Organization Week: Binders and Planners Linky!!

Organization Week Day 4: binders and planners.  Do you keep a data binder?  What about a therapy planner?  Maybe you do everything on the computer or iPad.  Welp, today we're talking all about how we plan and keep data!  Plus, we're having a link party so that everyone can share their ideas!

To link up all you have to do is create a post talking about your binders, planners, or even techy ways of keeping data.  Don't forget to use the graphic above in your post.  :)  Then link up using the inlinkz button below!  Easy peasy.

Since I've already talked to you about how I organize and use my planner (see this post!), today I'll be focusing a little more on my data binder.  This post may contain amazon affiliate links for your convenience.

First off, I've had a few questions about the binder itself, since posting this pic on instagram.  I ordered it from Amazon.  It's a Martha Stewart extra wide binder.  It's soft and a beautiful blue shagreen color.  I'm in love.

Martha Stewart Blue Shagreen Standard Binder

I have a silhouette cameo that's kind of like a cricket if you aren't familiar.  It cuts letters and designs onto paper or fabrics.  I cut my letters onto black vinyl to make the cover and stuck them on.  It turned out pretty cute, so I'm happy with it.  :)

When you open it up the rings are easy to open and positioned on the side.  I like that about it, and because it's extra-wide, it covers the tabs when you close it.

Martha Stewart Planner Insert

I also ordered these post-it notes and tabs when I ordered my binder.  It's great that it just attaches to the rings inside, and I find that these sticky notes attach better than others.

Ok, so here's the low-down on what I keep in my binder:

• Front: Post-its, laminated data sheets, my schedule, school master schedule, excel student list
• Pocket tabs Pre-K through 5
• Each pocketed tab holds all of my tally sheets/therapy logs for my kids in that grade.  I keep their medicaid billing forms inside the pockets on one side.  On the other side I put extra tally sheets for each student.

• Back: Extra forms, data sheets, or daily lists.  I also attached pockets for paperclips.

In case you were curious, my tally sheets (aka therapy logs) look a little something like this:

Anyway, I just thought I'd give you a little glimpse into my binder.  What about you?  How do you use your planners and binders? 

Share your ideas in the comments or link up below!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Organization Week Day 3: Data Collection Freebies!

I hope you've been enjoying this week's organizing posts!  It's always fun to exchange ideas and be able to take a few things back to your speech rooms.  We've tackled classroom materials and paperwork the last couple days, so today I've got some freebies for you!  Woohoo!

Day 3: It's all about data tracking today.

A friend from work recently told me that she laminates her data sheets and reuses them.  I LOVED this idea, so I created a few fancy ones to do just the same.

There are 3 types in this packet: one for group sessions, one for a large sample, and one for if you're tallying different skills.

To make them just print and laminate with thick laminating pouches.  I printed and laminated several so I can keep them in different places.

I punched holes in a couple so I could keep them in my binder.

To take data I just use an ultra fine dry erase marker (I got mine at Target).  The numbers on the sides make it easy for me to quickly count it up and total it!

You can use the large sample sheet if you will be hitting a lot of trials or tallying a large fluency sample.  There are 400 squares included in that one.

The multi skill sheet is great if you're in a classroom and targeting several skills at once or if your student has several sounds that you are trying to track.

After you transfer the results to their tally sheets, everything just cleanly erases so you are ready to go for your next session!

I know there are several apps and new techy ways to collect data, but sometimes you just gotta keep it old school.  Grab these free data sheets at my TPT store HERE and create your own!

What do you think?  Don't forget to leave some lovely feedback if you download.  :)

Love It & List It Organization!

I'm linking up with Jenna over at Speech Room News for her Love it and List it Linky!  This month's topic is organization, so be sure to head over to SRN and check out all of the fabulous posts.

If you follow my blog, you may have seen some of my organization posts from last month.

Check out 5 organizing essentials for your speech room HERE!  You'll be able to find some good reasons why to stay organized as well as important tools for how I keep my speech room together.

You can also check out how I keep my paperwork organized in planners and binders by visiting THIS post.

And finally, I've got 2 data collection posts with freebies!  You can check those out HERE and HERE!

I hope you can find some of these posts helpful!  I know it can sometimes be stressful to take on getting things reorganized, but I'm here to tell you that if I can do it you can do it!  :)

Happy organizing!

Show Me the Data Linky!

I love linkies!  Today I'm linking up with Jenn over at Crazy Speech World who is hosting an all things  DATA collection party!

Now, if you follow my blog you might remember THIS POST from last week on the forms I use when collecting data and why data is so important.  Be sure and check it out to find out how you can grab a few free forms!  :)

In my district, one of the mandatory components of the evaluation process is RtI.  The data I keep for these kiddos has to be specific and organized.  Sooo this group gets their very own data binder!

Here's a closer look at the inside tabs:

The tabs read: Attendance, Progress Monitoring, Student Assessments, Blank Language Assessments, and Blank Articulation Assessments.

Behind the Blank Language Assessments tab are all of my Common Core-based RtI Language Assessments separated by grade.  {Be on the lookout for the 3rd-5th grade version of this soon!}

These are the attendance sheets I use.  I like that everything is in one place, so that I know exactly where to look if I need information.  You can grab it HERE.

Behind the progress monitoring tab, I keep all of the students PM sheets plus a data chart for each.  I like to use a data chart when explaining the info to parents.  I find that it's a great visual for them to see exactly how their child is progressing through the intervention process.

You can grab this data chart for free HERE!

Be sure and check out other fun data posts over at Crazy Speech World!  How do you collect data?

Data, Data, Data!!

We all have to do it.  It's time-consuming, boring, and I'd rather spend my time doing actual therapy.  However, taking solid, accurate data is important for several reasons:

• It helps us know where exactly our students stand in achieving their goals.  
• It helps us better plan our therapy sessions.  If we know exactly what they can do, we aren't guestimating what to work on.
• We need it for other paperwork: progress reports, IEPs, etc.
• It gives us proof/leverage when presenting ideas to other faculty.
• It helps us to make decisions based on hard facts and information, not just how we feel.
• It's required by law.  In my state we have to provide proof of services and show our data/tally sheets if asked (especially if Medicaid eligible).
• It's in our job description.  See this ASHA article.  Data collection and analysis are under our roles and responsibilities as SLPs in the schools.

I'm sure you can think of a million more reasons why data collection is helpful, but these are a good start.

Taking data is a task that I am constantly trying to get a better handle on.  I've redone my system about 596 times.  One of my readers wanted to know about my data sheets, so I'm happy to share a little of what I have used in the past.

Attendance sheet - My attendance sheet was inspired by one of the tally sheets that was sent to us by someone in our district (I'm pretty sure it was Mia!).  I wanted a sheet that would have all of their info on it but would be quick and easy to use.

Tally sheets - 3 different types, depending on the student's goals and needs.

Daily notes - These are for my crazy days.  At times when I'm in and out of meetings and classrooms all day, sometimes I don't have the breaks I need to fill up my data sheets.  With this form, I can quickly grab it and write notes on it throughout the day without having to flip through my binder.  I just transfer then notes onto my student tally sheets at a later time.

Lesson plan - Some districts require therapists to keep lesson plans.  I have a spot for the weekly theme I'm using, materials needed, what's being focused on in the curriculum, and specific plans.

Although let me just throw out there that you can have all the pretty sheets and best intentions in the world...but you HAVE to actually use them.  These are just some of the forms that have helped me.  You can grab a copy of some of my data sheets HERE.  

I would love to eventually go paperless with my taking my data.  Unfortunately, I haven't found the perfect iPad app to do that.  Even a good editing app would help.  If any of you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear!  And if and when I discover the perfect way to take data on the iPad, you will be the first to know!  ;)  

Therapy Organization Planners & Binders

So I am totally one of those people with great organizational ambitions.  At the beginning of the school year everything is nice and neat and organized.  As the year moves along, piles begin to form and papers begin to stack up.  I look around and things are a little out of place  aren't so organized anymore  pretty much a wreck.

This year I'll be trying out some new systems, so I'm hoping that they'll stick...especially since I found out that I'm now going to be the only SLP at my school.  Yes, I work at a primary school.  No, I have no idea how I'm going to manage.  Any advice is welcome and appreciated lol.  I figure I'm going to have to be super organized to make it work.

In my attempt to coral my paperwork, I'll be keeping a therapy binder or 2.  I combined a couple of great downloads I found on TPT to make my binder.  I used the Let's Get Organized packet from [simply speech] and the 2013-2014 SLP Monthly Planner from Denise Polley.

Both packs have such cute pages!  I just printed out the ones that applied to me and tweaked a couple of them a little with my sharpie to meet my needs.  :)

I'm thinking that this will be just what I need.  I've got a calendar for each month, referral info, and screening and RtI info.

I even included a copy of my district's procedure checklists for quick reference.

There are also sections for evals, re-evals, due dates, medicaid lists, running to-do lists, parent contact info, and more.  I spiral-bound it all together, so it's not as bulky as an actual binder.  It's more like a planner.

**UPDATE:  I recently created my own planner to customize it to fit more of my needs.  You can check it out HERE!

I do have another binder where I keep all my student data and attendance information.

I section it off by grade and store their lesson plans, tally sheets, and medicaid logs behind each tab.  Because these have to be filed every 9 weeks, they need to be in a place where I can transfer them easily.

I'm also thinking about keeping all of their therapy data on the Therapy Report Center app by Smarty Ears.  I'm still trying to work out the logistics of it.

How do you keep your paperwork organized?  Any tips you can share?

FAQ Friday: Tracking Progress {with Freebie!}

I am SO glad it's Friday!  It's that time of year that's sooo crazy busy.  The countdown to the end of the school year has already begun for us...25 school days left!  I know my kiddos are definitely ready for a break.  What about yours?

Of course, Friday also means FAQ time!  :)

 
This week we're going to chat a little bit about tracking progress.  Tracking progress is a great way to get parents involved in their child's speech at home.  I also love to get the kids involved in tracking their own progress, if they're old enough.  So today's question is for parents:

 For some of us SLPs, tracking data has become second nature, mostly because we're required to do it everyday.  We can easily teach parents and kids to do it as well while they work on their homework!  The benefits of data tracking are great.  It can:
-Give students a visual to know how far they are from reaching their goal
-Motivate students to practice harder
-Let parents know exactly how their child is performing
-Be a great incentive to actually get their homework done

If a parent is willing, I'm a believer in teaching them to be their own mini-SLP at home.  I give them tips on what kind of responses I'm looking for.  For articulation, I show them what the error sounds and looks like versus what the correct sound is like.  If I can't trust that the parent and student can correctly tally the errors, I suggest recording them practicing so I can check.  Most cell phones have a video recording feature, so they could easily whip it out and record without having to purchase another device.

Ok now on to the good stuff!  To track progress, here are some tips:

• Grab your homework sheet - whether it be a worksheet, cards, an app, etc.
• Write down how many total items you practiced.
• While practicing, circle or mark the items that you have difficulty with.
• Count how many items that were easy or that you know you said correctly.
• Grab a calculator and divide the number you got correct over the total number of items.
• Multiply that number times 100 to get a percentage.
• Mark your percentage on a chart or graph.

I've created a couple of charts to help you if you need!  Check them out :)

These give a quick visual on how the student is performing.  You can grab these charts for FREE right HERE.  :)  Enjoy!

What do you think?  Do you encourage parents and students to track their own progress at home?  

Blog Love & Tracking Progress

I've had so much fun this week trying out this new blog thing!  Hopefully, a couple of you were a little encouraged, or inspired, or at least found something you could actually use in therapy.  I can't wait to share more ideas with y'all!  There are so many things swimming around in my brain that I want to try, mostly thanks to all of you fabulous bloggers and pinners.

Besides blogging and scoping out Pinterest and TPT, it was pretty crazy at work this week too.  The end of the 9 weeks meant I had to do progress reports.  Boooo...not my favorite thing.  Fortunately, it wasn't too terrible since I've started keeping a lot of data on my iPad.  Here are a couple of apps I use for tracking data:

• Articulation Station Pro

Now, I know this is not an app just for tracking data (and it's pretty pricey).  It's just so easy to use, and my kids love it.  I just record their responses and save the data to their name.  Then, I can either email it to myself or copy their percentages straight from the iPad.

• Super Duper Data Tracker 

I'm sure most of you are familiar with this one.  I like using it if I need to target a specific language skill.  It's helpful while we are playing a game or doing an assignment in class.  It's also pretty good to use as a fluency counter.  Just click the check for fluent syllables and the X for syllables stuttered.  

Unfortunately, there is no one app out there that I feel I can use for all my kiddos.  It'd be great to have everything in one spot, and I'd love to go paperless with their tally sheets.  Have any of you found any helpful data tracking apps?  Or any good word processing apps for that matter?

Anyway, thanks for reading! :)