Monday, June 17, 2013

Summer!



I'm taking some time off from blogging to work on summer projects and to do a little traveling.  I will resume posting in August. However, "like me" on Facebook and / or follow my Speech and Language Pinterest Board as I will continue to share on those sites throughout the summer months. 

Enjoy your summer!

Diana

© 2013

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Technology Survey Results

About two weeks ago, I posted a technology survey. I am very pleased that I had 82 responses and that the survey appeared to work flawlessly. This survey is in no way scientific, but an interesting way to learn about the technology used by readers of this blog. 


Most responses were from SLPs who worked in schools. A real eye-opener for me was the total number of SLPs in the school systems/divisions of the responders. I work in a large school division of about 90 SLPs. One SLP was one of 400+ , but exactly half worked in school divisions/systems with less than 10 SLPs. 


Everyone had access to a computer, but 21% reported using personal laptops. 


The majority of those responding do not have access to interactive whiteboards. 



One lucky SLP has an iPad AND iPad Mini provided by the school. However, 45% of those who responded use personal iPads or tablets in their work settings and 8% do not have access to an iPad or other etablet.  







I sometimes post to BoardmakerShare; however, this shows that only 32% of these SLPs can access my Boardmaker posts. 






Here are a sample of some of the comments:

  • Caseloads too high to use technology as a lot of groups are large or service is integrated.
  • I find it shocking that we aren't all given access to Boardmaker. It would sure make my life easier! Another thing that I find frustrating is that we do not have the ability to print in color anywhere in the district. If we want color copies, we have to use our personal printers at home.
  • I use technology every day in every setting in some form or fashion to support therapy and assessments.
  • I work in a charter school and we are required to provide all of our own materials, laptop and iPad. 
  • We have been promised IPADS maybe next Fall.  There are Smartboards out in classrooms, but wireless is often down.  Technology is coming but slowly.
  •  I work in a private/Medicaid-funded school in an urban area with students from poor families.  I often make purchases from my home funds without the expectation of reimbursement.  I NEED free or low-priced apps and websites.

Thank you to all who responded to the survey. I used Google Drive to create the survey and easily show the results. And, it just so happens that Ruth Morgan at Chapel Hill Snippets has posted a "how to" for using this form to collect data in therapy.  Check it out! 


Diana

© 2013

Thursday, June 13, 2013

File These Apps Under Phonemic Awareness


Many of you are not working :) and will forget about these apps by August or September, so . . .  create a Phonemic Awareness file on your iPad. Some of these apps might also be useful for articulation therapy and for auditory bombardment. 

To create a file (1) Hold down one app until all apps wiggle. (2) Drag one app on top of another to create a file. (3) Rename the file. (4) Drag other apps to the closed file. (5) To stop the wiggle, push the home button. 


ABCmouse.com Big Bug and Little Bug by Age of Learning, Inc.


Phonics Tic-Tac-Toe Interactive Game by Lakeshore Learning Materials

ABCmouse.com 26 A-Z Music Videos by Age of Learning, Inc. NOTE - Only the letters a, b, and c are free. You have to purchase other videos as in app purchases OR earn tickets by listening to the free songs to purchase downloads of the desired videos with your tickets. 

Profs' Phonics Smar-test 1 by Doc Ruth


Hideout: Early Reading by Brigham Young University






Diana

© 2013

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Tuesday's Treasure Box: 100 Book Reviews

I just noticed that books4all, the book review page at all4mychild | Collaborative Tools and Technologies, has reviewed 100 books. It appears that most reviews are submitted by SLP, Meghan Gallahan Graham; however, there is a form to complete for those of you who are interested in submitting a review. 

Most reviews include the a brief description, age or level of the book, goals addressed, reasons the reviewer enjoys the book, and ideas for use. Goals addressed and ideas for use make lesson planning easy. 

I would love to see a link to a list of the books reviewed. You can go to the Pinterest board for books4all, but only about half of the book reviews are pinned. However, you can search by goal or theme - see the tags posted on the right. 

The most recent review, I Am Invited to a Party by Mo Willems, included links to several websites and apps related to the them. This book and many of the other books reviewed are good resources when addressing social situations in therapy. 



Diana

© 2013

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Recommend These Free Apps to Parents

The whole family can complete physical challenges, silly brainstorms, and math questions while playing The Electric Company's Party Game.  The collaborative nature of the game allows for a large number of speech and language opportunities. 


Your younger students will like Lazoo's Squiggles and Let's Color. There are many opportunities to elicit language. Most pages have two or more areas for to add squiggles, giving children the opportunity to interact with siblings or parents. 


Grammar Jammers - Parents can learn the animations and rhymes along with their child as they learn grammar usage and mechanics.





Keep track of summer reading with Scholastic Reading Timer.




For additional apps and many other activities for summer practice, check out my Six Weeks of Summer, Interactive Speech and Language Practice Activities




Diana

© 2013

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Tuesday's Treasure Box: We Give Books

Anyone that has worked with me knows that I paired children's literature selections with therapy lessons as often as possible. When I left my last school for an office, I gave away hundreds of books and still have shelves full of children's books. 

Today I am featuring a site that I would have loved to have had as a resource when working in schools! 

We Give Books, created by the Penguin Group and the Pearson Foundation, is a digital initiative that puts free books in the hands of children by allowing them to read the books on the Internet. 

We Give Books is a fabulous FREE resource for SLPs. The books can be projected on to a large screen or whiteboard for group sessions. Use your laptop for smaller sessions. Editor's Picks can be read on mobile devices.  If your students have Internet at home, suggest a book to practice a skill. 



There are hundreds of fiction and nonfiction books available to read for students from birth to age 10.  And, check out the Resources for Educators. I like the Reading Guides. They are just perfect for SLPs. I hope that more are added! 




Like We Give Books on Facebook for updates and more. You will love the We Give Books Pinterest boards where you will see over 400 books classified by subject area. 




One important fact that I forgot to add is that for each book you read, a book is donated. We Give Books donates to some of the world's best literacy organizations and right now is donating 5,000 books to Oklahoma schools affected by the recent disaster. Two more books will be added for every $5.00 donated before June 30, 2013. If you would like to contribute, click here


Diana

© 2013

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Help for SLPs in Oklahoma

Purchase two special bundles for $15 each at TpT and all proceeds go to help the SLPs who lost everything in Moore Public Schools. 

These bundles are fabulous – I purchased mine this morning.

Click on the following link to purchase yours -Two "Moore" Ways to SupportSLPs---Donation Location.

Diana

© 2013