Fab Find Friday: 5/31/2013

Wow!!  It is the LAST day of May and Better Hearing and Speech Month.  Can you believe it?!  I know I can't.  Here's this week's Fab Find Friday!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

1.   Jenn at Crazy Speech World posted a super cute Jellyfish craft yesterday here!

Source: Crazy Speech World

2.  A FREE auditory comprehension and memory pack from Wide World of Speech Therapy available here. 

Source: TpT

3.  Kristin over at [simply speech] posted yesterday about how to pass your evaluation with flying colors!  Check out her post here.

Source: Simply Speech

4. Kristin's also starting a summer book club!! You can find out more information here. The book we are doing is called Carly's Voice.   If you need to purchase the book, click on the picture below! Hope you will join us!  I downloaded the version to my Kindle app and have already started reading!

 5.  If you need a smile,  check out this video.  All about imitation :)



Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Roll and Play {Product Review}

I was walking around my local grocery/super store and found this AWESOME game!  I had NO idea that it was developed by a speech and language product company, since it was sitting with all other board games.  I read the description and knew that I simply could not pass it up!  It is PERFECT for preschool speech, language, and motor therapy activities!  There are affiliate links in this post for your convenience.

Allow me to introduce you to Roll and Play from Think Fun! The package states that students will "have fun and learn," and I definitely agree!! 

If you would like to get this game for your speech room or your own children, click on the picture below:

The Basics:
Before playing, separate the cards into the different color stacks on the table.  On his or her turn, a student/child will take the huge die and roll it.  Then, they pick up a card that matches the color they rolled and perform the action on the card.  Some of the actions include, "Give one hug" or "Find something red."


What's Included:
The package comes with one die and a set of 48 activity cards.  It also comes with instructions and a Parent's Guide.

Why I Love It:
- It can target SOOOOO many different goals.  Examples include colors, counting, and following directions.
-It's easy to store--the cards fit into a pocket in the die.
-It's fun and gets the students moving!
-The pictures are simple and easy to understand.
-There's writing on the cards for those students who can read, too!

Modification for Older Students:
One modification to make it suitable for older students would be to have them roll the die more than once.  That way, they have to follow multiple directions.  This may be a stretch, but for some of the directions, you could even facilitate a discussion about when some of those actions are appropriate and when they are not (i.e. when is it appropriate to give a friend a hug?). 

My preschoolers absolutely LOVE this game.  Will yours love it, too?  Check out Thinkfun Roll and Play Board Game!

Enjoy it!
 

Fast Dash Categories {FREEBIE}

I have a brand new FREEBIE for you today: Fast Dash Categories!  This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

I have previously posted about a game I found at Goodwill called Wild Planet Hyper Dash.   

You can find a Fast Dash Articulation Packet for Early Sounds here and a Fast Dash Phonology packet here based on this game. 

You DO NOT need the game to do this activity! (I do provide an option for you if you do own it, though).

Spread out five or six circles (category cards) of different colors. 

Students will listen as the SLP calls out different colors.  The student will pick up those colors in order as fast as they  can.  Students collect their dots and state the items in the categories listed on the cards.  

If you have the Hyper Dash game: Put the cards on top of the disks.  Students will listen as the Hyper Dash Unit calls out which color to pick up.  When the student pushes that color, they collect the card.  Once that round is over, the student will state items in the categories listed on the cards.

  

You can find this FREEBIE here. 

Hope you enjoy it! 

Fab Find Friday: 5/24/2013

I hope you are all enjoying you week.  It has certainly been a crazy week. But it is FRIDAY and it is a long weekend!

1. For starters, Teacher's Notebook is offering a HUGE donation bundle for Moore, OK.  Check out details here, but you can get 500+ products for donating.

Source: Teachers Notebook

You can read about Amy's story (from Major Speech Pathology Fun by a Minor Girl) and how the tornado affected her and specifically how to donate to the SLPs in her district who lost everything.  Check out her post here.

2. Wide World of Speech Therapy has a new "Beach Ball Bash" activity for phonological awareness here.  She also has a freebie here.

Source: Pinterest

3. I had the opportunity to preview a new product from Speech All the Time called Splish, Splash, Splat: A Storybook Companion.  Check it out here.

4.  Shannon over at Speechy Musings posted new FREE End of the Year Writing Worksheets.  Check out her post here.

Source: Speechy Musings

5. And since I haven't posted one in awhile, a recipe for you that perhaps you can make this weekend!  Snickers Popcorn from Quick and Easy Recipes here.

Hope you all enjoy your long weekend! Happy Memorial Day to all of you!

Tell Tale Fairy Tales {Product Review}

I'm so excited to share Tell Tale Fairy Tales with you!! This is a GREAT game from Blue Orange Games that can be used at both home and school!

The Basics:
The game comes in a little tin and has 60 cards and instructions.  Each card has a picture on each side, which means there are 120 pictures in total! The pictures include princesses, wizards, unicorns, pumpkins, princes, castles, and many more!

The tin states that the game is intended for 1 to 8 players ages 5 and up.  I think younger children can also play this game, perhaps just with less cards and some support. It is appropriate for both typically-developing and our speech and language kiddos!  It is also perfect for extra practice, especially now, since we're moving into the summer!

How to Play (four ways!)

1) Storyboard- All players take 6 cards (or whatever number) and place them in the order that they want  They take turns making up a story based on those 6 cards.  OR play in teams, where the team members alternate telling the story with each card.
2) Round N' Round- Players take 4 cards each and hold them in their hands.  One player starts the game, puts a card down, and begins a story.  Then, it moves to the next player, who chooses one of their cards and adds to the story.
3) Showtime- All players take 6 cards and place them in face-down piles in front of them.  The first player will flip over the first card and begin the story based on that card.  This player continues to flip cards and add to their story until all 6 cards have been flipped over. Then, it moves to the next person.
4) The Stack-Place 24 cards (or whatever number) in a pile in the middle of the table. The first player takes a card from the pile and begins the story.  Then the next player draws the next card and adds to the story.  This continues around the circle until all of the cards have been drawn.

Here's an example story my boyfriend came up with this weekend while we were playing it:

There once was a queen who thought she was very beautiful.  She would go into her closet every day and pick amazing clothes out.  She would make them look great. And then one day, she was walking out in the town.  She went to buy some strawberries. Someone came along and said, "You look like an old dude." She was not very happy about this.  Here's the thing about this queen.  She was actually an evil queen with magical powers. So what did she do with that person? Turned them into a pumpkin.  But, you see, Tinkerbell didn't like that much. Tinkerbell wasn't a fan of the whole "turning-people-into-pumpkins" thing. So the next day, Tinkerbell was thinking about how to fix this when she saw a sign for a party.  So Tinkerbell sat down and thought and thought some more.  She came up with a brilliant plan: to invite a pirate.  Eye patch, bird on his shoulder, the whole nine yards.  The next day, the party happens, the pirate shows up, and the queen says, "What's going on?! This is NOT cool. Get the pirate out of here."  So, he stole the queen's throne. He just took it with him to an island, stashed it there, and had a mermaid friend guard it.  Then what happened? The pirate got captured, and they sent him to jail.  The queen decided to enlist the help of Dracula, who would send bats out everywhere.  The bats would find the throne.  Well, they found the throne, but they didn't know how to get it because the mermaid had it.  The queen decided to send a reward out, saying, "Whoever brings my throne back gets a piece of my kingdom," thinking "Ha! I will mess up whoever does it." Well, Snow White went out, got the throne and brought it back.  The queen said, "I'm going to give you a bad apple."  Then the prince shows up and says, "No way!" Then he throws the queen down, Snow White takes over the throne, and they all lived happily ever after!

Here's a picture of some of the cards involved in this story.

Speech and Language Goals to Target:
-Syntax/Morphology
-Story recall
-Other narrative skills (characters, setting, initiating event, problem, resolution, etc)
-Articulation
-Vocabulary
-Carryover for all skills, those listed above and also fluency and voice

Why I LOVE this Game:
-It is great for school AND home.  It can be used for therapy AND carryover.
-It can be used for so many goals!
-It is fun and allows the kids to be creative!
-The pictures--they are simple and easy enough for children to understand and they allow for vocabulary development
-It is great for adults, too.  My friends would love playing this game for game nights!
-It is very reasonably priced.

Do you love this game as much as I do?? You can find it on Amazon here or Blue Orange Games' website here. 

WAIT! There's more....

In honor of ASHA's Better Hearing and Speaking Month, Blue Orange wants to send a free copy of the game Flapz to interested therapists at the end of May. If you're interested, fill out this form here and tell them Home Sweet Speech Room sent you! 

Disclaimer:  I was provided a copy of the game for my review. All opinions expressed are mine.  This post may contain affiliate links.

Fab Find Friday: 5/17/2013

Fab Find Friday is here!  I found a lot of great things this week, so be sure to check them out!

1. I just posted a brand new product this week!  Check it out here.

 2. Erik X. Raj posted a great idea of "Laugh Tickets" this week.  So cute and funny. Check out his post about them here.

3. Katie from Playing with Words 365 wrote a very comprehensive blog post about how to elicit /r/.  check out tips from her and other SLPs on her blog here.

4.  Fun phonemic awareness activities from Mrs. Ricca's Kindergarten here. My favorite is "Sound Hop!"

5.  A FREE flip flop game targeting grammar (is/are, was/were) from Speech Ace!  Check it out here.

6. A little motivation to finish out the school year for you:

Source: Pinterest

Have a GREAT weekend!  What are you up to?? I'm in Michigan for a long weekend!

 

Bubble Gum Articulation Game for K and G

I have a brand new product for you!!  After final ended, I've had some time to finish up some half-started projects.  Get ready--they're all coming your way soon!

 Looking for a fun, new way to target /k/ and /g/? Then this bubble gum slap articulation game is just for you!

Place the gumball machine in the center of the table.

Students draw cards and say the word on the card the designated number of times. If they state the word correctly, place the card on the gumball machine in the middle.

The cards will pile up until a special card is drawn. SLAP cards mean that the students must slap the center pile. Whoever slapped first collects the cards.

Watch out for popped bubble cards—put all of your cards back into the middle pile!

Note: For older kids, have them read the words. For younger kids, the SLP will say the words and the child will repeat them back. If you don’t want it to be direct imitation, say the word, use it in a sentence, and then have the child say it.

For students who also have language goals, have them use their target words in a sentence!

This packet includes initial, medial, and final /k/ and initial and medial /g/. There are 162 target word cards, 6 blank cards, 6 SLAP cards, 6 popped bubble cards, and 1 gumball machine mat.

Want this game??   You can find it in my TpT store here. 

I'll also give away this product to one lucky reader! Enter below and I'll choose a winner early next week!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
 

May SLP Link-Up

It's time for another SLP Link-Up!  To start, you can check out Oh, How Pintearesting!

1. I've been buying graduation presents for some of my best friends recently!  Some are done with graduate school; some are done with undergraduate!  Congrats to all of them.  I've also been buying some clipart from Krista Wallden and Ashley Hughes so that I can make new products for all of you!  I stocked up during the big sale last week.

2.  I am hearting all of the summer activities that have been popping up!  A Speechie's World posted Beach Lovin' Articulation here, Speech Time Fun shared Shovel and Pail Go Togethers here,  and Crazy Speech World shared Ocean Open Ended Activities here.  There are A LOT more out there!  So be sure to check them all out!

3. I am sharing products that were provided to me for review over the last few weeks!  I shared Actual Size Social Studies provided by Educents,  I Dare You Articulation by Erik X. Raj App Review and Giveaway, and in the near future, a game from Blue Orange Games!

4. I am making paella!  It is a dish from Spain that we ate a lot when I lived/studied over there. Yummmmmmm. 


 

I Dare You Articulation {App Review and Giveaway}

I have a brand new app AND a giveaway for you to check out today!  I recently had the opportunity to check out I Dare You Articulation from Erik X. Raj.

This is an app that will keep your students engaged for a long time!  There are over 600 child-friendly dares.  Erik even says the fun will last for OVER 60 minutes!  It targets the following sounds: S, Z, R, L, S/R/L Blends, SH, CH, and TH  in all three positions (initial, medial, and final).

Click on whichever sound and position you want to target.  It will then move you through a series of super fun dares!

This app allows students to hear the dare by clicking on "Hear the Dare" in the bottom left corner.  To return to the home screen, click at any point on the home button in the lower right corner.  

Another thing I love about this app is the explicit directions Erik provides.  He gives suggested administrative procedures and an example of how to cue your students.  He even includes a warning about NOT trying the dares literally at home, since they could be dangerous.  Everything is pretend!

This app is an innovative way to address your students' articulation goals without them noticing how much they're actually practicing their sounds!  All of these dares are super silly, which keeps your students engaged all day! My students love this alternative to traditional articulation drill and drill play therapy!

This app allows the SLP to target more than articulation, though!  It can address following directions, turn-taking, auditory processing, working memory, listening comprehension, word order, attention to task, motor skills, and more!

Bottom line:
-It is a great app that can target many of your students' goals.
-It is a fun alternative to traditional drill.
-Students love pretending to do the silly dares!
-It allows for great carryover because it can be used in the classroom, therapy room, or at home.
-It's affordable ($4.99 on iTunes).

Think this is an app you would like to have in your speech room?  Erik has generously provided a copy for one lucky winner!  Enter the giveaway below.  Winner will be chosen later this week!


a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Note: This app was provided to me for my review.  No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are mine. 
  

Fab Find Friday: 5/10/2013

Guess what???? I'm officially a 2nd year! Woohoo!  We had final clinic meetings this morning. One more year, and I will be DONE!  It really is a fabulous day! 

Sorry this is a little late...I was studying for finals all week!

1.  Jenn from Crazy Speech World posted a new book companion for a super cute book, Knuffle Bunny.  Check it out on her blog here. 

2.  Cute idea for speech and language planets from Whitney at Bright Ideas here.

3. Great ideas for how to use Kleenex boxes in therapy from Liz's Speech Therapy Ideas here.

4.  Fun idea for therapy and carryover from Speech Snacks for Better Hearing and Speech Month here.
 

Have a GREAT weekend, and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!