Frenzied SLPs: Sharing Kindness {blog hop}

Welcome to our Frenzied SLPs Sharing Kindness Blog Hop! If you hop through all the blog posts, you'll find plenty of FREE kindness-themed downloads to use in therapy over the next couple weeks. Let's all work together to help instill a desire to treat others with respect and kindness in the little minds that we work with. The world can certainly use as much kindness as possible it seems. This stop in the blog hop includes a prepositions practice interactive booklet, which can be downloaded for free here. Enjoy!

Click here to go to the next stop at Gold Country SLP. When you make it all the way back here you will have 14 new freebies to use! Have fun :)

And remember: "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." -- Dalai Lama

It's Back to School Time!

get ready for the new school year with mega-savings

As hard as I might try to deny it, the back to school season is here. I'll pause while you scream into a nearby pillow...

Some of you are going back to work very soon (or are already there!), and some aren't starting again until September. Personally, I report back August 24th. No matter what your timeline is, there's always time for some shopping! Mark your calendars because there's a site-wide Teachers Pay Teachers sale happening August 3-4 :)

These site-wide sales only happen a few times each year, so now is the best time to stock up on everything you'll need to get the school year started off right. Everything in my Schoolhouse Talk shop will be 20% off, plus you can treat yo'self to an extra 10% off on top of that with promo code:

I'm going to share some of the things I can't wait to pick up during the sale, but first let me highlight some must-haves of my own:

Triangles of Meaning includes activities which target word relationships through visual sets of antonyms and synonyms to help students make connection between vocabulary words. Buyer feedback: "SO wonderful for my older elementary aged students who struggle with vocab and seeing the relationships between words. Engaging and user-friendly."

Articulation Puzzles: Your students will have fun putting these puzzles together as they practice their speech sounds. Bonus: six new puzzles were recently added targeting early developing phonemes (P, B, T, D, N, M)! Buyer feedback: "So cute! I love that it is different, interactive, and provides visuals for support."

Phonological Awareness Wizards: This packet has everything you need to work on phonological awareness skills while playing a fun and colorful board game. Buyer feedback: "I'll be using this with my English Language Learners as a fun alternative to our phonological awareness routines. SO CUTE!!"

Also, don't forget about Speech Therapy Rubrics for all your data keeping and progress monitoring needs! You'll also need {FREE} Speech Therapy Session Notes to help you keep parents updated about the activities in your therapy room. There are many other helpful (and free!) documents available in my store as well to get your school year started right.

The entire Schoolhouse Talk shop will be 20% off during the sale.

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I'm *for sure* taking advantage of big savings by snatching up these items on my wish list:

1. Build-a-Monster: Following Directions - by The Speech Bubble SLP

I am moving back down to preschool and elementary ages this year, so I know interactive and creative activities like this will come in really handy. Besides, I haven't met an activity yet from The Speech Bubble that has not been 150% amazing.

2. Hink Pink Word Riddles - by Speech2U

These word riddles are so creative, and they will be a fun way to practice vocabulary, synonyms, and rhyming. I love that there are differentiated levels of support.

3. Common Core Speaking & Listening Rating Scales {K-5} by Jenn Alcorn

I used and loved the 6th-8th grade edition of these scales last year, so I know the version for younger grades will be just as useful.

4. Multisyllabic Words Fingerprint Prompts - by Cat Says Meow

Eye-catching? Check! Great practice for multiple goals? Check! Hands-on practice? Check! This packet looks great and will be so useful!

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If you need additional assistance in figuring out what to stock up on, be sure to check out the 2015 Back to School SLP ebook. It's jam-packed with free downloads and must-have items from over 80 SLPs!

Also, be sure to click through the link-up over at Speech Room News to see what others are eager to buy. Happy shopping!

What's In My Cart {TPT Site-Wide Sale}

treat yo'self to a site-wide mega sale!

We've reached that point in the year where we all get swamped with piles of paperwork and progress reports, try to schedule therapy sessions around field trips, hold back to back to back to back transition meetings, and still try to keep therapy fun and exciting for our students. We all can hardly wait for summer break to arrive! You know what? YOU deserve to treat yo'self!

Teachers Pay Teachers is treating Teachers (and SLPs!) with an Appreciation Sale on May 5-6! Get ready to stock up on new materials to keep your students engaged for the rest of the school year, summer, and beyond. These site-wide sales are the BEST time to empty your wish list because most stores are 20% off, AND you can treat yo'self extra 10% with the promo code: ThankYou

I'm going to showcase some of the items I can't wait to pick up during the sale, but first let me highlight a couple items from the Schoolhouse Talk shop:

Triangles of Meaning includes activities which target word relationships through visual sets of antonyms and synonyms to help students make connection between vocabulary words. You and your students will love the color by relationship mystery pictures!

Your students will be masters at making predictions after using the leveled activities in Spoiler Alert!

I adore how these Articulation Puzzle Mats turned out, and your students will adore practicing their sounds as they put them together!

The entire Schoolhouse Talk shop will be 20% off during the sale.

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I'm definitely going to take advantage of 28% off prices by buying these items:

1. Secret Messages for Main Idea - by Teach Speech 365

Each reading passage in this packet includes a secret number, and after students identify the main idea for the passage, it tells them which letter to put in that number box. The holiday elves edition was fun for my students so I know these will also be a hit.

2. Spring Cut & Paste Articulation - by Mia McDaniel

I have never been disappointed by anything I've purchased from Mia's store. I could really use more articulation products to get me through the rest of the school year, and I know my students will have fun with these. Plus, you can't beat print-and-go activities!

3. /S, L, R/ Blend Flip Books - by The Dabbling Speechie

I've seen the CH, SH, J edition of these flip books and they are FANTASTIC! I can't wait to add this one to my materials. The graphics are so eye catching, and it includes multiple levels of complexity as well as writing and picture scenes (great for carryover!).

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If you need additional assistance in figuring out what to stock up on, be sure to check out the Best of SLPs on TPT Summer Catalog.

You can also see what others are stocking up on by clicking through the linky over at Speech Room News.

Happy Shopping!!

What's In My Cart {TPT Sale}

get ready for a one-day site-wide sale!

Get ready for some online retail therapy because Teachers Pay Teachers is celebrating how SUPER educators are by having a site-wide sale! This time it is a one-day-only sale on Wednesday, February 25, so I'm going to save you some browsing time and recommend some SUPER items that I can't wait to snatch up.

First (shameless plug warning!), let me recommend a couple new items from the Schoolhouse Talk shop:

Ready, Set, Communicate (task cards for Grammar)

Ready, Set, Communicate (task cards for Phonological Awareness)

I have been using these (along with the WH-Questions and Vocabulary sets) like crazy the past couple weeks for progress monitoring and updating data! Parent-teacher conferences are coming up in my district, and these have saved me so much time.

These seasonal packets will also be included in the sale:

Two Scoops of Speech and Language

March Mayhem Articulation Word Brackets

Umbrella Categories

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See if you can figure out what the majority of my caseload is working on by taking a peek at what's in my shopping cart? :P

1) Context Clues Packet (using Tier Vocabulary) - by Nicole Allison

Nicole's products are always extremely well thought out and nicely put together. I love how this one has multiple levels of difficulty, incorporates Tier 2 vocabulary words, and teaches students exactly how to use context clues.


2) Comprehending and Paraphrasing Expository Text - by Speechy Musings

I've been using a ton of nonfiction passages with my students, and this will be a great addition to my collection! The topics included in this packet are interesting and fun to read and multiple tools and graphic organizers are included to help with paraphrasing and comprehension.


3) Inferring and Predicting with Figurative Language - by The Speech Bubble SLP

Talk about a 1, 2, 3, punch! This packet helps students with inferring skills, making predictions, and understanding figurative language all at the same time! This will be so, so useful for all of my 4-8 grade students.


4) Flip Flap Definitions - by Speech2U

I love that this will make our work on improving describing skills much more hands on and interesting! My students love getting crafty in the speech room, and I can't wait to see what they can learn and do with this packet.

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If you need additional assistance in figuring out what to stock up on, be sure to check out the Best of SLPs on TPT Spring Catalog.

You can also see what others are buying by clicking through the linky party over at Speech Room News.

Happy shopping, and STAY SUPER!

What's In My Cart {TPT Cyber Sale!}

Get ready for some online shopping because Teachers Pay Teachers is having a site-wide sale! My wish list is overflowing so I need to limit myself, but here's what I recommend from the Schoolhouse Talk shop (shameless plug ahead!)

Best-Seller: Speech Therapy Rubrics

Many of you have requested via your feedback, so I'm pleased to announce the rubrics are now editable! Save money by buying the bundle packet, otherwise the individual packets can be found here:

Speech Therapy Rubrics

Speech Therapy Rubrics Expansion Pack

Seasonal Fun: Build a Snowman {open-ended game}

Christmas Goodies {speech and language activities}

New Series: Ready, Set, Communicate! {task cards}

You can find the Vocabulary task cards here, and the WH-Questions task cards here. There are additional task cards in the works, so stay tuned!

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Now, what's already in my shopping cart?

1) Speech and Language Wish Lists - Speechasaurus

Articulation and language practice all in one. Sign me up!

2) Nonfiction Texts Bundle - Nicole Allison

This one looks GREAT for targeting wh-questions and comprehension as well as throwing in some articulation. Talk about getting the most for your money!

3) No-Words: Wordless Picture Books for Speech Therapy - Teach Speech 365

These look amazingly creative!

4) Idiom of the Week - Speech with Sharon

So many of my students need help with figurative language. I'm looking forward to making this packet into a bulletin board in my therapy room.

If you need additional assistance figuring out what to stock up on, be sure to check out the Best of SLPs on TPT Winter Catalog. You can also see what others are buying over at Speech Room News.

Happy shopping, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

So You're Not at the ASHA Convention...

5 things to do if you're missing out on the annual ASHA convention

So you're not at the 2014 ASHA convention. Me either! And the constant barrage of pictures and posts on social media is tough to look at. So what are those of us on team #noASHA supposed to do (besides cry on the inside)??

Team #noASHA

1) Live vicariously through Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Yeah, there are tons of pictures and status updates that show all the fun we're missing out on. But it's also fun to see everything that's going on. With all the constant updates, it even feels kinda like we're there. A little bit? Maybe...?

2) Watch your favorite movie related to speech pathology.

I'm talking The King's Speech, Wretches and Jabberers, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, even My Fair Lady! You'll laugh, you'll cry. You may forget you're missing out on all the ASHA14 fun for a couple of hours. Until you check social media again...(see #1).

3) Complete some CEUs.

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One of the best things about the ASHA convention is the opportunity to get all the CEUs you'll need until your next certification cycle all in one weekend. Missing out? Get some online CEUs! Autumn Bryant - Speech Language Investigator has compiled a great list of FREE online CEUs. Go check it out and get your learning on! And don't forget the FREE 0.5 CEU offered online by ASHA each month!

4) Try some retail therapy! You should probably go buy a new scarf.

(source)

Grab a latte while you're out. Then go home and apply your new Jamberry nails while you shop for helpful new materials on Teachers Pay Teachers. Retail therapy always makes things better.

5) Download some new apps for your iPad!

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Tons of app developers discount the prices of their apps during the ASHA convention. May as well take advantage! I strongly recommend signing up for email alerts from Smart Apps for Kids. They send out one email per day with a list of free and reduced apps. They almost always highlight useful apps for special education and will be the best place to get updates of which apps are free or reduced during the convention.

So now you know what I'll be doing to pass the time during the ASHA convention. Who's on team #noASHA with me?!

Disclaimer: I would completely ditch Team #noASHA in a heartbeat to go to the ASHA convention. Hopefully next year!

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Abby has been to one ASHA convention: Chicago 2008!