Apps for Word of the Week - IN

Hi parents!  I wanted to share a couple of great apps that easily incorporate our Word of the Week - IN.

The first is called Cupcake Crazy Chef.  This app is free on iTunes.  It lets the kids put different ingredients IN the bowl, put the batter IN cupcake cups, and OPEN oven to put IN the cupcake.

The second app is called Gingerbread Fun.  This app is also free.  After the kids decorate their gingerbread man, they are able to bake him by putting him IN the oven.

Gifts to Support Speech and Language Development

Hi!  I found this blog with great ideas of toys to support speech and language development.  With the season of giving, I thought I would share if there is still time to make it on any wish lists.  Click HERE to access this blog.

Core Vocabulary Word of the Week - IN

Parents, we started a new Word of the Week last week and are continuing it this week.  The word is IN.  We have been using the word "in" when putting toys in stockings, putting ingredients in a baggie to make reindeer food, and using this vocabulary as we pack up our backpack.  Last week, I sent home our handout for this new word.  I am posting a picture of it below if you need another look.  Also, I am sending home an "in" reader for more practice with this vocabulary at home.

Theme for the Week of December 14th

Try solving this riddle to figure out our new theme!

My favorite food is cookies.

I run an entire workshop.

I travel at night.

Who am I?

You Can't Catch Me I'm the Gingerbread Man!

Last week, we had a special visitor stop by our speech room.  The gingerbread man left us clues that led us all the way around the school and back to our room.  When we got back, we realized the gingerbread man came and left us a gingerbread cookie.  Also, we loved making our gingerbread houses with gumdrop and candy cane decorations.  Take a look at some of our masterpieces below!

  

Snow Excited for Speech!

We are getting into the winter spirit in speech.  Check out our new bulletin board!

Following Directions Fun with a Recipe

This time of year makes me excited for gingerbread cookies!  Look below for a gingerbread cookie recipe and questions to try at home with your parents.  Leave a comment to let me know how they turned out or with your favorite holiday snack!

Theme for the Week of December 7th

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Try this riddle to figure out this week's theme!

You can decorate me how you like.

I taste delicious.

I have to run.

Who am I?

Oh Deer!!

As we work on our speech goals this week, we have been following directions on how to draw a reindeer.  After we make our reindeer, we got to name him/her and make up some fun facts about our special reindeer.  Click HERE for a copy of the directions to make a reindeer at home.  Look below for some of our reindeer!

Theme for the Week of November 30th

Try this riddle to figure out our theme for the week.  Leave a comment with your guess.

With antlers on my head,

and a nose that is red,

I make Santa go high.

Who am I?

Favorite Thanksgiving Dish

We all have a favorite food that we like to eat on Thanksgiving.  I want you to think of your favorite food and leave me three describing clues and I will try to figure out what your favorite Thanksgiving food is.

Speech Sounds at Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving coming up, try to think of at least one word that relates to Thanksgiving that has your speech sound.  The more you can think of the better!  Leave a comment with all of the words you can think of.

Theme for the Week of November 23rd

Hey guys!  Since this is a short week, we are continuing our Thanksgiving theme.  No worries though I still have a riddle for you related to Thanksgiving!  Give it a try and leave a comment.

Pick me in the garden.

Please take off my silky layer.

You can eat me with a spoon or take off a big bite from my side.

Who am I?

Turkey Trouble

We read one of my favorite Thanksgiving books this week called Turkey Trouble.  See if you can sequence the animals turkey dressed up as.  Leave a comment with the animals in order.  You can also leave a comment with what you think turkey should have disguised himself as.

Core Vocabulary Word of the Week - GO!

The new word of the week is GO!  We will be focusing on this word for the next couple of weeks.  I sent home a handout with ways to incorporate GO naturally into your daily activities and with some additional activities.  See the picture of the handout below if you want to take another look.  Also, I made a simple reader with pictures your child can color.  This reader includes the same picture cues that we use in speech for great practice and exposure to the word GO and different contexts that we may use this word.  Click HERE for another copy of the reader.

Plate Full of Practice

In speech, we talk about the importance of practicing our speech sounds outside of the speech room.  This week, we have been working on a craft that the students will get to take home that has five practice words that can say several times each night.  The student's plate full of practice will be coming home next week just in time for Thanksgiving Break!  Check out a Plate Full of R that one student made.

What are you Thankful For?

With Thanksgiving up, I have plenty to be thankful for.  I am so thankful I get to work with some of the best kids every day.  What are the top three things that you are thankful for?  Leave a comment with your answer.

Thanksgiving Idioms

Try to figure out the meaning to at least one of these Thanksgiving Idioms.  If you try all five, you may get a special prize!

1. I am stuffed.
2. I quit cold turkey.
3. Eat like a bird
4. I have a sweet tooth.
5. I really pigged out.

Theme for the Week of November 16th

Next week, we are continuing with our Thanksgiving theme.  This week's riddle will uncover a piece in our activity that we are making next week.  Good luck guessing!

Use me instead of your hands.

I love helping you eat cereal and ice cream.

I can be plastic or metal.

Who am I?

Sensory Turkey Fun

With some of my younger groups, we have been making sensory turkeys and reading the book "Run Turkey Run" this week.  They turned out super cute and the kids loved making them!  Check out all of our sensory feathers!

  

   

Turkey, Turkey, Turkey

Some groups have been reading Five Flying Turkeys and playing a Roll-a-Turkey game while working on their speech goals.  See the picture below to check out some of our AWESOME turkeys!  Keep scrolling down for the Roll-a-Turkey game, so you can play at home!  Each time you roll, practice your speech sound that number of times and of course make your turkey.  :)

 

Theme for the Week of November 9th

Get excited for our new theme! Try the riddle to figure out next week's theme.  Don't forget to leave a comment with your guess.

Thanksgiving is my LEAST favorite holiday.

You can put stuff inside of me.

You may find me on your plate.

Who am I?

Toys to Promote Language

Hi Parents! This was a great handout created by another speech blogger that includes some of the best toys to increase language.  These may be great ideas for the holidays or upcoming birthdays.  Personally, my absolute favorites are a farm and any food/kitchen toys.  Click HERE to access this great resource!

Make your Vote Count!

This week, many groups have been making their vote count by voting for their favorite candy, season, sport, fast food, and subject!  If you have your voter registration card, please leave a comment with your vote on your favorite book character!  I will graph the votes and let you know the winner.

   Pete the Cat

 The Cat in the Hat

  Junie B. Jones

  Llama Llama


VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Theme for the Week of November 2nd

Try to solve this week's riddle.  Don't forget to leave a comment with your guess.

I come each November.

I am a day for you to decide,

but you must be 18.

What day am I?

Core Vocabulary Word of the Week - OPEN

Last week and this coming week, we are targeting the word "OPEN" in speech and in the classroom.  Here is a handout we shared with the teachers that can also be incorporated in the home.  It has different examples of books, free apps, and activities that naturally incorporate the word OPEN.

In the technology section, there is a video listed called "Knock, Knock Trick-or-Treat" that the kids loved and that easily incorporated our Core Vocabulary word - OPEN.  Click here to go to the YouTube video.  The activity that follows this video can be found by clicking here.  With this activity, he/she can "OPEN" the door to see who is visiting.  Below is a picture of the wheel that some kids made in speech.

What is Core Vocabulary?

With some students, we are taking a Core Vocabulary approach to expand either their verbal or non-verbal language output.  You may be wondering what is Core Vocabulary.  Well...Core Vocabulary are the words that make up approximately 80% of what we say.   These words are used across contexts and contain all parts of speech.  Core Vocabulary includes the following words: I, no, yes/yeah, want, go, my, in, off, all done, and more.

To teach and incorporate these words, we are going to focus on a word every week or two weeks.  Many of these words have multiple meanings and can be used in different contexts, so we are working with the classroom teachers to incorporate this common language both visually and verbally.  Click HERE to see a list of preschool Core Vocabulary words.

Speech Sound Challenge!!

Try this challenge! When you are at home, riding down the road, reading a book, or in your classroom, find at least 5 words with your speech sound that you can practice.  Leave a comment with the list of words and you may get a special treat! :)

Room on the Broom Sequencing

Check out the fun sequencing activity we have been working on this week to go with our book Room on the Broom!

Expanding Expressions

One language goal that many children work on is describing objects or pictures using more details.  We have a special tool to help called the EET (Expanding Expressions Tool).  The main component of this program is a worm with different colored parts that slide on a string (see the picture below).  Each color represents a different attribute when describing an object or picture.  As the kids learn what the different colors represent, they can describe an object or picture with that particular attribute as they slide up that color on the EET worm.

This is what it looks like.

And here is what each color means.

To try it out at home, I am attaching a simple worksheet where the kids can color in each of the circles to match the colors on our EET worm.  You can pick a common object at your house (i.e. phone or couch) and your child can fill in the blanks to describe the given object.  Give it a try using this link EET Practice Sheet.  You can leave a comment with the object you describe.

Room on the Broom Activity

This week, many groups have been reading the book Room on the Broom.  Leave a comment with three words to describe a broom.  Think about what category it belongs in, what it does, what it looks like, and what are the parts.  You can also comment with your favorite part from the book.

Theme for the Week of October 26th

This week in speech, things are getting spoooooookkkkyyyy! Solve this riddle if you dare to figure out the theme for next week! Don't forget to leave a comment with your guess.

I have a pet cat.

I travel through the sky.

My laugh may make your skin crawl.

Who am I? 

Roll-A-Pumpkin Artwork

Here are some of the pumpkins we made yesterday!

Roll a Pumpkin Game

We had so much fun today "Rolling a Pumpkin" with this fun and easy game.  I am adding a picture of it for you to play and practice your speech sounds at home.  If the picture is hard to see, click HERE!

Thank You Sparkleberry Fair!

A huge thank you to the Sparkleberry County Fair for their generosity towards Richland Two.  This year, the Sparkleberry County Fair donated $15,000 to our district in teacher grants for class projects.  I am so excited to be a recipient this year.  I hope the money from my grant will allow me to make a greater impact on the children I serve.  Click Sparkleberry County Fair to see more on the district website.  Don't forget to visit the Sparkleberry County Fair in April 2016!

All recipients with the check!

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Last week, we had lots of fun reading Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie and making an apple puzzle that will be a great practice tool.  We used context clues to figure out the idioms Amelia Bedelia encounters like who is "Granny Smith."  At the end of the book, Amelia Bedelia included a recipe for apple pie.  I will add a picture of the recipe below.  Baking or cooking with your child can be a very rich language experience including practice following directions.  Don't forget what Amelia Bedelia's grandfather told her "an apple a day keeps the doctor away."

Articulation vs. Language

I found this handout that does a great job explaining the difference between an articulation disorder and language disorder.  I wanted to share it with you because it can be confusing.  Click Articulation vs. Language and the handout will open.

Theme for the Week of October 19th

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I added a new riddle below.  See if you can figure it out!  Don't forget to leave a comment with your guess.

I glow at night.

My face may be scary or silly.

You can decide.

What am I?

Happy Boss's Day!

On Friday, speech celebrated our amazing administration team at Langford and the district lead SLP.  We are so thankful for all they do for our school, district, and community!

Guess Our Theme for the Week

Hope everyone stayed safe this week!  We are starting a new theme in speech on Monday.  I am going to give you some hints.  Leave a comment with your guess.

I grow on a tree.

You can find a star inside me.

I am sweet and sometimes sour.

What am I?

Free Books!!!

I wanted to share a great resource that I love to use with all of my speech kids.  If you have an ipad or android device, you can download this great app called EPIC!  You sign up by making a free account.

With this app, you have access to hundreds of free books.  The kids can search for books they are interested in and the app will make suggestions based on books your child has recently read using the app.  Click EPIC! website to learn more.

Fall Artic Practice

Many of the kids with articulation goals worked on a Fall See & Say worksheet this week (see example below).  This week, use it to practice their artic sounds for 5-10 minutes each night.

The kids can roll a dice they find in a game you already have.  If you do not have a dice, rip up and number six pieces of paper with the numbers 1-6 and have them draw a number from a cup.  After they draw/roll a number, they can practice all the words in that column.  Have fun practicing!

Fall in Love with Speech!

Fall arrived last week in speech.  The kids got to paint a puzzle piece using fall colors to add to our class bulletin board.  As soon as the kids heard the word PAINT, they were ecstatic!  The kids did an AMAZING job.  Here is our new fall bulletin board...

* Ask your kids what the idiom "Fall in Love" means

Game On!

A sports theme took over our speech room a couple of weeks ago.  We read Miss Nelson Has a Field Day, Little Football, and Little Baseball.  The best part was making our football players.  The kids had a great time assembling their football players as they worked on their speech and language goals.  You can check out our work in the pictures below!

From Beginning to End

I learned that there is sooooo much that goes into setting up a classroom.  I am very thankful for my family and friends who came by to help me make my speech room a warm and inviting room for all of my speech kids.  Here is a peek into the beginning and end result of our hard work!