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Snow in Speech

January 14, 2013

Just like every other teacher (in most states) I pray for snow days.  However, as a former New Yorker now living in what I consider a “Southern” state (VA), I adore in the fact that I do not have to deal with 15 degree mornings, scraping the ice off my car before work (when I’m already running late), and tracking in dirty, brown slush everywhere I go.  It’s a very real inner struggle.  This week in therapy, I am mixing the best of both worlds!

The other SLP at my school found this awesome “instant snow” kit at Hallmark.  During the after Christmas sale, it was only $0.99!

This is what the packaging looked like.  It was originally $5.  I wouldn’t have paid that much, but it is definitely worth the dollar!
The powder (or “snow”) came in this tube, which was taped to the cardboard pictured above.  Please excuse the fruit bowl.  Use what you have…

This group is full of students from self-contained classrooms; their primary disorders include autism and intellectual disability.  My colleague and I share the group and we see them for a full hour.  We usually talk about our weekends and then do something fun and language rich for the rest of the session.  We started out seeing them for the usual half hour, but always had to end at a crucial and fun point in our weekend conversation so we upped it to a full hour session.  And I’m SO glad we did!  At the beginning of the session, we told them we were going to make something.  We gave them one clue that it was not something you eat and then had them guess.  One student guessed hot chocolate.  Another one, with poor initiation, guess we’d be making a Kleenex (there was a box of them next to her.).  This is why I love my job.

After we talked about our weekend, asking questions and formulating grammatically correct sentences, we gave the students a few more clues about what we were making.  We wrote each one on a post-it and laid them out on the table.

The clues were: “white”, “do not eat it”, “see it in winter” and “cold”.

They were able to synthesize all of this information and guess snow (one said “ice” – not bad).  Woo hoo!

Here are the students touching the powder while it was in my hand.  We described how it felt.  Most of them said, “warm”.  I think they were surprised that it wasn’t ice cold but honestly, they just felt the warmth of my hands. I guess the pretend aspect of this was a little too abstract.  It was a pretty coarse powder, so I shared that I thought it felt like sand.

 

To make the snow, all you have to do is mix it with water.  We had the students tell us step-by-step what to do:
Take off the cap; pour the powder in the bowl; go get water; pour the water in the bowl.

We gave each student a chance to dump a little of the powder in the bowl.  Then, while my colleague brought one of the students to go get water, I helped the rest of the group make predictions about where they were going to get the water; the water fountain or the bathroom.

We also talked about the “empty” tube we had.  We had a second package of “instant snow” so we contrasted the two tubes.  We also talked about what the word “instant” meant.

As we poured the water in, the powder grew to this awesome, fluffy consistency!  If you happen to do this with your own students, I’d suggest using REALLY cold water, only to give it more of an illusion of cold snow.

We talked about all of the things you can do in the snow – make snowballs, build snowmen, make a snow angel, etc. Then we passed the bowl around and let each student have a fun sensory experience touching the snow.

This student said, “Look!  I’m making a finger angel!”  So adorable!
attempting a snowball

As we recapped, we used regular and irregular past tense verbs to discuss how we made the snow.  They each used an adjective to describe the snow and how it felt.  We touched on SO many basic concepts, too.  They really LOVED this activity!  And for only 99 cents!  <3

I’ve also recently added two new winter/Valentine’s themed products to my TPT store.  They are Valentine’s Wh- Questions & Valentine’s Listening and Describing.

The Wh-questions one is pretty self-explanatory.  It includes all 5 Wh- questions and How.  There are 8 of each question type, for a total of 48 questions in all.  Students collect their cards on their envelope.

Here’s a peak at a few of the cards:

 

 

The next is Valentine‘s Listening and Describing, which is very much like my Gingerbread Listening and Describing.  If you liked that pack, you’ll love this one!  And what kid doesn’t love a funny little monster now and then???  The pack targets conditional directions,exclusionary listening, listening for details, written descriptions, describing verbally, and negation.

 

In the first section, each student will get a monster.  They are all a little different and all pretty darn cute. There are two of each type of monster, just in a different color.  There are 10 different monsters in all!

To play, give a conditional direction (or read one from the list of sample prompts).  Students must do what the direction says, according to their monster’s characteristics.  I’ve given a huge list of sample prompts, or you can come up with your own!  I also made all of the actions that the students need to take nonverbal (and mostly quiet) so that it is not disruptive and  you can tell if they did it correctly or not.  If they were all counting, saying their name, etc, it would make it a little hard!

After you’ve done the conditional directions part, students can write about their monsters.  They must give as specific a description as they can, since the monsters are all so similar.  I’ve included two different writing pages: a blank one and the one below.

Comes with an “answer key” so you can guide your students to the right answer.

I think it would be fun to read these aloud and have the rest of the students guess which monster is being described.  Or, hang them in the hall for everyone to guess!

Next is listening for details!  Students must use all the clues to decide which character you are describing.  The picture below will ideally be used as a mat (do not cut apart).  However, if your students need a smaller field or can handle a larger one, cutting it apart would work too!

Put this mat in the middle of the table for all to see or print one for each player.  If everyone has one, they can use a dry erase marker to eliminate the characters that you are not describing and use process of elimination to determine which you are talking about.  There are 4 mats, with 6 pictures each, for 24 total pictures.  Each picture comes with a unique list of clues for you to read.  All of them are organized according to numbers so there is no confusion.  Here’s just a sample.

I hope you enjoy these activities!  For a chance to win your choice of one of my Valentine’s packs, enter via the Rafflecopter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for reading! Now go to your nearest Hallmark store and raid their “instant snow” department! 😉
~Denise

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    Tagged With: describing, following directions, giveaway, language, listening, monsters, sensory, snow, TPT, winter, writing

    Previous Post: « New Year review: The Kissing Hand
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Arlen

      January 15, 2013 at 12:09 am

      I can always use more materials for interogative reversals, reflexive pronouns and subject/verb agreement

      Reply
    2. Jennifer Bell

      January 15, 2013 at 12:16 am

      I could use materials that focus on pronouns and possessives!

      straightupspeech.blogspot.com

      Reply
    3. Stampngrl

      January 15, 2013 at 12:29 am

      Pronouns are my targets right now.

      Reply
    4. Emma Johnson

      January 15, 2013 at 12:51 am

      I could use more for future tense. Thanks for asking 🙂

      Reply
    5. ShannanW

      January 15, 2013 at 12:56 am

      Possessive pronouns and I could always use correcting sentence level grammatical errors related to omitting helping verbs, and errors with have/has, do/does, was/were, and irregular past tense. Anything that has pictures is a big plus too!

      Reply
    6. HNowitzke

      January 15, 2013 at 1:09 am

      I could use some regular past tense activities and possessive pronouns!

      Reply
    7. Carly

      January 15, 2013 at 1:10 am

      I am always looking for problem solving for older students!

      Reply
    8. Shannon Giles

      January 15, 2013 at 1:21 am

      Would love activities for pronouns and I second the “anything with pictures is a bonus.”

      Reply
    9. Jayne Watkin

      January 15, 2013 at 1:26 am

      Subject/verb agreement and pronouns, please 🙂

      Reply
    10. Kellie

      January 15, 2013 at 2:26 am

      Verb tense

      Reply
    11. kreinacher

      January 15, 2013 at 2:47 am

      I am always n need of verb tenses and pronoun activities

      Reply
    12. Sharon

      January 15, 2013 at 4:59 am

      I really have to look for some instant snow – it looked like you were having fun!

      Reply
    13. Tova

      January 15, 2013 at 11:14 pm

      Pronouns and possessives at preschool level

      Reply
    14. jill benner

      January 16, 2013 at 1:09 am

      Pronouns, for all levels. Also formulating questions.

      Reply
    15. Amy Roberts

      January 16, 2013 at 1:54 am

      Correcting sentences and formulating questions.

      Reply
    16. Kim Turner

      January 16, 2013 at 4:05 am

      Using the copula verb 'is' and 'am'. Tough to teach when they are missing.

      Reply
    17. moswogger

      January 18, 2013 at 12:35 am

      Double negatives; had vs have

      Reply
    18. RMiller

      January 18, 2013 at 1:33 am

      Possessive pronouns and question asking. Thanks!

      Reply
    19. Callie Huffman

      January 18, 2013 at 3:56 am

      Teaching adverbs and adjectives in narratives!

      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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