

Do you like using books in therapy? Why (or why not)? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

Speech Room Organization: Tools Roundup

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Here’s a round-up of some of my favorite organization tools!

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.

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.

Speech Room Organization All Around Organization

All Around Organization

DRAWER CART: Read all about how you can use a drawer cart to stay organized HERE.

HANGING FILE ORGANIZER: I love using this to keep track of pending IEPs/evaluations. I like to focus on up to six IEPs/evaluations at a time. It helps me feel less stressed, and I still get everything done!

Speech Room Organization Packets

Organize the Packets

PLASTIC BAGS: These are PERFECT for SLPs on a budget. They’re big enough to fit papers and laminated sheets, so you won’t have pieces falling out on you (like with the regular gallon bags). They come in a pack of 100, so they’re great for sharing with friends.

POLY ENVELOPES: These are more expensive, but they’re a little more durable.

Check out where I store these bags/envelopes here!

Speech Room Organization Papers

Organize the Papers

DIVIDERS: If you’re a binder SLP, then these are perfect!

FILE FOLDERS: We often have access to green ones at school, but how pretty are these?! #favoritecolor

Speech Room Organization Craft Supplies

Organize the Craft Supplies

CADDY: You can often find these at the dollar store. They’re a great way to organize your craft materials (and it is easily accessible when it is craft time).

PENCIL POUCHES: I “bind” a bundle of these with binder rings and use them to store frequently-used materials. Perfect for traveling SLPs!

SHOE ORGANIZER: I love using these to keep my craft materials organized!

TOOLBOX: This is my new favorite! The boxes are the perfect size for storing odds and ends. I use half for miscellaneous craft/office supplies and half for some articulation decks. Perfect!

P.S. Want to feel even more organized? You can try SLP Now free for 14 days — and get instant access to 6,000+ evidence-backed therapy materials and caseload management tools designed just for busy SLPs.

Taking Control of the Speech Room

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I am so excited to have Sarah from SLP Toolkit as a guest blogger today! She has some awesome tips to get organized and take control of your speech room.

I am a self-professed material hoarder. I love to buy materials, and I love to hold onto materials indefinitely. I know I will never use the vocabulary picture cards from the 70s, but I can’t bear to throw them away! Part of me just loves all things vintage, but the other part of me actually thinks I may, in fact, find a need for these items, and therefore, I can’t toss them out. The problem with not letting go of anything is it gets to be very difficult to find a home for everything. Although I try, being an organized hoarder is very difficult to do, and with the minimal storage in most of our tiny therapy rooms, we can easily start to overflow. And the worst part is, I have all of these materials, yet I could never seem to find anything I needed, so I just bought more… It’s a vicious cycle.

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

Over the last few months I have taken drastic measures to take control of the speech room. As hard as it has been to let go, I have found a new home for some of my things, thrown out others, and tried very hard not to buy more (except for a few things during the TPT Back to School sale, because seriously, who can pass that up?). Here are a few changes I have made in my room that have already started to make a difference:

SLPs and teachers have a tendency to be hoarders, am I right? This guest post, by Sarah from SLP Toolkit, is all about taking control of the speech room by managing your materials. She shares some great organizational tips that those of you who hoard materials will find especially helpful. Click through to read all of her suggestions!

Don’t touch a paper more than once.

Stacks of paper, even organized stacks of paper, are not a filing system. I must have had three years’ worth of filing stacked up in different trays around my room. I spent one whole day sorting, shredding, and filing things I had to keep. The one caveat to using a filing system is you must clearly label and organize files logically so that you can actually find what you need when you need it. And again, don’t throw things into a bin to file later. ☺

SLPs and teachers have a tendency to be hoarders, am I right? This guest post, by Sarah from SLP Toolkit, is all about taking control of the speech room by managing your materials. She shares some great organizational tips that those of you who hoard materials will find especially helpful. Click through to read all of her suggestions!

Take an inventory.

This was a labor of love! Using the Evernote app, I inventoried all of my children’s books! Now I know exactly what I have so I don’t buy the same book twice (or six times, like my copies of The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell). It is also amazing for planning because I can just check the app to see what books I have by theme. Here is a video I created on how to use the Evernote app to inventory my books.

SLPs and teachers have a tendency to be hoarders, am I right? This guest post, by Sarah from SLP Toolkit, is all about taking control of the speech room by managing your materials. She shares some great organizational tips that those of you who hoard materials will find especially helpful. Click through to read all of her suggestions!

Label, sort, and digitize.

In the past, there was no rhyme or reason as to how my books were organized on the shelf. This year, I have them organized by skill area or theme. I am really trying to get away from paper anything, but I can’t bear to part with all of these awesome therapy books and binders. So, instead of making a copy of something when I need it, I snap a picture of it with my Evernote app and convert it to a PDF. Then, I can use the annotate feature in the app to have the kids mark their responses or to take data directly on the document. I have also scanned some of my favorite go-to’s so that I can access them on my iPad as needed. Next up…inventorying all of these materials (insert anxious emoji here).

SLPs and teachers have a tendency to be hoarders, am I right? This guest post, by Sarah from SLP Toolkit, is all about taking control of the speech room by managing your materials. She shares some great organizational tips that those of you who hoard materials will find especially helpful. Click through to read all of her suggestions!

Have a few things within arm’s reach.

I bought this awesome hanging bag from Thirty-One, and it’s perfect for storing card decks, flash cards, flip books, and other small materials I use frequently. I also have a three-drawer organizer right next to my therapy table that has dice, card games, stickers, mirrors, tongue depressors, gloves, crayons, small toys, etc. Having all of these things right next to me cuts down on time, as I can just grab what I need quickly!

SLPs and teachers have a tendency to be hoarders, am I right? This guest post, by Sarah from SLP Toolkit, is all about taking control of the speech room by managing your materials. She shares some great organizational tips that those of you who hoard materials will find especially helpful. Click through to read all of her suggestions!

One of my favorite things I implemented is a small filing cabinet near my therapy table that has a hanging file folder for each group. This is where I store their data sheets and any materials or notes I have for each group. This way, whenever I think of something that will be great for a student or find something I want to use with the group, I can just throw it in their hanging file. I try to have lists or materials in there that target each of their objectives so that when I don’t have time to plan, I can just grab whatever is in here and combine it with a generic reinforcement activity, like a game or a craft, and BOOM! Therapy on the fly. ☺

SLPs and teachers have a tendency to be hoarders, am I right? This guest post, by Sarah from SLP Toolkit, is all about taking control of the speech room by managing your materials. She shares some great organizational tips that those of you who hoard materials will find especially helpful. Click through to read all of her suggestions!

The moral of the story…

While I am still trying to simplify and purge, there are at least systems in place to help me be more efficient. These changes, combined with the use of online systems like SLP Toolkit and SLP Now Membership, are saving me SO MUCH TIME and honestly make me a better therapist. I love that I have started this school year prepared and ready to take on whatever comes my way…

Now if only I could find a reason to play with this old game that was left in the speech room… It’s too cute to throw out. ☺

SLPs and teachers have a tendency to be hoarders, am I right? This guest post, by Sarah from SLP Toolkit, is all about taking control of the speech room by managing your materials. She shares some great organizational tips that those of you who hoard materials will find especially helpful. Click through to read all of her suggestions!

Want to hear more from Sarah? Check out the SLP Toolkit Blog. You can also follow SLP Toolkit on Facebook and Instagram.

Speech Room Organization: Themed Materials

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Anyone else struggle to keep track of all the speech therapy materials? There are so many amazing resources out there; it’s easy to quickly accumulate a pile of materials! Have you ever bought something you already own? Or bought new materials because it’s easier to buy something new than dig through the mess of materials you already own? Guilty as charged! Once I got organized, however, I found this happened a lot less.

NOTE: Here’s a link to my Amazon shop so you can see all of the mentioned products. I may receive compensation if you click through and purchase one of the products. *

Here’s a peek at how I organize those themed materials…

My Favorite Organizational Tools

I love using a file box and file folders. I splurged on my favorite color, but they have cheaper options, too!

Organization in Action

I ended up creating one folder for each theme. This makes it easy to store craft templates and book guides.

I store the books behind the folder for each theme, so it’s super easy to find what I need.

Bonus hack? Use library pockets to store your visuals for that book!

I use my SLP Now Membership to keep track of my other activities electronically. Instead of printing out hundreds of pages, I just access the materials as I need them. (This has helped my speech room be much less cluttered!)

I’m able to pull up many of the activities on my iPad, so I don’t even have to print! If I do need to print an activity, I can quickly find it on the membership site and hit print. I get to skip lines at the copy machine, which is a huge plus for this busy SLP.

Other Options

You can also store your favorite activities on your computer (read more here!) or on Google Drive.

If you need to have your paper resources, there are a number of organizational tools you can use to store those packets/activities. Here are some that I’ve tried…

Gallon Ziploc bags can be a nice option, but they’re *just* a little too short to fit my papers. You can buy larger bags that DO fit papers–even laminated ones! They’re not the most durable storage solution, but they’re great for SLPs on a budget. You could even split the cost with a few SLP friends (unless you have 100 packets that you need to organize)!

Want more ideas? Check out this blog post! I show how I organize my skill-based resources.

Therapy Planning Process

When it comes to therapy planning, I’m able to quickly grab a book, a book guide, and other activities from my seasonal box. If I need any additional materials, I print out activities from SLP Now. Then, I keep all those materials in a speech bin or therapy cart for easy access throughout the week.

Easy Book Inventory

Wondering how to keep track of all the books? I use an app to keep track of my books!

So there’s a peek at my themed lesson plan organization! How do you organize your themed materials?

* 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.

SLP Lesson Plans: Necessity or Luxury?

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Should we plan for our therapy sessions? As SLPs, we have a lot on our plates. The beginning of the year is chaotic as we are setting up our rooms, organizing our caseloads, reviewing student files, scheduling, completing transfer paperwork, and all of the things we all just love to do. Writing SLP lesson plans might not be at the top of our list during this crazy time!

It doesn’t exactly get better once the school year starts, either. On top of regular therapy, we have paperwork, meetings, parent/teacher communication, student support, and more! Our plates are very full.

These could all be reasons for SLPs NOT to plan for therapy, but is that enough?

Let’s take a closer look…

Reasons NOT TO Plan

1. The IEP is the plan.

2. We don’t have time.

3. Lesson planning is overwhelming.

Reasons TO Plan

1. It gives us a chance to prepare materials to best address our students’ goals.

2. Instead of wasting precious minutes while we’re shuffling to find an activity, we can maximize our time with our students.

3. There is less “down time,” resulting in fewer behavior issues.

4. It allows us to ensure that we are targeting the appropriate goals in an effective manner.

5. It gives us a chance to review student data and make data-based decisions.

6. It gives us a chance to reflect so that we can continue to improve as professionals.

7. It helps us adapt more readily. As long as we don’t become so rigid that we HAVE to follow our plan, I think that planning makes it easier to come up with contingency plans in the moment.

Reconsider

Let’s review some of the “arguments” against planning.

1. The IEP is the plan.

The IEP tells us what to work on, but we still need to figure out how we’re going to target those goals. Mixed groups add in another layer of complexity, too!

2. We don’t have time.

3. Lesson planning is overwhelming.

Lesson planning doesn’t have to be time-consuming OR overwhelming!

What’s the secret?

You can access pre-made lesson plans in the SLP Now Membership! This will save you so. much. time! You can access the lesson plans on any device (i.e., computer, tablet, or phone) for quick and easy lesson planning. The included activities are low prep, and your students will love them.

Do you take the time to create your SLP lesson plans? I thought you might say no. I know that time is an issue, but lesson plans truly are imperative in order to best address our students' needs and meet their IEP goals. Read more about my thoughts on this and how to accomplish getting your SLP lesson plans done inside this post!

I also guide you through how to set up systems to make lesson planning easy. The membership includes a Lesson Plan Workbook filled with resources to help you work smarter, not harder.

The membership also includes access to an awesome community of SLPs. I do regular Live videos sharing tips and tricks to use the membership and save time. We talk about some of the tricky questions (e.g., how to get organized, how to plan for mixed groups, and more!). It is a great place to share ideas, collaborate, and receive support.

What Other SLPs Are Saying

Don’t take my word for it! Here’s what other SLP Now Members are saying…

My favorite part of LPM is how simple it is to find exactly what I need, when I need it. No more extensive digging for resources–it’s all right here! I know I am only a few clicks away from an awesome therapy session with LPM. I can quickly find a themed therapy item or target a specific skill set just by browsing through the materials on LPM! – Kayla

The year will be easier because I will have all my themed activities and books with materials ready to easily grab and go. The materials are for a variety of severities can be used in numerous ways! I can take the materials for a whole day’s worth of kiddos and meet their individual needs. – JoBeth

I’m obsessed with the leveled instruction in the skill-based lessons. It can be tricky trying to figure out where to start when a student is having difficulty. Marisha has taken the time to break down the skills and provide the necessary level of supports. This will allow me to try some new methods with less work on my end. – Sarah

Want to Learn More?

Learn more about the membership here.

 

Nonfiction Books in Therapy

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I love using books in speech therapy. You can use them to target virtually any goal. I tend to use fiction books (check out my book list here), but I recently discovered a series of nonfiction books that I LOVE! You have to check out the Let’s Read and Find Out (Science) series.

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 books. *

I am not affiliated with the author or publisher of this series. This blog post is a review of the books.

Why am I so excited about these books?

1. It’s hard to find good nonfiction books to use in therapy.

I can’t tell you how many nonfiction books I’ve picked up (and put down) because they wouldn’t work well for my mixed groups. I love these books because they have a story line to keep students interested and engaged, but they are still jam-packed with information.

2. The books are leveled.

They offer Stage 1 and Stage 2 books. Stage 1 is supposed to be for preschool and kindergarten students, but I could see myself using these with 1st and 2nd grade students, too. The Stage 2 books are written for primary grade students. Finally something that I can use with my 3rd through 5th graders!

3. The books are high interest (even for older students).

They are picture books, but I know my older students will love these. The books don’t look baby-ish and even include some real pictures. They offer so many topics (space, animals, weather, and more!) that there is bound to be a handful of books that will interest even the pickiest students.

4. The vocabulary is fabulous!

Because they are nonfiction, the books are packed with Tier 3 vocabulary. They also include great options for Tier 1 and Tier 2 vocabulary. The perfect combination!

5. The books naturally support a variety of skills.

Some of the books lend themselves incredibly well to certain goals (e.g., My Five Senses and Sounds All Around for describing). They do some of the prompting for you!

6. The books include many possible targets.

You can easily pull out articulation, grammar, and language targets–even social skills! Many of the books include suggestions for interactive activities that require students to problem solve and work collaboratively. The hands-on activities are also a great extension activity to continue working on other speech and language targets, as well!

7. The books are perfect for mixed groups.

Because you can use the books to target so many goals, they’re perfect for those mixed groups!

8. The topics addressed are perfect for themed therapy.

If you’re in the SLP Now Membership, then you’ll love these books, because many of them align perfectly with the included themes. The Open-Ended Activity Packs will also make it easy for you to structure your therapy and target your students’ goals.

9. The topics addressed align well with topics that students will learn about in class.

Students are learning about these topics in the general education classroom. What a great way to reinforce what they’ve learned in class and support the general education curriculum!

10. The books are affordable.

You can find them on Amazon for $4-6 dollars a piece. Considering how expensive therapy materials can be, these books will give you a lot of bang for your buck. I could easily see myself using ONE book for 3-4 weeks of therapy (with some extension activities). These books would also be great to recommend to parents!

UPDATE: You can also get some great deals on AbeBooks!2029

If you want to take a peek at the books, check out this video!

Here are some of the books I’ve checked out!

* 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.