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Tuesday 31 March 2015

Speech Class


Creating communicators provide speech and language support to first nation schools in Alberta. At one of my schools, the teacher's aide, Michelle, has taken it upon herself to decorate her room. She has also come up with new ideas for speech therapy. Recently she told me about playing I spy outside in the playground, drawing pictures and talking about them, and other fun games in the library. I am so impressed and proud of what a great job she's doing at that school. She has taken it upon herself to come up with new, innovative ideas for speech therapy ensuring the students don't get bored.

 Michelle has been a very dedicated to play and I'm very grateful to have an aide at that school who works hard and tries her best. 

Thank you very much Michelle, you're doing an awesome job!
What ideas do you have to keep therapy interesting?
Cheers, Mindy

Friday 27 March 2015

iHelp Comprehension App Review

App Review
This app is used for following directions and comprehension!




The comprehension 1 gives directions that incorporate shapes, and on/off. It is a free app but you can purchase all of the sets for $2.99 in each of the Comprehension 1 & 2. 

This app gives you a very short progress report that gives you a percentage of how many on and how many off were correct.

The think that I don't like about this app is the variances in level of concepts. On and off are much easier than shapes. Some of my kids are so little that they don't know all of their shapes but do know on and off. And with Comprehension 2 they children know how to place things in a square but don't know right and left, and aren't developmentally ready to know it. I wish they used concepts that are paired in age of acquisition.
In conclusion-I would use this free app but I don't think it will work for every child in every situation.






Wednesday 25 March 2015

Instant Learning Center

Phonological Awareness

Instant Learning Center





I purchased the Sound Sort- instant learning center from Lakeshore Learning. This is a great product for speech therapy, and younger grade teachers. It is a really simple useful activity great for beginning readers.

Each child gets a different colored mat which corresponds to represent a different sound. They have a pouch of cards with words that either start or end with their sound. They pull card from their pouch and put it on their mat. Then they place the chipper chat either before the picture or at the end depending on where their sound is on the picture card. Then they have added an extra step to really strengthen the skill: the students have to

This activity is really cool! I love it because it is already to go, no work! I also love it because it can be used as an individual center or you can make modifications and use at as group or for the entire class. I do many in-class activities and I can't wait to try this one out!


My guinea pig who loves to try all of my activities! :)


What Lakeshore learning or Phonological awareness activities do you like/use?





Monday 16 March 2015

Articulation station



Articulation Station

I'm not sure if you've noticed but Articulation Station by Little Bee Speech added phrases!
I love it! You can choose your phrase to be the same or as your child progresses you can rotating phrases! The kids love it!

 
 



The pro-version is $49.99 or you can purchase individual sounds!


iPhone Screenshot 1

I love artic. Station and I want to hear your feedback in my comments area!
Let me know what you think??
Cheers,
Mindy

Friday 13 March 2015

Basic concepts skills screener

Apps, apps and more apps! I love my ipad for therapy because it makes my bag so much lighter! Plus the kids love to use it too!  But did you know that it can also be used for testing....?
Recently I purchased the Basic Concepts Skills Screener app and I was very happy with it. It tested many of the common concepts receptively that my kiddos need to be tested. The test includes 4 concept types- comparative, quantitative, spatial, and temporal. BCSS offers 2 versions, the full screen with 79 items or a quick screening with 30 items!

It has really clear, simple pictures! The student touches the correct picture after the audio prompt. For each answer the student receives auditory and visual feedback regardless if they chose the correct answer or not. You can also write information in the notes area that will go in the final report. Another thing I like is if the child changes their mind, the last picture they touch before you select the next button is the answer that is "counted". Great for quick answers or if the child changes their answer. 















 The information or report part of the screen is simple yet very inclusive. It has all of the pertinent information and it is all displayed in clear simple way. 



This app provides a report which includes a summary of the child's performance. In the report it includes which concepts were correct, which were wrong and which were not tested. Also included is the raw score, and the concepts that are emerging. It includes a 20 page manual, and video tutorial. You can then send the report it via email, and open it in TRC or in iBooks. 
This makes report writing and progress monitoring for SLP's a lot easier! This app is great and it only costs $28.99 which compared to some other testing materials is super cheap! 
 
This app is a Smarty Ears app by Darlene Nething, MS, CCC-SLP and Mary Huston, MS, CCC-SLP.
I would love to hear your feedback on this app and if you have any great testing apps that you use.


Cheers,
Mindy







Sunday 8 March 2015

March!


I am posting my march package- it is a quick, simple package that you can print to target speech and language goals or use as a homework package, and its only $.50 this week!!!


https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/March-Speech-and-Language-Package-1144649 


In this package you find a little of everything- articulation practice, following directions, comparing and contrasting, phonological awareness and grammar. It is also color friendly, using mostly black and white pages.



Remember to leave specific feedback and I may choose your feedback for my next blog when I link  up with Allison from Speech Peeps on the 3 Monday of this month!!


Cheers, 
Mindy

























Wednesday 4 March 2015

"S...peachy" Feedback Linky