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How Boardmaker Power Templates Will Change Your Life!

January 13, 2014

We all know how wonderful the Boardmaker software is.  For the longest time, I used it to make print activities only.  I had no idea how to make interactive projects, so I was content to print and go.  It still made my life much easier.

THEN!  A colleague showed me “Power Templates” and I haven’t looked back since!  These templates are for use with Boardmaker Plus.  The templates are made by Mayer Johnson and able to be personalized to target any area you need.  There are a variety of formats, including multiple choice questions (with a variety of field sizes), yes/no, sorting, and more.
First, you will need to have a Boardmaker Share account (now called Boardmaker Achieve).  Then, access the activities made by the user “boardmakerachieve” (aka Mayer Johnson).  They can all be found here.
Then, scroll way down to the bottom of the page (about 7/8 of the way down in my browser):
Here, you’ve hit the jackpot!
The templates that I use the most are: Yes/No, Multiple Choice, Sorting, True/False, & Flashcards. There are a bunch more on here that I suggest you explore once you get the hang of these.
Now, I will show you how to make a multiple choice activity.  Start by downloading the template.
A zip file will be downloaded; it comes with templates for 2, 3, and 4 choices (in this case, because we are doing a multiple choice activity).  Once you download this template, DO NOT alter it in ANYWAY!  Don’t alter file names, locations, don’t add or subtract any information.  Just don’t touch them.  (Consider yourself warned!)
Now, find where these zip files were downloaded to on your computer.  Mine automatically go to my “downloads” folder, but yours could be different.  Keep this folder open on your desktop.

Next, find where all of your Boardmaker files are.  There is likely a folder in your documents folder called “My Boards” (unless you’ve manually changed it after installing Boardmaker).  Open your “My Boards” folder and create a NEW folder.  Title it “Templates” (or something else, if you choose).

Next, you are going to unzip or “extract” the zip files that contain the templates.  You should extract them to the “Templates” folder you just created.  Here’s you get to my “templates” folder, but yours may be different:

 Repeat the same extracting steps for all of the templates you chose to download.

If you go into the templates folder, and open the “Multiple Choice” template folder, you will find 6 different files: 3 blank and 3 with sample content.  Most times I delete the sample content ones, because I don’t use them.  That way, you are left with 3 different multiple choice templates: 2, 3, and 4 answer choices.

I am going to show you how to make an activity with the 3 answer choices template.  In order to do that, you must select that FOLDER and copy the entire folder.  I use Ctrl+C to copy; you could also right click the folder and select “copy”.

Now, you are going to get out of the Templates folder and make a new folder for your FINISHED activities. You can call it whatever you’d like.  I usually group mine by the area of language it targets (eg.: “questions”, “concepts”, etc.).  I have further grouped my questions, as shown below.

Open the folder where you are going to keep your finished activities (in my case – “questions”).  Paste the template that you just copied into this folder (ctrl V).

Now the copy of your template is pasted in the correct folder.  Now you will rename the folder.  And ONLY the FOLDER.  Consider yourself warned.  Do NOT alter the names of any files within this folder or the activity won’t work.

I’m going to make an activity about “Where” questions so that’s what I’ve called my folder.

Now open the folder.  There are many BM files and some folders in here.  You only need to use one of these.  Do not even open the others!  The one that you are concerned with is always the one with “MAIN” in the title.  The specific name of the file will vary, depending on which type of activity you are creating (i.e. multiple choice vs. sorting).

Open this file  – the one with “MAIN” in the title.  If you already have BM open on your computer, the board will open in “edit” mode.  You’ll need to change it to “use” mode.  To do so, hit Ctrl+U (as is “use”).  If BM is not already open on your computer, I’m pretty sure the board will open automatically in “use” mode.  You can tell the difference because edit mode has a toolbar (file, edit, etc.) at the top and a yellow ruler along the top and left side.

 Just as the words on the bottom suggest, you will need to select the = key to edit the questions.  Again, the = key will only do anything if you are in use mode.  You will be taken to the below screen:

Start by typing your first question into the white box on the top left.  Select “enter”.  (***Don’t put a question mark.  The program doesn’t recognize them and it makes my computer freeze.)  Your first question should jump to the first pale green box after you push “enter”.  Next, you will type the correct answer for this question.  Again, click enter. Then, type 3 foil (wrong) answers in the other 3 boxes.  Now, if you type one word, the image will populate for you.  But, since “where” questions require more than one word, type all of the words first.  We can change the pictures later.  Same thing for multiple meaning words.  If you don’t like the picture it automatically chooses, you can change it manually after you’ve entered all of your questions and answers.  The questions do not get a picture.

Once you’ve entered all of your questions and answer, hit Esc on your keyboard.  This will take you to “edit” mode and allow you to add/change the pictures.

Open the symbol finder (the little head button in the top left).

 Type the key word of the answer into the symbol finder and find your best image.

Be sure to DELETE the word from the symbol finder box.  (*Tip: If you type “tab” then “delete” it will do this action for you quickly.)  The box you are concerned with here has the word “cafeteria” highlighted in it.

Now, put your selected symbol, without the word, into the corresponding white box by clicking the correct box.

Repeat these steps for the rest of the correct and incorrect answers.  If it automatically put an image in this box for you and you wish to change it, place the symbol and be sure to choose “replace” when the box pops up.  See below.

After you’ve added all of your symbols, be sure to SAVE your file.  BUT, don’t save as, just save it with the same name.  If you’re like I am and have a slight case of OCD, it’s a good idea to just hit Crtl+S every 3 seconds while editing this board.

This screen only allows you 5 questions.  Once you’ve entered your 5th question, a new button will pop up to take you to questions 6-10.  The max number of questions per activity is 10.

After you’ve finished your 5th question, click the “6-10” button (in “use” mode only) and you will be taken to an identical screen, but for the second half of questions.

Remember to SAVE, SAVE, SAVE when in edit mode. To get to the main screen and start playing your activity, press the back arrow on the bottom right.  This will take you to your home screen (the “MAIN” file).

From here, you can start playing your activity!  There are two options for play: practice and quiz. Practice allows 2 wrong answers, then prompts the correct answer.  Quiz is like cold probes and only allows for one attempt of each question.  Click the version you want to play, then click “go”.  ***In order to play, you must be in “use” mode.

Below is an example of what a sorting activity looks like.  (I added the visuals to the bottom right corners of the box myself.  You need to do this manually.)

After you’ve chosen the wrong answer twice,  the answer choices will look like this.

The beauty of these activities is that the computer constantly varies the order of the questions and the position of the answers. AND you also get your data printed out for you when you are finished.

Here is what the screen will look like after the last question has been answered:

Just click “print report” and you will be brought to a screen like this:

Type your student’s name in the box, then click the printer icon.  Voila!  You have your data right there for you!  The above report is from an activity done in “practice” mode (remember – max 3 trials per question).  You can see how many attempts there were in the far right column.  As you can see, I purposely got “seagull” wrong all three times, so that item gets an “X”.  Had I gotten it right when prompted (with the other 3 items grayed out), this would have been counted as a correct response, but with 2 attempts listed in the far right column.  If you’d rather a “cold probe” approach, choose “quiz” at the beginning of the activity.

When I use these in therapy, I open the activity I want my student to work on and let them complete it on the SmartBoard.  They LOVE it!  If you don’t have a Smartboard, your student could also play the old fashioned way – with the computer and the mouse! (Or whatever adaptive equipment you have set up: scanning buttons, touch screen, etc.)

To find all of the Power Templates that I’ve made, visit my Boardmaker Share (now Boardmaker Achieve) page here.

***Side note – if you’ve recently installed Boardmaker on your computer and your operating system is Vista, then the images will not load correctly for you.  But, there is a fix!  Go to the Start Menu>Programs>Mayer Johnson>Check for Updates.  It will give you an update for the installation process which will put all the necessary items where they belong.  Then, your power templates will work as they should.  If you have Vista or a late Windows operating system, you might want to try checking for updates before you use the power templates and get frustrated as to why they won’t work.  Not like I’m speaking from experience or anything.

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    Comments

    1. Tamara

      September 26, 2014 at 6:42 pm

      I can’t find some of the templates. Is there a way to edit your used sorting activities?

      Reply
      • SLPirates

        September 27, 2014 at 5:12 pm

        Yes, just override the pictures I’ve put in. Edit it the same way. You could also delete my content, save if as a “template” and use that.

        Reply

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    speechlanguagepirates

    Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist
    TpT resource author/creator

    Are you even a pediatric SLP if you’ve never mad Are you even a pediatric SLP if you’ve never made an absolute fool of yourself?

#SLPeeps #instaSLP #ASHAigers #SpeechTherapy #SLPonTpT #SLPsonTpT #Preschool #PreschoolSpeech #PreschoolTherapy #schoolSLP #SLP2b #Teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #teachersoftpt #tpt #teacher #teachers #iteach #iteachtoo #teacherlife #igteachers #teachersoninstagram #slpsfollowslps #SLPsonInstagram
    Are you even a pediatric SLP if you’ve never mad Are you even a pediatric SLP if you’ve never made an absolute fool of yourself?

#SLPeeps #instaSLP #ASHAigers #SpeechTherapy #SLPonTpT #SLPsonTpT #Preschool #PreschoolSpeech #PreschoolTherapy #schoolSLP #SLP2b #Teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #teachersoftpt #tpt #teacher #teachers #iteach #iteachtoo #teacherlife #igteachers #teachersoninstagram #slpsfollowslps #SLPsonInstagram
    Does AAC therapy leave you stumped and frustrated? Does AAC therapy leave you stumped and frustrated?

I promise that using AAC while interacting with children is not as daunting as it may seem. 

It also doesn’t mean a fancy, expensive app. Paper-based systems can be just as useful and robust! Core vocabulary is where it’s at for getting clients to use *functional vocabulary* -
not just “I want…” 😴

Whether you’re teaching a child/AAC user, parent, or staff members, these cheat sheets have everything you’ll need to make it a breeze! 
They have:
✅Cheat sheets for ways to target 15 core words
✅No prep, cut and glue craft sheets for the same 15 words
✅Toy companion posters listing several phrases of only core vocab for 12 common toys
✅Word list, reminder handout, home communication page, and more!

🔗Comment below if you want me to DM you the link! (But make sure you’re following me first or the DM won’t go through.)
    #Maycember is more like “May-Junecember” when #Maycember is more like “May-Junecember” when you live on Long Island… 

When I hear all of the other parents (both in person and online) lament about all of the PTO and unpaid time required of parents of young kids right now I’m SO thankful for my flexible schedule. 

I’ve been lucky enough to do all of these duties and be at all of these events without stressing. And that is one of the biggest privileges in my motherhood 💗

#TheyreOnlyLittleOnce
    ***GIVEAWAY OVER*** Winners are @_fabulous_78 @cki ***GIVEAWAY OVER***
Winners are @_fabulous_78 @ckindice @bda_slp & @dreamreaderkids 

Today is my 40th birthday 😳😱🥳
I started this business when I was in my 20s! I’m so honored to have had so many of you with me through so many decades and phases of life. 

🎁As a thank you, I’d like to give 4 people 4 resources from my store. To enter:
💛Like this post
🏷️Tag a friend in the comment. (One tag per comment. Each tag is an entry.)
🗣️Leave a comment
📚Share to stories for 4 extra entries! (Be sure to tag me so I see it.)

Winner announced Monday 6/9 at 9PM EST
    This is the third set in one of my most popular do This is the third set in one of my most popular downloads! 

16 brand new sets of mini-stories, each with an accompanying visual. Visuals and stories include diverse characters and names, specific time concepts (days of the week), and engaging topics. 

You can increase the story’s length by one sentence and/or fade the visual as your student progresses. 

Great as a reading comprehension activity, as well.

Comment below if you want the link! 30% off for the first 48 hours 🎉
    I was in a meeting the other day where a student ( I was in a meeting the other day where a student (whom I didn’t know) was approved for an iPad with Proloquo. It almost certainly wouldn’t arrive until the fall. Two well-meaning professionals in that meeting suggested “doing PECS” in the meantime. 

The parent was willing to purchase “whatever” until the device could arrive. I’d hated the idea of her buying an expensive, extensive PECS book for two months of use. I’d also hated the idea that it seemed no one knew PECS is actually a very specific set of steps for learning/teaching in which one should be trained before implementing. *It’s not just laminated pictures of items the child likes placed in a binder. It’s also not a magic 💊 when handed to a student.

Instead I suggested printing the Home Screen of Proloquo and beginning to teach that to this student. 

Paper-based options are completely valid and feasible. I’d say, even essential to introduce in case a device is dead or breaks. 

The ease with which this parent could give her child a “head start” on AAC via printing a screenshot is far and away more than what buying a whole PECS book would entail.

We as SLPs should be doing this. We should have these on hand. While waiting for a device and also while using one. And tell parents. Maybe they go on vacation and forget the device/printed piece. Show them how easy it is to google and print themselves! 🙌🏻

And please, can we stop referring to all collections of picture cards in a binder “PECS”…? 🥴🫠
    (I have a funny feeling by “better” you just m (I have a funny feeling by “better” you just mean *cheaper*… 🙄)

#SLPeeps #instaSLP #ASHAigers #SpeechTherapy #SLPonTpT #SLPsonTpT #Preschool #PreschoolSpeech #PreschoolTherapy #schoolSLP #SLP2b #Teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #teachersoftpt #tpt #teacher #teachers #iteach #iteachtoo #teacherlife #igteachers #teachersoninstagram #slpsfollowslps #SLPsonInstagram #AAC #PECS #AACSLP #CoreVocab
    When did tangible, cheap, plastic trinkets being s When did tangible, cheap, plastic trinkets being sent home for every holiday, from every kid in the class AND the teachers, become a thing we do?

It’s no secret that I hate all of the $ store junk my kids come home with. My “hack” is to dump it all in a bag and use it for the non-edible, allergy friendly candy in my Halloween bowl. Some kid is gonna get a 💜 pop-it that says “Happy Valentine’s Day, love Brayden” when they trick or treat at my house but 🙃 oh well!

Instead my speech kids go home with:
✅the “end of the year memories” book, tailored to speech therapy, that we completed
✅a simple one-page homework sheet for their sound that their parent will actually be able to use and not be overwhelmed by enough to ignore it all summer
✅a wave, high-five, or a hug
AND THAT’s IT!

Comment below if you want the link to these!

Do you give your students EOY gifts?
    The number of hours I wasted standing at the copie The number of hours I wasted standing at the copier making giant summer speech homework packets in my first couple years working makes me 😵‍💫
Especially since I’m confident the majority of those pages weren’t even looked at. 

Until I made a one page instruction sheet with simple, parent-friendly instructions for how to accurately produce sounds… parents were very appreciative! 

If you’ve got students/caregivers requesting work over the summer to prevent loss of articulation skills, these one page, black ink only, no prep sheets have:
✅a mouth model visual
✅concise written instructions for production of 12 phonemes
✅words in initial, medial, and final with visuals
✅sound-loaded phrases
✅sound-loaded sentences

Comment below if you want a link!
    So I’ll still have a room or….? What’s the So I’ll still have a room or….? 

What’s the worst you’ve ever come back to after summer break?

Audio inspired by a ride with @codyrigsby
    Before my oldest started school, I swore I wasn’ Before my oldest started school, I swore I wasn’t going to do this trend. I figured teachers thought it was a pain and I hate Dr Seuss books.

Then my cousins, both of whom are HS teachers, told me how much they love writing in and reading their students’ books and that I just HAD to do it.

Once I found other book options, I was into it! 😍 I have 3 kids and they all have different books.

❓Parents: do you do this for your own kids? What book do you use?
❓Teachers: how do you feel about writing in these books?

🗣️Comment below if want the link to my book list! 🔗 (But make sure you’re following first or the DM won’t go through.)

End of the school year
Teacher signatures
End of year traditions
    There’s lots of new faces around here, so I thou There’s lots of new faces around here, so I thought I’d show you mine again and introduce myself!

I’m Denise, a pediatric SLP, wife, mom of 3 humans (9, 6, & 3)  and 1 black lab. I live on Long Island and am currently working as a preschool/EI transition evaluator. 

My favorite communication skills to target are early language, articulation, and core vocabulary! 
I love cheese, margaritas, photography, and trash TV (Bravo).
I hate feet, olives, and weather below 70 degrees. (I’m chronically cold.)

It’s just me, myself, and I behind this account and I’m SO grateful for every like, comment, share, story reply, link click, and purchase in my TpT store!

Do we have anything in common? Tell me below! 👇🏻
    I volunteered at my own children’s book fair to I volunteered at my own children’s book fair to help the kids shop. I *may* have spent the majority of the time scouring the shelves for new core word-filled books 🤷🏻‍♀️

Did you know I have an Amazon list of full of books I use to target core vocabulary? Comment below if you want to check it out! You might just find something to add to your toolbox 🙂
    Teaching AAC is just language therapy - and that’s the 🗻 I’m willing to die on!

Want my cheat sheets to make it *that* much easier??? Comment below for the link - because they’re 25% off today and tomorrow!!!!

Resource contains:
✅Toy companion posters listing several phrases of only core vocab for 12 common toys. 
✅Cheat sheets for ways to target 15 core words naturally throughout the day 
✅No prep, cut and glue craft sheets for the
same 15 words
✅List of core words, reminder handout, home communication page, and more!
***MUST BE FOLLOWING ME TO RECEIVE THE LINK***
    End of the year memories aren’t just for classro End of the year memories aren’t just for classroom teachers! 

I love recapping the year with my students. It’s actually a great way to plan for next year, since we’re lucky enough to have many repeat students from year to year. 

🔗 Check it out at bit.ly/EndOfSpeech or comment below if you want me to DM the link to you! (Make sure you’re following in order to receive the DM!)
•
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#SLPeeps #instaSLP #ASHAigers #SpeechTherapy #SLPonTpT #SLPsonTpT #Preschool #PreschoolSpeech #PreschoolTherapy #schoolSLP #SLP2b #Teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #teachersoftpt #tpt #teacher #teachers #iteach #iteachtoo #teacherlife #igteachers #teachersoninstagram #slpsfollowslps #SLPsonInstagram #EndOfTheYearMemories
    The teacher appreciation sale starts tomorrow! My The teacher appreciation sale starts tomorrow! My whole store will be 25% off with code THANKYOU25

What are you shopping for during the sale?
    I was evaluating a 2 year old. He said “no” to I was evaluating a 2 year old.
He said “no” to *every* prompt in the receptive section. 
He started banging the spoons together.
I flipped everything upside down and made a drum set. 
We played the drums together.
It elicited language. Unique 3 word phrases!

This is play. This was fun.

He continued to tell me “no” but at least he wasn’t miserable the entire time 🙃

🗣️Tell me below the most unconventional (“non-functional”) play you’ve used. Let’s help each other out!
    …but are you ready? (For National Speech Languag …but are you ready? (For National Speech Language and Hearing Month, that is.)

Comment below for the link to these no prep calendars.
Use as a bulletin board; hand out to teachers; or send one home with each child. ✅DONE for all of May!
    Idk if I’m remembering correctly but I think the Idk if I’m remembering correctly but I think there was a time a few months ago where Adobe got rid of the ability to print across multiple pages??? Was this a fever dream?!

Regardless - you can do it now! Here’s how to make one page into a bulletin board!
🖨️ Print, ✂️ cut, 📌 hang, and ✅ done!

Comment below if you want a link to the calendars!
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    speechlanguagepirates

    Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist
    TpT resource author/creator

    Are you even a pediatric SLP if you’ve never mad Are you even a pediatric SLP if you’ve never made an absolute fool of yourself?

#SLPeeps #instaSLP #ASHAigers #SpeechTherapy #SLPonTpT #SLPsonTpT #Preschool #PreschoolSpeech #PreschoolTherapy #schoolSLP #SLP2b #Teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #teachersoftpt #tpt #teacher #teachers #iteach #iteachtoo #teacherlife #igteachers #teachersoninstagram #slpsfollowslps #SLPsonInstagram
    Are you even a pediatric SLP if you’ve never mad Are you even a pediatric SLP if you’ve never made an absolute fool of yourself?

#SLPeeps #instaSLP #ASHAigers #SpeechTherapy #SLPonTpT #SLPsonTpT #Preschool #PreschoolSpeech #PreschoolTherapy #schoolSLP #SLP2b #Teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #teachersoftpt #tpt #teacher #teachers #iteach #iteachtoo #teacherlife #igteachers #teachersoninstagram #slpsfollowslps #SLPsonInstagram
    Does AAC therapy leave you stumped and frustrated? Does AAC therapy leave you stumped and frustrated?

I promise that using AAC while interacting with children is not as daunting as it may seem. 

It also doesn’t mean a fancy, expensive app. Paper-based systems can be just as useful and robust! Core vocabulary is where it’s at for getting clients to use *functional vocabulary* -
not just “I want…” 😴

Whether you’re teaching a child/AAC user, parent, or staff members, these cheat sheets have everything you’ll need to make it a breeze! 
They have:
✅Cheat sheets for ways to target 15 core words
✅No prep, cut and glue craft sheets for the same 15 words
✅Toy companion posters listing several phrases of only core vocab for 12 common toys
✅Word list, reminder handout, home communication page, and more!

🔗Comment below if you want me to DM you the link! (But make sure you’re following me first or the DM won’t go through.)
    #Maycember is more like “May-Junecember” when #Maycember is more like “May-Junecember” when you live on Long Island… 

When I hear all of the other parents (both in person and online) lament about all of the PTO and unpaid time required of parents of young kids right now I’m SO thankful for my flexible schedule. 

I’ve been lucky enough to do all of these duties and be at all of these events without stressing. And that is one of the biggest privileges in my motherhood 💗

#TheyreOnlyLittleOnce
    ***GIVEAWAY OVER*** Winners are @_fabulous_78 @cki ***GIVEAWAY OVER***
Winners are @_fabulous_78 @ckindice @bda_slp & @dreamreaderkids 

Today is my 40th birthday 😳😱🥳
I started this business when I was in my 20s! I’m so honored to have had so many of you with me through so many decades and phases of life. 

🎁As a thank you, I’d like to give 4 people 4 resources from my store. To enter:
💛Like this post
🏷️Tag a friend in the comment. (One tag per comment. Each tag is an entry.)
🗣️Leave a comment
📚Share to stories for 4 extra entries! (Be sure to tag me so I see it.)

Winner announced Monday 6/9 at 9PM EST
    This is the third set in one of my most popular do This is the third set in one of my most popular downloads! 

16 brand new sets of mini-stories, each with an accompanying visual. Visuals and stories include diverse characters and names, specific time concepts (days of the week), and engaging topics. 

You can increase the story’s length by one sentence and/or fade the visual as your student progresses. 

Great as a reading comprehension activity, as well.

Comment below if you want the link! 30% off for the first 48 hours 🎉
    I was in a meeting the other day where a student ( I was in a meeting the other day where a student (whom I didn’t know) was approved for an iPad with Proloquo. It almost certainly wouldn’t arrive until the fall. Two well-meaning professionals in that meeting suggested “doing PECS” in the meantime. 

The parent was willing to purchase “whatever” until the device could arrive. I’d hated the idea of her buying an expensive, extensive PECS book for two months of use. I’d also hated the idea that it seemed no one knew PECS is actually a very specific set of steps for learning/teaching in which one should be trained before implementing. *It’s not just laminated pictures of items the child likes placed in a binder. It’s also not a magic 💊 when handed to a student.

Instead I suggested printing the Home Screen of Proloquo and beginning to teach that to this student. 

Paper-based options are completely valid and feasible. I’d say, even essential to introduce in case a device is dead or breaks. 

The ease with which this parent could give her child a “head start” on AAC via printing a screenshot is far and away more than what buying a whole PECS book would entail.

We as SLPs should be doing this. We should have these on hand. While waiting for a device and also while using one. And tell parents. Maybe they go on vacation and forget the device/printed piece. Show them how easy it is to google and print themselves! 🙌🏻

And please, can we stop referring to all collections of picture cards in a binder “PECS”…? 🥴🫠
    (I have a funny feeling by “better” you just m (I have a funny feeling by “better” you just mean *cheaper*… 🙄)

#SLPeeps #instaSLP #ASHAigers #SpeechTherapy #SLPonTpT #SLPsonTpT #Preschool #PreschoolSpeech #PreschoolTherapy #schoolSLP #SLP2b #Teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #teachersoftpt #tpt #teacher #teachers #iteach #iteachtoo #teacherlife #igteachers #teachersoninstagram #slpsfollowslps #SLPsonInstagram #AAC #PECS #AACSLP #CoreVocab
    When did tangible, cheap, plastic trinkets being s When did tangible, cheap, plastic trinkets being sent home for every holiday, from every kid in the class AND the teachers, become a thing we do?

It’s no secret that I hate all of the $ store junk my kids come home with. My “hack” is to dump it all in a bag and use it for the non-edible, allergy friendly candy in my Halloween bowl. Some kid is gonna get a 💜 pop-it that says “Happy Valentine’s Day, love Brayden” when they trick or treat at my house but 🙃 oh well!

Instead my speech kids go home with:
✅the “end of the year memories” book, tailored to speech therapy, that we completed
✅a simple one-page homework sheet for their sound that their parent will actually be able to use and not be overwhelmed by enough to ignore it all summer
✅a wave, high-five, or a hug
AND THAT’s IT!

Comment below if you want the link to these!

Do you give your students EOY gifts?
    The number of hours I wasted standing at the copie The number of hours I wasted standing at the copier making giant summer speech homework packets in my first couple years working makes me 😵‍💫
Especially since I’m confident the majority of those pages weren’t even looked at. 

Until I made a one page instruction sheet with simple, parent-friendly instructions for how to accurately produce sounds… parents were very appreciative! 

If you’ve got students/caregivers requesting work over the summer to prevent loss of articulation skills, these one page, black ink only, no prep sheets have:
✅a mouth model visual
✅concise written instructions for production of 12 phonemes
✅words in initial, medial, and final with visuals
✅sound-loaded phrases
✅sound-loaded sentences

Comment below if you want a link!
    So I’ll still have a room or….? What’s the So I’ll still have a room or….? 

What’s the worst you’ve ever come back to after summer break?

Audio inspired by a ride with @codyrigsby
    Before my oldest started school, I swore I wasn’ Before my oldest started school, I swore I wasn’t going to do this trend. I figured teachers thought it was a pain and I hate Dr Seuss books.

Then my cousins, both of whom are HS teachers, told me how much they love writing in and reading their students’ books and that I just HAD to do it.

Once I found other book options, I was into it! 😍 I have 3 kids and they all have different books.

❓Parents: do you do this for your own kids? What book do you use?
❓Teachers: how do you feel about writing in these books?

🗣️Comment below if want the link to my book list! 🔗 (But make sure you’re following first or the DM won’t go through.)

End of the school year
Teacher signatures
End of year traditions
    There’s lots of new faces around here, so I thou There’s lots of new faces around here, so I thought I’d show you mine again and introduce myself!

I’m Denise, a pediatric SLP, wife, mom of 3 humans (9, 6, & 3)  and 1 black lab. I live on Long Island and am currently working as a preschool/EI transition evaluator. 

My favorite communication skills to target are early language, articulation, and core vocabulary! 
I love cheese, margaritas, photography, and trash TV (Bravo).
I hate feet, olives, and weather below 70 degrees. (I’m chronically cold.)

It’s just me, myself, and I behind this account and I’m SO grateful for every like, comment, share, story reply, link click, and purchase in my TpT store!

Do we have anything in common? Tell me below! 👇🏻
    I volunteered at my own children’s book fair to I volunteered at my own children’s book fair to help the kids shop. I *may* have spent the majority of the time scouring the shelves for new core word-filled books 🤷🏻‍♀️

Did you know I have an Amazon list of full of books I use to target core vocabulary? Comment below if you want to check it out! You might just find something to add to your toolbox 🙂
    Teaching AAC is just language therapy - and that’s the 🗻 I’m willing to die on!

Want my cheat sheets to make it *that* much easier??? Comment below for the link - because they’re 25% off today and tomorrow!!!!

Resource contains:
✅Toy companion posters listing several phrases of only core vocab for 12 common toys. 
✅Cheat sheets for ways to target 15 core words naturally throughout the day 
✅No prep, cut and glue craft sheets for the
same 15 words
✅List of core words, reminder handout, home communication page, and more!
***MUST BE FOLLOWING ME TO RECEIVE THE LINK***
    End of the year memories aren’t just for classro End of the year memories aren’t just for classroom teachers! 

I love recapping the year with my students. It’s actually a great way to plan for next year, since we’re lucky enough to have many repeat students from year to year. 

🔗 Check it out at bit.ly/EndOfSpeech or comment below if you want me to DM the link to you! (Make sure you’re following in order to receive the DM!)
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#SLPeeps #instaSLP #ASHAigers #SpeechTherapy #SLPonTpT #SLPsonTpT #Preschool #PreschoolSpeech #PreschoolTherapy #schoolSLP #SLP2b #Teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #teachersoftpt #tpt #teacher #teachers #iteach #iteachtoo #teacherlife #igteachers #teachersoninstagram #slpsfollowslps #SLPsonInstagram #EndOfTheYearMemories
    The teacher appreciation sale starts tomorrow! My The teacher appreciation sale starts tomorrow! My whole store will be 25% off with code THANKYOU25

What are you shopping for during the sale?
    I was evaluating a 2 year old. He said “no” to I was evaluating a 2 year old.
He said “no” to *every* prompt in the receptive section. 
He started banging the spoons together.
I flipped everything upside down and made a drum set. 
We played the drums together.
It elicited language. Unique 3 word phrases!

This is play. This was fun.

He continued to tell me “no” but at least he wasn’t miserable the entire time 🙃

🗣️Tell me below the most unconventional (“non-functional”) play you’ve used. Let’s help each other out!
    …but are you ready? (For National Speech Languag …but are you ready? (For National Speech Language and Hearing Month, that is.)

Comment below for the link to these no prep calendars.
Use as a bulletin board; hand out to teachers; or send one home with each child. ✅DONE for all of May!
    Idk if I’m remembering correctly but I think the Idk if I’m remembering correctly but I think there was a time a few months ago where Adobe got rid of the ability to print across multiple pages??? Was this a fever dream?!

Regardless - you can do it now! Here’s how to make one page into a bulletin board!
🖨️ Print, ✂️ cut, 📌 hang, and ✅ done!

Comment below if you want a link to the calendars!
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