Speech outside!!!

I have been enjoying the 70 and 80 degree weather here in Los Angeles, sorry to everyone in the snow. This beautiful weather gave me an idea for a fun way to get my students out of the speech room and still be able to target their goals.

CHALK!!

Have you ever thought about using chalk in your speech room? I went to big lots and bought a small set of chalk for just a few dollars. I also decided to ask my school's principal for permission to use the chalk. Obviously, I got permission and everything magically happened from there.

What can you do with chalk you ask?
I had my students work on following directions (therapist providing directions) and prepositions, but I realized as we were playing outside you could also target a variety of other goals.

• color recognition
• letter recognition
• shapes recognition
• turn taking
• describing
• verbs/ actions
• expressive and receptive language (having students draw based on directions from another student)

For those who don't have the availability to go outside, this activity could be just as fun in an office with masking tape. Different colors and/or prints can also be used to target a variety of activities. Masking tape also allows for easy clean up, or just leave it for the next session (practice using the same information over multiple sessions).

 I'm sure there are many more activities I haven't though of just yet. Comment below with any other ideas you may have.

These are two of my students having a blast playing outside today.

I am including a few affiliate links below for some different kinds of chalk, just in case ordering online is easier. I wish I had thought of buying chalk with holders, would have made for a cleaner day.



Hope you enjoy
Breana

Pronoun Heroes App Review

When you first open this app you are greeted by a group of fun looking super heroes ready to get to work. I love the theme of this activity and how even in the opening pronouns are present.



 This is the menu screen. Before you get to this screen you select your student or students and then select an activity for each. Below are examples of each activity.

What are Pronouns?

Where is the Pronoun? 

 Which one is not a Pronoun?

 Pronoun tyes

Find the Picture 

Let's use Pronouns 

Pros:

• This app is extremely customizable.
• Different levels are provided within the same app working from identification, to explanations, to sentence fill ins.
• Covers personal subjective, personal objective, demonstrative, possessive, and reflexive forms of verbs. 
• After each session data is shown in the form of graph making it easy to monitor student progress. 
• The multi-player platform of this game allows multiple students to work on different levels and skills while playing the same app. 

Cons:

• The theme of the app limits  the age range. 
• There is no reinforcement game within the app. 

Wishlist:

• An expressive language section where just images were shown on the screen so student can create their own sentences.
• A game for reinforcement built into the app. 

Overall, I am very excited to have this app as part of my collection. I cannot wait to see what other apps Smarty Ears has in the pipeline.

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

Breana

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

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

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

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

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