Arthur Explains Aspergers

Arthur explains Asperger’s Syndrome for children.

Please share your thoughts on this video!

Artic Screener

Hi speechies! It’s that time of year when referrals are coming at you left right and center. You know, a kid in Kindergarten says “Um….” or talks about a wabbit they saw and the teacher is sending them your way! We all have one of those general education teachers at our school. Sometimes they are dead on, and other times I am racking my brain for a polite way to offer a hearing screening!

Anyways, we wanted to share a site that has a quick artic screener. And you can get it for free! You just print it and put it in a notebook and you’re good to go! Click HERE to get it!

Happy screening!

Dr. Seuss on IEPs

Ran across this poem while cleaning out my classroom. I have no idea who wrote it, but I thought it was cute and wanted to share!

Dr. Seuss on IEPs

I do not like these IEPs

I do not like them, Jeeze Louise!

We test, we check,

We plan, we meet,

But nothing ever seems complete.

Would you, could you like the form?

I do not like the form I see,

Not page 1, not 2, not 3

Another change,

A brand new box,

I think we all

Have lost our rocks,

Could we all meet here or there?

We cannot all fit anywhere.

Not in a room, not in a hall,

There seems to be no space at all.

Could you, would you meet again?

It is time to begin!

Please hear me speak

No, not at dusk. No, not at dawn.

At 4 P.M., I should be gone.

Could you hear while all speak out?

Would you write the words they spout?

I could not hear, I would not write,

This does not need to be a fight.

Sign here, date there,

Mark this, check that,

Beware the students ad-vo-cat!

You do not like them,

So you say

Try again! Try again! And you may

If you will let me be,

I will try again,

You will see

Say! I almost like these IEPs

I think I’ll write 6,003

And I will practice day and night

Until they say

You got it right!

Crayon Wreath

Happy new school year everyone! We know many schools are starting back this week (including ours) and we wish you a smooth first week! As my principal told me at our faculty meeting, on the first day you just want to SURVIVE!

In honor of school starting back, we have a fun DIY craft that will look super cute in your classroom! The idea came for a crayon wreath came from pinterest (my newest obsession). It is inexpensive and super easy! (Our fave craft combo!)

Materials you will need:

·         12 in. embroidery hoop

·         9 in. embroidery hoop

·         6 boxes of crayons

·         Ribbon

·         Wooden pieces

·         Hot glue gun

·         Spray Paint (optional)

Directions: First, spray paint the hoops the color of your choice (but not necessary). Set the 9 in. hoop inside your 12 in. hoop and begin to glue each end of the crayon to a hoop (I put the tip of the crayon pointing out). It should look something like this:

Continue this all the way around your hoops. We did 2 layers of crayons just to give it a fuller look, but you can stop after one layer if you like! It is up to you! Then we glued the wooden pieces on top of the crayons. Add ribbon at the top and you are finished!

5 Popular Games That Can Double as Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Learning Tools

Greetings everyone! Today we are excited to have a guest blogger! Philip J Reed, on behalf of Westwood College, has provided us with an article about games to use in therapy!  Westwood offers many programs, including speech-language pathology.

5 Popular Games for Speech Therapy:
It doesn't matter if you have a medical assistant degree or any degree at all; it’s common sense that the easiest way to get through to a patient or a child is to involve them in things they are already interested in. That’s why it’s important in SLP to make speech exercises fun.

A simple way to do this is to use familiar games in order to get your young patients to work on their speech skills. After all, not all children will find speech exercises inherently exciting. In fact, they may even want to skip speech sessions if they become routinely dull. But what child wouldn't want to come to therapy if it meant playing games he or she already enjoys?

Here are some familiar games you may already have that can be used as learning tools for the children that you see.

Memory is one simple game to be used in order to practice speech, and there are many variations you should be able to find. The game involves arranging cards face-down on a table, and flipping over cards two at a time to find matches. Ask the child to name the objects pictured as he or she picks up the cards. After the game is over, the child can repeat all of the cards to you. You can even create laminated cards for your young learner to take home so that they can play with their family.

Go Fish is also a great card game to be used in order to practice speech skills. Again, you can create your own laminated cards for a child using words which they need to practice. For example, if a specific child has trouble with "r blends", then you can create cards which have pictures of objects whose names involve these blends. The concept of the game stays the same as do the rules; it is just that the cards are a little bit different.

Clue is another great game to use to practice speech skills. If your client is a younger child, you can use Clue Jr. Have the child discuss what is happening at every stage of the game, and discuss possibilities for how the case might pan out. Invent backstories or side-stories for the characters to really get your young learner involved, and always allow your patient to elaborate or suggest story ideas!

Candyland can also be used to help young clients with speech skills, especially if they are very resistant to therapy. You can have the child practice saying the colors of the walkway as well as the names of the characters. As a special treat, you may even reward the child with a lollipop at the end of the session. Just make sure you keep them involved; this game shouldn’t turn into a passive story-time. Encourage them to speak up, and describe how the different areas of the board look to them, preferably using recent vocabulary words they have studied!

Bingo can also be used as a learning tool. Many educational stores sell different versions of the game including versions with letters, colors or objects. Some versions of the game which teach phonics have beginning and ending word blends. These versions are very helpful if your local store carries them. If not, you can again create your own game using the words or sounds that you want your child to practice. Make sure to laminate your boards in order to have them hold up a little bit longer.

Whatever game you may choose to play with your patients, remember that the most important thing is that they are engaged in the activity. What works for one child may not work at all for another, so experiment and find something that’s both fun and useful!

Applying for Graduate School

Greeting readers! We hope that you are all doing well and psyching yourselves up to start another great school year that is coming all too soon!

To all of those undergraduate students who will be beginning their senior year (whoop whoop!) and starting to consider where they will apply to graduate school we wish you luck and lots of acceptance letters! We have come across a video from the LinguaHealth channel on You Tube that might be helpful as you undergo this process.

The Speech Ladies Tips for Applying to Grad School:



1. Cast a wide net. As an undergraduate associate professor I see so many students who only apply to one or two schools and then don’t get in anywhere. Apply to several schools, even if they are not your #1 pick, this way you can keep your options open.


2. Get good recommendations. We know that this seems like a given, but when you ask a professor for a recommendation, double check that they are going to say something positive about you! Also, professors LOVE it when you give them a neat little packet that includes a written request of which schools you need recs for, an early thank you, and an addressed/stamped envelope. And be sure to write them a thank you note after the fact as well.


3. Get those GRE scores up! We will not rehash this subject since we already posted about it. If you missed our GRE post you can read it here.


4. Visit your prospective schools. This is a tip that was given in the video, and we agree whole heartedly! If at all possible lay eyes on the schools you are considering. If you can, call the school in advance to let them know you will be stopping by. Many places are thrilled by your interest and are more than willing to give you a quick tour of their facilities. (Also, this is a great way to get your face in front of the people who will be accepting or rejecting your application. There are no guarantees, but every little bit helps!)


5. Study NOW! GPAs play a big role in the application process, so the best way you can prepare for your future is to study for your classes today! If you need extra motivation throughout the year, put a picture of your #1 school above your desk to remind you to stay focused as you study!

Brown Bear Brown Bear

Summer is starting to wind down! We can’t believe that it has gone by so quickly! Please forgive the recent lack of posts, we have been on vacation and trying to enjoy our last few days before heading back to work!

A few weeks ago we ran across a great reading activity on Skip to My Lou. Even though school is out, it is so important to keep exposing our kids to language and to do it in a fun, creative way!

We love the book Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See by Eric Carle! This book is repetitive and is such a great way to introduce some easy language concepts such as:

·         Point to the child while reading “What do YOU see?”

·         Point to self while reading “I see a…”

·         Point to eyes while reading “I SEE a …”

·         Talk about colors of the animals

·         Talk about the different animals and the noises they make

And torn paper collages are a great craft to go along with the book!

You will need construction paper (or if you want you can tear up magazine paper or paint paper and then tear it), glue, and a white sheet of paper.

How to make it: tear up the paper (kids really like this part!) then glue it to the white paper in the shape of your favorite animal from the book!

It is super simple but a fun literature activity! Don't forget that while you are making your collage that is a great time to discuss body parts, and parts to the whole!