Featuring: Figuratively Speeching SLP

Hi There!! It has been a while since I made a post, and I apologize for that. I thought I would start back by featuring a great Speech-Language Pathologist who is new to blogging and creating materials. She has great information and ideas to share. Read on to learn a bit more about her! 

Today I am featuring:

Jessica Schulman

Jess.schulman@gmail.com

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Figuratively-Speeching-Slp

http://figurativelyspeechingslp.blogspot.com/

When and why did you start blogging?

I started blogging in January 2013.  I handmade many of my activities for my students over the last 17 years and thought I had some creative ideas to share. 

What is your favorite population to work with?

Every time I start with a new population I think, this is what I like the best!  It changes constantly for me.  I worked with Middle School special ed students for five years, until my position was reduced at the end of last year, and I enjoyed working with them.  They have their own set of challenges, besides speech and language and academic impairments.  Hormones and social life make Middle School a challenge at times, but when you see the light go on when they learn something new, it’s worth the aggravation.  Additionally, using the curriculum from Middle School gave me the opportunity to create fun materials my students could use to assist them with comprehension of their classwork.  It is wonderful to see them being successful both in the therapy room and in their classes, and the Middle School is where I saw that the most.

How much time per week do you spend blogging and/or creating materials?

I have been spending way too much time on the Facebook page, Figuratively Speeching SLP, and not enough time blogging.  I have been spending several hours a week working on the creation of materials for my TpT store. 

What's your favorite topic to create materials for?

At this point, I don’t have a favorite.  I am new to selling and creating materials for others to use. 

What's the best thing about blogging?

Networking and creating friendships, as well as inspiring me to think more creatively again.

Do you have any blogging tips?

Write about what you like and what you know.  Have fun with it.

What is your funniest speech moment?

I had a message to call a mom of twins.  When I spoke to her, she asked what I was teaching her kids (age 2 at the time, with only a handful of words between them) because they were cursing at each other.  I had no idea what they could possibly be saying until I asked what they were playing with at the time.  “Cars and trucks,” she said.  Ahhh, the /f/ for /tr/ substitution!  So I told her they were saying “truck” and that I would work on getting a different pronunciation while I worked with them over the next few sessions.

Like what you read? Head on over to her FB page and give her a 'like.' While you are there, take a look at the great information she has written and the activities she has created. 

Thanks for stopping by! As always...take care, 

Natalie

Guest post by: Leslie Lindsay

Guest Post

SPEAKING OF APRAXIA Post

Gnoming For Words

By Leslie Lindsay

          Looking for some crafty things to do with your children during the winter months?  What about combining crafts with speech work?  If you are a fan of Natalie Boatwright’s speech therapy techniques, you know that she too, is big into crafting.      

          About a month ago, I introduced my daughters to the miniature world of gnome homes, one of which is recovering from severe CAS. Now, don’t get wrong, this is not a how-to post on creating your own gnome homes, rather it’s a lesson on how to incorporate speech-language skills into your projects. 

          Rule #1:  You don’t have to be an artist.  Repeat that.  You don’t have to be an artist.           

          Rule #2:  It’s about the process, and not the finished art piece.

          Rule #3:  Grab your child(ren). 

          Rule #4:  It’s okay to get messy, encouraged even.  (Wear old clothes or a smock)

          Rule #5:  Have fun!

          Now for that part about how to incorporate speech work into your crafting.  For children of all ages and all skill levels, you can begin by just talking about what you are doing.  “Today, we are going to build gnome homes.  Do you know what a gnome is?”  Or how about, “Can you say gnome?” 

          Got a tactile-learner? A kid who loves to dance? Or maybe your child really loves color? While every child has a constellation of sensory strengths (shape, color, movement and sound are just a few), your child probably has one or two that really stand out — that you notice in his or her artwork or in elements of his or her collections and activities.  Here’s how you may be able to those sensory strengths to gnome homes, or any other type of craft you attempt. 

·         Shape:  Ask your child for descriptive words related to their gnome home.  Is it tall?  Big? Flat?  Round? 

·         Sound:  “What do you suppose your gnome may hear at their home?”  Water trickling/rushing/splashing?  (Let’s practice making that sound), “How do you think a gnome talks?  Let’s try it.  Can you make your voice high-pitched or low-pitched?”  What are some other sounds in nature that may be heard at a gnome home? 

·         Color:  “What colors are you using?  Oh, green!  Look, I see gray and brown, too.”  Can you say ‘gray?’

·         Texture:  “Is that bumpy or smooth?  Can you say those words?”  “I am going to add a little texture to this door.”  Can you say the word texture? “I have some moss.  What does moss feel like?  Here, touch it.” 

·         Light:  If you could imagine what kind of light is shining on this gnome home, what colors would you pick?  Is it sunny or rainy?  Should we add sparkles to our house? 

·         Movement:  You may not be able to add much movement to your creation, unless you get mechanical and add a water wheel or something of that sort…but you can still incorporate movement in your crafting by having your child get up and retrieve a supply.  This works on receptive language, “Will you grab the glue/moss/rocks?” 

·         Extend the activity:  Now it’s time to do something different, but similar to your craft project.  Can you read a book to your child about gnomes?  Draw a picture?  Watch a movie that incorporates gnomes?  Here are a few to get your started. 

Here are a couple of suggestions: 

Fairy Houses by Tracy Kane.  http://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Houses-The-Series/dp/0970810458/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360529637&sr=8-1&keywords=children%27s+books+gnomes

or The Little Gnome by Sheri Fink http://www.amazon.com/The-Little-Gnome-Sheri-Fink/dp/0983408920/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1360529637&sr=8-3&keywords=children%27s+books+gnomes

OR, try the G-rated DVD Gnomeo and Juliet (2011) http://www.amazon.com/Gnomeo-Juliet-James-McAvoy/dp/B004HO6HXY/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1360529891&sr=8-12&keywords=children%27s+DVD+gnomes

Bio:  Leslie Lindsay, R.N., B.S.N. is the author of the 2012 Reader’s Choice nominated SPEAKING OF APRAXIA: A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Apraxia of Speech (Woodbine House, 2012).  She is a former child/adolescent psychiatric nurse at the Mayo Clinic-Rochester.  Leslie is now a full-time writer at work on her first novel, an active blogger, www.leslie4kids.wordpress.com, and frequent contributor to several speech-related websites.  She devotes her free time to her two school-age daughters, Kate and Kelly and a spoiled basset hound, Sally.  Leslie is married to Jim Lindsay and resides in the Chicago area. 

References: The Missing Alphabet, A Parents’ Guide to Developing Creative Thinking in Kids (Greenleaf Book Group, 2012). http:/www.themissingalphabet.com. Book available on Amazon.com and where books are sold.

Thank you so much Leslie for your willingness to collaborate and share your family's story with us! We appreciate your story and information. I love this idea and will definitely be giving it a try with my boys! 

Have you participated in a similar activity? We'd LOVE to hear about it. Share your story in the comments below.

 Take care everyone, 

Natalie :)

Chain Letter Link Up

It’s time for the Chain Letter Link Up! I have interviewed a great SLP blogger, Denise from Speech Language Pirates. Please take time to read her information below. Also, be sure click on the link to follow her blog & TpT store! You can also find and follow her on Facebook for the latest updates! Next you can check in with her blog to read others she interviewed.

Your name, email, and TpT store if you have one. If not, feel free to leave me your blog link.

Denise; speechlanguagepirates@gmail.com

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Denise-Polley

Blog: http://www.speechlanguagepirates.blogspot.com/

When and why did you start blogging?

I started in October 2012 because it just seemed like so much fun!

What is your favorite population to work with?

I love preschool language and elementary articulation.

How much time per week do you spend blogging and/or creating materials?

It really depends on the week.  I usually create every night sitting in front of the TV.  I blog then, too.  I blog far less often than I’d like to.

What's your favorite topic to create materials for?

Grammar!

What's the best thing about blogging?

Hearing what everyone has to say!  Whether it’s compliments or suggestions.

Do you have any blogging tips?

Proofread!  I've found so many of my own errors just by giving myself a 15 minute break and going back to it.  Yikes.  I’m too impatient to wait those 15 minutes, so I usually end up seeing what I want to see and not noticing typos right away.

What is your funniest speech moment?

I can’t pick just one, but one of my favorites happened just recently.  One of my artic students is brilliant and prefers the company of adults to that of peers, but most of all he likes to be alone.  His teacher got an email from his mom saying:

“*Student* told me he doesn’t plan on getting married, but if he did, he would want his wife to have Mrs. D’s (his former special education teacher, last year) insides, Mrs. L’s (his current teacher) smile, and Mrs. L’ & Miss Polley’s (me!) outsides.  What a lovely Frankenwife!”

So basically he wants his old sped teacher’s personality – not mine nor his current teacher’s; but he wants his future, nonexistent wife to look like me and his current teacher.  I’m really not sure whether to be flattered or offended!  HAHA 

I adore this mother; she loves her son for who he is and she was willing to share this little story with us!  <3 

Thank you for sharing with me Denise! Happy blogging. :)

It's been a journey...

Hi there!

I want to share a personal story with you. I may be the only one who has experienced this, but I hope not...

When I decided to create this blog on January 4, 2013, I also decided to create a Facebook page at the same time. Little did I know when I was creating the FB page, I was doing it incorrectly. After creating the page, I noticed I did not have a timeline/newsfeed, I was not able to search and find other pages/people within FB, I was not able to 'like' other pages, nor was I able to 'tag' other people in my postings....sooooo I knew something had to be wrong. At that time (about two weeks ago) I started searching for an answer. I turned to FB's help page and I "googled" many things......still no answer. 

I then turned to a fellow SLP who I have gotten to know during the process of creating my blog and FB page, Jessica Schulman, author of the FB page: Figuratively Speeching SLP. (take a minute to find and 'like' her page if you have not already....she is great!) She has been very helpful and helped me to finally figure out the 'problem' with the first page I created. 

We came to the conclusion that the first FB page I created was not linked to an already created Facebook account. I believe that is why I was not able to see a timeline/newsfeed, I did not have the ability to search within FB, etc. In the end I have created a 'new' Just Wright Speech Facebook page and it is linked to my personal account. I am happy to say I have already searched for other pages and I am able to view the newsfeed. This journey has been a learning experience, and I know it will continue to be. I appreciate your patience as I learn and grow throughout my journey. 

                                               

Thank you for your support, comments, feedback, and 'likes.' If this, or something similar has happened to you, I would love to hear your story...I look forward to hearing from you!

Take care,

Natalie