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Putting Louisiana in Your Mouth

Putting Words in Your Mouth

A place for all things speech and language...with a Cajun twist

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Who’s ready to start Valentine’s Day themed th

Who’s ready to start Valentine’s Day themed therapy? 😍🥰💗❤️

I have to squeeze in V-Day AND Mardi Gras (because it would be a crime not to here) so I’ve already started!

Use this simple but engaging open-ended game to work on and reinforce ANY skill! I’m not kidding, y’all!

If you’ve played the Christmas or Thanksgiving versions…you know it’s true!

⭐️ BONUS: it’s super low prep! Just print & do some quick cutting!

Play with 2-6 players (which obviously even those mixed groups you’d usually dread). Just keepin’ it real! 🤷🏻‍♀️

You get everything to play the game (game mats, cookies, wild cards that shake up the game)…

PLUS a Valentines Day themed list of words for either teaching vocabulary or articulation drill! 😍😍😍

Make it even more fun by drawing the cookie cards from a cookie jar 🍪, an empty cookie mix box 🍪, or a cookie sheet pan.

Whoever finds all of their cookies to bring to the cookies exchange party WINS!

Get this by going to my Pr🅾️🗄️, or just send me a message.
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#schoolslp #slpeeps #speechies #slpsontpt #slpsofinstagram #speechtherapy #speechtherapist #slp2be #slpbloggers #speechpathology #slpgradstudent #preschoolslp #slpsoninstagram #speechtherapyideas

We should start every speech sound disorder sessio

We should start every speech sound disorder session with some quick (or not-so-quick) phonological awareness tasks!

WHY?
Because Bishop and Adams (1990) identified the “critical age” for preventing literacy problems in students with SLD, phonological disorders, and reading delays to be age 5 years, 6 months. 😲

Otherwise, they are at great risk for academic problems.

That’s right - a history of an SSD predicts literacy difficulties. The first time read this, it blew my mind! 🤯

This is why I say it’s never “just artic.”
Does that statement annoy you, too?

Today’s phonology task with my students simply consisted of small plastic hearts (that I found at Walmart) with mini objects inside.

The children I work with had to open up the hearts and decide if the object inside contained their sound or not. If it did, they got to keep it near them in their “collection.”

If not, they had to throw it in the trash can (a small plastic recycle bin from @dollartree)

If they were capable, I also had them identify the position in the word (beginning, middle, or end).

The purpose?
1) I have to keep building their phonological awareness because of the daunting research I mentioned above.
2) If children don’t know where in a word to apply their new strategies, how will they generalize? They’d just be getting meaningless practice.
3) My goal is for NO CHILD on my watch to face years (or a lifetime) of literacy struggles. 😔

Afterward, we went on to work on the children's specific speech targets. I used this $3 magnetic Build a Snowman game from Walmart to reinforce effort or accuracy (depending on the child).

I also used the @littlebeespeech hive app for working on sounds in isolation; the bear’s growl is a fun way to help elicit the vocalic r, and kids can’t get enough of making it roar!

Do you incorporate phonological awareness into your SSD sessions?

If you missed the amazing Dr. Carol Westby's session during @bright_ideas_media SLP Summit, it's NOT TOO LATE to sign up for replays!

Her course is FULL of links to FREE phonological awareness activities and a free phonological awareness screening. GO SIGN UP & getcha some. It'll surely benefit your students!

Have you grabbed this FREE download from my TPT st

Have you grabbed this FREE download from my TPT store?

It’s truly works ✨MAGIC✨ for establishing correct placement for /s/ and /z/ - both for lateral or frontal/interdental lisps!

Tell the student to produce a quick /t/ on each step as they tap each /t/ on the rungs and then produce a “loooong t” as they slide their finger down the slide. This is key!

The slide will magically turn their /t/ into the perfect /s/!

Why? How? Because as we all know, /t/ and /s/ share the same placement and are both unvoiced. Likewise, /z/ and share the same placement and are both voiced. Yes, there’s one for /z/ as well! Their placement and production will be flawless once they get the hang of it!

If your student reverts to their distorted or Interdental production be sure to tell them NOT TO SAY /s/. ❌. They only need to make a “long /t/.”

Do you already use it? How’d it work?

Grab this on TpT by heading to my shop 🛒 simply named Mia McDaniel.

Thanks to @speechysisters for the photo!

#schoolslp #slpeeps #ashaigers #instaslp #speechtherapy #speechtherapist #articulationtherapy #speechsounddisorders #lisp #speechtherapyideas #slpsontpt #slpsgodigital #slpsofinstagram #slp2be #preschoolslp #speechies

Do you work on academic comprehension skills? I do

Do you work on academic comprehension skills? I do, too!

Using these fascinating NO PREP passages (with worksheets) makes it so EASY to use a penguin or winter theme while tackling SOOOOO many skills at one time.

➡️ Scroll through the pictures to see exactly which skills you can target! 🎯

And get this… it’ll last alllll winter long because you get: 🐧 12 manageable passages with questions (114 questions of various kinds total)
🐧 17 videos that expand on the learning and spark ✨ discussions - not to mention they’ll bring some laughs to your therapy sessions! Penguins are hilarious. 😆
🐧 compare/contrast tasks
🐧 a penguin board game

🖥️ These are ideal for virtual use, too!! Just screen share the PDF!

I also use them with my older elementary and middle school students who are working on articulation in connected speech!

Find this versatile resource in my pr🅾️-🗄️, comment or message me. I’ll get you there!

Do you use a penguin theme?

#schoolslp #slpeeps #instaslp #speechies #slpbigkids #slpsofinstagram #middleschoolslp #slp #slpsoninstagram #slp2be #readingcomprehension #iteachtoo #makinginferences #iteach #spedtribe #spedteacher #specialeducation

It’s easy to dread mondays. Just know that someo

It’s easy to dread mondays. Just know that someone is SO HAPPY to see YOU today because speech is their happy place! 🤩

#mondaymotivation

#schoolslp #slpeeps #slp #speechies #speechtherapy #ashaigers #preschoolslp #instaslp #slpsofinstagram #slpsoninstagram #speechtherapist #speechtherapy #slp2be #middleschoolslp #privatepracticeslp #pediatricslp

Do you use this game? It’s called Thin Ice, and

Do you use this game? It’s called Thin Ice, and it’s one of my very favorite winter themed games!! I had it years ago but had to leave it at my school. I recently bought it at @fivebelow for 5 bucks. 🤑

It’s simple; whoever breaks the ice (which is actually just a tissue) WINS!

PRO TIP: since my tissue is 2 ply, I separate it so the tissue is very thin. If you use quality tissue the ice doesn’t ever break! 😆

A bonus is that it’s great for fine motor skills! 🤏 Your OT will adore you. 😉

Here’s the part some that turns some people off… it requires water. 💦

All the marbles/balls are put in circle at the bottom of the game, then you add water. Unless your students are buck wild, it’s not usually an issue.

After practicing their assigned tasks or targets 🎯the student gets to use the tweezers (which are mittens) to add one ball to the ice. 🧊

It’s so interesting to see who problems solves the best places to add the marble 🤔(the dry parts of the tissue) versus who doesn’t.

Of course, the tissue gets weaker as it get saturated with water. Eventually the balls fall through, and whoever made it happen loses the game.

Super fun AND kids ask to play again and again. 👏👏👏Not to mention, I’m stoked to have gotten so many trials!!

Do you use it for therapy? If so, chime in! What do you think about it?

#schoolslp #slpeeps #slpbigkids #speechtherapy #speechies #slpsoninstagram #slp2be #slpbloggers #slpsofinstagram #speechtherapist #speechpathology #speechlanguagepathology #speechlanguagepathologist #speectherapyideas

RUN! Do not walk - to your nearest @dollartree to

RUN! Do not walk - to your nearest @dollartree to get these mouth wind up toys!

These are really for Valentine’s Day, but for us SLPs, they’re for all year ‘round! 👏👏👏 Wind ups are the ultimate communication TEMPTATION!

Wanna know how I use them?
👄 Put your favorite articulation (or phonology) cards on a tray, let kids wind one up and let it go. Then, they’ll practice the target it landed on.

👄 Working on WHERE questions? Line up little buildings (or images of buildings)! Make the wind up toy face the buildings, and let it go. Each time it reaches a building, ask “where did it go?” @learningresources has some great ones!

👄 Line up @learningresources surprise gift boxes (add something inside each one of course), and send the wind up toy off toward them. Let the child open one up while
Posing any question:
Who is inside?
What did you find?
Where was it hiding?

👄 Work on pronouns! Naturally, you’ll first have to teach pronouns. Then, line up a bunch of little people figurines and send the wind up toward them. Have children practice “it walked to her/him/them.”

👄 You can also use this for describing tasks. Just use various objects and see which one the wind up lands in front of. Then have kids describe it!

EASY PEASY but LOTS OF FUN! 😍

The possibilities are seriously endless! Do you use wind up toys in therapy? I’d love to hear how YOU use them!

#schoolslp #slpeeps #slpeechies #slpsoninstagram #instaslp
#slpsofinstagram #cfslp #preschoolslp #slplife #speechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechtherapyideas #speechlanguagepathology

While 2022 wasn’t without some heartache (or COV

While 2022 wasn’t without some heartache (or COVID), it really was quite good to our family.☺️☺️

💛 Riley graduated with his M.S. in Speech sciences and disorders and got his dream job in a SNF. Both he and Ferris are thriving and happy. What else could a mom want?
💛 Shannon and I got to spend some time in our happy places, NYC and the gulf coast beaches (with my siblings)!
💛 We celebrated Mardi Gras with friends and family!
💛 We found yet another litter of kittens under our porch who quickly became part of my therapy sessions!
💛 I got to speak at the Speech Retreat about caseload management (and to school districts here in Louisiana)!
💛 I teamed up with @activitytailor @thedabblingspeechie @live.love.speech and @speechsprouts for a free “boosting engagement webinar series!” We hope y’all loved it!
💛 I started a fb group for school SLPs, and have made so many new friends and connections there! Please say HI 👋 in comments if you’re in the group. Y’all rock!
💛 @busybeespeech, @speech.tea, and I once again shared an exhibit booth at our state SLP conference (SPALS), and I got to exhibit with one of my besties at an assistive tech conference in Baton Rouge.
💛 Last (but not least) @msgardeniasspeechroom, @pandaspeech, and I had a blast exhibiting at ASHA in New Orleans, and we had a great time having out with so many SLPs and fellow SLPs on TpT.

Meeting all of you IRL is such a treat!

Next up, I’ll be speaking around Louisiana, and I’ll be at the big Texas speech conference (TSHA) in February with @the.type.b.slp @pandaspeech @msgardeniasspeechroom @speech.tea @busybeespeech @speechythings @texasspeechmom and @kknighttherapy !

Will you be there!?

Wishing you all good things in 2023: health, happiness, joy, peace, friendship, love, blessings, and open doors with new opportunities to grow and prosper!!

#slpeeps #schoolslp #slpsofinstagram #instaslp #preschoolslp #slpsoninstagram #speechies #speechtherapy #speechpathology #slpsontpt speechtherapist #slpbloggers #speechlanguagepathology #speechandlanguage #speechlanguagepathologist

Hoping you heart is full during these holidays &

Hoping you heart is full during these holidays & that you’re spending time with those who mean the most to you.

Thank you for being here in my teeny tiny corner of the internet.

SLPs, take some time to rest and enjoy your break. You’ve earned that and MORE!

Everything performs better when it’s recharged and reset
…including us!

See you in the new year, and may the good you do for others come back to you 10 fold in 2023. 🤟☮️💛

#schoolslp #slpeeps #speechies #slpsofinstagram #preschoolslp #speechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechpathology

Merry Christmas, everyone! If you’ve followed, s

Merry Christmas, everyone! If you’ve followed, shared, saved or commented on my content or purchased anything from my store this year… THANK YOU! You’ll never know what that means to me. ❤️

#schoolslp #slpeeps #speechies #instaslp #slpsofinstagram #preschoolslp #spedtribe #iteachtoo #speechtherapy #speechpathology #speechtherapist #slpsontpt #slpsgodigital #slpsofig #specialeducation #speechlanguagepathologist

Y'all, this Christmas Peekaboo Game has made every

Y'all, this Christmas Peekaboo Game has made every therapy session SO merry & bright! EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. we play it, there are:
SQUEALS,
LOTS OF LAUGHTER,
WIDE EYED AMAZEMENT,
(because they hear Santa's arrival). and even HAPPY TEARS!! No kidding.

Yes, you can work on WH- QUESTIONS with the 4 games that come in this set, but
I never expected the pure unbridled JOY it would cause!

It ends with Santa coming down the chimney and Ho Ho Ho-ing with his bag of toys! The life-like sound effects and the 3,600 animations make kids feel like Santa is really there! Students can barely contain themselves. ❤️

YOU GET:
🔴 Teaching visuals for teaching HOW to answer each type of question
🔴 Automated decks for WHO questions, WHERE questions, WHAT questions, and a mixed deck that includes who, what, when, where, and why questions

⭐ I've been loving it for collecting baseline data and progress monitoring!

BESIDES WH- questions, you can target:
🔴 ANY SKILL - just use the game as reinforcement
🔴 articulation at the sentence and conversational speech levels
🔴 pronouns
🔴 basic inferencing
🔴 size, quantity, and positional concepts
🔴 describing

Your speech sessions have never been so magical. ✨ The premise is simple. Students collect the ornaments hidden behind the doors. The player who finds the ornament that brings Santa into the living room WINS!

Head to my Bi⭕ to find it or reach out to me!

#slpsofinstagram #slpeeps #schoolslp #slpsoninstagram #speechtherapy #speechtherapist #languagetherapy #speechlanguagepathology #preschoolslp #instaslp #iteach #preschoolteacher #speechlanguagepathologist #speechtherapyideas #cariboo #slpsgodigital

Counting on NO PREP activities to save you this we

Counting on NO PREP activities to save you this week? Me, too! Print & go is KING right now!!

Here's an oldie (but goodie) winter-themed one that will getcha lots of articulation trials AND does double duty as phonological awareness activity! Another bonus? NO ❌ colored ink needed!

Then, send the snowglobes home for more practice over winter break! An SLP can dream, right?

Get one snowglobe craft for each of these phonemes: /ɹ/, vocalic ɹ, /ɹ/ blends, /s/, /z/, /s/ blends, /l/, /l/ blends, /f/, /v/, /ʃ/, /tʃ/, /dʒ/, /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, /w/, /h/, /m/, /n/ and /j/.

Happy last week before a much-deserved break!

Are you already on break OR still waiting?
Drop a ❄ if you're on break OR a ⏰ if you're still counting down!

#slpeeps #schoolslp #slplife #slpsontpt #slpblogger #speechtherapy #pediatricslp #winterspeechtherapy #speechies #slpsoninstagram #slpsofinstagram #noprepspeechtherapy #preschoolslp #phonemicawareness #speechcraft #articulationtherapyideas #speechtherapist #speechpathology #privatepracticeSLP

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