Can you believe it's October?!?
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Morning and Bedtime Routines
I’ve had so many parents tell me they have the hardest time getting their child ready on time for school. Either the child doesn’t want to go to school, they like to dilly dally around or just can’t quite wake-up. Here are some sequencing cards that you can use for your child in the morning. I would suggest putting them on Velcro and having an envelope next to them. After they have completed a task they put the picture in the envelope and move on to the next task. I made these using clip art and Boardmaker pictures. You could certainly Google image pictures or even take pictures of your own child actually completing the tasks so they can see firsthand what they have to do. If it’s especially difficult for your child tell them if they can get their morning routine completed by themselves they get a special treat. Then once you know they are able to do that, they have to have an entire week of getting ready to go to school independently and they get a treat. Keep expecting more out of them and eventually (hopefully) you have stress free mornings.
Here is a bedtime routine too.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
The theme this week is Brown Bear, Brown Bear
This book is great because of its repetitive phrases.
Articulation:
When reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear we work on syllableness. Syllableness focuses on producing the appropriate amount of syllables in each word or phrase. First I model the words for the children.
When reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear we work on syllableness. Syllableness focuses on producing the appropriate amount of syllables in each word or phrase. First I model the words for the children.
Word List:
brown bear red bird yellow duck blue horse green frog
purple cat white dog black sheep goldfish teacher
brown bear red bird yellow duck blue horse green frog
purple cat white dog black sheep goldfish teacher
If a child is having difficulty we might clap out each phrase or hit wooden sticks together so the child can hear and physically produce the syllables. I’ve been on the hunt for bongo drums because I think that would a fun way to break up the syllables.
This is often the first lesson I use when I admit kids for articulation or phonological delays/disorders. It’s nice because the first time I see the children there isn’t so much pressure to get the sounds as there is to get the correct number of syllables. Plus what kid doesn’t like the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear? Especially with my three year olds it’s important to start out with something fun that can build their confidence, so I don’t see any crying the next time they have to leave mom and dad for speech.
Language:
For my kids working on language this is a great book for sequencing. It’s also a great vocabulary builder. We make a chart and think of all the things that are the colors associated with the animal. They always want to yell out things like “shirts”, “table” and then we have to go over that not all shirts are red and not all tables are yellow. I like to give them clues like “I’m thinking of a fruit that is yellow and has a peel”. They have to use those deductive reasoning skills to figure out what I’m talking about.
For my kids working on language this is a great book for sequencing. It’s also a great vocabulary builder. We make a chart and think of all the things that are the colors associated with the animal. They always want to yell out things like “shirts”, “table” and then we have to go over that not all shirts are red and not all tables are yellow. I like to give them clues like “I’m thinking of a fruit that is yellow and has a peel”. They have to use those deductive reasoning skills to figure out what I’m talking about.
Another activity is going on a sort of “bear hunt”. I usually just place random animal pictures around my room and the kids have to go looking for them. When they find one they glue the picture on a pre-made sheet and at the end they have to tell me in what order they found the pictures.
Pragmatics:
A lot of kids have difficulty asking questions appropriately. An activity that I use during this “Bear” theme is Jesse Bear. There is a book called “Jesse Bear What Will You Wear?” I found this template and each child gets random bits of Jesse Bear’s clothing. Each child is given a time of year (winter, spring, summer, fall) and they have to dress Jesse Bear appropriately. If they don’t have an item of clothing they want, then they have to ask one of their friends for that item of clothing. This works on lots of basic concepts as well i.e. red shirt, blue coat, brown boots etc.
A lot of kids have difficulty asking questions appropriately. An activity that I use during this “Bear” theme is Jesse Bear. There is a book called “Jesse Bear What Will You Wear?” I found this template and each child gets random bits of Jesse Bear’s clothing. Each child is given a time of year (winter, spring, summer, fall) and they have to dress Jesse Bear appropriately. If they don’t have an item of clothing they want, then they have to ask one of their friends for that item of clothing. This works on lots of basic concepts as well i.e. red shirt, blue coat, brown boots etc.
September Articulation Homework
If your child is working on articulation here are some homework sheets that will help reinforce all the hard work they are doing in the speech room. When they turn in a homework sheet with a parent signature, they get to add a sticker to their sticker chart.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Let me know if you need a reminder of what sounds your child is working on.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Let me know if you need a reminder of what sounds your child is working on.
Why "Speech Lady"
I got an email from a co-worker the other day asking me what I prefer to be called in paperwork- speech therapist, speech pathologist. It got me thinking of all the wonderful names that the kids and others call me in this job position.
I have 3 year olds yelling "Gretz!" down the hallway. It reminds me of college...no one went by their first names in college.
There's always "That one girl". I was at a school last year one day out of the week and apparently this teacher had no clue who I was or why I was there.
Out of all these, I get the biggest kick out of hearing what my speech kiddos tell their friends in the hall as I pass them- "Yup that's the speech lady. She teaches me how to talk."
So that is how I got Speech Lady. Whatever you do just don't get my attention by saying "Hey little girl!"
Yes, I've also had a teacher think I was a student...
I have 3 year olds yelling "Gretz!" down the hallway. It reminds me of college...no one went by their first names in college.
There's always "That one girl". I was at a school last year one day out of the week and apparently this teacher had no clue who I was or why I was there.
Out of all these, I get the biggest kick out of hearing what my speech kiddos tell their friends in the hall as I pass them- "Yup that's the speech lady. She teaches me how to talk."
So that is how I got Speech Lady. Whatever you do just don't get my attention by saying "Hey little girl!"
Yes, I've also had a teacher think I was a student...
A tour of the Speech Lady's room
I realize not all of you get a chance to come to Back To School Night and Meet the Teacher, so here is a tour of the speech room. Now you can picture your child in the room working hard on articulation, language, fluency, voice, and social skills!
Welcome!
Sticker Charts
12 stickers = Treasure chest, picking a game, or sensory break activities.
Mirror Wall
"Mirror Mirror On The Wall Who Has The Best Sound Of Them All?" -I came up with that all by myself (pretty pleased if you couldn't tell)
Calendar and Reading Corner
I find it's helpful to move kids from station to station so they don't start getting antsy. It helps Ms. Gretz not get frustrated with wiggle worms!
Therapy Table
This is where the magic happens! As in the kids (hopefully) listen as I give them strategies to reach their speech goals. Lots of hard work happens at this table. We try and have a little fun too.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
I think it's really important to remind my students (especially after summer break) what sounds they are working on in speech. Every time a child comes to my room and they are working on articulation, the first thing I ask them is "What sounds are you working on?", and/or "What sound do you want to focus on today?". This helps the kids take responsibility (hopefully) for the speech sound they have in error and the goals we are all working on helping them to achieve.
The first book of the year that I like to read is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
The first book of the year that I like to read is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
The kids love this book and it makes them giggle...which in turn makes me giggle. I like to use this book because it goes through the alphabet and the sooner my little kiddos can start identifying the letter that goes with their sound in error, the better it is! I like to have them raise their hand when they hear the letter that corresponds to the sound they are working on. The first day of reading it they raise their hand for every sound, but with some reminders by the 2nd or 3rd reading they have it down.
Let's just say Chicka Chicka Boom Boom has taken over this Speech Lady's room.
The kids picked out their sounds and placed them on the appropriate leaf.
Each leaf has a stage of obtaining an articulation goals. Can they get the sound in isolation, in words, in phrases, in sentences and/or in conversation.
My younger kids made these take-home craft projects to help themselves and parents remember what their goals are this year.
"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom _______ is working on these sounds in the speech room."
Even my kids working on language got in on the fun of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
They listened and gave each other directions on where to put each letter. "Put the "O" next to the "G"." Lots of work on spatial concepts and putting complete sentences together so a peer can follow the directions they give. One child told me my coconut tree looked funny. I never claimed I was the best artist. :)
Parent tips:
Talk with your child about what sounds they are working on. When you're out and about find words that start with their sound.
Feel free to shoot me an email telling me if your child said all their sounds right during an activity or practice. I make a big deal about it and their speech friends give them a little pat on the back.
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