Sunday, August 21, 2016

Why Back to School Just Got Less Frenzied! Super Speech Therapy Tips and a Bonus Sale

This SLP went home Friday and fell asleep on the couch.


Why Back to School Just Got Less Frenzied! Tips for SLPs www.speechsproutstherapy.com


I just finished my first week back to school, and I have to admit, it kinda kicked me in the ____! 

With five ARD meetings (That's what we call IEP meetings in Texas), new software to learn, several move-in students added to my already bulging therapy roll, staff meetings, presenting my in-service on CAS, unearthing my therapy room, staff meetings, welcoming and orienting my new paraprofessional and my new SLP-A, and the staff meetings....did I mention the staff meetings? Whoooo! I was frenzied and exhausted. I'll bet you know exactly what I mean.


Why Back to School Just Got Less Frenzied! Tips for SLPs www.speechsproutstherapy.com


Students start on Monday, and those bright shiny faces are expecting a great year. I'm going to help give it to them too. We are going to have fun, make some awesome progress and have our best year ever. But sometimes we need a little help, because time is at a premium.


Super Speech Therapy Tips and a Bonus Sale www.speechsprouts.com

The Frenzied SLPs know how crazy it can get- 


we are all headed back to school too! So we are getting together to offer you some terrific therapy tips and tell you about amazing therapy materials to cover your caseload and help make your year, well.... a little less frenzied!

So here are my tips for therapy planning:

1. Plan for high-interest themes and activities in speech therapy. 

When students are engaged, therapy becomes a breeze and a pleasure. I love themes, it keeps me interested too! We'll be thinking about yellow school buses, apples, owls, monsters, spiders, pumpkins and turkeys this fall.

2. Use visuals whenever possible! 

So many of our students with language delays are not strong auditory learners. Visuals can really help.

One of my favorite activities in my store, Associations and Describing: In The Doghouse. combines a favorite theme (pets) with strong visuals to assist children in describing similarities or associations. The describing mat gives children cues to helps them decribe the similarities. For example: They both have...., they are both part of...... The puzzle mat helps students format their sentence in reply to "How do they go together?"



The cute little puppy-dog themed game is fun, and adds a few more language opportunities. What is the dog doing? Why did his pawprints change color?

3. Use one versatile activity that's adaptable for multiple goals, mixed groups, and ages. It will save you time and your sanity!

I aim to build in versatility to my packs for this reason- pull one and done!

Associations and Describing in the Doghouse works great for pre-k to 3rd grade. Little ones work on vocabulary and basic go-togethers. Older children work on describing the associations. Modify up or down by requiring more attributes per description. Voila! Easy planning.

If you don't know,

Teachers pay Teachers has a back to school sale every August

I plan to pick up some products to help me plan out my fall and early winter too because this one-day-only sale means 25% off in most stores. Everything will be on sale at Speech Sprouts store including In The Doghouse.

More Tips and Great Speech Therapy Resources


Be sure to check more tips and must-have products from the Frenzied SLPs and friends. Just click any of the following links! I hope you find some awesome new activities you'll love.

Speech Universe
Speech is Sweet
Gold Country SLP
SLP Runner
Speech 2U
Old School Speech
Looks Like Language
Kidz Learn Language
The Speech Owl
Badger State Speechy
Talkin' With Twang
Speech Snacks

Until next time!