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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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I am!! I’ve been a school based SLP for over 18 years in south Louisiana, and in my district we…
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I was never any good at this, but hindsight is 20/

I was never any good at this, but hindsight is 20/20. If I had to do it again, I'd set better limits and boundaries!

What boundaries do YOU set, if any?
Or are you really bad at it like I was?

There's a fine line between being helpful and being taken advantage of by your employer. 🙅🙅‍♂️

Comment below where you draw the line! Then, send this to a colleague who needs to hear this message!

#schoolslp #slpeeps #speechies #slp #speechtherapy #speechtherapist #healthyboundaries #preschoolslp

I’ve found another new book I ❤️, and this o

Y’all! I found this little acorn basket at @targ

Y’all! I found this little acorn basket at @target dollar spot, and my students have been having the BEST time opening all the acorns to work on various skills!

You can target so much with this one activity (even if you don’t have an acorn basket - any container will do)! Just have students open the acorn and see what’s inside. Then you can work on:

🌰 labeling objects
🌰 turn taking
🌰 core word use (open, close, in, out give, more, etc.)
🌰 phonological awareness (counting syllables, rhyming, sound manipulation, identifying where they hear a certain sound in its name- beginning, middle, end) etc.
🌰 grammar (make a complete sentence about what you found or make a compound sentence, etc.)
🌰 Positional concepts (play with the minis insider to demonstrate, teach, and practice spatial concepts)!
🌰 Use the minis along with the EET to target describing.
🌰 Sorting by category, color, size, etc.
🌰 teaching and assessing object function knowledge
🌰 Feelings! For each item they find, ask how they’d feel if they owned one (that’s fun because there are a great variety of minis- including a whale) 😆 Even better - have kids explain their reasoning!
🌰 Narratives - have students pick their favorite minis a a generate a narrative around them!
🌰 compare/contrast- have students pick 2 minis and compare and contrast them!
🌰 Target speech sound disorders! Have students decide if the mini they find has their sound in it or not (since kids with ssds are at risk for literacy) and then practice the ones that DO have their sound!

What else would you add??

Do you own these acorns from @learningresources ?

What can I say…kids ❤️ opening these. They make keeping our kids engaged SO EASY!

Find this helpful? SAVE & SHARE!

#schoolslp #slpeeps #speechie #speechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechtherapyideas #languagetherapyideas #slpgradstudent #preschoolslp

I’ve been plugging with a lot of kids who demons

I’ve been plugging with a lot of kids who demonstrate cluster reduction lately.

I love a good book that lets me work on BOTH language/ literacy (because kids with SSDs are at risk for literacy delays) AND speech sound disorders!

These 2 books by Antoinette Portis are sooooo unique, EASY TO READ, and have lots of clusters!

They’re perfect for cognitive re-framing as the students read (by feigning confusion).

THEN, afterwards, you can send the words from the book home for more practice.

The “NOT A BOX” book is great for final /s/ blends (which are a little tougher for my clients AND a little harder to find).

The NOT A STICK book has initial blends/clusters, and they’re both absolutely adorable.

Both books are all about using your ✨imagination, which is something that seems to be becoming more scarce these days. Dontcha think?

SAVE THIS POST for when you need to work on clusters, or share with your SLP bestie!

These are my new favorite finds from the library!

SIDENOTE: My husband thinks I’m the only person left on Earth who still goes to the library. 📚

Please prove him ❌ wrong by commenting if you also go to your local library! 😆

#schoolslp #slpeeps #speechtherapy #speechtherapist #speechies #speechtherapyideas #SSD
#complexityapproach #librarylife #librarybooks

Feel pulled in a million directions at work? I wis

Feel pulled in a million directions at work? I wish someone had told me this long ago…because the overwhelm is REAL.

Yes, I really asked my admin to go sit in my car to do paperwork. The constant knocks at the door, the deadlines, and just the overall madness (I was called to intervene with kids in crisis all the time). I wasn’t good at creating boundaries.

We can be good at our jobs, AND draw a line.

HIDE, or make a sign, or set firm boundaries. Trust me when I say, if you don’t, it will catch up with you.

Focus on your students. It’s the reason you’re there. Everything else should take a backseat, and other people’s problems don’t have to become your problems.

We are helpers, but we can’t help others if we are burned out, depleted, or exhausted.

As the airline stewards say, put in your own mask before helping others.

Take care of yourself. SLPs (and teachers).

Thank you for attending my Ted Talk. 🤣

How are you at setting boundaries?

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

This is how you know you had a great session: Ever

This is how you know you had a great session: Everything around you looks like a dumpster fire, 🔥 but it just FEELS effective. Word are flowing. Vibes are good. Also, your students can’t help but be joyful. That’s what engagement does!

I found this taco set from Btoys at @target on clearance for $5 so naturally we played “restaurant.” We took turns being the customer and the server, and chaos ensued (but the very best kind of chaos- the communicative kind)!

Oh, and I complained a bit about the food AND the service, so it was interesting to hear what my kids said about that. One said “Nothing makes you happy right now!” 🤣

The ingredients that come with the tacos are 💯! My kids went bonkers over the shrimp that were included! #cajunlife

I also found this $5 purple mirror set at Target. My usual mirror could be flipped and it was SO distracting.

This box with the mirror on top is perfect for holding tools we use during therapy like minis, small visuals, magnetic tokens, etc.!

We also used washable stamp pads and rubber stamps to make a page that served as home practice. Stamps are always a hit!

Therapy doesn’t have to look Pinterest-worthy (but it certainly can - you do you!!). 👍

Therapy should always be about making meaningful connections, being present in the session, and being willing to be as silly as your students are so that that children become excited about what they’re learning! Bonus points for using EBP! That’s where the magic happens. ✨

At my core, I’m type A, but therapy brings our type b selves!

No therapy session is the “wrong kind”, but when it feels effective and productive, you can just feel it in your bones, right!? 💀

What about you? In your opinion, what’s makes a great session?

#schoolslp #slpeeps #speechie #slpsofinstagram #speechtherapy #slplife #speechtherapist #playbasedtherapy #preschoolslp #instaslp

Who’s going back to school this week? If it’s

Who’s going back to school this week? If it’s you - yes, you reading this, just know that you were made to do this.

You were made to teach, mentor, help, and reach students in a way others can’t.

You have unique skills (bordering on magical) that make a difference (and make an impact) on your students lives.

Will it be exhausting? Maybe.
Will it be stressful? Could be. Will it be worth it? Yes.

Your students can’t wait to see you.

Image by the_positiveway8

#mondaymotivation
#schoolslp #slpeeps #slplife #slpsofinstagram #speechtherapy #speechies

Did you know that parents with shared custody are

Did you know that parents with shared custody are both entitled to prior notice, progress reports, and to be a participant at their child's IEP meeting? Sending the PNL to only one parent is risky...

Divorce laws vary from state to state, but each parent remains a decision maker in special education decisions after divorce unless the divorce decree or other court action specifically removes that right.

If there is friction between the parents, this is even more necessary. Does this make for drama-filled meetings? Sometimes, yes it does. I've sat in several of those, but NOT inviting a parent who shares custody of your student can get you in hot water- or worse- a courtroom! 😮

The more you know, the more you can CYA.
😜

Did you know this? Do you do this?

I bet some of you have stories to tell regarding this touchy topic.

#schoolslp #slpeeps #speechies #speechtherapy #speechpathology #ashaigers #speechtherapist #spedtribe #slpsontpt #slpsofinstagram #preschoolslp

HALF OFF TODAY 8/15! easily get 100 trails or more

HALF OFF TODAY 8/15! easily get 100 trails or more with these 55 NO PREP dot art activities! Plus, it saves you precious time prepping! These are usually $7 but today they’re only $3.50!

Then send them home with your students as “speech homework,” or make a bulletin board with them.

YOU’LL GET:

🚌 6 open-ended dot pages for you to address and reinforce ANY skill.

🚌 49 sound-specific dot art pages for every sound except “zh.” Most sounds have 2 choices of pages.

🚌 Use these with mixed groups or for language therapy. I like to use them for “I Spy” so that students have to organize language and describe which image they want the other students to find or dab.

Don’t have paint daubers? NO WORRIES! You can have students cover the circles with magnetic tokens, mini erasers or objects, little pom poms, or add a protective sleeve and turn the pages into smash mats!

How would YOU use them?

Want the 🔗? Comment “dot,” and I’ll send it to ya in your DM (as long as your IG account isn’t private.)

#schoolslp #speechtherapy #slpeeps #slpsofinstagram #preschoolslp #speechies #speechtherapist #speechpathology #dotart #noprep #articulation #speechtherapyideas

For all of you SLPs going back to school this week

For all of you SLPs going back to school this week or next, you have got to REMEMBER THIS! 👆

I end every professional development training I do with this statement. 🫶

You ARE the cream, and if you cook like we do here at my house, you know that the cream ALWAYS rises to the top.

THAT’S YOU! 🤌

Yes, some people don’t know what you do, and some people call you speech teacher, and some people pretend it’s not a big deal that you work in a closet…🙄

…but please don’t ever forget that you have a unique skillset and perspective that no one else on your campus has but so many students NEED. Your skills create outcomes and success for students. You have SKILLS THAT CHANGE THE LIVES OF STUDENTS FOREVER. 🙌

Never forget that you are a communication EXPERT (yes, I’m talking about YOU) and that you’re the cream…THE GOOD STUFF!

YOU ARE A FORCE!

Don’t let anyone ever make you feel otherwise - even if you’re stuck in a closet.

Rise, y’all, and lift your students with you!

Wishing you all a school year full of proud moments and meaningful connections. 🫶

Thanks to @speechtimefun for sharing this image with me.

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

BRIGHT ⚡ BRAINS GROW IN THIS ROOM! 🧠🧠🧠

BRIGHT ⚡ BRAINS GROW IN THIS ROOM! 🧠🧠🧠 Teaching about the brain and how it "runs the whole operation" is powerful for students!

This board tells all the ways our ✨brain✨ helps us!

1) It helps us understand what we read and what we hear in the world! 👂
2) It helps us solve problems! 🤔
3) Our brain 🧠 works with our lungs to make our voice!
4) Our brain helps us make positive choices! 🤗
5) Our brain tells our muscles to move, form sounds, and chew our food! 😋
6) Our brains make our hands move when we write! ✍
7) Our brains hold all the words we know, and it helps us use them. 🙌
8) Our brains are learning and growing every day! 🧠

Brighten 💡💡💡 up your room with BRAIN TALK!

WANT TO SEE MORE? Comment with the word BRAIN, and I'll DM you. ⚡

WHAT BUYERS HAVE SAID about this bulletin board:

I love this bulletin board. The kiddos ask me questions about it, and it makes for some great conversations!
— Delanee

I put this up after we had a GRIT lesson. So attractive I kept it up for half the year. Highly recommend!
— Betsy

This is one of my favorite bulletin boards EVER! It is so bright and vibrant and makes me happy every time I walk past it in the hallway. Thank you!! - Jennifer

This has been a great conversation starter in my speech classroom! My students enjoy the new bulletin board, and there has been much conversation about each lightbulb!
- Chelsea

I have this up in my room and it sparks the greatest conversations about the brain!
- Gina

#schoolslp #slpeeps #preschoolslp #slpsoninstagram #speechtherapy #speechtherapist #slplife

This is hands down one of my favorite back to scho

This is hands down one of my favorite back to school books!

Here’s a FUN FACT before I tell you more about this book... We actually spot alligators in and around our neighborhood now and then🐊😳 but they’ve never been as badly behaved as the one in this book!

Magnolia brings her alligator school for Show and Tell, but now she wishes she’d brought a hollow stick or a bird’s nest or some sparkly rocks. 🪹🪨 Magnolia has regrets. 😂

You can experience the whole book now by going to Mrs. Sewell’s Storytime on You Tube. Mrs. Sewell does amazing character voices by the way!

Find the 🔗 to this read aloud in my BIO. It’s fantastic!

I bet you’ll get hooked on her channel just like I am!

This book sparks a ton of language and interesting comments from all students I read it with!

It’s also really great for working on /l/, /s/ blends, and /r/ blends. The book is jam-packed with those! 👏

I’m a huge fan. Have you used it in therapy? It’s HYSTERICAL! 🙌

#slpeeps #schoolslp #speechtherapy #speechpathology #literacy #storybooks #backtoschool #speechtherapist #speechies #slpsofinstagram

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