Rocking Social Skills Bulletin Board

Since we moved this summer, I am starting all over at a new school this year. I have such bittersweet emotions. On one hand, I was so sad to leave my old school because the teachers and administrators there were simply the best. Seriously. 
On the other hand, it is fun to start fresh and be challenged in new ways. Also, it means I have a new room to decorate! (Did you read that? I said ROOM people! No more trailers for this speech lady! Hallelujah!) 

A more detailed post is coming on my new room decor soon, but for now I wanted to share my self-made bulletin board.

Thanks to some serious Pinterest research I discovered the easiest way to create a bulletin board on cinder blocks. Just outline the space you want to use in painters tape, then put hot glue on top of the painters tape, and then attach fabric of your choice. Easy peasy and it won't tear paint off the walls! Principal approved!

Also, I fell in love with look of layering boarders! So cute!  Kinder Craze has the best tutorial on how to make layered boarders. 

I wanted this space to be cute, but also helpful in targeting student's goals. I created posters to be visual reminders of good soil skills. So many kiddos need to focus on pragmatics and this will be a great visual reminder. I am also hoping this will serve as reminders to my student's who don't necessarily have social skill goals in their IEPs, but continue to need cues or gentle reminders on how to best treat their friends. 

These posters added color to my wall and look so cute! I also included pages with a black and white background so save on  ink. You can grab Rocking Social Skills Bulletin Board Set in my TpT Store. 

And don't miss my Emotions Bulletin Board Set while you are there!

Or you can get both for a lesser price if you purchase the Bundle!

Catching Up

There is so much to catch up on! It has been a very busy year! This speech lady has gotten married...

Moved to a new city...

And will start my new job next week! I can't wait to meet all my new students! Here is a peek at my speech room before. I hope to show you the after picture very soon!

The Friend Ship

Music is a wonderful way to involve children in therapy. It can be used as a reward or as a teaching tool.

TheFriend Ship Music CD was created by Erica Bland, MS, CCC-SLP, to encourage social communication and emotional regulation in young children.

This CD includes 9 songs each revolving around an important social skill. Personally, I love that the lyrics are included for each song! (I would never make it on hose TV shows where you have to fill in the lyrics of songs…) I also love that the songs are short and catchy. Kids will learn the songs quickly and hopefully be able to sing reminders about using good social skills!

An activity booklet is an excellent companion to use with the CD. It offers multiple activities for parents and therapists for every song. I love that this can be geared towards parents. Nothing makes me happier than parent involvement (and I have found that children make progress faster when parents are on board!)

Overall, I think this is a very practical product that can eaily be incorporated into therapy. It is most appropriate for younger children (PK to 6 years old).

Click here to listen to a song! And click here to download it from iTunes.

I believe that this product would be a very useful resource to have in your speech room!

*Erica form The Friend Ship asked me to review this product. However, the thoughts and opinions are all mine!

Summer Language

You asked, we listened! A summer language packet is now available! The goal of this product is to make end of the year easier for you!

This packet includes 8 weeks of language homework to keep students engaged over the summer. Each week has 5 days of activities. Sequencing, predicting, fact or opinion, comparing and contrasting are some of the skills targeted.

2 cover pages are also included. Students may pick their favorite page to color. Then staple together the parent letter and 8 weeks of work and you are ready to go for the summer!

2 bonus pages are also included. You can attach them to the summer booklet, or use them in therapy.

I usually offer a special reward for students who bring their booklet back completed. Parents may check beside each day or initial it.

Don’t forget to check out the complete summer bundle, which combines summer articulation and language packets! Get both for a lower price!

How do you use it? Clothes Pins Linky Party

Time for a linky party! This month Speech Time Fun wants to know how do you use clothes pins in speech therapy.

I use lots of clothes pins for my ArticulationProcess Posters. 

I write each student's name on a pin. As students make progress with their speech, they can move their clothes pin up the speech ladder. This has been an amazing visual motivator for my kids! They always ask if they can move up and the  also keep tabs on where their friends are!

Confessions of a Poor Phonology Student

We all have strengths… and we all have weaknesses. Some of us rock out whipping out fabulous IEPs and others of us can create a cute craftivity using little to no brain power.

Well, I confess… I have a weakness. I know, I know, I can hear all of you gasping at the thought. A speech lady who is not perfect in every area of life? It cannot be! Well I hate to burst your bubble but the nasty rumor is true. (I hope you can all hear the sarcasm in this! ;)

I am not so good at phonetics. I never really liked the class in undergrad of grad school. This is not a reflection of the professor, but rather my instinct to not love something that I am not naturally good at.  I used to poor over pages of homework for hours and hours saying words over and over and over and over and over. Then I would get someone else to say the words over and over and over and over. As time went on in my school career I got better at phonetics and transcribing. I had to practice constantly so I wouldn't forget what I had learned.

Then I got a job in the real world and was not required to test my own students. I only had to transcribe on rare occasions. Therefore, I was out of the habit of transcribing and it was a nightmare all over again!

Incase any of you can relate to not being a  super star in the land of phonetics I wanted to share a little treasure that made my life and phonetics class much easier!

Behold, Merriam-Webseter’s A Pronouncing Dictionary of American English. This little treasure is a guide to using the International Phonetic Alphabet. It lists words and variations of the phonetic spelling. It was a great way to double check myself!

I hope that some of you find it useful too!

Summer Gift Tags

I always try to give my students a little end of the year gift. They have worked so hard all year and I want to be sure to encourage them and let them know how proud I am!

Earlier this week I walked into Dollar General and saw a box of 24 bubbles for $3. Score! I was able to get a little treat for all 48 of my students for only $6! Score!

My gift this year will be a small bottle of bubbles with a tag that says ‘You blew me away this year!’

Last year I put together a package of KoolAide and a crazy straw with a tag that said ‘Have a Kool Summer!’ 

I have also seen on Pinterest giving a beach ball with a tag that reads 'Have a ball this summer!'

Go here to grab our summer gift tags for FREE!

What do you do for your students at the end of the year?