Blogging is to Talking, as APA Style is to ????

I've found a danger to blogging a lot----someone might like what I've chatted about casually and then want me to turn it into an APA style manuscript.    Yep!!!  That's happened!   My little ramblings about Google forms have been converted to a formal paper, and are about ready to be submitted electronically to the scholarly folds of ASHA for a peer review and heavy edit.

I've learned quite a bit from this:

photo credit

1.  What is APA style?    The last time I wrote a research paper, I used a typewriter--it was at least an electric typewriter. (Hey, I'm not THAT old!)  Regardless, writing a paper and submitting it so it looks similar to what I see in my professional journals is a bit of a learning curve.  Fonts didn't really exist in my world back then.   I've never written an 'abstract' or worried about including 'table titles' or website references.  I've spent more than a few hours over the holidays learning about fonts, double spacing, and citations.  (I feel I'm a more than competent speech pathologist---but my job descriptions since graduation in 1984 haven't really included this.)


2.  What is a SIG---otherwise known as 'Special Interest Group' in the ASHA world?   I've never fronted the money but apparently each SIG has scholarly publications that the members (who pay $35 a year) can read and get C.E.Us.   I'm hopefully going to be published in one of those, although I may not be able to read my own published article since I'm not a member of this group.    Maybe I'm not as poor as I think I am.  Perhaps, I'll turn over a new leaf now, and join a SIG---the one focusing on school-based issues now has me intrigued!   I'll keep you posted about this.

3.  What is peer review?  I actually already knew about this, but it's a bit intimidating to submit something I've written to be edited and reviewed by people I don't know.  Right now, I'm using my 22-year-old daughter as my editor, but we think alike and readily critique each other all time about lots of things.  The part about complete strangers reviewing my paper (that I don't know how to write) is daunting to even consider.  I'm sure that the reality is there will only be a couple of people on a computer that will edit my masterpiece, but my fantasy is that a large group will be earnestly talking about what I wrote. Ha Ha!

PCS credit

 So, writing a formal paper is outside of my comfort zone.  Why did I agree to this?  Possibly, I was flattered that anyone even asked.  Possibly, I never say 'no' to anything. I need a ready-made script or a social story in this area. 

A script I need to learn

What's done is done---I said 'yes' and this has been great, albeit painful practice, and I'm sure that I'll have a bit more editing to do.  I'll let my readers know on how this challenge turns out.

I hope all of you are having a good start to the year!  

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Snowflakes Everywhere---printable book with icons

There are no snowflakes in Chapel Hill even though I wish longingly for them!  Before moving here, I lived in northeast Ohio, and I've forgotten how dreary that area was in the winter.  Here in North Carolina, snow is a treat!   A few flakes and......school is cancelled, the news becomes 24 hour coverage of the 'storm', and the grocery stores completely run out of milk and bread.  Please.......I want snow!  I like a little excitement!

While I waited for the (nowhere to be seen) blizzard, I made you all a book.  It's similar in theme to my other little Boardmaker books, so it'll be easier for the kids who have learned the familiar pattern. I guess for those who need artic activities you can see that 'snowflakes' has two consonant blends plus the plural ending!  There is also an expectation that they will use the words 'on' and 'under' correctly.  You can take care of many of your goals in one activity!!!   I wish speech therapy was really that easy.  As we all know, the reality is that for goals to be mastered, the child has to use the targeted language and articulation skills in multiple contexts.  Anyway, here it is in one context!  Have fun!

Entire book in Boardmaker

sample page

Sample page

Click here to download the book in Boardmaker (you can edit as you wish)


Click here to download in pdf

Icons and sentence strip

I wish this would happen soon!

There's an app that makes for a nice follow up activity.  Go HERE!

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Lasagna---gluten free!

before oven

all cooked---Yum!

When I went gluten-free, I really missed pasta.  My kids love lasagna, and I wanted to keep making it.  I'm not a gourmet Italian cook, so during my wheat-eating days, I would open a jar of Ragu, and layer that with noodles, cheeses, and sauce (the sauce being cooked Italian sausage, onion, garlic, green pepper and Ragu or whatever was on sale that week).  The kids loved it, and so I needed to find a lasagna noodle that would work.

After moaning about my lasagna-less life for a year, I discovered a gluten-free box of lasagna noodles at a local Whole Foods.   I then ordered a whole case of them from Amazon, and my lasagna days were back!  I cook batches of lasagna for my lunches (I divide it all up into Tupperware containers) and when the kids are home, I cook for them.  I order by the case, and now I'm very happy again. My kids are too!  Although they are now adults, they still come home and gobble this up.



If you need a recipe and you don't want to spend a lot of time, go to any easy website and assemble some ingredients.  Here's an example.

Just a tip---the noodles don't hold up quite as well, so don't boil them as long. 



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Big Problems, Little Glitches---customized books you can make

I feel this blog is a sequential set of chapters---often one post builds on another, and then a third post comes along.  To really appreciate this post you have to review a bit:

Chapter 1:   Problem Meter  Check this post out to get an explanation and illustration of a visual problem meter based on concepts from Michelle Garcia Winner's Social Thinking book.

Chapter 2:  Download a feelings book template you can customize for your kids.
                 Check out this post.  Your students can help create a time they feel 'happy' page, 'sad', 'frustrated', and so on.  I've put a template for this in Google templates, along with sample completed pages for you all to look at.

Chapter 3:  Paying it forward----My offer to some of you.

Chapter 4:  Several of you have responded to the 'Paying it Forward' offer!!! I chose this project from the responses and it involves building on what I already know.  A reader wanted a variety of tools to use with middle schoolers who need to learn concepts from Michelle Garcia Winner's curriculum.  Although the reader mentioned about six social thinking concepts, I decided to focus on one----the big problem, little problem concept.  If you read Chapter 1 above, you will know what this is referring to.  The tricky part is to gear the materials for older students---less Boardmaker, and no child-like cartoons.

      My reader wrote: "I am getting a bit discouraged. I purchase materials that are posted as being appropriate for middle school students (from TPT). Then I look @ them and they are really geared toward a  WAY lower group of abilities."

title page

  My offer to my reader is to suggest that the students help make a customized problem meter book, complete with photos of them showing different degrees of emotions, and with their own written examples of which of their real life problems match the numbers on the problem meter scale.  It's a bit labor intensive, but the end result is a book they can refer back to, read to their parents and teachers, and build on.
      If the students can write, they can write in their own examples,  If they can draw, they can illustrate.  If they need to, they can dictate.  SLPs or teachers can help find images for the student examples to illustrate, if drawing is not an option.  This can be done in a small classroom with the kids, or one-on-one.  You may need to have a digital camera and know how to insert pictures into Google docs.  Let me know if you need a tutorial.

My example---you and your student customize the template

My example---you and your student customize the template

For social thinking materials, I find that more personalized, and more interactive for kids works best (even if it does take more time).  There is nothing wrong with taking a month to work on this (my opinion).

I am on vacation right now, but will try this out on my kids in January.

Click here to download the sample book to view---but download the template below to really customize

Click here to get the Problem Meter Book template to create your own!!!




Now it's time to dance in the streets. A new year is coming soon!  Check this out!






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Boy Inspires Kids – Kids Inspire Us All (Amazing Finish)

I think that everyone needs an uplifting video right about now!

Paying it Forward! Merry Christmas!

Now I can breathe!  School is out until January 2nd.    I don't know about all of you who work in the schools, but this was totally the longest week ever, and super depressing, especially Monday and Tuesday for one obvious horrible reason.   Enough said---

My Christmas/holiday gift to you is this:  I'm taking requests! 

I love creating or adapting materials.  If you have a unit or topic that you would like a special book, or communication board made for, let me know.    I can say that I don't have a lot of artic kids, so specific units in that area might be left best to others.  Language at the early elementary level is my area, but I do have 4th and 5th graders.  I can be flexible and go beyond what I'm currently doing.  I can make supplemental materials to go along with children's literature.  Just send a suggestion, and I'll go with it!

If you have something in mind, fill out this form.  Most likely, I can fulfill 3 requests, so I'll choose my favorites (if I actually get three).  If they turn out well, I'll blog about this, but will only mention your names with your permission. All materials I make will be uploaded to Google Drive for the 'requester' to download.  You can't lose here.

So, Merry Christmas!    Think of upcoming units, and send a request!  It'll only help all of our kids, and will foster collaboration among distant SLPs!

Bears Like...... (printable book, icons, and fun)

I've been hinted at that the "Bears Unit" starts in January.  On one hand, January is soooo far away, but wait!  We basically have only one week of Christmas break, so it's actually right around the wintry corner.    So for my friend over at a neighboring elementary school, here is the cutest little bear book ever.  A very lovely unknown person created it here on Tarheel Reader; I then put it into Google Drive, and added a page of icons and a sentence strip.

What I like about it:

• the cute little stuffed bears, of course!
• the patterned sentence starter, with a little twist at the end
• the vocabulary
• the photographs

If you are doing a bear unit, you can't go wrong here.   Print, cut up and velcro the icons, use the sentence strips, and act it all out with your stuffed bears!

Title Page

screen shot of page

 Click here to download "Bears Like..."
in Google Drive


Click here to download icons in pdf

Click here to download icons in boardmaker

sentence strips and icons

more icons

I'm sure I'll have more bear and wintry stuff to come.  Keep checking back!










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How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? Read through a social skills lens

I've been working a lot with my kids using the vocabulary 'Expected' and 'Unexpected' behavior.  This book, How do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas?, clearly illustrates those concepts!  You can use this book or others in the series all year round!

Unexpected!

This is a nice way to combine a thematic unit, a read aloud, and the social skills curriculum from Michelle Garcia Winner all in one activity.  Explaining the basic social skills vocabulary using these books is great for the younger set K-2.  Try it out!

The book starts off by the dinosaur exhibiting clearly unexpected behaviors.  It ends with him acting perfectly.  Very simple and clear.

still unexpected!

At last--Expected!

For those of you in schools, have a good final few days before the holiday. Enjoy the kids.  Today, my heart was heavy and I tried to find something heartfelt or meaningful to insert here, but instead dissolved into tears, so for now, carry on, keep a smile on your face, and know that good people are everywhere.

Love
Ruth

I haven't been in the blogging mood all weekend.  I hope you understand.

The Art Show

A free picture collage by Smilebox This is a little collage of some of the art that our school system EC kids created in their art therapy classes.  This was a truly delightful little show tonight at Carr Mill Mall. Some of the students and parents came and were so delighted to see their creations on display. I can't say enough about the importance of art for all children. .

"The Journey" Using a short film in language therapy

One of my favorite blogs is Film English.  This blogger writes about once a week---imbedding a short film, usually with no words, along with a lesson plan for teachers.  Here is his blurb:

"I’m Kieran Donaghy,  an English teacher at UAB Idiomes Barcelona , Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, and I set up Film English in March 2010. Film English is a site which promotes the use of film in the language classroom. There are lesson plans, a film language glossary and film links  to help both teachers and students."

I look forward to his postings--if nothing else, I like to watch the shorts.  Today, I looked at his latest post and saw that this could be applied to my upper elementary crowd.  

• Telling or writing a narrative
• Interpreting facial expressions
• Using prepositions to tell where the snowman went
• Comparing  snowpeople 
• Discussing narrative elements---characters, setting, obstacles  
• If you really want to be ambitious, take a screen shot of various scenes, print them out, and have your students supply the dialogue.  Use post-it notes and write the dialogue (or speech bubbles) with your students to create a short book.  

                                                                                                                                                                                   I'm sure there are many other uses.  Even if you don't use this in your teaching,  sit back and enjoy the film. If you like it, hop on over to Film English for more. 




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Review of a Terrific TPT Social Skills Unit

I've spent a lot of time this year on social skills.  Lucky me, a couple of years ago, Ephesus was awarded a grant for loads of social skills materials, so teachers and I have been teaching with SuperFlex and Think Social!  In addition, I had the opportunity to attend the ASHA convention and listen to Michelle Garcia Winner live twice!    They were the best two seminars ever! 

My kids have all responded wonderfully, but need repetition, so I casually have been on the search for good but inexpensive materials to supplement our existing lessons.  When I saw this blog, my interest perked up, and I went to the Teachers Pay Teachers store listed in the post---and for the first time actually bought an item from there.......a large social skills unit (51 pages!) which incorporates the same vocabulary as Think Social!  I used it today and the kids loved the first game (there are several).  We've only just begun.  Cheri at If I Only Had Superpowers is incredibly talented.  This packet was a mere $5.00--more like a small token than anything. 

Since I've used it only this week, I only have pictures of the first activity---children play a board game, and pick cards describing expected or unexpected behaviors.  In addition, the children can decide if the behavior is about respect or responsibility.     The characters on the posters are all super heroes, the graphics are great, the language clear and simple, and adults liked it too!   I can't wait until the next lesson.  The best part was how it all tied in with our existing curriculum, vocabulary, and expectations.

Board game fun, cards, categorizing behaviors

close up of game materials

motivating posters--each super hero has his own special social powers

I'll write more about this unit as we progress through it.  I also like the fact that I can let my resource teacher keep this in her room to use again with the same children.  Repetition, repetition, repetition.....that's what my kids need.

If you want to purchase it, go here.   It's not my unit, and no one asked me to write about it.  Believe me when I tell you it's good, and the price is right.






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The Way that I Feel---customize a book for your kids from a template

Quite a few years ago, I had a fabulous graduate student who developed a Feelings Book project for the kids she worked with.  I have used her template and ideas ever since!  She started the unit by reading The Way I Feel by Janan Cain with the kids.  She sent home a parent questionnaire to fill out, so they could provide input as to what made their child feel certain ways. Then, each day they met in speech, she targeted a different feeling and custom made a book.  Home input helped, but she also talked with the students and helped each one identify feelings in specific situations.  This was a long term project, but the end result was a treasure that the children read to their class, and took home.  

Cover page sample

screen shot of the 'happy' page

screenshot of the scared page

I have uploaded a template for this book with most of the pictures delected except the feelings icons.  If you know how to insert images and text boxes, you are good to go here.

You can insert your own images---use Google or photos if you don't have Boardmaker, or have your child draw a few! 

Click here to download a Feelings book template---import your own images, you and your student write/illustrate examples.

Rudolph---the Smartboard, and a very cool printable book

This is a re-release from last year!    Printable link plus Smartboard activity, all in time for the holidays!
Have fun!

 ------------------------------------------------last year's posting follows!-------------------------------

I have a new favorite blog to share---http://www.playingwithwords365.com/

This blogger, Katie Yeh,  is a little similar to me in that she is a speech pathologist, and also writes about her own life experiences (I guess most people do have a life outside of their job!).  I love what she writes, but also really like what she shares in the way of materials.  This day, the shared item is a Rudolph story--patterned after the Very Hungry Caterpillar.  (Remember what I wrote earlier about Joint Action Routines?  In this case, most children in special education are very familiar with Eric Carle and his book about the caterpillar.  The kids can then use the knowledge of the pattern of the story, and apply it to Rudolph.)  If you check out her website HERE, you can print out her book, and see the manipulatives she has created to help with engagement and comprehension.

 I haven't quite completed assembling the Rudolph book yet, or I'd show you some pictures.  Her are screenshots of the pdf file that Katie is giving out for free---

manipulatives to print and use with velcro

During this last week before Christmas, I can't wait to use this book.  It will be easy and fun for the kids (my caseload seems to celebrate this holiday).

What I really want to say for those Smartboard users out there is that I created a Smartboard counting activity to go with this book.  It's very, very simple---mainly touching and dragging.  I plan to use this with my youngest kids, and the end frame is a link to a music video (Rudolph), so it will be good---very easy and hopefully engaging.  (My students sometimes struggle with engagement.)
Here are some screenshots from the Smartboard activity:

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE SMARTBOARD ACTIVITY

How many days until vacation????  Do you get a vacation?

Play Dough Menorahs---Happy Hanukkah!

Play dough menorah

Dreidel game rules

I wish I could show you pictures of the sheer delight on my kids' faces today!  With the help of an awesome classroom assistant, the kids played the dreidel game, watched a Hanukkah video, listened to and helped read an adapted Hanukkah book, and made play dough menorahs.  We had great fun. Please look at my previous post if you would like to download the Hanukkah book.

Hard at work making a menorah!

 It's not too late for all of your kidos to get in the fun, too!  Hanukkah doesn't end until December 16th!    See below for link to the Step by Step Play Dough menorah instructions and for the dreidel game rules. 

 I developed the menorah activity myself (and am proud of it!).  The dreidel activity was lifted from Boardmaker Share. but I also converted it to pdf.   We used poker chips instead of chocolate for the game, and the kids had a great time.  I want to extend a special thanks to Meredith Simon-Ross for leading this activity!

Click here for the Dreidel game rules in Boardmaker


Click here for the Dreidel game rules in pdf

 Pictures to the right are from the ipad app--Pictello--which provide very nice step by step directions with text to speech.  I've saved a pdf document of this, which I'm now sharing with you!


Click here for the Step by Step instructions for the Play Dough Menorah in pdf



Happy Hanukkah everyone!!!!