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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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FROM THE BLOG

a photos of a clock, a calendar, Post-it notes and a cell phone with the words "speech sound disorders" on the screen. The image is titled, "Let's talk about Speech Therapy Dosage."

my featured resources

Interactive book bundle seasons and holidays

Articulation Cards for Cariboo, sensory bins & more

articulation dot art bundle

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Follow Mia McDaniel's board Speechie stuff in my TPT store :) on Pinterest.

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Looking for quick and easy Halloween 🎃 therapy

Looking for quick and easy Halloween 🎃 therapy ideas for this week? Here are 10 fun ones that are easy on your wallet or even FREE + they’ll have your students begging for more while you hit all their goals! 🎯

🧻 Give faces to your toilet paper rolls 😂 and use a small pumpkin to do some ghost bowling! To take data, have kids perform X number of tasks to earn a turn!

🕷 Make spider snacks with store-bought mini donuts, pretzels for legs and mini m&ms for eyes! (Hello, following directions).

❓Work on answering questions either verbally or in writing with my Halloween questions and games resource with 44 question task cards. I love making it a competition between two teams - extra fun if you have service bells to “ring in” to answer! 🛎

🧁 Need something NOT spooky? Tricky treats Halloween game is my go-to! Find ALL of the cupcakes you need to bring to the Halloween party to WIN (an open ended game that allows YOU to target anything you need to).

👁 Make creepy cookies by using one Oreo half and gel icing in all colors. Work on following directions, sequencing. Then, eat all the eyeballs!

🧪 ☠️ Grab this mad scientist’s lab smash mat to keep hands busy while y’all work! It’s FREE in my TPT store. 😉

🎃 Snag my Halloween fun pack for all the no prep activities including these pictures listen and color activities, homework pages, artic activities, dot art, EET companions, and more. 💀

🧡 Got task cards? They’re more fun if you draw them from a fun bucket like this Frankenstein one, and a they’re addictive when you use my Halloween quick drill games to work on any skill (sensing a trend?).

🟣 Use dot art to make a speech inspired Halloween masterpiece! It’s easy, no prep, and will look great on your door or bulletin board!

💻 Score this FREE boom card digital game in my boom store or TPT store! Once again, you literally can work on any skill with it!

Feeling MEH 😑 because it’s Monday?? I feel ya. Just DM me if you want to know where to see any of these and I’ll hook you up!

Here’s one more tip: Easy on giving all the little humans candy. IT WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU. ☠️

We use wind up toys in therapy on the regular, and

We use wind up toys in therapy on the regular, and this is my favorite way to use them in articulation therapy. I usually use a plastic tray, but I was rushing for this session so I grabbed a cooking pan! Improvising is a necessary skill in our profession. 😆

Just line your mini artic cards up on the tray or pan. These are from my Halloween Real or Ridiculous gamelan Tpt. I also have Halloween themed artic cards in my “feed the jack-o-lantern” resource. Feel free to DM me for either of those ⛓!

Okay, now here comes the fun part! Get your favorite wind up toy (@dollartree will hook you up), wind it and let it go!

Whatever it lands on is what your student or client will practice. Add a twist of adding a die to see how many times they have to practice the target word.

SPOILER ALERT: you students will be quivering to get their hands on that wind up toys, too, so let everyone take turns. It’s a great lesson in fine motor and also directional vocab (wind it towards your body, wind it toward your body). 😉

As always, it you need to work at the phrase level, add a carrier phrase like “it landed on…” or “It stopped on…” or “it stepped on…”When working at the sentence level, let kids generate their own sentence or imitate yours (anytime a model is needed).

See other ideas for using wind up toys for LANGUAGE therapy in my “Halloween” highlights!

OH! Bookmark 🔖 this post because it applies for EVERY holiday or season. Just change out the themed cards, and you’re all set!!

DM ME anytime with questions! I got you!

DO YOU USE WIND UP TOYS, too!? Tell me how!

#schoolslp #slpeeps #speechtherapy #ssd #slp #slpa #cfslp #instaslp #articulationtherapy #slp2be #slpgradstudent #halloweenspeechtherapy #speechlanguagepathology #speechtherapist #speechlanguagepathology #speechpathology #lisp #speechtherapyactivities #slpmaterials #slpbloggers #slpsontpt #slpsofinstagram #slpsoninstagram #puttingwordsinyourmouth

HALF OFF TODAY! It’s fun to feed the Jack-o-lant

HALF OFF TODAY! It’s fun to feed the Jack-o-lantern Halloween candy! These candies just happen to have 700 articulation and phonological process targets on them. 😋

This will become a go-to for your Halloween themed therapy. 😊

🎃 All phonemes are include and have 20 targets (with very few exceptions like the sound not existing in a certain position). There are 520 in all!

🎃 The 180 phonological process cards feature 20 cards for each of these processes:
🧡 final consonant deletion
🧡 fronting
🧡 backing
🧡 cluster reduction
🧡 weak syllable deletion
🧡 stopping
🧡 initial consonant deletion
🧡 deaffrication
🧡 gliding

🎃 You also get 1 open ended deck that you can use to reinforce ANY skill.

BEST PARTS? You’ll get tons of trials, and kids don’t seem to get tired of it (especially if you make the chomping sounds)!

Here’s what one buyer left in a review: “Buy it. Just do it! My students absolutely loved this, and my daughter took it from my car to use every chance she got. The cards are fabulous!”

Type bit.ly/2feedjack in your browser or DM me for the link!

Then, search #oct2021halfoffspeech in the search bar on @teacherspayteachers to find all the half off deals!

Do YOU use a Halloween theme? It’s my favorite!
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#halloweenspeechtherapy #schoolslp #slpeeps #slp #slpa #articulationtherapy #preschoolslp #instaslp #speechtherapy
#speechpathology #slpsontpt #slpbloggers #slpsofinstagram #speechpathology #speechlanguagepathologist #speechtherapyideas #puttingwordsinyourmouth #slpmaterials #speechies #slpsoninstagram #cfslp #speechpathologist #slpgradstudent #slpgradschool #slp2be

HOT off the press and 1/3 off for the first 20 buy

HOT off the press and 1/3 off for the first 20 buyers!

This is Vol. 2 of my year ‘round opened games - I have gotten tons of requests for more, snd they’re finally here!! ⭐️

Themes include:
- dino dig
- gaming
- smoothie shop
- things that go
- cooking out/grilling
- working out
- fast food
- musical kids/instruments
- fish/aquarium
- sushi
- basketball
- zoo
-skunk’s perfume shop
- wizards
- pigs in mud
- the airport
- bowling
- superheroes
- frogs/pond
- science lab

These are the one activity that makes my kids threaten to riot if we don’t play at least one! 😆

Go to my account and click the link to go right to them or DM me!

These might be my favorite set yet!

Are you still digging boom cards? I sure am!

#schoolslp #slpeeps #slp #teleslpeeps #instaslp #slpa #cfslp #slpsgodigital #boomcards #speechtherapy #speechpathology #preschoolslp #spedtribe #slpgradstudent #speechlanguagepathologist #speechtherapyideas #noprintnoprepnoproblem #slpsontpt #slpsofinstagram #slpsoninstagram

Are you working on interdental (aka frontal) lisps

Are you working on interdental (aka frontal) lisps? I’ve got you!

This book about a snake 🐍 named Sam who everyone called “Tham” because they misunderstand Sam on his first day of school when he introduced himself.

It’s sure to educate your students about WHAT a lisp is (many AHA moments) and help YOU treat it!

It all started with the book 📕 which I wrote for one little guy, but it’s now grown into an entire program (47 pages) for treating habitual and engrained frontal lisps for /s/,/z/ and /s/ blends! The “keep your snake in the cage” visual is my favorite part. 👅 Do you use that trick, too?

Want to treat this common speech difference CONFIDENTLY? Go to:
bit.ly/samthesnake or DM me!

#lisp #articulationtherapy #speechtherapy #slp #slpa #slpgradstudent #schoolslp #slpgradschool #slpeeps #speechpathology #cfslp #speechlanguagepathologist #speechtherapist #privatepracticeslp #speechdelay #instaslp #slpsofinstagram #slpsoninstagram #teleslpeeps #slp2be #slpsontpt

This may be an unpopular opinion, but it’s US wh

This may be an unpopular opinion, but it’s US who want/need to share the classroom, so it’s up to US to be good guests.

⭐️ If a teacher hasn’t had positive experiences with push-in we have to work even harder for it to be successful. Here are some tips to create the ideal push-in relationship:

1. SHOW UP ON TIME. As a school SLP, it’s take real talent to actually STAY on schedule because the schedules are BONKERS, but showing up late is a major NO-NO. It’s super important to gain your co-teacher’s trust & respect, so start here.

2. DON’T BE A BYSTANDER. Give them ideas of what you can do. Some good ideas are ➡️ work with a small group to give more one-on-one help with instruction and assignments ➡️ Instruct the entire class by teaching or working on a skill VERBALLY (with no text involved); being able to speak about what they’re learning (aka displaying listening comprehension) is a prerequisite for being able to read and understand what they’re learning (reading comprehension). Whatever skill the teachers will be targeting with text, YOU can first target exclusive of text OR you can use shorter passages. ➡️ Be a “station” in the classroom to work on a specific skill being addressed any given day

3. Ask to receive the teachers’ lesson plans. Then use them to plan what YOU will do in their class to support students. Then, email them back telling how YOU plan to contribute to the lesson! This will eventually create a true collaborate co-teaching relationship!

4. Demonstrate the use of “voting cards” (as seen in the 2nd photo) that increase engagement. They’re a freebie in my TPT store or you can just use green or red construction paper squares. Get them by going to bit.ly/2votingcards and read much more about PUSH-IN & how to use biting cards to boost engagement at bit.ly/2pushin

Also, read more of the caption in the comments! Tell me - do you push in?

Some awesome advice for those #sundayblues - AKA #

Some awesome advice for those #sundayblues - AKA #sundayscaries from @positivelypresent 💛

Do you get them? I always did so I always think of my #schoolslp and #spedtribe friends on Sundays. You’re all amazing life changers just for showing up.
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#schoollife #slp #slpa #spedteacher #slpeeps #preschoolteacher #cfslp #speechlanguagepathology #specialeducation #speechtherapy #slplife #slpsofinstagram #iteachtoo #slpsofig #instaslp #lifeskillsteacher #specialeducationteacher
#earlyintervention #speechpathology

I snatched up the beginnings of a future Halloween

I snatched up the beginnings of a future Halloween sensory bin today (rats and eyeballs each $1 in the @target dollar spot!

Here’s the truth, though - sensory bins terrify me. I tend to like structure, and sensory bins throw all structure out the window!I can’t lie; sometimes all hell breaks loose!

HERE’S a TIP: Put a large, flat container or tray UNDER the sensory bin to save your sanity and your floor or table.

This was a big moment for me…I actually let a child HELP BUILD the sensory bin (major stretch out of my comfort zone)! 😬That probably facilitated more communication than playing in it did! True story!

Despite my natural tendency to want structure, I take deep breaths and muster up the courage to use them because:
➡️ Hands-on multisensory experiences are important for growing nervous systems! My son and I both have sensory issues, and I wish we’d had more sensory exposure at an early age.
➡️ They promote fine motor learning (another tough area for my youngest who is now in SLP grad school).
➡️ They spark such great language and provide great social skills practice in groups (at least until chaos ensues).
➡️ For some children, they’re very calming.
➡️ For articulation or phono therapy, I love using mini objects in them to match their speech targets. Who doesn’t love a mini treasure hunt?
➡️ Like ALL PLAY, they make our relationship with the child stronger. Joyful play just does that.

Do you have a.
LOVE ❤️ ,
HATE 🤮,
or a LOVE-HATE 😍🙄 relationship with sensory bins?

#slpeeps #schoolslp #slp #instaslp #slpa #speechies #slpgradstudent #cfslp #preschoolslp #sensorybin #speechtherapy #playbasedslp #handsonslp #sensoryplayideas #speechpathology #speechlanguagepathologist #ashaigers #privatepracticeslp

Working with children who can perform skills only

Working with children who can perform skills only with you? Or only under certain conditions? Generalization isn’t something that happens at the END of therapy. It has to start on day one, and we need to start talking about it to parents and teachers immediately. This is true for all kids regardless of their communication need, but it’s even more true of our autistic students and clients.

To foster generalization, we HAVE to work on cognitive flexibility. That’s the ability for humans to adapt our knowledge to new and unexpected conditions.

What good is mastering a skill, if a child can’t use it in a variety of environments & scenarios and under different conditions? We can really only say a child has learned a skill when he or she can apply the skill across persons, places and circumstances.

How do we facilitate that? I’ve gotcha! Learn 4 effective ways to promote cognitive flexibility and generalization FROM DAY ONE by reading my blog post (link you know where or DM me) or bookmark it to read later. OH, and find out where therapy should take place.

#schoolslp #slpeeps #slp #slpa #autism #speechtherapy #speechlanguagepathology #cognitiveflexibility #speechlanguagepathologist #speechpathology #slpbloggers #instaslp #cfclp #slpsoninstragram #slpsofinstagram #languagelearning #preschoolslp #spedtribe #specialeducation #specialeducationteacher #speechtherapyideas #speechie #puttingwordsinyourmouth

Check out this clever hall bulletin board that som

Tale as old as time, but I’m still praying for a

Tale as old as time, but I’m still praying for a miracle! If districts want SLPs to make significant gains with students and provide excellent therapy, RTI, assessment, collaboration, etc, etc. etc., then the priority needs to shift from QUANTITY of students to QUALITY of services. (I realize I’m preaching to the choir here).

Realistically, services get less efficient, less intensive and less effective the more students SLPs have to cram into groups to serve.

The Medicaid funds ALONE that #schoolslps generate could easily be used to MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

While I’m on my soapbox, SLPs deserve pay equal to OTs and PTs. In my former district, OTs and PTs make 14k more per year base on the “therapist pay scale,” a pay scale that does NOT include SLPs (despite the fact that they see students 1-5 minutes per month in most cases). It takes an SLP 20 years to reach the starting salary of an OT or PT (did I mention they only work 4 days a week also?) Why are we the always the school doormats!? Especially when we make them a ridiculous amount of money each year? Usually about 1 million from SLPs and $1,000 from OT and PT combined (when I was in charge of Medicaid billing in my district).

Know what would help? A caseload cap and some advocacy from @ashaweb Where are you, ASHA? You have the power to improve services for billions of students with speech and language needs. IT’s TIME. It’s way PAST TIME. Your silence speaks volumes.

Raise your hand if you know you could serve your students better simply by having less children to treat! 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋‍♂️🙋🏾‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏻🙋‍♀️

Work with children who need more accessible materi

Work with children who need more accessible materials? Little ones whose hands are still figuring things out? Check out this adapted puzzle! You actually don’t need to buy specialized puzzles OR spend much to make them accessible for your students or clients!

Hot 🔥 glue and pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks or tongue depressors, chunky pencil erasers, or alligator clips are all easy (and cheap) solutions that really work! Plus, your OT friends will think you’re one bad mamma jamma.😉

What are your tricks for adapting materials? Let’s hear ‘em!

#spedteacher #spedtribe #slp #slpa #slpeeps #slpgradschool #adapted #specialeducation #accessibleeducation #ot #adaptedmaterials #speechtherapy #schoolslp #schoolslplife #cfslp #speechpathology #preschoolslp #slp2be #spedclassroom #eislp #finemotoractivities #speechtherapyideas #puttingwordsinyourmouth

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