Love It & List It: Behavior Management

Disclaimer: Affiliate links are included for your convenience.

This month, Jenna from Speech Room News, is featuring Behavior Management ideas. Fortunately, this year I haven't really had too many behavior issues. My school uses a clip chart system within each classroom. I don't have something separate, mainly because I'm not always doing therapy in the same location.

Here are some tips that I've found work well for my students:

1. Give clear expectations: I start each session explaining what we're going to do. I usually have some sort of craft and additional activities, depending on the group. I have found that if they know what to expect, it helps.

2. Pull out hands-on materials: I do have several kids with attention issues. This is when I pull out methods like coins or other hands on items that the kids can earn. Lately, they like just being given the "magic wand" and picking up a magnetic chip for each answer - the little things, right? It helps improve their focus and lessens the amount of time I spend redirecting. 

3. Follow through: If you tell a student that you're going to speak to his/her teacher about behavior, DON'T FORGET TO DO IT. Otherwise, they'll soon learn that you won't follow through! I'm lucky to have great working relationships with the teachers in my building, so we are all on the same page when it comes to that. 

Those are my tips! Don't forget to check out the other ideas! 

Peek At My Week 4/25

Graphics: My Cute Graphics

First week after spring break! Lots of meetings! Lots of Earth Day activities!

First up, I used my Earth Day Extravaganza pretty much all week in various different ways. It has activities for tons of the goals I target, so it was perfect.  Below is a picture of the paper/cardboard and plastic sort. I forgot to print it in color, but we made do with black and white. It was great to work on describing using attributes and comparing/contrasting!

The craft of the week was a very simple construction paper globe that required little prep. Cut ovals out of blue construction paper and cut squares from green construction paper to glue on. This was my example - I did it quickly in the morning. Don't mind the fact that my Earth seems to be missing a few continents. For some kids, I stapled another piece of paper on the bottom and had them write down ways to help the Earth. For others, we wrote artic words around the ocean. 

I had to be in a ton of meetings, so I was happy to have something already planned for the week! Since those meetings mean at least some new evaluations, don't miss my latest Clinical Skills Confidence post which talks about keeping tabs on E.I.P.!

U.T.F. Unexpected Therapy Find Linky Party

Melanie at The Speech Place has started a linky party for U.T.F. or Unexpected Therapy Find. This month features apps. I love finding apps that aren't designed specifically for speech therapy, but seem to work wonderfully during sessions. 

Here are the ones I find myself frequently using:

Oscar Pizza Chef: This is a cute app featuring 10 recipes for different pizzas. You have to follow the recipe exactly, otherwise the monster at the end gets mad and throws it. Great for following directions and it's quick!

Show Me: This is a simple whiteboard app. Sometimes I'll open it to do comparing and contrasting and the kids really just like to write on the iPad. The little things that will motivate them sometimes! You can also make recordings, which is good for artic students. Just write a list of words and have them record and rate themselves!

Speak Colors: This is a simple app that I use with younger kids when I'm trying to increase utterance length. There is a phrase and sentence level and you're show a color and an item of the same color. 

You can record the sentence as well, which is extra motivating!

Those are some of the U.T.F. apps that I frequently use! Don't forget to check out other SLP bloggers who linked up to share their finds!

Clinical Skills Confidence: Keeping Tabs on E.I.P.

At this time, I'm currently treading water in a sea of evaluations. Sometimes, I'm floating on my back just to get a little break. This is when keeping tabs on E.I.P. becomes crucial for me and if I don't have all my ducks in a row, something can easily slip through the cracks. 

What's E.I.P.? Evaluations In Progress! 

Here's how I do it:

After the meeting where we learn about the student, I compile all notes that I took in a file folder with the student's name and date of birth. I put 2 sticky notes on each file: one with chronological age for easy reference and one with all the steps that I need to take to finish the evaluation, so that I can check it off as I go. As anal as it sounds, it keeps me organized. I also put test forms for the tests I plan to give in the folder, so they're ready to go. These are the steps I usually take:

-evaluation: names of all tests I plan to give since I usually don't finish in one session

-oral motor exam (that can easily be forgotten)

-observation (not always done, but I try to do it)
-language sample: I have my checklist handy for this and I record it

-teacher questionnaire (I give the CELF one)

-write report 

-make copies for cumulative file, my working file, and parent

I usually also have the sticky app on my laptop with who I'm currently evaluating so I can reference it when I'm at home. I try to finish up evaluating and write the report as soon as humanly possible, especially when I'm doing a bunch at a time. Otherwise, I'm liable to forget which kid did what! 

That's my system! How do you keep track of evaluations? 

Finding Your TpT Niche

Linky Party time!

It's easy - if you'd like to participate, simply insert the above graphic into your post and link back to my post. Be sure to add your link to the bottom of this post too!

When I started TpT in November 2012, I'll admit I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. Little did I know what a fabulous world of wonderfully made activities I would find from other SLP bloggers and SLPs across the country. In times where budgets are tight, it is amazing to be able to find activities that will work for diverse caseloads for just dollars.

I didn't start it with intentions of making millions (though that would be nice)! I started with some ideas that I thought would be great to share with fellow SLPs. Making activities to sell on TpT has become very popular in the last couple of years. It's a GOLD MINE of fabulous, creative, inexpensive activities! I am, by no means, an expert on what makes your products sell, but I thought I'd share how I've found my TpT niche.

I try to come up with ideas that are different! I like to try new ideas out in my therapy room and I'm definitely trying to streamline my planning process so that I can still enjoy life outside of the SLP world. That's been my inspiration for creating most of the products in my store. Some of the ones that I think have been a hit include:

Mirror Activities: I have a bunch of these in my store (some free, like Mirror-CATEGORIES and Mirror-TIC: TH). Kids get excited about these!

App Companions: I started with My PlayHome and now have one for My PlayHome Stores as well. I did contact the app developer and got permission to develop the product with the knowledge that I'm selling it online.

Mini-Books: I like writing my own mini-books with accompanying activities!

I believe that if you come up with a new and different idea, people are likely to become repeat customers. Above all, I strive to create and post quality products, which definitely takes time. It doesn't happen overnight and I'm nowhere near the success of some other SLP bloggers who sell on TpT, but I'm content with what I've accomplished so far.

So bloggers, get ready! Link up below and share your ideas for how YOU found your TpT niche!

Places To Find Inexpensive Books

Disclaimer: Affiliate links are included for your convenience!

I frequently use books in therapy! It's a great way to incorporate literacy and language skills. While I love browsing big name book stores, I sometimes don't love the prices. Here are my tips for finding inexpensive books:

1. Thrift Stores: While you may have to do some digging, you can often find great books for a steal.

2. Paper Back Swap: This is a website that allows you to trade books and get new ones using credits. So dig out those old books you don't need anymore and trade them for new ones!

3. Dollar Store/Dollar Spot: Sometimes you can find great, short books at these places...among other things that can easily cause you to spend more than you intended.

4. eBay: If you search "children's book lot" or "speech therapy," you can usually get a bunch of different hits for less. 

5. Amazon: When you search for a book on Amazon, you sometimes have the option to buy a used version, which can be considerably cheaper. Plus, if you have Amazon Prime, you can get free 2 day shipping!

6. Children's Section of Alibris books: I haven't personally ordered from here, but there were some books for as low as $0.99!

Where do you get books for your therapy room? 

{Review} Preposition Remix App + Giveaway

Disclaimer: A copy of this app was provided to me; however, the opinions expressed are solely my own.

Time for another app review and giveaway - one of my favorite combinations! Be sure to enter the giveaway after reading my review!

Preposition Remix is an app by Smarty Ears that sells for $9.99 in the App Store. It is a single player app that targets 20 different prepositions.

You can customize it in the settings to only target certain ones, which is a great feature. Some of the prepositions include ones that I've found myself targeting on a regular basis, such as: above, behind, under, in front of, etc.

You can choose to have the written cue on the bottom or not:

Some of the prepositions are less common, such as: furthest, closest to, etc. 

When the student selects the correct choice, they get an audio and visual reward, which is very motivating to my students:

What I Liked:

-ability to customize and target just what you need

-pictures are clear

-ability to target less common prepositions like further, closest to, etc.

What I Would Love To See:

-the ability to make it multiplayer since I work with many groups

-an expressive part where students could name the preposition once they've mastered the receptive aspect

Overall, this is a fantastic app that will get your students excited about practicing prepositions! 

For your chance to win a copy, enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway