Pronouns: He, She, They- Product Review & Giveaway!!

Thank you to Natalie from Just Wright Speech for letting me review Pronouns: He, She, They!  This activity is geared towards Pre-K and younger Elementary Students.  In other words, it is perfect for my caseload!

Natalie provides clear instructions on how to set up and use the activity in a variety of different ways!  This is key to me, as I work with active little ones who need the repetition of the same stimulus, but also need the variation to hold their interest!   

Some suggested uses include playing Go Fish to target both receptive and expressive language, sort the pictures onto the included sorting mats, and simple memory games!

Natalie has included great graphics to target all three pronouns.  Each kid or group of kids is doing something or holding an item, so you also get to work on action words at the same time!  (Bonus!)  I used this pack in a small group targeting simple pronouns for one student, and 'what doing' vs. 'what have' questions for another.  It was PERFECT!  Each of the students also worked towards their goal by describing the cards to the other student in the group. 

For example:

Student #1 (pronoun expressive goal)- Find HE is holding an umbrella.  Student #2 needed to find that particular card.

Student #2 (Action words expressive goal)- Find he is CATCHING butterflies.  Student #1 needed to find that particular card.

This worked out great, and the kids had a blast when they were able to 'trick' each other:)

 Natalie has also included cue cards to help students answer questions with a full sentence.  She has included several of these.  One helps a child to answer 'who is?' questions, one helps a child to answer 'who has' questions, and one has just the pronoun.  This was intended to be for the clinician to create their own cue card, but I found it helpful for a few of my students to use it just as a visual reminder to answer in a complete sentence!

Finally, she has included a 'following directions' page, which can be done during therapy, or sent home as homework!  If you have kiddos who enjoy coloring, they will love this page!  

This pack has been great for my kiddos!  I work mainly with Pre-K, so early pronoun activities are ALWAYS included in my lesson plans!  The graphics included in this activity are clear and engaging for my students.  I recommend this product if you have students working on these skills!  You can grab it from her TpT store HERE!  

How do you address pronouns in therapy?  I would love it if you left a comment with fun and exciting ways you teach these skills!

Natalie was nice enough to offer up a copy to a reader!  Enter in the rafflecopter below!  Be sure to check out her blog for other fun ideas here, and her Facebook page here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for reading!

~Rae

My PlayHome App Companion Packet Review!

I cannot thank Teach Speech 365 enough for allowing me to review her My PlayHome Speech and Language Therapy Companion Packet!  I use this app A LOT!  When I say a lot, I really mean every day, multiple times a day!  

Let me start here:  I work mainly with Pre-K, and K kiddos, and the app is perfect for this age group.  With that being said, I do have older students who enjoy it as well.  When I saw Teach Speech had created a Speech and Language companion packet to go with the App, I was thrilled!  It immediately went on my wish list!  I feel so fortunate that I am able to review it here for everyone!

If you are not familiar with My PlayHome feel free to check it out at here.  It is currently $3.99 in iTunes.  I have used this app since I first started using an iPad with my students (so a little over a year now).  The app has been great to use as a reinforcer for many kiddos, and it has been very effective in eliciting language with many of my kiddos.  The only thing I don't like about using apps in therapy, is that many of my kiddos get sucked in and the back and forth conversation sometimes disappears...

Enter My PlayHome Companion Packet from Teach Speech 365!   

I printed off the entire packet (in black and white) and put all of the pages in sheet protectors in a binder.  The colors on the backgrounds are really fun and pretty, but not essential to use the packet.  For me, this has been a packet geared towards the dreaded data collection.  When working with a student, I open to the page I need in my binder, and check off boxes with a dry erase marker.  I am then able to easily transfer the totals into my student folder at the end of the session.  It would be just as easy to print multiple copies and keep a copy for a particular student and mark off improvement over time!  Either way, it makes data collection incredibly easy and efficient!

Teach Speech 365 has included receptive language activities for all areas of the Play Home.  The pack starts with one-step directions, moves to two-step, and then three-step directions.  Each section of the home is clearly labeled within the packet, making it extremely easy for a therapist to find what they need quickly!  Teach Speech has even provided leveled multi-step directions!  One set allows a student to stay in one room, and the next requires a student to change rooms. Again, each is clearly marked within the packet!

She has also included preposition concepts for each area of the house!  This is such a motivating way to informally assess a student's understanding of these concepts.  Again, notice the little check boxes to help with data collection!  

One more thing I have loved using is her receptive and expressive activities.  My students have been so engaged with trying to guess what I am describing!  She has also included several additional ideas for quick and fun games to elicit language while using the App!

In summary:

Pros:  

Easy to use!

Comprehensive for both receptive AND expressive language!

Makes data collection extremely easy!

No cutting and laminating!

Cons:

...................

If you use this app with your students, I definitely recommend this pack!  

Check it out at her TpT store!  Visit her blog here!

Thanks again to Teach Speech 365 for allowing me to review this packet!  

Have you used this app?  Leave a comment letting me know what apps you love for language!

~Rae

Following Directions-Preschool Style

When I receive an IEP for a student with the goal of "student will follow 1,2,3 step directions" I groan inwardly. Sometimes I get so board working on this skill. Yes, I know it is necessary, and incredibly functional, but not always the most exciting... My students love games where they get to move around and jump three times before touching their toes, or walk in a circle after shutting the door, but how many times can we do this??  I play these games because the students have a ton of fun moving around, but I am always looking for a variety of ways to teach these skills.  Here, I will share one item that I have had great success with for my PK kiddos and some older students. I found this farm book at TJ Maxx several years ago. It is called "On The Farm, Magnetic Story & Play Scene".  There are several just like it, but I find myself using the farm one the most.

This book is awesome because it is magnetic, and there are a lot of moveable pieces that students can manipulate! During a structured activity, I simply have my students select an object and place it in a specified location. Depending on my students level, I may only have two or three objects out to choose from. My younger students LOVE playing with this book!!

We often sing Old Macdonald and in between each verse, we find the animal and put them on the farm scene. Sometimes we make a silly scene! For example, I may ask a student to put the duck on the house and the sheep in the pond. My kiddos love figuring out what is silly, and we always end up eliciting a lot of language!  I have small groups work together to give each other directions.  It even works well as a barrier game if you have a second copy (I once did!)  

How do you target following directions?  Leave a comment with any creative ideas you want to share:)

~Rae

SLP Link Up!

This Sunday, I am linking up with Oh, How Pintearesting! in a SLP link up! If you are interested, head over to her awesome blog, and join in on the fun!

This month of March has been a BUSY one!   I am sure you all understand...Spring IEP season is upon us, and the end of the year panic has begun... You know the feeling of teachers going 'OH NO! Student, A,B, Q, P, T, & Z are all behind, and need to be referred for Speech & Language NOW!!!'  Yes, I had 11 new referrals this month...WOW.  

Moving on...

With all that being said, my State of Mind at this moment is definitely happy!  My Bug continues to make progress in his language development!  I have new students starting this week that are full of feisty energy, that I am excited to get to know and come up with creative ways to help them become involved in speech therapy!  I am also incredibly happy that Spring is on the way...despite all of the snow lingering in my yard!

Currently, I am LOVING the wonderful SLP community!  I have found so many places lately to go to for support or help, or to share funny stories!  I am in a small school district, so it is so wonderful to have such a HUGE community of dedicated professionals to turn to at all times!  I am incredibly thankful to be a part of this!

I have spent my weekend prepping many items!  First up being Don't Let Grammar Bug You from Word to the Wise.  This is an awesome pack, and I can't wait to use it!  I will be writing more about it later!  I also prepped Cooking Up Directions from The Speech Bubble!  This is a very fun way of targeting multi-step directions, and it is leveled!!  What else can you ask for?  Finally, I have been prepping Just Wright Speech's Singular/Plural, Yes/No, & Negation Easter themed activity!  This is super cute, and perfect for a student of mine who is struggling with these skills.

Check out these blogs here:  

Word to the Wise

The Speech Bubble

Just Wright Speech

Thank you again to Oh, How Pintearesting! for the link up!  I am so excited to be here and to find more blogs and resources!

Enjoy!!

~Rae 

SLP Spring Fever Blog Hop & Giveaway!

Welcome to the SLP Spring Fever Blog Hop & Giveaway!  If you choose to join in on this scavenger hunt, you will score many freebies and have a chance at winning some fabulous prizes!  If you have hopped over from another blog, WELCOME!  I am so glad you stopped by!

Here is the Blog lineup:

1. Figuratively Speeching SLP
2. Just Wright Speech
3. Queen's Speech
4. Putting Words in your Mouth
5. Straight Up Speech
6. The Speech Umbrella
7. Miss Thrifty SLP
8. Rae's Speech Spot
9. Speech2U
10. Word to the Wise
11. Let's Talk Speech Language Pathology
12. SLP for Me – guest posting on Figuratively Speeching SLP

12 winners will receive a goodie basket of one Spring-themed activity from each participating blog owner/page owner in the blog hop.

A grand prize winner will receive the following in addition to the activities:

Codes for 3 Hamaguchi Apps (see Figuratively Speeching SLP’s reviews)

A code for a Mobile Ed App 

4 songs from musictherapytunes.com 

A green Big Grips iPad 2 case

The rules of the contest are simple: You must decode a secret message. In order to complete this task, you will need to visit each of the 12 blogs and download a freebie. The freebie will contain a word that is part of the code. When you enter the contest through rafflecopter, you will be asked to type in the secret code. Have fun and enjoy blog hopping with us! The contest will run from Sunday March 17th through Saturday March 23rd!

On to the freebie!  Over at my TpT store, I have a fairly new item up to download for free!  This download targets compound words in a fun and engaging manner!  Check it out here!  Don't forget to look for the clue within the document to enter the giveaway :)

Once you have grabbed it, be sure to come back and hop on over to another fantastic blog (Speech2U!) to pick up your next freebie!  If you are interested, check out my springtime preposition "Where Is The Butterfly?" download!  If you are a winner, you will receive a copy of this as a part of your prize package!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy hopping!  

~Rae

Blast Off Into A Speech Style Springtime Giveaway!

Are you as excited as I am about the beginning of Spring??  I can't wait to see those little green sprouts poking through!  I know it will be any day now around here!  As a celebration about the upcoming arrival of SPRING, I am participating in an AWESOME giveaway! 

Many, many, many SLPs are participating, and there will be THREE lucky winners!  Look below to see who is participating!

I have offered up a copy of my Sequence Comprehension download, which has a fun Earth Day theme!  

This download targets the concepts of First, Second, Last, Before, and After.  Each card has 2-3 sentences on it to either read to your students, or have them read.  The students will then answer a question, which is also printed on the card.  Each question asks about the order of events.  

Be sure to check out the other Speechies who are participating in this Super Springtime Giveaway!!

WordNerdTeachSpeech: Butterfly Categories
Kids Games for Speech Therapy: Easter Language Activity Pack
Let’s Talk Speech Therapy: Breaking it Down- Phoneme Segmentation/Blending & Multisyllabic Words
Rae’s Speech Spot: Sequence Comprehension
Home Sweet Speech Room: Directing the Action: Social Skills/Pragmatics
Natalie Snyders: March Homework Packet and April Homework Packet
Kristin Minden: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick Activities and1 and 2 Step Following Directions
Major Speech Minor Girl: What Would You Do or Say Social Skills Activity
Teach Speech: Who What Where When Questions with Visuals and What Questions with Visuals Add On
Speak Listen Play: Practice on the Playground S and S Blends
Crazy Speech World: Social Candy Monsters
Nicole Allison: No Print Expressive Pack
Speechy Musings: Phonemic Awareness Packet Powerpoint
Ms. Jocelyn Speech: Buzz Words
Live Love Speech: Live Love Speech: Who Wants to be a Social Skills Superhero?
Danielle Reed: Hedgehog Grammar Unit
Busy Bee Speech: Monster Mash Artic
Slp For Me: Spring Egg Hunt - Language Lessons Around the World
Speech Time Fun: Spring Word Fun
MrstSLP: Easter Basket Roll a Dice Game
Speech Room News: Easter Early Developing Sounds Articulation Game
If Only I Had SuperPowers: The Princess and the Dragon Speech Language Activities

Enter to WIN here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Snowy Sunday

Today is a snowy Sunday.  Another dreary cold day in which the snow wont stop, yet doesn't seem to amount to anything either.  It is how this winter has gone so far!  This morning Bug decided he wanted to go outside!  He brought his boots over to dad and then his snow pants.  He even wanted his mittens on!!!  (This is extremely unusual)  He then stood by the door saying "side" while waiting for his slow parents to get ready.  Outside we went!  I brought out a spray bottle filled with water.  I offered some colors to Bug, and he picked blue (by pointing).  We had a lot of fun spraying the snow blue!  

We painted letters into the snow, but they were promptly trampled on, so no pictures were taken.  We made snow balls and sprayed them blue prior to throwing them.  Bug really seemed to enjoy this, and he used a lot of words!  He even used some new two-word phrases!  'More blue' and 'blue ball' were two that he picked up.  Hopefully these phrases stick around :)

I got to thinking that this would be a really fun activity to do in a sensory table with my kiddos at work. For the 15 minutes or so that we were outside before the pre-nap meltdown occurred, we talked about a lot of concepts!  We discussed how cold the snow is, and used color words to talk about the change from white snow to blue snow.  We talked about big snow balls and little snow balls, and even letter  names!  Like I mentioned previously, Bug even used some new language!  (A major deal for this momma!)  

Hope you all are enjoying your Sunday!  What fun things do you do with little ones in the snow?  If you do not have snow, please enjoy your warmer weather for me! 

~Rae