Sunday, November 30, 2014

Articulation Island Review and Giveaway

Articulation Island by Evan Hanson is a newly released articulation app. This app is different than any other articulation apps I've seen because it is similar to playing a video game. The words are hidden in boxes and Mr. Bear must jump and break open the boxes. Once the box is broken, the word and an image are shown.

Pros:
  • As a young adult, I love the old school look of the app, although it is a little bit pixelated and distorts some of the images.
  • There are multiple levels of play for each phoneme, each gets progressively harder.
  • Targets can be practiced at the word or phrase level with 3 pre-selected carrier phrases.

Cons:
  • Only one phoneme in one position can be played at a time
  • Only one player can play at a time. My students tried pass and play and it made the game difficult.
  • Each phoneme only has a few words to practice.
  • For use with older elementary and middle school students, younger students would probably not understand the concept of the game.
  • You must use the data collection in the app or the game does not work.
This game is new and has a lot of potential.

This is the menu when you first open the game.


This picture shows you the different changes that can be made in the settings.

This is what the menu that lets you select your level of play. "P" is for practice and the numbered levels get a little harder.

This picture shows the instructions for how to play and a sample of an easy level. The boxes with faces are word boxes, break the box to release a word.

This picture shows a broken word box with an image. You must use the in-game data tracking or boxes will not break.


Find information about the game here.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this app are solely mine. This app was given to me to review and giveaway.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Breana

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

It's time to SHOP! What's in my cart? Linky Party

I always love to see what others are buying when there is a big IPT sale! I am one of those people who puts items on their wish list and wait until I really need it to spend the money, or I just wait for a sale. I am SOOOOO ready to unload my wish list. Do you know what you are buying?


Here is the link to my TPT store. Stop by and see the new products I will be debuting with a surprise (wink wink) during the sale.

Here are the products I will be buying during the sale:

Interactive Book Attachments Bundle for Popular Children's Picture Books by Speechy Musings
I have been thinking about buying this product for a long time and am finally ready to take the plunge. Just to make my purchase more justified, Speech Musings has identified this product as "Growing Bundle" which means that more books will be added and you get all the updates for FREE.

Click here to see the product.

Speech Rate Carry Over- Pocket Pacing Boards by SLPrunner
I am hoping to find uses for these other than helping students with pacing, but don't want to miss out on getting them while I know I have a use for them.

Click here to see the product.

There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Bundle by Speech is Sweet
This bundle contains a bunch of activities for 7 of the Old Lady books with 3 more book companions coming.

Click here to see the product.

Old Lady Craftivity Bundle by Jenn Alcorn of Crazy Speech World
I love doing crafts with my students and this is a fun way to stretch each Old Lady book to multiple sessions.

Click here to see the product.

Items that are also on my radar:
Cariboo Phonology by Kari Radovich of Rock Chalk Speech Talk
Articulation Menus Bundle by Speechy Musings
Itty Bitty Books for Articulation Bundle by Schoolhouse Talk
SLP Progress Monitoring Tool- Bundle by Natalie Snyders, SLP
Fantastic Speech and Language by Speech Therapy with Courtney Gragg
WH Questions with Visual Answers by Speech MaterialGirl
Language Loop: Semantics Set by The Speech Bubble SLP
Context Clues in Color- Level 1 by The Speech Bubble SLP
Make and Take Mini Books: Basic Spatial Words by The Speechstress

What are you going to buy?

Breana

Sunday, November 9, 2014

What's to Come...

For all of the you that are not following on Facebook or Instagram you may not know that I was accepted to graduate school this year after THREE long years of trying. I am very excited to be starting the last leg of my journey towards the perfect career.

Why did I apply for three years you may ask...
Well, with my BA in Human Development and Linguistics as well as my Post-Bacc certificate in Communication Sciences and Disorders, I found my perfect career and knew that I was going to do whatever it took to get there. I have also worked for the last two years as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant in charter schools around Los Angeles County which only help to solidify my choice.

Where will I be getting my Master's?
I will be attending a hybrid program through Nova Southeastern University, although my program is based in the LA area.



What is a hybrid?
A hybrid is a part-time online and classroom based program. Our classes (taken two at a time) take place over the course of one weekend each per semester (Friday after work, Saturday, and Sunday) and are then finished online with intermittent online course meetings. For the weekend courses, professors are brought to LA to teach and meet with students.

Why did I select this program?
I chose to apply and attend this program because it is the best of both worlds. I get to work on my degree while still being able to work full time. I also get to have a cohort of people I get to know and become friends with, as well as meet my professors. If I had chosen to attend an online only program, I would still have flexibility of completing my work but would not have a cohort or be able to meet my professors.

If you are having the same problem I did with getting into a program consider looking into one of the hybrid programs. There are a few different hybrids offered by Nova and an online only program if necessary. Please contact me if you have any questions or are looking to get more information.

I cannot wait to continue my new blog series about my program and all of the information I am going to learn.


Breana

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Must Haves

This month I decided to join up with more than 50 SLP bloggers for a monthly must haves sale. This amazing link-up includes putting one TpT product on sale for 50% off on the 7th of the month.

This month I have decided to discount Rhyming with Technology. For just $3.00 you get over 390 words in 54 word families, both written words and images. Find the link to my must have product here.

Use #slpmusthave on facebook or search it on TpT to find out what other bloggers are participating, or check out the original blog post here.


Make sure to check back next month to see what must have product is for sale!!!

Breana

Monday, October 6, 2014

Who Reads?

Disclaimer: this post contain affiliate links

I know it has been a LONG time since I posted anything, but that is about to change...

     As a member of both the gluten free community and the Speech and Language services community I know that books are a must. I use gluten free cookbooks all the time to find new recipes, get ideas for baking, and to help me make super cute decorations for my cupcakes and other bakes goods. As a SLPA in the schools I use a variety of books with my students to elicit different types of language, especially with my elementary students. I am also learning to take time for myself on a regular basis and have become a somewhat avid reader.
     Also, as a student, I am on a budget when it comes to buying books for both my and my students needs. I love my KINDLE, even though it is the first generation and doesn't really have many features.
     Have you ever thought about using a kindle or kindle app on a device (iPad/tablet) to read books to students or for your own benefit? I know that I usually have my iPad around during the day for therapy, so having my books readily available means that I can read when I get to a site early or have absent students. I have also figured out that students cannot rip and destroy books on my iPad. Plus, kindle books are generally cheaper than real books.

If any of this sounds interesting to you consider looking into buying a Kindle or Kindle Fire tablet (it is a bit of an investment but totally worth it):
Shop Amazon - All-New Kindle - Our Most Affordable Kindle - Now With Touch
Shop Amazon - Introducing Fire HD 6 - The Most Powerful Tablet Under $100
Shop Amazon - Introducing Fire HD Kids Edition - Everything Kids Love. Everything Parents Want.

To take the free route, download the free kindle app on your iPad, Android, Windows, or Blackberry device:
Kindle apps for all devices

Plus take advantage of a plethora of free kindle book apps:
Kindle Fire Free Books
Free Books for Kindle Fire (+ recent price drops)
Kindle Buffet: Find and download the best free books, magazines and newspapers for your Kindle, iPhone, iPad or Android

Do you use a kindle for personal or therapy use? Tell us how you use it and anything else you think others should know!

Hope this helps,
Breana

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Surpise #3!!!!!!!

Drum roll please.......

It is time to announce


As a continued celebration for reaching 100 followers on facebook I am giving away app codes for Erik X. Raj's Charades, Multiple Choice, Listen Close, and I Dare You articulation apps.

Here's how this giveaway is going to work:
I have one code for each app sooo....

If this rafflecopter gets 50 entries- 1 winner will get all 4 codes
If it reaches 100 entries- 2 winners will each win 2 codes
If it reaches 150 entries- 4 winners will each win 1 code

I know that seems a little counter productive, but more entries means more chances to win.

Good Luck!!!

and don't forget to keep an eye out for SURPRISE #4!!!!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Breana

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Shining Stars TPT Boost Sale: Linky Party



I am teaming up with SLPrunner for her FIRST linky party. Don't forget to check her blog for what other SLP Bloggers have made and purchased. Take advantage of the up to 28% off using code BOOST. My store will be 20% off from 8/20-8/22 that's 2 extra days!!!!

Here are some of my best selling products:

Subordinating Conjunction Super Highway- a multi-level product targeting coordinating conjunctions.

Sorry for Social Skills- a social scenario/ social skills game based on the well known board game

What Can I Get You?- a following directions game (2, 3, and 4 step) where students create lunch trays (contains many visuals) from a variety of different foods. This game can also be used for vocabulary and Receptive Language.

Here are some of my go to products from other SLP Bloggers:

Color-a-deck- This is one of a series of products. I love these decks because students get to color and personalize their own deck of playing cards with target words, then the cards can be taken home for carry over and practice.

Articulation Cans- Just finished assembling these today and can't wait to use them. I am planning to use them for not only articulation but for describing and story telling as well. I'm sure there are plenty of ways to use this product. There is also an expansion pack and freebie with extra words. This product is definitely one of my go-tos for this year.

Interactive Visuals for Guessing Games, Describing, and Inferencing- I bought this product unsure if I was going to be able to use it, but my caseload this year has a middle school with students who are struggling to ask appropriate questions and retell information. I have been pairing this game with headbandz, Jeepers Peepers, and Head's Up.

Cooking Up Simple Sentences- This has been a go to product of mine for teaching sentence structure since I started working as a SLPA. The activity contains a variety of sentence structures and lengths making it extremely versatile for students of all levels.

Don't forget to check out my other products here.


Good Luck and Happy Purchasing!!!!
Breana

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Surprise #2

As I announced last week with Giveaway #3 I am excited to announce that I got ACCEPTED to graduate school. I am very excited to continue my education and work towards becoming a Speech Language Pathologist. I also reached over 100 followers on my blog last week. Here is a token of my appreciation!!!


Surprise #1 was an extra 24 hours in my store after the tpt sale.

Surprise #2 gives people a chance to win one activity from my tpt store (bundles not included) and one activity from Melonheadz Illustrating (under $10). Enter with the raffleopter below to win these activities.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!!

There will be at least one more surprise coming!!!

Breana

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Giveaway #3 and a SURPRISE!!!!

This week is the last chance for one lucky person to win $40 in gift cards!!!

Don't forget to check if you are the winner of week #1 or #2

Here is what you can win this week:



Don't forget that since my blog is included in this week you might already have a few free entries!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats to the winners who took home:


 
 
PLUS!!!
 
If Speechercize and Gluten Free gets over 100 followers on facebook this week, there may be another special surprise coming to all of my followers, so make sure to spread the word!!!
 
Breana

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Giveaway #2

Don't forget to check if you are the winner of giveway #1.

Giveaway #2 is live- here is what you can win just in time for back to school shopping!!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

One more week to go!!


Breana

Friday, July 18, 2014

Review: Canyon Oats Oatmeal

I had an amazing time at the Celiac Disease Foundation Gluten Free Expo in June. This was my first Expo as a blogger! My first product review is Canyon Oats Instant Oatmeal. Canyon Oats uses GF Harvest Oats which are manufactured with only gluten free equipment, so there is absolutely no risk of cross contamination (Other oats can be harvest with the same equipment as non-gf oats therefore causing cross contamination).

Canyon Oats makes instant oats meal in the following flavors (something for everyone's taste): Brown Sugar
Cherry, Cranberry, Walnut
Cinnamon Apple with Stevia and Walnuts
Cocoa-Nut
Honey
Maple & Almond
Maple
Sweet Honey Cinnamon
Honey Crisp Vanilla and Cinnamon Granola

I don't know about anyone else, but I have texture sensitivity to certain foods, oatmeal being one of them. The soft, sticky texture is hard for me to eat, therefore it has been a long time since I have eaten any kind of oatmeal. I LOVE Canyon Oats instant oatmeal because it has chunks of nuts mixed in with the oats, which provide a different texture without changing the taste. I will be eating this brand of oatmeal regularly. Not to mention that it is easy to make at work, to travel with, and only takes 3 minutes in hot water to set up!! 

Don't forget to check the product label if you have any other food allergies. I have found this product at my local sprouts.


Here is a picture of the shelf at my local Sprouts. You can see the instant oats meal in 5 flavors on the third shelf and large bags of oats from Gluten Free Harvest on the bottom shelf. (Canyon Oats is owned, operated, and made by the same family that grows, harvests, and sells GF Harvest Oats)

Breana

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Giveaway #1 has begun!!!

Want to win free gift cards? Well here is your chance. Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win one of two $20 gift cards at the end of the week. Don't forget to come back next week and the following week to enter to win more gift cards.

Here is the line up for week #1




And sneak peeks at weeks #2 and #3 (I am included in week #3)



 
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Breana

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

How to Win FREE Gift Cards!!!!!

I know that title has to be intriguing to some of you!! I am participating in a large giveaway with 23 amazing teacher blogs. Prizes include gift cards to TPT, Amazon, Staples, and Target over the next three weeks. Check back on Sunday to find the rafflecopter!!!

Good Luck to everyone who enters!!!!



Breana

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Summer Dessert!!!

Frozen Yogurt Pie is a super easy no-bake pie that can be made in advance and frozen for as long as necessary. This super easy pie only has 3 components and can be personalized to everyone's favorite flavor.

To make this pie you need:
a pie crust
2 single serve containers of any flavor yogurt
1 container of cool whip (I choose to use lite just to make it less calories)

For the pie crust:
I tend to use a premade purchased pie crust when I can find one. When I don't have one I blend up ginger snap cookies, chocolate cookies, any kind of cookie really and mix it with a little butter so it holds in the pie tin. There is also Kinnikinnick Graham Style crumbs with directions for making a graham cracker crust.
 
 For the yogurt:
I pick any yogurt that sounds good to me. I don't suggest fruit on the bottom yogurt but it works just the same. This pie was key lime flavor and it was good!!!!
 
 
For the cool whip:
I choose to use lite cool whip for less calorie count but i'm sure it would taste similar with regular cool whip.
 
 
Now for the instructions:
  • defrost the cool whip and let it get to room temperature
  • make the pie crust of your choice and press it into a pie pan
  • put the cool whip in a bowl and fold in 2 containers of your choice of yogurt
  • place the pie in the freezer and let it set
  • Enjoy your creation!!!!
I hope you like this recipe. Please comment with your crust choice and yogurt flavor to give others ideas.
 
Breana
 
 
 


Tuesday, June 3, 2014

How Do You Use It? Linky Party


It's that time again!!! I am linking up with Speech Time Fun for the How Do You Use It? Linky Party featuring Clothes Pins this month. Keep reading to find out how I use clothes pins in my speech room and don't forget to check the original blog post to see what other SLP bloggers linked up and how they use clothes pins.



I find clothes pins to be a versatile product and can be used for a variety of different activities.

I don't seem to have pictures of my activities but here is what I do:
I use clothes pins to...
  • Adding prefixes and suffixes onto root words
    • put root words on an index card and clip the premade prefix an suffix clothes pins to the index card
  • Making compound words
  • Word sorts
    • make clothespins with a bunch of different words and have the student affix the appropriate pin to a card with different parts of speech, sounds, or a variety of other activities.
  • Rhyming
    • have students attached clothes pins with rhyming words to the correct word family.  
  • Sequencing
    • have students attached first, next, then, last clothes pins to pictures or chunks of a story to help with sequencing
  • Identifying who, what, when, where, why, and how in a sentence, or identifying parts of speech in a sentence.
  • Categories
    • have students clip words or pictures of items together for each category.
  • Fluency
    • students or the therapist can mark pictures of smooth, stuck, or bumpy speech to help students learn to hear the disfluency and work on reducing or eliminating the behavior.
These are just some of my ideas, I hope you find them helpful.

How do you use clothes pins?

I have a lot of idea for next month!!!

Breana

Monday, May 19, 2014

SillySongs App Review!!!

First I will start off with a little bit of background about the app and then I will get in to what I thought about it. Chicken Lips Apps created an app called SillySongs to target phonology and sound awareness. The app can be used with children to improve speech and language needs related to autism, apraxia, and phonological processes, as well as improve early literacy skills. The repetitive phrases played in this app are set to fun melodies and makes repetition easier for younger elementary students.


This is what the menu looks like when you first open the app. At the moment there are only three phonemes available, but I can only hope in the future the app will be expanded.

When you touch a letter a screen similar to this one pops up. The student or therapist must match the shapes to the outline in the drop zone (green circle). That starts a song. At the end of the song this screen pops up again and another shape is matched.

This is an example of a song screen. As the song is sung the words get bigger so students can follow along with it.

This is an example of a bonus game.
 
This is an example of the flash cards. The words in the songs can be practiced ahead of time.
I would recommend this app for students who are working on these sounds as it is more fun than articulation practice.

Pros:
  • The artic practice is set to music.
  • You have to find/match the correct shape to unlock the song.
  • There is a bonus game feature students can earn.
  • Flashcards allow for students to practice the target words before singing the song
  • The song plays fully and then repeats with a missing word for the students to fill in.
  • The target word becomes enlarged so students know which word they will have to repeat.  
Cons:
  • All the songs are to the same tune.
  • Once a shape is matched and the song starts there is no way to pause.


The opinions in this review are mine and only mine. I was provided a copy of this app and no other compensation.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Ways to make Articulation Therpay Fun!!!

Over the last few weeks I have noticed many of my articulation students not wanting to play games on the iPad, so going back to my childhood I started creating and purchasing inexpensive materials to make therapy more fun.

1.) Fishing for Articulation Words
 
 

 
The upper fish is from a package of die cuts I bought at dollar tree which I then laminated for durability and attached zip ties to for fishing. The zip ties were purchased at the 99 cent store. The plastic fishing set which comes with 1 fishing rod and 4 plastic fish (I purchased 2 sets) was from target.

I love this idea because you can use any combination of articulation, language, conversation, pragmatics, basically any card to target any goal your students may have. This is great for working in groups with multiple goals.

2.) Ping Pong/ Carnival Ball Toss

Just like with fishing you can use this game to target basically any goal. I bought the cups and ping pong balls at Dollar Tree. This game was difficult for my students, not sure if it was because of the low to the ground table or small cups but I may need to adjust this game before playing it again.

3.) Basketball


Using the set up from ping pong I put numbers inside each cup and used the ping pong balls and the trashcan in my therapy room. The students enjoyed trying to get the ping pong balls into the trashcan. With each shot they made they had to pick a number and complete the task or tasks under the cup.


These activities would work great with my new Gone Fishin' series of activities in my TeachersPayTeachers Store.


What fun things do you do in your therapy room?

Breana

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

U.T.F.= Unexpected Therapy Find Link Up: Apps


     I recently discovered a new blog written by Melanie at The Speech Place with a great new bloggy link up for Unexpected Therapy Finds. It takes a creative person to keep the students occupied and willing to participate in speech, making those unexpected finds unique therapy opportunities. I am excited to see how other SLPs and SLPAs use different items in therapy.
     I have tons of therapy apps on my iPad, although I swear it was originally purchased for my personal use. Some of my favorite apps are from companies like Smarty Ears or Super Duper Inc., but not all of the apps are therapy based.

My first app is a reading comprehension app from Abitalk Education System. The series of apps ranges from non-fiction, to fiction, to subject specific and come in grade level sets. I use these apps and the pictures in each story for story retell, sentences, and its intended purpose of reading comprehension. Find a sample of this series here.

I love MyPlayHomeStores. I know there are other similar apps from the same developer. My PlayHome can be used for answering wh- questions, prepositions, vocabulary, discussing appropriate behaviors at different types of venues. I am looking forward to getting other apps from Shimon Young. Find more information about this app here.

New-o-matic is a student newspaper app where articles can be adjusted to a students reading level. I use this app for finding main idea and details, articulation, and story retell. I love giving my students an opportunity to learn about a topic that is interesting to them. Find more information about this app here.

What are your favorite non-therapy specific apps?



Breana

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

New Product Series: Gone Fishin'

My new series of products called Gone Fishin' contains fishing poles and sea creature cards containing words. Each activity targets a specific area of language. I am introducing this series with activities to target irregular plurals and irregular past tense verbs.

 These are the fishing poles students can use to keep the cards after they have successfully completed the task at hand.
 
These are sample cards. The students matches or activity cards are not on matching clipart. 
 
The cards are set up to be used as a memory/matching game, for use with Super Duper Photo Fish or a fishing set as a fishing game, or many other games.  I plan on using my fishing game like these one to give my students something fun to do in therapy.
 

 
 
Find the Irregular Plurals activity here.
 
Find the Irregular Past Tense activity here.
 
Find the Irregular Past Tense Add-on activity here.
 
Find the Irregular Past Tense bundle here.
 
Breana