October 25, 2013

Fall-ing Into Fantastic Speech

a new activity packet full of fall/autumn-themed speech and language activities

Hey you guys! I am so sorry for being absent from the blog the past couple weeks. I have been so completely busy with work, family, and personal activities that I have had almost no time to write, create, and blog. (As evidenced by the 519 unread blog posts I have to catch up on Bloglovin' right now!)


But I'm back, and finally had time to finish up the fall-themed activity packet I have been working on for over a month now. I hope you enjoy it!

This rather large packet includes all sorts of goodies:


**"Where's the Pumpkin?" book targeting preposition words


**What Does Not Belong cards:


**Roll, Say, and Color pages targeting the following sounds: /sh, ch/; /f, v/; /k, g/; /l/; /s/ blends; /th/


**Jack-o-Lantern Glyph - answer the wh-questions, then follow the key to decorate your own pumpkin!


**Multiple Reinforcement Activities including a word search, leaf/tree cut and paste, open-ended board games, and open-ended apple card game.

...and more! You can get this plump packet for yourself in my Teachers Pay Teachers store! Enjoy 20% off until November 1st!! Since fall is such an awesome season, I'm going to give away two copies of this packet to you, my awesome and faithful readers! Just enter the Rafflecopter below! Good luck and HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

October 08, 2013

Dollar Store Dash Linky Party

see what I got for $5 at the dollar store, and what I'm going to do with my loot


The Dollar Store is a wonderful resource for inexpensive therapy materials, office items, and stocking up your prize box :) Teach Speech 365 came up with a super fun idea of a Dollar Store Dash! The challenge: spend $5 at the dollar store, and then share how you will use your money-saving items in therapy. Challenge accepted!


1. car/animal erasers
I plan on using these during themed units. Have students pull them out of a garbage can and name the vocabulary (I work with preschoolers...). When not working on transportation or animal themes, we will use these erasers as board game tokens.

2. simple animal puzzles
I thought these were so cute! Basic, 4-5 piece puzzles that will not be too challenging with my preschoolers. I can also write on the backs of the pieces and the base for matching vocabulary, articulation drills, etc.

3. medication reminder boxes
I can place articulation words, wh-questions, vocabulary words, probe words, etc. in this with random stickers/rewards in a couple compartments (per this idea here). I can't wait to decorate the box better so kids can't see what's inside (and so it's cuter!). NOTE: I don't use food as reinforcement in therapy anyway, but I highly suggest not putting edible rewards in pill organizers. We don't want any kiddos thinking items in pill boxes are for their consumption.

4. star tap light
Kiddos will use these to "buzz in" their answers! This can be used during most activities: answering questions, story comprehension, etc. Can't wait!

5. fall leaves stickers
We are going to use these next week. I'll print off some bare tree forms, then students can stick away while we drill our speech sounds.

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Leave a Comment: What's your preferred dollar store?
I'm devoted to Dollar Tree :)

October 02, 2013

Teaching Prepositions with Pocket Charts

a fun way to practice prepositions and articulation

Here's a fun way I've been practicing preposition words with my students lately - pocket charts!


I like to hang my pocket chart on a cabinet to allow my students the chance to get up and moving. Basically, I put one high-interest picture in the center of the chart, then we practice our preposition words by placing other pictures around the first one.


To practice receptive understanding of prepositions, I give the student a card, and tell them where to put it: "Put the boy above the truck."


Sometimes I add word or picture cues to assist students.


Expressive practice can include an array of pictures. I ask the student, "Where's the ____?" and they tell me using the appropriate preposition word. This is also a great way to practice making complete sentences and expanding length of utterance. My students have fun if I use silly combinations of pictures so they can make goofy sentences!


Bonus! Pocket charts can also be a fun way to incorporate articulation practice in structured sentences (see example with velar phonemes below):


Another fun game to play with pocket charts is Tic-Tac-Toe! Make a 3x3 array of pictures, then students have to say that word with their target sound at the appropriate level before they can cover it up with their X or O. Quick and fun practice!

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Leave a Comment: How will you use your pocket chart?