Common Objects for Uncommon Speech Therapy: Pencil 'Lead' Therapy

I am so excited for the first post of my new series, 'Common Objects for Uncommon Speech Therapy'! To read about this new series, click here.  I hope you and your students enjoy these pencil activities as much as we did!  All you need for each of these activities are pencils, picture cards or task cards and the free download provided by me! 

Activity #1 - The Dot 'Pencil' Game

Ages: Any

Materials: Pencils & Picture or Task Cards

Goals Addressed: Any

Set Up: Place cards evenly spaced on a large table or the floor.  Place pencils in between each card, so that they are all connected.  See pictures.  

How To Play: Have students take turns taking one pencil off at a time. Continue to have students take a pencil until one card is completely 'uncovered' or untouched by a pencil.  The student who 'uncovers' one of the cards first has to either say that word 5 times (for articulation goals) or complete the task on the card (for language goals). 

If they correctly complete their task, they get to keep the card.  If not, the next student gets to try. Whoever correctly completes the task first, gets to keep the card.  The students can continue taking pencils until another card is 'uncovered'.  

Once all cards are uncovered and all tasks are completed, the student with the most cards wins!

Activity #2 - Spin A Pencil

Ages: Children who are able to spin the pencil correctly

Materials: Pencils & picture/task cards that have matching pairs

Goals Addressed: Any

Set Up: Place one card from each match in a large circle and place a pencil in the middle. Pass out the remaining matches to each student and have them place the cards in front of them facing up.  

How To Play: Have students take turns spinning the pencil.  Once the pencil stops spinning, the student has to say that word 5X or complete the task on the card that the pencil is pointing to.  

If the student has the match of that card, they get to pick up the card and place it with their match.  If not, it is the next student's turn.  Continue to take turns spinning the pencil and completing the tasks.  The student who gets all of their matches first, wins!

Activity #3 - Find The Pencils

Ages: Any

Materials: Pencils, Articulation Word List (free), Free Printable 

Goals Addressed: Articulation

Set Up: Write the numbers 1-6 on the erasers of the pencils. For a group of 3 students, I had four pencils for each number.  I also threw in three pencils with the number 10 to make it more difficult.  

How To Play: Give each student their own copy of the Pencil Game worksheet.  Place all of the pencils on the table with the erasers facing you, so that the students can't see the numbers.  Have your students take turns each pulling one pencil. When the students pick a pencil, they have to say their sound/word/etc. the amount of times as stated on the pencil.  Once they correctly say their words, the student gets to keep the pencil and place it on their worksheet.  If that pencil number is already covered, they have to put the pencil back in the pile.  Have students continue to take turns until one student fills up their entire worksheet to win the game!

Free Download

I hope you enjoyed the first post of the series Common Objects for Uncommon Speech Therapy! Just a reminder that you can also participate in this series by suggesting materials for me to use.  Just leave a comment with your suggestion!  

Common Objects For Uncommon Speech Therapy

Why did I want to become a speech pathologist in the first place?  The answer for me was that I wanted to be able to use my creativity to help my students communicate.

Well, working in a low income district for the past few years has been a wonderful experience, but it has really challenged me to use every bit of my creativity! I don't receive any money for materials, games or fun things for my students, which I think is pretty much the story for most districts. So, due to the lack of funding for speech therapy, I am starting a new monthly series on my blog called, 'Common Objects For Uncommon Speech Therapy'!

Here's the best part of this new series...I am open to using your suggestions! Leave a comment on this post with what you want me to use to create an activity or craft idea to be used in therapy.  You can suggest materials that you have in your speech room or you can just come up with some crazy suggestions...the harder the better :)  If I pick your idea, I have to use the materials that you suggested.

Here are a few rules about your suggestions:

1) They have to be safe materials that can be used with kids (obviously no sharp objects, poisonous, etc.)

2) Choose anywhere between 1 and 4 materials.

3) Materials must be less than $5.  I will be buying the materials, so I need to be able to afford them!

4) Each month, leave you suggestion on the new post for the next month's idea. 

5) Your materials will be the main focus of the activity.  However, I might also use common office supplies such as scissors, crayons, etc.

That's it!  I am so excited to start this series as I think it will be challenging and exciting to see what materials I will be using!  I will start the series next week with, 'Pencil Lead Therapy'!

Oh and of course, to make things just a little more fun, if I pick your materials, you will get a $10 credit to my TPT store! 

It's Time To Become The Student!

I am always trying to think of new and creative ways to keep my students engaged during articulation therapy.  I just wrote a new blog post called 'Tables Turn: When Students Become The SLP' on the Speech Spotlight Blog.  Personally, I had a lot of fun with this idea and I hope you will too!  Check it out HERE!  

What is Speech Spotlight?  It is a collaborative blog of 10 different speech pathologists who share their knowledge with you!   

Dollar Store Speech Ideas

I am joining in on this fun link up by Kristin from Talkin' With Twang! 
 
Every time I go into the dollar store, not only do I always come out with so much more than I initially planned on buying, but I also come out with some great therapy ideas!  As a therapist, the dollar store has become my favorite store!  Currently, I am in charge of doing evaluations at work, so I only see 5 kids for actual therapy. Unfortunately, I cannot do all of these therapy activities with my students, but I can always blog about my ideas and hope that they will help inspire you! 

During my previous shopping spree at the dollar store, I spent $9.54 and came out with some fun everyday and holiday crafts and activities!  These first two items, I didn't purchase, but I highly recommend that these are staples in every SLP therapy room.  First, I recommend the microphone which is a great way to inspire kids to speak louder, work on articulation or just to motivate them to participate.  Second is foam dice. They are perfect for the little ones and I have found that even older students like them!

Now, onto the fun stuff that I purchased...

St. Patrick's Day Items            Valentine's Day Items           Everyday Items

For the every day items, I bought pipe cleaners, Minnie Mouse puzzles and bracelet jewels.  

I am not sure how I will use the pipe cleaners yet, but I had to buy them!

The Minnie Mouse puzzle came with 4, 6-piece puzzles.  In my mind, this was perfect for some category therapy!  Here's how I would do it.  

First, pick out 4 categories that you want your students to work on. For this example, I chose colors, food, animals and transportation as my categories.  Then, I wrote the corresponding words on the back of each piece.  During therapy, have your students put the puzzles back together, but with the words facing up. If you have younger students, you might have to help them put the actual puzzle together once they separate the words. 

  

 Once the puzzles are together, slide them off of the desk onto a book/box/cardboard and flip the puzzle over.  It will reveal the final picture and if your students were correct!

 I also bought these connecting jewels from the dollar store.

You can do so many activities with these!  You can have students sort them by color, shape or both. 

 

You can also have your students make bracelets by letting them add a link for each task they complete (saying a sound 5x, answering a question, etc.).  If you have boys, have them make the bracelets for their mom, grandma or aunt.  This would be a great mother's day activity!

  

As always, the dollar store was fun, exciting and inspiring!  Thank you Kristin for this great blog link up!  What are your favorite dollar store items?

Remember to subscribe to my blog to find out what I will be doing with these fun, dollar store finds!

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. 

Articulation Toss A Sound Game

My students love to get up and move around, so I am constantly trying to think of new ways to engage them during articulation therapy!  Kids love playing my Toss A Sound game and usually never want to leave the speech room.  Since it's Wonderful Wednesday (which means you get a giveaway or a freebie), you can download this game right here for FREE!  Don't wait to download it though, because I am only leaving it up for one week.  

This game, along with many other game, worksheets, activities and more, is a part of my Articulation Therapy Plans For The Entire Year! 

Summer Time Speech!

Your children (or students) work on their speech and language skills throughout the entire school year.  Then, summer comes and they don't receive speech therapy for a couple of months.  So, as parents, what could you do to help your children keep up their speech and language skills?  I want to let you know that it isn't a hard or boring task!  You can help their speech and language without taking any extra time out of your day and without planning 30 minute sessions like they receive in school.  How can you do this?  Here are some suggestions.

1) Talk or narrate your daily routines and activities.  For example, 'We are going to the park today.  We will see trees, birds, grass, swings and slides at the park'.  Even if your children don't respond to your narrations, they are listening and learning.
2) Ask your children questions.  Ask, 'What is your favorite thing to do at the park?'  Make sure to ask all types of 'WH' questions such as 'what', 'why', 'who', 'where', 'when' and 'how'.
3) Read to your children.  Read a book to them every night.  Ask them about the book or discuss each page. 
4) Ask your children to describe things around the house.  For example, describing colors, sizes, shapes, similarities and differences.
5) Have conversations with your children.  Even if they can't respond, the 'engagement' is so important. 

For an some extra ideas, please click here to download Summer Speech & Language Calendars.  Each day contains small activities that you and your children can do together.  Each activity is about 5 minutes. They will love these activities and will get excited to work on their speech and language skills. 

For more free activities like this, visit my TPT store.

FUN IN THE SUN!

I am so excited to have my Teachers Pay Teachers ‘Fun In The Sun’ Party May 18^th – May 22^nd!

What is happening each day of ‘Fun In The Sun'?
* 1 New Freebie will be posted!
* 1 of my popular products will be 50% off!
* 1 New Product will be posted!

In addition to each day of ‘Fun’, I will also be having 3 giveaways!

1) The best and most exciting giveaway will be for my TPT Followers.  Only my TPT followers will get the information about this special giveaway!  I will be sending a note a few days before May 18^th with details to all of these followers.  Interested?  Become a follower at My TPT Store.
2) I will also have a giveaway for all of my Facebook and Instagram Followers!
3) Lastly, I will choose one winner out of everyone who leaves feedback between May 18^th and May 22^nd!

I hope you are excited for some Speech Therapy ‘Fun’ In the Sun!

'I'M AN SLP' Poem

Here is a poem that I wrote about being an SLP.  Click on the picture below to read it. I hope you enjoy it!

Welcome To The Newbie Blog Hop

Welcome to Speech Therapy Fun!  Thank you for participating in our Newbie Blog Hop.  This blog hop includes 14 SLP bloggers who have been blogging for a year or less. I hope you enjoy visiting all of our blogs and find our free products useful. 
 

WHO AM I?

My name is Jennifer Bradley and I currently am a part time SLP who works with preschoolers and first graders.  I love being creative and enjoy seeing how the students react to the projects, games or ideas that I come up with.  I currently work 3 days a week and spend the rest of the time at home with my 4 month old son, 3 year old daughter and amazing husband.  

BLOGGING LIFE

I have been blogging for 3 months now and I love it!  Blogging has allowed me to meet and collaborate with so many great SLPs and educators. 

 

TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS

I started my TPT store in June 2014 and have been addicted to it!   I have so many ideas and projects that are written down on paper or stuck in my head.  I just need more time in my day to create them!  Over the summer, I plan to create a HUGE variety of materials to add to my TPT store. 

GIVEAWAY NEXT WEEK

To further celebrate spring, I will be having an exciting giveaway starting next week.  Check back on Monday, March 24th to see what the giveaway will be.  You won't want to miss it!

MY BEST TPT PRODUCTS

I am proud of all of my products that I post on TPT, but here are the ones that I am most proud of. 

Click Here

 Each day, the student will learn a word and definition associated with the topic, write about the topic, solve a problem dealing with the topic and have to do an activity involving the topic.  This packet includes 18 different social topics plus 2 review sets. Each social topic includes 10 daily journal topics/pages. That’s 200 days of journaling!

Click Here

Keep yourself organized throughout the entire year with the following;

Speech Schedule, Caseload Information Form, Time Log, RTI List, Homework Forms, Parent Contact Form, 4 Speech Goal Folder Covers, Birthday List, Student Goal Sheet, IEP At A Glance

 and so much more!

 

Click Here

Articulation practice PLUS Progress Monitoring HUGE BUNDLE!

Save over 20% off when you buy this bundle!This bundle comes with 13 sound packets! Each sound packet consists of 18-27 NO PREP worksheets to address the sound in the initial, medial and final positions. There are themed worksheets for each month of the school year.

 

BLOG HOP FREEBIES

Do your students need to work on categories?  Do you and your students love color by number?  Well, then this is the perfect freebie for you!  This product includes 7 different color by category pictures and 6 different difficulty levels.  Just color each circle with the corresponding category color.  I hope you love it!

 Click Here

Here's something new that I have never tried before, but I am so excited about it!  It is a NO PRINT Interactive Pronoun Game! 

Click Here

I also create some FUN fonts, so what better way to start the spring season than with a new FUN Spring Butterfly Font?!

 Click Here

Ready for some more materials? Click below to hop to SLP Chelsea's Blog.

 Click Here

 

Hopping Into Spring: NEWBIE BLOG HOP

The first day of spring is Friday, March 20th and what better way to start off spring than with 14 FREEBIES?  Visit my blog this Friday to get 14 FREE speech and language materials!  Fourteen SLP bloggers are participating.  Don't miss out on these great FREEBIES!

 

Spring & Easter Fun

Spring is almost here!  Need some ideas or things to do in therapy? Here are some fun ideas to keep kids engaged in your speech sessions. 

Build A Peep A Home

Items Needed: Graham Crackers, Royal Icing (Icing to stick things together), Peeps, Easter Grass, Chocolate Eggs or Jelly Beans

This project can address sequencing, prepositions and following directions. 

Sequencing & Following Directions - While creating the house, use sequencing words such as first, second and last. Give the student 1-2 step directions on how to make the house.

Prepositions - After building the house, give the student directions on where to place the peep and/or eggs.  For example, tell the student to put the peep 'inside' the house and the egg 'next to' the house.

Place all items in a basket or box.  Discuss each item with the student and have him/her describe the items.  When giving directions, tell the students what to take 'out' of the box and when to take them.

Use the icing to put the house together.  Place the grass inside the house. 

Give the student directions on where to place the peep(s) and/or the chocolate eggs. 

Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt

Items Needed: Easter Eggs, Easter Grass, Clue Print Outs, Candy if wanted

This scavenger hunt can address following directions, prepositions, recalling information and problem solving. 

Print out the clue tags (download below).  Write in your directions and place the directions in the eggs.  Make sure you place the tags in the correct order, so that the scavenger hunt is able to be completed.  Hide the eggs in the corresponding spots.  For the scavenger hunt, you can read the clues and help the student or have the student complete it by himself/herself.  

Click Here to download the Scavenger Hunt tags.