Showing posts with label About Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label About Me. Show all posts
Speech Lady Says...
Speech Lady Says...
Who knew that living without Internet for a month would be as hard as it was?! Yikes! Makes me realize how dependent I am on it. Anywho, I now have Internet and will be getting back into the swing of posting again. In my new job I have less kids, but seems like more work. How the heck did that happen? I find myself needing a little boost of energy/confidence/sanity to get me through the week. Therefore, on Mondays you'll be seeing "Speech Lady Says..." So without further ado here's the first one.
I know personally I need a reminder of this well.....every morning. So as I sit on the bus headed to work, I drink my coffee and set a goal for the day. I usually try to make it a small goal and I make it very specific (i.e. "Have more patience with (enter student's name).", "Email a parent and tell them something great their child accomplished that day." etc.). This positive thinking in the morning really can change a whole day.
Don't worry everyone, I won't try and get this deep with you every Monday :)
Happy Birthday!
Today is the official one year mark of Speech Lady Liz.
Who the heck needs an iPad when you have styrofoam cups and beans?!
I'm cognizant enough to tell all of you that I never thought I would last this long. I am the queen of starting something and never finishing. It's an awful characteristic that I work on daily to change. That being said there is only one reason as to why I've done this blogging thing for this long and plan to continue....wait for it, wait for it (How I Met Your Mother reference there) it's you all.
We SLPs have one of the most wonderful communities out there. My CF year was let's just say stressful. I had not a single material in my hands on my first day and I had to come up with things fast. I would not wish that situation on anyone, so that's why I do this. I love lesson planning. It's a weird guilty pleasure that I have. On work nights when I'm at home, I can pretty much tell you that I'm watching awful reality television, pinteresting, drinking wine and coming up with ideas to use in therapy. If you've ever seen a post with one too many grammatical errors it's probably because the wine was more a priority then anything else and I got a little "publish" happy.
Looking back over the year and what I have published so far, I strive to create more ideas that are multi-purpose and are there to target a range of goals your students may have. I want to create a site that is easy to navigate and provides you all with free materials. I have to make this stuff for my students anyways, so why wouldn't I share my goods?!?
Needless to say, yet important for me to say is that I appreciate all of you. You all are so supportive, encouraging, inquisitive and just plain old wonderful. So in honor of Speech Lady Liz's birthday, here are the most looked at posts over the past year. Enjoy and THANK YOU!
All time favorite book with a language lesson plan and articulation lesson plan.
A personal favorite...maybe it's the title of the post that makes me happy, or the plethora of transportation ideas.
Sometimes I feel like this Very Hungry Caterpillar
And my all time personal favorite and one that I got the most wonderful comments and emails about...
Make sure to leave comments. I look at all of them and truely enjoy seeing what you have to say. Thanks for sticking with me this past year and here's to many more years to come!
My New Job
So I've gotten email from people that are telling me I've been mysterious about my new job. Trust me, that was not my intention. I'm extremely proud of the place I work and just wanted to get settled in before I blasted it all over Speech Lady Liz.
In advance thanks for being patient as I've figured my life out and gotten settled in this new job. It's different than what I've been used to and has taken a little adjusting. I work at a place called Black Bear Academy in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. It's a pre-school owned by an SLP who is extremely passionate about providing the best services for all her students. So let me give you some basics on ol' Black Bear. Black Bear is a pre-school with 2 different tracks. A neuro-typical pre-school (taught by early childhood educators) and a therapeutic pre-school (taught by SLPs). The facility is top of the line and coming from the public schools it's amazing to me the kind of materials that are now at my fingertips. I've always loved working with the little one's and here I really get to know each child. If you ask any of my old co-workers they will tell you that I used to cry and blubber about how I wish I had more time with each child to work on all their goals. When you're in the public schools and have 60+ kids on your caseload it is physically impossible to be able to do that. In the therapeutic classes, Black Bear has a 3:1 student to teacher ratio (yes, I allow all of you to be super jealous right now). I see some kids for 7-8 hours a week. Talk about seeing improvement. There is consistency and you truly get to know the child. Basically everything I always wanted in the public schools, but realized was physically impossible to achieve. I'm still figuring out my role and how I can continue to provide you all with resources and materials that will fit all of your caseloads. I will do my best, but bare with me. My dad always says that when he doesn't hear from his children it usually means that everything is going well, so take this recent absence in posts as a sign that Speech Lady Liz is happy and will be back in full swing soon. Make sure to check out the Black Bear website. I still have some work to do, but I might have already had my hand in it. :)
If you would have told me that I would be blogging and organizing websites last year I would have laughed in your face....I guess the joke is on me!
Also, if you live in the Chicago area and have any questions about Black Bear, please email me and I would love to give you more information.
In advance thanks for being patient as I've figured my life out and gotten settled in this new job. It's different than what I've been used to and has taken a little adjusting. I work at a place called Black Bear Academy in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. It's a pre-school owned by an SLP who is extremely passionate about providing the best services for all her students. So let me give you some basics on ol' Black Bear. Black Bear is a pre-school with 2 different tracks. A neuro-typical pre-school (taught by early childhood educators) and a therapeutic pre-school (taught by SLPs). The facility is top of the line and coming from the public schools it's amazing to me the kind of materials that are now at my fingertips. I've always loved working with the little one's and here I really get to know each child. If you ask any of my old co-workers they will tell you that I used to cry and blubber about how I wish I had more time with each child to work on all their goals. When you're in the public schools and have 60+ kids on your caseload it is physically impossible to be able to do that. In the therapeutic classes, Black Bear has a 3:1 student to teacher ratio (yes, I allow all of you to be super jealous right now). I see some kids for 7-8 hours a week. Talk about seeing improvement. There is consistency and you truly get to know the child. Basically everything I always wanted in the public schools, but realized was physically impossible to achieve. I'm still figuring out my role and how I can continue to provide you all with resources and materials that will fit all of your caseloads. I will do my best, but bare with me. My dad always says that when he doesn't hear from his children it usually means that everything is going well, so take this recent absence in posts as a sign that Speech Lady Liz is happy and will be back in full swing soon. Make sure to check out the Black Bear website. I still have some work to do, but I might have already had my hand in it. :)
If you would have told me that I would be blogging and organizing websites last year I would have laughed in your face....I guess the joke is on me!
Also, if you live in the Chicago area and have any questions about Black Bear, please email me and I would love to give you more information.
Yay to new jobs and new experiences!
I'm going to be trying something new here. I don't know if you all are familiar with Instagram, but I'm pretty much obsessed. It has taken over my Facebook and Pinterest addiction. Follow me on Instagram @speechladyliz and see what kind of fun activities I'm doing daily. I'll also have an Instagram update each week(hopefully) to keep you up to date on the activities that this Speech Lady is doing.
Come back and visit tomorrow to see what my new job is and get a tour of the facility. Let's just say we've been working our butts up getting ready for open house!
Come back and visit tomorrow to see what my new job is and get a tour of the facility. Let's just say we've been working our butts up getting ready for open house!
Moving on...
It's a pretty bittersweet day.
I am packed up and ready to move, ready to leave the place I've called home for the past 2 years.
I moved to Austin on a whim. I thought it sounded cool and I had nothing holding me back. There have been some major ups and some major downs these past 2 years, but I have to say I don't regret the decision at all. It was something I needed to do before I made a permanent home somewhere. I've moved to 2 cities where I didn't initially have my family or a host of friends, and it's an experience. That experience is one that I think everyone should have at some point in their life. I'm glad I got mine out of my system early and now I'm ready to hole up in a city with family and friends and never look back.
This move is making me reminisce about my first 2 years on the job. Wow! is all I have to say. Grad school prepares you, but doesn't at all. On the job training is crucial and I had some pretty amazing teachers during my time in Austin. If you know me, then you know I'm pretty emotional and sentimental. Saying goodbye to my students has proven to be more difficult then I thought. It's amazing when I think about the student's I got last year and the cluelessness I faced as I worked with them on their goals. Then I look at them today and think "holy cow"! Students that you couldn't understand a word out of their mouth or were completely non-verbal, now are working on /r/ and have to be told repeatedly to be quiet because they are talking too much. Working in the schools is such a great thing because even after you dismiss a student you get to see them in the halls and see all the hardwork in motion. It has also provided me with the creativity required to work with 60 kids on a caseload with varying speech and language goals. That need for creativity led me to this blog.
This blog has truly become such a wonderful outlet for me. I selfishly started it to keep track of my ideas and it's turned into this thing that I can't even wrap my head around. I mean my name was in the ASHA Leader (sorry 'humble brag' right there). It has been so cool to connect with all of you through email, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and I just really love this little community we have. Everyone is so supporative and understanding. I have a bad day with naughty students and I guarantee someone has had a worse day and we can complain together (so much more fun to complain with someone than at someone).
I hope this isn't a TMI post, but I feel like all of you that read my blog and send me wonderful, encouraging emails have become like an Internet family to me. My real family has to deal with my emotional state so why shouldn't all of you?!?
These next several weeks I plan on driving 1,200 miles in a U-Haul truck with my lovely brother, spending hours upon hours of playing and snuggling with my niece, going on a family vacation and getting my brain power back to start a new job and navigate my way through an unfamiliar city. So basically what I'm trying to say is, I will try to continue posting as much as I can, but please understand if I slack off just a little. You all understand, right?
Thanks for letting me get all cheesy with you. J
I am packed up and ready to move, ready to leave the place I've called home for the past 2 years.
I moved to Austin on a whim. I thought it sounded cool and I had nothing holding me back. There have been some major ups and some major downs these past 2 years, but I have to say I don't regret the decision at all. It was something I needed to do before I made a permanent home somewhere. I've moved to 2 cities where I didn't initially have my family or a host of friends, and it's an experience. That experience is one that I think everyone should have at some point in their life. I'm glad I got mine out of my system early and now I'm ready to hole up in a city with family and friends and never look back.
This move is making me reminisce about my first 2 years on the job. Wow! is all I have to say. Grad school prepares you, but doesn't at all. On the job training is crucial and I had some pretty amazing teachers during my time in Austin. If you know me, then you know I'm pretty emotional and sentimental. Saying goodbye to my students has proven to be more difficult then I thought. It's amazing when I think about the student's I got last year and the cluelessness I faced as I worked with them on their goals. Then I look at them today and think "holy cow"! Students that you couldn't understand a word out of their mouth or were completely non-verbal, now are working on /r/ and have to be told repeatedly to be quiet because they are talking too much. Working in the schools is such a great thing because even after you dismiss a student you get to see them in the halls and see all the hardwork in motion. It has also provided me with the creativity required to work with 60 kids on a caseload with varying speech and language goals. That need for creativity led me to this blog.
This blog has truly become such a wonderful outlet for me. I selfishly started it to keep track of my ideas and it's turned into this thing that I can't even wrap my head around. I mean my name was in the ASHA Leader (sorry 'humble brag' right there). It has been so cool to connect with all of you through email, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and I just really love this little community we have. Everyone is so supporative and understanding. I have a bad day with naughty students and I guarantee someone has had a worse day and we can complain together (so much more fun to complain with someone than at someone).
I hope this isn't a TMI post, but I feel like all of you that read my blog and send me wonderful, encouraging emails have become like an Internet family to me. My real family has to deal with my emotional state so why shouldn't all of you?!?
These next several weeks I plan on driving 1,200 miles in a U-Haul truck with my lovely brother, spending hours upon hours of playing and snuggling with my niece, going on a family vacation and getting my brain power back to start a new job and navigate my way through an unfamiliar city. So basically what I'm trying to say is, I will try to continue posting as much as I can, but please understand if I slack off just a little. You all understand, right?
Thanks for letting me get all cheesy with you. J
Organization
As I'm beginning to put all my materials in boxes for my impending move, I've had a lot to contemplate.
1. How did I accumulate so much stuff in just 2 years?
2. What should I take, donate and trash?
3. For the stuff I keep, what's the best way to keep it organized?
I'm not sure if any of you are doing spring cleanings of your classroom, but I thought I would give you some insight as to how I'm organizing my materials and what I've found works best for me.
Book Themes:
As you all know from reading this blog, I love to theme ideas off of books. I can't stand plain manila folders, because things fall out of them so easily and it's not nice and pretty the way I like it. So, I like to print a picture of the book cover and laminate a manila envelope (just be careful when you are slicing the opening in the back because you can really mess up your finger...not that I have any personal experience with that or anything cough, cough)
This way all of it stays in there and you can store it any way you want without things falling out all over your classroom or file drawers. Sometimes if the book is small enough I'll put it in the envelope too so all I have to do is grab the envelope and I'm all set.
If you have too many items, or over sized items that won't fit in the envelope, I love these cardboard magazine holders from Ikea.
Check out this previous post I had on where to find these cute labels that I adorn my entire classroom with.
For more general materials (pragmatics, syntax, fluency etc) I am currently using these file boxes from Walmart.
The only reason I prefer these to metal filing cabinets is that they move around easily. I can bring the whole thing to the therapy table and not have to leave the table to go searching through filing cabinets. Don't get me wrong metal filing cabinets are essential in my room for keeping my student's files safe and secure, but for therapy materials, I need convenience.
This is how I store my books with printable handouts. And yes, I color coordinate my binders (you better believe my clothes are color coordinated in my closet too!).
As far as throwing things away, I find myself to be a hoarder of craft materials (note that you do not and probably will not ever see my classroom craft closet). However, I just can't talk myself into moving recycled goods because I "might" use it for a craft one day. Please tell me you all are craft hoarders too.
I would take a picture of my desk to show you, but it has been piled high with papers for about 4 months now. I occasionally look through it to make sure I'm not missing something, but I have a feeling it will be there for the next 17 days that are left in the school year. Maybe I should look through it before I move it to another state with me...
So as you can see, some parts of my classroom are highly organized to the point of obsessive, while others not so much. If you need some other ideas on how to organize/decorate your classroom, check out how my current classroom is decorated in this post.
I'd love any ideas that you have for organization and/or packing up a classroom. Email me or leave a comment below.
1. How did I accumulate so much stuff in just 2 years?
2. What should I take, donate and trash?
3. For the stuff I keep, what's the best way to keep it organized?
I'm not sure if any of you are doing spring cleanings of your classroom, but I thought I would give you some insight as to how I'm organizing my materials and what I've found works best for me.
Book Themes:
As you all know from reading this blog, I love to theme ideas off of books. I can't stand plain manila folders, because things fall out of them so easily and it's not nice and pretty the way I like it. So, I like to print a picture of the book cover and laminate a manila envelope (just be careful when you are slicing the opening in the back because you can really mess up your finger...not that I have any personal experience with that or anything cough, cough)
If you have too many items, or over sized items that won't fit in the envelope, I love these cardboard magazine holders from Ikea.
For more general materials (pragmatics, syntax, fluency etc) I am currently using these file boxes from Walmart.
This is how I store my books with printable handouts. And yes, I color coordinate my binders (you better believe my clothes are color coordinated in my closet too!).
Here is the game closet. I like to organize it by games that I usually use with my kids working on language and kids working on articulation. Obviously, that does not limit these games to just those categories. I can pretty much use any one of these games for any goal on my caseload. Usually this closet is a little more disorganized, but lucky for you I started packing parts of my classroom already so a lot of the games that aren't super popular were shoved in a box.
As far as throwing things away, I find myself to be a hoarder of craft materials (note that you do not and probably will not ever see my classroom craft closet). However, I just can't talk myself into moving recycled goods because I "might" use it for a craft one day. Please tell me you all are craft hoarders too.
I would take a picture of my desk to show you, but it has been piled high with papers for about 4 months now. I occasionally look through it to make sure I'm not missing something, but I have a feeling it will be there for the next 17 days that are left in the school year. Maybe I should look through it before I move it to another state with me...
So as you can see, some parts of my classroom are highly organized to the point of obsessive, while others not so much. If you need some other ideas on how to organize/decorate your classroom, check out how my current classroom is decorated in this post.
I'd love any ideas that you have for organization and/or packing up a classroom. Email me or leave a comment below.
Just keep packing, just keep packing, packing, packing, packing, packing.
Why I Do What I Do
I’m often asked how I got interested in speech and language pathology. To tell you the truth, I grew up wanting to be an architect. I interned at an architecture firm, took AutoCAD and interior design in highschool, started out my time at K-State as an architecture major. Needless to say, I didn’t last very long in that architecture program. I hated the fact that I was stuck in studio for entire days not talking to anyone and drawing line after line after line. When I called my parents to tell them I was dropping out of that program I got the obvious question “Well what do you want to do then?” I had no clue. I looked into classes and found Intro to Communication Sciences and Disorders. My youngest cousin struggled with Apraxia as a child and my aunt Sharon, being the go-getter, I shall conquer all, woman that I look up to, started the network for parents and professionals to get information related to Childhood Apraxia of Speech. You may know it as CASANA or have used the website www.apraxia-kids.org. If any of you have had the pleasure of meeting her you can see the passion she has to help children and parents. She's my aunt so I can brag on her, right?!
So back to the story, I took this intro class and loved it. I loved the anatomy, the physiology, the medical side of it all. I went through the rest of my 3 years really enjoying all my SLP classes. Then it was time for graduate school. I don’t like to admit this, but I didn’t get into any of the schools I applied to my first go-round. I was heartbroken. Every time one of those letters arrived in my mailbox, I felt like I needed “REJECT” tattooed on my forehead. I felt defeated like maybe being an SLP wasn't in my cards. What was I going to do now? So being the planner, like all SLPs tend to be, I needed a plan of attack for the next year. Would I just hang around and re-apply in the winter? That was not an option financially, so I applied for a para-professional job in the public schools. I got a call for an interview, and as it turns out it was the elementary school that I went to as a child. A little girl at the school needed a 1:1 and I was lucky enough to get the job. Still being disappointed that I wasn’t starting graduate school with my peers, I didn’t realize that this was the best possible thing that could have ever happened to me. If there is such a thing as soul mates, I found one of mine in Elizabeth. Elizabeth and I were inseparable and not just because we had to be.
Elizabeth has cerebral palsy, is in a wheelchair, has a feeding tube and is non-verbal. Elizabeth also has the greatest smile, best laugh and can make a bad day better with a simple trusting look in the eyes. I cannot even begin to tell you everything Elizabeth taught me. If I had to name a few, they would be compassion, patience, hope, gratitude, the hilarity of hitting myself in the head and of course the many things I learned by going with her to OT, PT, speech etc. I now look back on my “reject” year and wonder if I would be the same person I am today without the opportunity to work with the wonderful people I worked with, and the wonderful child I worked with. My “reject” year to me now is known as my “lucky” year. If I didn’t believe in things happen for a reason, I sure do now. The next year I did get into graduate school, and I can’t help but think that my experience helped me get into those schools. Elizabeth continues to be a big part of my life. I may not physically see her everyday, but I have pictures of her up in my classroom and I think of her everyday. Anytime I get frustrated with my job and all the paperwork piled up on my desk I remember why I do this everyday. I’m helping children communicate, something so many people take for granted. While we might not make all the money in the world, we can go home each day knowing that we’ve helped a child get a voice of their own. That’s huge!
I think every SLP has at least one student that has changed their life and inspired them. For me it was Elizabeth, and I’m so grateful to her and her wonderful family. So here is a big thank you to all the people that got me to this place, and thanks to Elizabeth for inspiring me everyday and teaching me so much.
Elizabeth has cerebral palsy, is in a wheelchair, has a feeding tube and is non-verbal. Elizabeth also has the greatest smile, best laugh and can make a bad day better with a simple trusting look in the eyes. I cannot even begin to tell you everything Elizabeth taught me. If I had to name a few, they would be compassion, patience, hope, gratitude, the hilarity of hitting myself in the head and of course the many things I learned by going with her to OT, PT, speech etc. I now look back on my “reject” year and wonder if I would be the same person I am today without the opportunity to work with the wonderful people I worked with, and the wonderful child I worked with. My “reject” year to me now is known as my “lucky” year. If I didn’t believe in things happen for a reason, I sure do now. The next year I did get into graduate school, and I can’t help but think that my experience helped me get into those schools. Elizabeth continues to be a big part of my life. I may not physically see her everyday, but I have pictures of her up in my classroom and I think of her everyday. Anytime I get frustrated with my job and all the paperwork piled up on my desk I remember why I do this everyday. I’m helping children communicate, something so many people take for granted. While we might not make all the money in the world, we can go home each day knowing that we’ve helped a child get a voice of their own. That’s huge!
I think every SLP has at least one student that has changed their life and inspired them. For me it was Elizabeth, and I’m so grateful to her and her wonderful family. So here is a big thank you to all the people that got me to this place, and thanks to Elizabeth for inspiring me everyday and teaching me so much.
Happy Better Speech and Hearing Month
If you're visiting this site and not quite sure what a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) is, or you're a student trying to understand what it takes to be an SLP here is a great handout from SuperDuper Inc.
Here are some posters and other handouts from Speaking of Speech.
Here is a great article that gives parents a "check list" of sorts to help them decide if their child might need assistance from an SLP.
These handouts are amazing from Live, Speak, Love
I had a request for some ideas on how to incorporate BSHM for our preschool kiddos. Depending on their level of language and understanding, you could talk about how to take care of your voice and how there are different levels of vocal intensity. I have a chart on my chalkboard that I have to use with kids all the time. It's pretty basic, but does the trick. Here it is for you to download. You could do a matching game of sorts and have them decide what voice they should use during certain circumstances, "You're in a library, which voice do you use?" "Use the whisper voice." etc. I think this is a good opportunity to talk about the parts of our body that we use for speech. Get a cut-out of a person and have labels for lungs, larynx, tongue, nose, brain, ears, teeth, lips etc.
Discounted apps galore at SuperDuper Inc., Smarty Ears, PocketSLP , Hamaguchi , Sounding Board
Check back tomorrow to find out what made me become an SLP.
Conversation Tree
I got this idea from my friend and guest poster, Angela.
Each student gets their own set of colored question cards and comment cards. The teacher or students pick a topic of conversation and the students get a chance to ask questions or comment. The goal is to have a tree that is colorful and very tall. When an off-topic comment is made we put a branch instead of a colorful card. Obviously, a tree without branches sticking out all over is the goal. The topic of this conversation tree was....
I was hoping for tears and inconsolable kids yelling "noooooooo". That's not quite how it went down. Some kids immediately started asking questions, while others I don't think got what I was trying to tell them. A group of my kindergartners kept asking when I would be coming back from my move. Either way, I wanted to make sure to give my kids plenty of notice that I will not be returning next year as their speech lady. This is what the tree looked like when I was using it with some older kids that had lots of questions to ask about my impending move.
Luckily, my new job in Chicago will force me to do even more lesson planning than I do now, which means more ideas for you all. I will be sad to leave Austin and leave the wonderful friends I've made here. I don't even want to think about saying goodbye to my classroom neighbors and besties Angela and Jessie. Gahhh hold back tears!
Anyways, I'm extremely anxious and thrilled about the exciting things ahead of me and wanted to share it with my blog family (you all of course!).
Each student gets their own set of colored question cards and comment cards. The teacher or students pick a topic of conversation and the students get a chance to ask questions or comment. The goal is to have a tree that is colorful and very tall. When an off-topic comment is made we put a branch instead of a colorful card. Obviously, a tree without branches sticking out all over is the goal. The topic of this conversation tree was....
Click on me to find out
So there is the activity. It's great for working on conversation skills, expansion of utterances, asking questions, answering questions etc.
Now for more on the move....
I figured I would let you all in on my exciting news. This speech lady is moving to Chicago in 2 months. Chicago has always been in the back of my mind (my sister and her husband have lived there for several years), but the day I felt the baby inside my sister's stomach kick, I was a goner. I knew I needed to be near this little being or I would go insane. Well my sweet little niece is 7 months old now, and everyday away has been absolute torture. 
I mean she was cute then, but you should see her "Michelin Man" arms and precious face now.
Anyways, I'm extremely anxious and thrilled about the exciting things ahead of me and wanted to share it with my blog family (you all of course!).
I decided I needed a better way to pin my therapy ideas. It was driving me crazy the way I had no organization of all the cool things out there. Therefore, I created a new Pinterest account where I will now be pinning all the wonderful therapy ideas out there. Feel free to continue following my old one (I like to think I have great taste in food and clothes :) ), or unfollow and follow my new account. I will slowly but surely be adding lots of new ideas.
A-Z Speech Blogs
The Best Speech-Language Pathologist Blogs from ‘A to Z’
So honored to be considered one of the best speech therapy blogs. Check out this article and make sure you become a follower of Speech Lady Liz and like it on Facebook too!
Thank you all for being such amazing supporters of this blog. I was not expecting it to turn into something so big. I just wanted to catalog my therapy activities, but I'm so glad that I can share with you all my love for what I do. It's a pretty cool job :)
Santa please bring me...
1. Boardmaker
I seriously do not know what I would do without it. It makes my life so much easier and helps me create all kinds of fun activities.
2. Pinterest
I use Pinterest for inspiration and to find other speech therapy blogs. I often ask myself what I did before Pinterest was created. Pediastaff has some amazing boards check them out here. Feel free to follow my speech therapy board as well.
3. Blue Pens
Anything official in the schools has to be signed with a blue pen. I buy blue pens in bulk, yet I can never find one when I need it.
4. Starbucks
No explanation necessary.
5. Ikea Magazine holders
These cardboard magazine holders are $.99 for a pack of them. I use them to organize my books and anything else I can organize.
These cardboard magazine holders are $.99 for a pack of them. I use them to organize my books and anything else I can organize.
6. Laminator
I would laminate this computer if I thought it would work. I love laminating!
7. Cute labels http://www.thehandmadehome.net/freebies/
To support my OCD, this lovely website has given me the cutest labels ever so that I don’t feel bad about labeling anything and everything.
8. Mirror
I have some kids that all it takes is a look in the mirror when they’re making their sounds and BAM! they graduate from speech therapy. I take all the credit though :)
Check out my classroom post and see how I've made the mirror an integral (and fun) part of the speech room.
Check out my classroom post and see how I've made the mirror an integral (and fun) part of the speech room.
Along with being OCD, I am also a germaphobe. My manicures last 5 minutes because I’m constantly washing my hands and using hand sanitizer.
10. Velcro
Velcro is one of those supplies that I am forced to use sparingly because it’s so expensive, but if I could I would Velcro everything!
What are some things that you couldn't live without? Write a comment and let me know.
Come back after the holidays for my go-to speech therapy games (super easy to make and/or cheap to buy).
Come back after the holidays for my go-to speech therapy games (super easy to make and/or cheap to buy).
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.
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