Thursday, April 24, 2014

Earth Day Freebies!

Well hello there.  Sorry I've been suuuper MIA lately.  Drama on the home front, but hopefully I can now get back to some bloggy fun!  

Earth Day is this week, and since I'm on spring break right now, we'll be celebrating it all next week in therapy.  In case you're in my same boat, I've got some fun Earth Day freebies for you!  And if not, just stick it in your files for next year!  :)  

Check out Earth Day Sequencing!  


There are 3 types of sequencing activities plus a blank sequencing sheet.  It comes with 3-step picture sequencing cards.


Arrange the steps in order cards


Tell the steps question cards


A blank sequencing sheet for any Earth Day type event you'd like.


You can grab this freebie at my TPT store HERE!  I also have a print and go black and white packet that I made last year.  You can grab that freebie HERE.  :)  These activities could actually be used any time.  It's always a good time to talk about ways to help the environment. 



Enjoy!  Happy Earth Day!


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

iName It ~ App Review & {Giveaway}

It's state testing week in my district!  That means no therapy, just sitting with a small group of kiddos delivering a test.  Fun times.  Well, there's nothing like a little giveaway to liven things up!  When Smarty Ears contacted me to review their app, iName It, I said of course!  I love being able to show you  around a new app.

Check it out.  *Although Smarty Ears provided me a copy of this app, the opinions and ideas expressed are all mine. 


The Home page contains 4 buttons at the bottom: Start Practice, Settings, Results, and Support.  The "settings" tab allows you to change the language from English to Spanish or Portuguese.


The "support" button lets you learn more about the app and Smarty Ears.  I always start here and watch the video tutorial.  That way I don't miss any fun tid bits about the app.  :)


To get started tap on "start practice" and enter the user information.  You can create as many users as you need but you can only target one at a time.


The next screen presents you 5 different household rooms.  Each one targets 10 items that can usually be found in that room.  You just choose the room you want to go to in order to get started.


Inside each room is a scene with several common items to identify.  The list of items are located in the green box at the bottom of the screen.  Just tap on the item you'd like your client to identify.


Once you tap it, everything else in the room changes to gray except the targeted item.


If the client labels the item correctly, tap the green check button.  If they label it incorrectly, tap the blue button.  This button immediately brings you to the prompt screen.  You can choose 5 different naming prompts:

1. A written cue - It provides the first couple letters of the word followed by a blank.


2. A definition cue - It gives a visual and auditory definition of the what the object is. 


3. A sentence frame - It gives the word in the context of a cloze-type sentence.


4.  A phonetic cue - The first part of the word is given auditorily.  (see arrow below)
5.  Word cue - The word itself is presented on the screen.


Tap "got it" anytime or "missed" after the final cue to keep track of your data.  You can continue this process throughout each room.

If you tap the eye button located on the left of the green box, the room changes to gray and only the targeted items are highlighted.  This gives you a better visual of where the objects are.  I like to use it especially if you want to target some of the items receptively (i.e. "Find the shoe").  



From the home screen tap the "results" button to see the data that you've gathered on each client.


The data is explained in overall naming accuracy with and without cues.  It even tells you the most successful type of cue used.  You also have the option to export your results, email, or print them.

Even though this app is geared toward adults with aphasia, I'm planning on using it with some of my preschoolers and low-functioning vocabulary students that need help with building this skill.  Because the room scenes are so great, I'm even thinking of using it for goals other than just naming (i.e. object functions, describing, WH questions, etc.).  I love versatile apps that I can use for multiple things at once!

You can grab iName It in the iTunes store for $14.99 HERE!  And thanks to Smarty Ears, be sure to enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win your own copy of this app!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

How Do You Use It Linky

Today I'm linking up with Speech Time Fun for her How Do You Use It linky party!  This month we're talking about how we use popsicle sticks.  Woot!


If you follow my blog, you might remember my post a couple of weeks ago on how I use popsicle sticks for fluency therapy!


I use them for pacing sticks and for pausing visuals.  Check it out at the original blog post HERE!

Be sure and check out how lots of other speechies use popsicle sticks in therapy by heading over to Speech Time Fun's post!

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Therapy Fun Find: Busy Bag Exchange

It's time for Therapy Fun Find, where I showcase an idea or activity or anything that catches my eye as useful for therapy!


And oh. my. goodness.  I am loving this idea that I came across from Second Story Window.  It's called a busy bag exchange, and I am digging this in so many ways.

Source
First of all, I love the bags that they made.  They are great for your littles and most of the bags target lots of fine motor and can easily be adapted to elicit language.

Source
The ideas for use of some of these cute activities are endless.  I especially liked the "No Sew Fishing Game," the "Race Car Shapes," and the "Play Dough Mats."  Ok ok I liked them all!  

Another reason that I am in love with this idea is that it's an excuse to have a party...aaannnd to revamp it to make it more relevant for us, a speechie party!!  The premise behind the bag exchange is similar to that of a cookie exchange (if you've ever been to one of those around Christmas time).

Each person signs up to make and bring enough bags for the amount of people going.  In our case, it might be speech therapy material bags (handmade activities would probably be the most economical).  Everyone gets together and explains their bags and gives them out.  Soooo, if 10 people come to the party, you'd walk away with 10 new therapy activities!  Cool, right?  Check out more ideas and tips on how to host over at Second Story Window.

I think one of my speechie friends and I are in the process of setting up one of these bag exchanges!  Be sure and stay tuned for what we come up with.  :)  Oh, and if you decide to have a party of your own, pretty puh-lease email me a pic so I can feature it!

What do you think?  Are you as excited about this idea as I am?  I really wish I lived close to all of you.  Then we could have one gigantic party!  ;)
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