Sitting During Therapy Is Boring!

It's starting to get cold outside...well at least it is in Michigan!  I love fall, but fall also means that my students are stuck inside for the next five to six months!  When students are stuck inside for that long, it's almost a necessity to have them play 'active' games.  It helps to get the blood flowing and they absolutely love getting a break from sitting at their desks.  One of my favorite 'active' games is the 'Floor Race' game.  I love this game because students actively participate, you can address any goal or multiple goals during one game, you don't need any materials and students love it!   Here's how you play...

Materials Needed: Nothing!
Directions:
1) Have your students line up, next to each other, at one end of the room.
2) Students then take turns completing a speech task*.
3) If they correctly complete the task, they can move forward one tile square.  If you don't have tiled floor, you can have them take one large step, move up 'one desk' or flip a coin and have them move 1-2 spaces (heads or tails).
4) Whoever gets to the other end of the room first, wins!

*Speech Task Examples
Wh Questions: Have them answer a 'wh' question
Following Directions: Give them a direction to complete before moving (touch the ground before you spin in a circle)
Prepositions: Put your hand 'behind' your head.
Vocab: Show them a picture or item and have them name it
Reading Comprehension: Read them a paragraph and have them answer a question (or read the entire book before the game to increase difficulty)
Articulation: Have them say their sound in a word, phrase or sentence 5X.
Create your own speech task!

I hope you and your students 'race' to great speech!  

Make Therapy Planning Easy!

        Do you ever find yourself trying to constantly come up with new ideas for speech and language therapy?  I know that with my preschool students, coming up with new ideas are a must!   Want to make your life easier while also helping to reinforce what your students are learning in the classroom?   Here is what you can do!

     Ask your students’ teachers what their weekly or monthly themes are!  I know that most preschool/kindergarten teachers have weekly themes to help their students learn.  Why should you use themes?

1) They make it easier to come up with therapy ideas

2) They reinforce what your students are already learning

3) Your students will be familiar with the material, so you can focus on speech and language

4) Your students will have a chance to get 1 on 1 help with this theme!  If they have any questions or are confused, you can help them!

Find out the theme of the week and then...

1) Pick a craftivity—Go on Pinterest and type in ’Your Theme’ craft ideas.  You will get hundreds of craft options to do with your students.  Work on following directions, articulation, sequencing, colors, describing, etc. during the craftivity.

2) Play a game—Go on Pinterest (make Pinterest your best friend) and type in ’Your Theme’ game ideas.  Play the game with your students and work on following directions, articulation, sequencing, describing, social skills, etc.

3) Read a book—I know that most SLPs have an entire library of books!  Find a book that has to do with your theme.  For example, if the theme is Pirates, find a book on lakes/oceans, boats, treasure, maps, etc.  Target goals such as ‘Wh’ questions, yes/no questions, describing, basic concepts, etc.

Have you ever used themes in your therapy?  What themes have you worked on?

Fall Articulation & Language Therapy

Fall is here and it’s a great time of year to get your students outside!  Personally, I love fall and creativities...so why not use them together for the ultimate therapy session!  Here is a creativity with suggestions on how to address your students’ goals. 

Leafy Animal Craft Materials

Free print out from this post

Glue

Crayons

Leaves

Ziploc Bags

Directions

1. Give each student a Ziploc bag.

2. Take your students outside to explore and pick up leaves.  While outside, you can address these goals.

· Describing: Have your students describe the trees, leaves, flowers, temperature, smells, etc.  Use descriptive words such as colors, feelings, textures, shapes and sizes.

· Following Directions: Give students directions, such as ‘Pick up the red leaf before you pick up the green leaf’ or ‘Run around the tree and then pick up two leaves’.

· Pronouns:  While describing the items outside, have your students use ‘it’ and ‘they’.  Also, talk about what each student is doing using ‘he’ and ‘she

· Prepositions: Talk about where the leaves are located.  Are they over, under, around, on, off, behind or in front of the tree?

· WH Questions:  Ask your students about the trees and leaves.  For example, ‘What is falling off the tree?’, ‘Where are the leaves?’, ‘Why do the leaves change colors?’, ‘When do the leaves fall off the tree?’, etc.

· Articulation: For each leaf the students place in their bags, have them say their sound 5-10X.

· Everything: Think about how to address your students’ goals.  Every goal can be addressed while searching for leaves and exploring outside. 

3. After your students collect their leaves, go inside and sit at a table to make your craft!

4. Have each student pick up one of the print outs that they would like to decorate and have them color their animal. 

5. Once the animals are colored, the students can glue the leaves on the animals.  I recommend gluing the leaves on the fox’s tail, the lion’s mane or the bear’s stomach.