Common Core and the SLP -A roundup of great articles
The Common Core: In like a lion, out like a… well, I’m not sure yet because it is still alive and well in my state (and most states as of this writing). Although there are…
Speech
What is LAMP? How does it help communication?
When my lovely Kindergarten student began school, she had an iPad and an app with 30 words on it. She was primarily using gestures, facial expressions, and a few ASL words to communicate her needs…
What is the Common Core State Standards Initiative?
Several years ago my district was introduced to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). We were told that they were going to help drive children’s growth and learning with an end goal in mind. And…
4 things to purge from your speech room now!
I am a huge fan of decluttering. But as I’ve learned through hundreds of books and articles, decluttering does not mean moving items around and putting them into cuter and more colorful boxes. I know….
The SLP Book Club: AAC
Welcome to the SLP Book Club!ย This book club has been my dream and my baby as an SLP and a bibliophile. I am so excited to find others out there that want to explore…
Tips for a calm, healthy and fantastic school year!
Almost everyone is officially now “back to school”… how are you feeling about that? Excited? Exhausted? Somewhere in between? I know there have been a million “back to school” posts over the years, so I…
How to teach initial R in 10 easy steps!
Do you ever work on initial /r/ with your students? Yep! Me too! Almost every. single. day. And you know what? Most of my kids master initial /r/ย in ten sessions or less! How? I read…
Learning core words- one letter at a time
Have you ever had a student with almost no words but you knew that they had a lot to say? These are the students that fascinate me the most. I desperately want to know how…
5 fun activities to help kids learn their speech goals
“The first thing students need to learn is what they’re supposed to be learning.” (Moss, Brookhart, Long, 2011) One of my student learning growth goals last year was that every studentย would know what they…
Redesign your speech room to improve student focus
Is your speech room helping children focus? Or is it distracting them from learning because of the bright colors, fun patterns, and visuals everywhere? Last year, I finally re-arranged my room. I made the students’…
Create calm out of chaos- the SLP’s guide to themed therapy
Stop planning therapy haphazardly! If you really want to calm the chaos of 60+ students with different goals and needs, you must plan themes. I learned to do therapy by themesย several years ago, and I…
Consider a new speech deliverability model and energize your therapy!
Around this time of year, thoughts of “What am I going to do this year?” start popping in my head. I wonder if I’m going to run my speech room and therapy exactly the same as…
3 Secrets to a Productive Summer (For SLPs and educators)
What are you doing this summer? Resting Vacationing Driving the kids to and from camps Working a second job Cleaning the house at last None of the above No matter what you are doing,…
Stepping beyond our four walls– co-teaching social skills
I’m a featured guest blogger at my friend Nicole’s blog, Speech Peeps! Six years ago I was faced with a new situation. We had an influx of first grade students on IEPs with social…