Stay Tuned! More guest bloggers to come…

Thanks again to Jenna Rayborn at http://speechroomnews.blogspot.com/.  Here is a link to her awesome guest post in case you missed it:  http://publicschoolslp.blogspot.com/2012/06/5-essentials-for-slps.html.

We have plans for several more posts from guests which will include a wide variety of topics related to speech-language therapy and public schools.  Leave a comment on this post to let us know if there is a specific topic you would like to hear about!  Thanks, yall!  J

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

Most kids know the traditional story of the three little pigs. Many do NOT know the true story though! I love using these two stories to work on identifying story elements such as characters, theme, settings, etc. I first start with the traditional story of the three little pigs. I use this time to assess what the students already know about this story and their ability to sequence the events. We take a couple sessions to go through the story, learn the sequence, talk about feelings of the characters, predictions and outcomes.

After the students have a feel for the traditional story, I move on to the book written by Jon Scieszka "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs." This is probably one of my favorite books and activities to do with the kids. The story is from the perspective of Mr. A. Wolf. The story is not only funny, but gives another side to the characters. The students learn that there always two sides to the same story!!

Here are just some of the things we discuss while reading and analyzing this story:

• Compare and Contrast of characters, setting and outcome (I use venn diagrams as a visual of course)
• Discussion of character actions (do the students buy what A. Wolf is selling or do they believe the 3 Little Pigs?)
• Predictions throughout the reading of the story
• Discussion of alternate endings (I like for the students to try to come up with their own endings)

Finally, I end the activity with the students choosing a side. If they choose to believe A. Wolf then they are to come up with a poster to free A. Wolf from jail. However, if they choose to believe the 3 Little Pigs then they are to create a Wanted poster for A. Wolf (this is often then one they choose). After the students complete their posters we of course hang them around the room. The students always have a great time with this story and often learn a lot of new vocabulary and language skills along the way!!

Cheap iPad Apps for Cause/Effect

Almost all of my students (all ages and ability levels) are intrigued by the animations, sounds, and interactive features that iPad apps can deliver in the therapy room.  I have several apps that I like to use with my students that have severe communication and cognitive disorders, but I thought I would tell you about two that just happen to be really cheap.  I like cheap!!!  The first is PeekABoo Barn.  You can buy it in the app store for $1.99.  It is absolutely adorable.  It’s very colorful and has an attractive design.  You can address cause/effect – the barn opens and closes when the screen is touched.  You can even introduce some simple farm/barn/animal vocabulary.  You will also love the sounds that the animals make…awesome way to teach animal sounds!  (Similar apps are also available:  PeekABoo Wild and PeekABoo Forrest). 

The second app is Kneebouncers Volume 1 and it also is perfect for your students with more severe disabilities.  Like PeekABoo Barn, it is very colorful and the look is very attractive. My little ones love it.  This app also goes for $1.99 in the app store, BUT this is almost like getting 5 apps for $1.99 because of the fact that it includes 5 games!  Pretty good deal!  You can even purchase other volumes which also include multiple games each.  It’s a great way to work on cause/effect and simple vocabulary without having to play the same game over and over again. 

By the way, Kneebouncers is also a website.  Each week they rotate free games.  I use them for cause/effect, and you can also use some of these games to work on switch activation by plugging a USB switch into your computer.  The one pictured below is from Mayer Johnson (http://www.mayer-johnson.com/switch-click/). 

5 Essentials for SLPs

Please welcome Jenna Rayburn from Speech Room News!! Thanks Jenna for sharing with us!

 

My name is Jenna Rayburn, MA, CCC-SLP. I work with preschool and elementary aged students in a school district in central Ohio. I also work part time at two different speech and hearing centers. In all my spare time (ha!) I write the blog speechroomnews.blogspot.com. I'm a little crazy about therapy materials. If you saw my closet you might call for an intervention! Pamela asked me to share 5 of my favorite therapy materials. These are a few I seriously couldn't do without!

5. Articulation Chipper Chat: I love the flexibility of this for each of my students! I can even adapt it for language students in my groups!

4. Visual Timer: These just do wonders for my reluctant workers!

3. Kaufman Cards: These are just wonderful for my little ones with apraxia!

2. Tally counters: It's amazing how much work you can get done when kids are excited about counting their turns!

 

1. MagneTalk Barrier Games: Barrier games are so flexible that I can target any language goal with this activity!

These are my 5 essentials! What's your favorite therapy item?

Congratulations!!

Congratulations to Sarah Blount for winning our Clipboard Giveaway!!! Thanks to all who entered and those that continue to support our love of children and communication! :)  Come back to see pics of Sarah's customized clipboard!

The Story Grammar Marker

I've been using the The Story Grammar Marker for about five years now and I just love it! SGM was developed by MindWing Concepts, Inc. Please check out their site at http://www.mindwingconcepts.com/. This is a well developed product!

I use it to facilitate expressive and receptive language skills in students through literature. Sometimes we use the SGM to recap stories we have read and sometimes we use it to develop our own stories. I used this in my Mysteries of Harris Burdick lesson.

This is a picture of how the SGM works; each story element is accompanied by a graphic. For instance, the green puff ball with googly eyes represents the Character/s. I like to make a copy of this on bright paper to give to each student so that they can identify each story element.

This is the SGM Episode Organizer; the story elements are broken into three parts: Beginning, Middle and End. Simple as that. I make a copy of a blank SGM Episode Organizer for the students to fill in themselves.

Finally, I make a copy of each SGM on different color paper to represent the Beginning, Middle and End of the story. After we have discussed each story element and have applied it to a story we have read, I have the students develop their own stories through the use of these worksheets.

Check out MindWing Concepts, Inc. to see their full line of innovative, hands-on learning products!