Frenzied SLPs Best Year Ever Bonus Sale Linky

Hello!

Did you hear that Teachers Pay Teachers is having a one-day bonus sale on August 22, 2016? I'm linking up with the Frenzied SLPs to share some great products and tips from many awesome SLPs to help you decide what you need to make this year the BEST YEAR EVER!!! A huge thank you to Jen at SLP Runner for hosting this linky!

I just added a product to my store that you can use all year long:

Click on the image to preview it in my store!

I am LOVING this product because it is so fun, flexible and easy to use! It is a set of 8 printable flip books that targets sounds at the word, phrase, carrier phrase, sentence, paragraph and carryover levels. There are 2 books for each sound position (initial, medial, final and blends), each with its own unique set of challenge activities. Challenges include racing the clock, adding silly phrases to the targets, tongue twisters and conversation. It also includes 24 "punny" brag tags to reward students for their hard work.

Check out the preview below:

Students can complete the pages at their own pace. You can do one per session, or 3! Just add the pages to each book as needed.

Another reason I love this one is that I can also use the flip book pages as task cards. I just printed them on card stock, laminated them, cut them out, grouped them and stored them in an attractive photo box. They are ready to go at a moment's notice! Here's a closer look:

The set comes with a simple data sheet for you to track your students' progress each step of the way.

That picture is upside down...but YOU get the idea, right???

Speaking of data, each card has a space for the student to track their own correct productions. They just fill in the blank below the target list. When they achieve their goal (set by you) they check the box in the bottom right corner of each page.

And...(I love this part)...there's a set of 24 brag tags to choose from!

One more of my favorite parts: The carryover pages each include a word puzzle, 4 different kinds to solve!

Here's another great reason to check out this product: It's the first part of a growing bundle. Buy it now at the introductory low price and download additional sets for free! The price will go up as more sets are added, so if you buy it now you'll be getting a FANTASTIC deal!

If you want to check out The Great R Challenge in my store, click here and for the Growing Bundle click here.

I wonder what the other Frenzied SLPs have to offer? Click on the links below to find out!

An InLinkz Link-up

April Showers - Using Water in Speech/Language Therapy

Hello! I'm teaming up with the Frenzied SLP's to tell you how I've been using water in my speech/language sessions this past month.

It's springtime in Oregon, which means rain, rain, rain! We've had an abundance this year; I think I read somewhere that we're 14" above what is normal for this time of year. Crazy, right? So one thing we have no shortage of right now is water.

Since this is the climate that all my kiddos have grown up in, we spend a lot of time talking about the rain, and concepts and vocabulary related to rain gear and weather. And since we don't get much of an opportunity to go outside and play during the winter and early spring months, we all get a little too much build up of pent-up energy, so I try to incorporate movement into our sessions as much as possible. Here's what I did this past week to address both of those goals:

I made an indoor rain puddle!

Here's how I did it.

I bought a blue tablecloth from a dollar store and some bubble wrap (the kind with the larger bubbles).

Actually, my husband bought the bubble wrap for me...

...and he bought enough for me to make 300 puddles, but that's another story! I digress.

Back to puddle construction.

I cut three pieces of bubble wrap, approximately 3 feet long each.

I used packing tape, and taped the bubble wrap pieces together to make a big square.

Next, I cut the bubble wrap into a random "splash" pattern.

Then I stuck the "splash" onto a square I cut from the tablecloth using loops of packing tape.

And there you have it, a puddle! A puddle that kids can jump into and not get wet, but still have the thrill of making a bubble-popping splash.

So, what did I do with this puddle?

We played a version of Go Fish that we instead called Go Splash with a movement twist.

This game is played just like Go Fish, where players make matches by asking each other for specific cards. My Go Splash version features colorful rain boots and umbrellas, which were great for working on colors, vocabulary, plurals and bilabial sounds.  Mixed in with all the matching pair cards are movement cards that direct you to perform an action, like this:

The kids absolutely loved jumping in the puddle through out the game. And the loved it even more when I had to do it, too! So much fun!

This game is available in my TpT Store and it's called Go Fish, Go Splash, Go Hop! if you'd like to check it out. This product contains 6 different versions of Go Fish, each with its own unique movement twist.

I didn't just use my puddle to play Go Splash, by the way. I used it other ways, too.

I put it along side my swing and had the kids reach for the bubbles to pop them. This was great for kids who needed extra sensory input. It was also a fun way to work on the /p/ and /b/ sounds, saying "pop" and "bubbles".

I also spread out picture cards around the puddle and had kids retrieve them while laying on the swing. They said their target words and phrases as they picked them up. This was a huge hit, and was very motivating, even for those kids who usually don't enjoy practicing their target words.

My bubble puddle lasted all week and was worth the time it took to put it together. I did a little "puddle maintenance" by taping new squares of bubble wrap right on top of the "splash" throughout the week so all the kids had a chance to pop some when the puddle started to get flat. Easy peasy.

So how are YOU using water in speech/language treatment? We'd love it if you'd link up and share!

An InLinkz Link-up

Playing in Mud Puddles: Word Games

The winters in Oregon are long, filled with damp, grey days and plenty of rain. All that rain and lack of sun can make me feel sluggish and lazy. It certainly dampens my creativity! But one thing that never fails to cheer me up and gives me some inspiration is a trip to my favorite toy store, MudPuddles Toys and Books located in Sherwood, OR.

MudPuddles is a wonderful, independent toy store filled to the brim with the latest and greatest toys and books. Kate, the owner of this fabulous place, has a knack for finding toys that are appealing, fun, durable and educational. She pours her love of learning through play into her shop and is more than happy to introduce shoppers to her latest finds. It's a fabulous place and I love to explore it!

My most recent trip to MudPuddles was inspirational. As I browsed through the store, it occurred to me that I should write a post (or posts) about my new toy/game finds and how I might use them in speech and language treatment. And so, this toy/game review series, Playing in Mud Puddles was born!

I could spend all day and night telling you about all my favorite finds, but I decided that since this will be a series of posts, I will feature a specific category of toys/games in each post. I am devoting this first post to word games, because I am, admittedly, a Word Nerd, and I love them!

First, I want to tell you about two awesome games I found from an educational game company called Think Fun.  I love this company! They make quality, entertaining games that are so appealing and addicting! Their slogan is "empowering minds through play," which is totally in line with my philosophy.

The first is called Word Around and is great for kids ages 8 and up.

Each card has three words on it, one spelled out sequentially in each ring. Players race to identify the word on the ring that matches the color on the back of the previously played card. The trick is trying to figure out where the word starts, identifying it and saying it before the other players do. Can you identify the words in the picture above?

Blue ring = bottle
Red ring = regular
Black ring = asleep

I actually purchased this game and brought it along when I went to visit my mom. She is aging and starting to experience some memory issues. She loves puzzle games like Sudoku, but I feel strongly that she should challenge herself with word games as well. I wasn't sure how she would do with this one, with the time pressure of competing with another player, but she really did well! She caught on quickly (which isn't always the case for her when learning something new) and really enjoyed it. She liked it so much that I left it there with her in Ohio to play with family and friends.

IF I had Word Around here with me in Oregon (I plan to purchase another copy on my next trip), I would use this game with my upper elementary, middle school and high school students.  I would use it to target:

• vocabulary - specifically parts of speech. I would have the student name the part of speech after identifying the word. For example, "bottle is a noun."
• sentence formulation - have the students use the words they identify in sentences
• synonyms, antonyms, multiple meanings - have the student choose 5 words and have them name a synonym, antonym or tell multiple meanings
• working memory - many of my students process information at a slower rate than what is typical. I love to use competitive games like this to target processing speed.
• word skills - I have several students who struggle with games like anagrams (i.e. changing the letters of a word around to make other words)
• articulation carryover - I might use this for rapid rate production of carrier phrases for /r/ or /s/. At the end of the round, I would have the student say "I can read bottle" or "I see asleep" for each of the cards in his/her pile.
• social skills - winning/losing, good sportsmanship, turn taking

The second game I found is called Pathwords Jr.

It's a word search puzzle game where kids find the words of each puzzle and cover them with brightly colored shapes to create a pattern.

There are four different levels of play, from beginner to expert.  Some of the puzzles show a list of the words to find,

and some give picture clues or hints, making the puzzles more challenging to complete. Each puzzle has a theme and is often in the shape of an item related to the theme. For example, the puzzle pictured above has music-themed clues, and is shaped like a musical note.

I purchased this game and have been happily using it with my mid-to-upper elementary and middle school students.  I've used it target

• categories
• inferencing
• vocabulary
• verbal reasoning
• problem solving
• spelling

The kids love this one and so do I! 

The third word game I want to tell you about is called Xoom Cubes by a company called Baxbo, who describes this game as "a thousand word games in one." Players complete challenges by creating words from their letter dice. There are two levels of challenge cards, regular and junior.

I purchased the junior deck, and here are some of the challenges:

There are letter races, category races, timed games and potluck, which is a challenge to create as many words as you can find with your dice.

I did not purchase the complete game that included the letter dice, for two reasons: first, I am on a tight budget and already knew I was buying the other two games, and secondly, I have letter tiles from Bananagrams that I figured I could use instead. I am all about repurposing what I already have! So, I combined the Xoom Cube Jr. cards with the Bananagrams tiles and it worked just fine.

Here's how I've been using them:

I spread about half of the letter tiles on a non-slip mat in the center of the table. I positioned a bell within reach of each player. I read a challenge card to the players, who then raced to complete the challenge, ringing the bell when they finished. The first player to collect 5 challenge cards was the winner!

I used this game to target the same skills that I listed above for the Think Fun games. What I like about this one though is that students have a greater opportunity to generate the words used in the game. We've had many discussions about the words they have chosen to spell ("No, LOL is not a real word, it's an acronym, so choose a different word to spell.") and what those words mean. It gives me insight into what topics are important to them as well (Star Wars, Mine Craft, music).

Moving on...

One of my favorite sections at MudPuddles is the collection of little toys in bins at the front of the store.  Something always catches my eye, and I always come away with a small treasure.  I want to feature one of these treasures each month, too.  I'm calling them Little Droplets that Make a Big Splash! These items will be inexpensive (less than $5.00) but very useful and fun.

January's Little Droplet is one that my friend, Jenny (who just happens to work at MudPuddles) cringed at when I picked it up. It was an expandable plastic tube for $1.99. She said, "Pam, you do NOT want that! It's so LOUD and ANNOYING!" But then, I showed her that this accordion-style tube is just perfect for providing auditory feedback. You just stretch the tube, bend it into a crescent, hold it up to your mouth and ear, and then say a word.  She was amazed! She promptly showed her co-workers this new way to use this toy.  I bought several to use with my articulation kids, and they are a hit!  Not only do the kids love shaping the tube into the right size for them, they are learning to use auditory feedback to help shape their production of sounds.

So there you have it.  Didn't I come away with some great finds??? I can't wait to go play in MudPuddles again soon.

Oh, by the way, I should say that the items chosen to be reviewed for this post were completely my idea, inspired by how they might work for me in my clinical setting.  No toys or games were given to me free of charge, nor was I given a promotional fee. The opinions regarding these products are expressly my own.

A BIG thanks to Kate and Jenny at MudPuddles for so graciously allowing me to hang around in their store and showing me such cool things! If you'd like information on any of the things I featured today, shoot them an email or give them a call. I know they would be happy to help! Just click here.

Frenzied SLPs: What I'll Try This Year

The Frenzied SLPs are ringing in the new year by sharing some thoughts about things we want to try or do in our personal and professional lives in 2016.  So I'm linking up with Laura, Jessica and Abby, who got this party started to tell you about my hopes for the next twelve months and beyond.

I've been mulling over thoughts about what I'd like to do differently in my daily life, and what I aspire to accomplish for days. While there are many changes I'd like to make, I couldn't really put my finger on the one that seems most necessary or appealing. But I did recognize a common theme that seems critical in order for me to make ANY changes. That theme is to live my life more intentionally.

What the heck does THAT mean??? For me, it means to make purposeful choices to be positive, productive, compassionate and relational each and every day.

Intentionally Positive:

I see myself as a glass-half-full kind of gal most of the time. It makes my soul feel good to be happy! I try to see the good in people, and even in difficult times, I try to see the bright side of things. Sometimes, though, I fall into a trap. A terrible, insidious trap that just saps anything positive right out of me and fills me with discouragement. And what is that trap??? Comparison! It's so easy to compare myself and perceive myself as lacking in all areas of my life.  It's not unusual for thoughts like this to be swirling around my head:

She looks great! I'll never be as stylish as she is.

Her house looks like it could be in a magazine, it's so perfect! I'd better go home and paint my kitchen. And have it tiled. And buy new dishes and knickknacks. And a new rug. Oh, forget it! I just don't have what it takes to put together a beautiful kitchen.

Wow, her TpT products are amazing! Mine look so amateur compared to hers. Maybe I should just give it up.

She is so smart and professional! I want to be like her when I grow up!

And the list goes on.

But here is the truth:

Comparison IS the thief of joy! Absolutely! Theodore hit that nail right on the head. Whenever I compare myself to others, I feel all my joy disappear. I get so discouraged! I need to stop. It's destructive and adds stress to my life that is all self-imposed. So I am making the intentional choice to appreciate who I am and what I have. I am choosing gratitude over discouragement.

Intentionally Productive:

I confess: I am NOT a list maker. I have a planner, and for a few weeks, I used it, liked it, and then abandoned it. It's just not in me to be exceptionally organized! (In my mind, making lists and using an organizer IS exceptionally organized. I know, I know.) But I do see the value in those organizational tools, and I agree, they help me to be more productive. I also can see how it's satisfying to cross those items off the list. It's definitely positive reinforcement! So, I am choosing to intentionally plan my days (in the loosest sense of the word) by re-instating my planner for work, and keeping paper handy to make lists.

See??? It's the first week of January, and I've started already.

Intentionally Compassionate:

Sometimes I don't have the best attitude toward people who are struggling. It's hard to know how I can help, and I have a difficult time knowing what I can say that would be helpful or encouraging. And sometimes I'm just plain judgmental.

I am making the choice to pray for a compassionate heart. I don't want to be oblivious to those around me who are hurting. And being judgmental is not helpful to anyone!

I also want to be more intentional to share my blessings (money, possessions, talents) with those who need them. As Christians, it's what we're called to do, and I want sharing to become second nature to me.

Intentionally Relational:

I am an intensely relational person. I love being around people and knowing about what's going on in people's lives. That being said, I am not always great at doing the little things that people really appreciate.  Here are a few things I'm wanting to be intentional about:

• sending handwritten notes to people to let them know I'm thinking of them/appreciate them. There's something really special about handwritten sentiments, and I was reminded of how important they are to people of my mother's generation when I went to visit her for a week last month. It's a lost art that needs to be resurrected.
• getting to know my neighbors better. We've had a handful of new neighbors move in this past year, and I want them to feel welcome and accepted.
• answering emails and texts in a timely manner. I get frustrated when people don't follow through on answering my emails and texts, so I need to make sure I'm being just as diligent to respond to theirs.

Whew! I've got a lot on my list! I'd better get moving, don't you think?

What are YOU going to try this year? I'd love it if you'd share!

An InLinkz Link-up