Funny Phonemes App Review

 

I recently heard about this new app. The app's called "Funny Phonemes" and is designed to appeal to older students. It's main "hook" is the use of clean, current slang and pop-culture jargon in the activities.

You can find it here in the App Store

The app targets phonemic awareness training, and is great for your older caseload who doesn't want to read Dick and Jane books! ;)


I really like all the different games. You can choose the missing sound, choose the right sound, choose the beginning sound, and build a word. 

You can choose different color schemes and a lot of other little near add Ins! Very cool app! My kids on the caseload love it!

Thanks Greg! 

Heads Up!!

Heads up for Speech!

First of all don't forget to enter my rafflecopter giveaway here!!!

Recently, my kids purchased this app on my phone and I thought what a great idea for speech therapy.  You can use this app for older kids to act out or describe different terms.  It's a great way to get some vocabulary going. 

 

There are so many categories! There are sure to be something that will work for any kid on your caseload! And there are categories that are just for kids-- PERFECT!! :)

 1 person place the phone on their head and the other person acts out or describes the word on the phone and their partner tries to guess.  You tilt the phone if they got it right or if you want to pass it. At the end it tells you how many you got correct. The only down side of this app is it needs to be played with a player that can read so it has to be with your older kids on the caseload. This is basically a more technological way to play Head Banz.

 

The other plus to this game is that its a great way to end a session and you can use it if you've forgotten reinforcement but haven't forgotten your phone ;)

Articulation Carnival App

Articulation Carnival App!

What I liked:
*pictures
*specific blends- for example instead of just r blends you could choose br, dr, fr, etc, which could target each child's goals specifically. This will save you time because you are not searching through all of the words that aren't pertinent to your student's goals.
* colorful and bright
*can insert notes.
*you can email session notes and data!!! It tells you exactly which words they said correctly and which were wrong.  Love this!! This makes therapy so easy!!! :)

What I would improve:
* I like that the games are interactive for the kids but they do take a little too long.
* I think $51.99 for all sounds is a little expensive. Each sound can range from $3.99- $8.49- a little expensive but it does include any blends.

My First App

My First App

My First App is an app for small children that targets categorization. Children are able to sort through  toys and then sub categorize within each category. Transportation, balls and toys are available on the free version. There are many more categories on the paid version which is $3.49.

 I like this up because it's very simple for children and it works on vocabulary and categorization. I did have a hard time maneuvering some of the items so I'm sure if I had trouble small children would probably have trouble too. Although, other people have noted that their small children used the app with ease.

I especially like the transportation page because you can sub categorize. You can categorize the  items to land, air and sea. This is a great extra step for helping little ones with categorization and vocabulary skills.

It has very cute graphics that would be so cute for small children.

I did like this app! What do you think?
Disclaimer- I have not been compensated in anyway for review of this app and the opinions are strictly my own.

Cheers,
Mindy

Augmenter App Review

Augmenter 3D App

I was approached by the makers of this app to do an app review on my blog!!! So let me start off with gratitude!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me the privilege of doing a review on your outstanding app!

To explain the app let me use their words:

This is a magical augmented reality app created for teachers to help bring science teaching alive. The augmented reality app includes 300+ Models for all grades. This app has been specially created to make science fun, game like and stress free. The 3d augmented reality models help students understand concepts easily. The magical 3D augmented reality format holds the interest of the students through stunning visualization and aids understanding in ways not possible before.

Some of the awesome features in the app include:
Augmented Reality View
Stereoscopic 3D View
Interactive 3D View

Some of the 3d models included in the app are:
Human anatomy
Skeleton system
Digestive system
respiratory system
excretory system
animal cell
plant cell
Brain
Arrangement and types of teeth, etc...
 There are animals which I find particularly helpful for vocabulary!

Animals include animated dinosaur, animated tiger, elephant, giraffe, fish, deer, stag, rhino, hippo, duck, dolphin, beetle, penguin, rat, scorpion, tortoise etc.
Fruits like Apple, orange, Mango,pomegranate, banana, guava, pear, pineapple etc.

Cool interactions available in the App are:
Titles for each part
Take apart individual parts
Hide parts
Highlight parts
Set transparency
Break up the whole model
Analyze parts
Take a screenshot of the model
Pen tool for drawing.

You will love it! 

Download it here!

OK, now the APP review!!

• I am in awe of what technology can do- remember dicing the work or maybe even a frog in Bio? I do! This takes all the goriness out of that and keeps it clean for your students! Plus it gives you access to soo many things from flowers, animals, human body, and even more!!!

• I love the pictures/videos on this app. It give you information about the items that would be great for older kids who are working on higher level vocabulary. 
• I love the videos that show you how to use it!

• I love that you can take these items apart, tile them and have them labeled for you!

• I like that you are able to see 3D representations of things you would otherwise not have any access too!

• I think this would be awesome for any science class or any students who are looking to increase their higher level vocabulary and general knowledge... :) 

• I do like this app but I mostly work with preschool and school-aged children so I feel like some of the items in the gallery are way "above" their vocabulary level.

• Also, although only 1 time, I did have a glitch where the app just shut down and wouldn't open the image from their gallery.  As time goes by the Developer usually works out the glitches!

Try this app out and let me know what  you think! Comment below!

Cheers,
Mindy!

Phonological Awareness -App Review

Phonological Awareness- App Review

This is an app review for Phonological Awareness from Autism iHelp.

The first thing about this app is that it only targets rhyming words. It should be called rhyming words and not phonological awareness as it only works on one area of phonological awareness. This was disappointing to me!

It shows a picture, with an audio prompt, and then the student chooses the one that rhymes from 2- 4 pictures. You can customize it for each student, which I also like. I like that it can show a few examples and doesn't make it too easy for the kiddos.

It has a lot of things you can customize and you also get a progress report, which makes it really user friendly.

This app is also free but for $2.99 you can unlock all of the rhyming words. What phono app do you like?

Cheers, 

Mindy

Thngs That Go Together- App Review

Things That Go Together

I love this app! This is the app I use to start off my vocabulary goal. It is an easy app for younger children to understand and work on associations. The first thing I love is the 

price- $1.19!! Cheap!!

It starts off with 2 pics and works up from there. It gives audio hints that labels items once you touch them. For me, I always turn this off just to make it a little more difficult and add another step for the children. I get them to label each item and then I get them to explain why the items go together. 

in their words... there is now a "Tile Magnet" option so you can now turn the automatic tile magnet ON or OFF. The tile magnet automatically snaps pieces in their place. This is great for toddlers with little fingers but now you can turn this off if you are ready to take your matching skills to the next level.

The app works up to 6 pictures...

and then 8.

Customize-
You can choose which pictures/tiles you want to use and if a child has targeted certain pictures you can by pass those tiles on their next session.  You can also choose the amount of items you want them to work on. If 8 is overwhelming or too difficult for some children you can customize to only use 2 or 4 tiles. For older students you can start at 8 tiles, because 2 may be too simple.

The only thing I don't like about this app is it doesn't take data.





Cheers, 
Mindy

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

Speech Homework & Practice

How do we keep the kiddo's speech skills progressing.....

Homework and practice!

In order for the kids to carry over their newly acquired speech and language skills they need to practice, practice, practice. Kids can practice in so many ways and in so many areas! They can practice in their classrooms with their teachers giving them reminders throughout the day, with peers and also at home.To help make this easy to happen I have some tips! 

Freebies!!!

For language!

For Speech!

In the class: you can talk to their teachers and give them some information as to what the students are working on. Make them a cheat sheet. Throughout the day they can refer to it and be reminded of what the students are targeting. Then they are able to model correct sounds, and grammar that the kid needs more help with.


  At home: Parents can print off homework sheets for their kiddo to work on at home.
Some great printouts can be found at

•  Mommy Speech Therapy,  
•  Heather's Speech Therapy Blog 
•  Speaking Of Speech.  

Now, as a parent, I see how it can be difficult to find the time to practice speech homework  on top of school homework, dance, scouts, dishes and lunches. If time is a problem (if you are a normal parent, it is!) then focus on their sounds during a certain time frame or amount of time like bath time or supper time. Model and correct any  incorrect productions during that time. Be careful not to over correct- this will be frustrating for you and your kiddo!
Some other ideas are:

• Here is another sheet for parents of kids who are working on their goal in spontaneous speech. It is a rating scale for parents to rate how their child is progressing. I found it on the blog: In Spontaneous Speech.
• Speech Homework Log  You can use these logs for students working at the reading or conversation level encourage practice and carryover of speech skills!
• Ideas on Pinterest!
• Read a book and do an activity that is based on the book OR just have your kiddo practice their skill while you are reading together.
• More articulation cards for practice.
• Use apps on your Ipad! Articulation Station is a great one!
  
  

 

• And when all else fails I found a great blog on alternatives to speech homework! Thank you Budget SLP!

If you look around and put your mind to it there are so many ways to encourage home practice in a quick, easy and inexpensive way. 
Good luck!

Cheers, 
Mindy

Follow my speech and language board on pinterest!

Does technology make your baby smarter?

In short no! 
"Everything we know about brain research and child development points away from using screens to educate babies," said Susan Linn, the group's director. "The research shows that machines and screen media are a really ineffective way of teaching a baby language. What babies need for healthy brain development is active play, hands-on creative play and face-to-face" interaction.

Written by Anne Flaherty - The Associated Press.

After School Group- Reading to kids and having a discussion about the book!

If you want your child to interact and use good communication skills you need to communicate with your child. There is no iPhone app that will make your baby speak. Screen time will not guarantee your child's language skills, IQ, or academic success. Yes there are many apps that claim to improve communication, however; you need to interact and speak with your child while using them. It is like finger nails on a chalk board for me when I see babies with TV's in their room or a 2 year old with an iPhone playing games!

You need to talk, sing, read books and interact to get the language going with your children!


Check out this link to learn more!