Touchdown!

Upon attending my first professional football game, I became motivated to create a football themed game for my students. It also helped to have a group of students who are huge football fans. 

I found the football "eggs" last Easter at the dollar store and never did anything with them.  I also bought baseball "eggs" so maybe this spring I will create a similar baseball activity. :-)

Inside each egg is a small card that either says "down" or "interception". The object of the game is to collect 4 "downs" in order to make a touchdown. If you get an "interception" before you collect 4 "downs" then all of your cards go back into the football's and into the basket. 

Now, obviously, while playing this game my students are working on their language or articulation goals.  They really enjoyed this activity- although I was told to incorporate "fumbles" and "tackles" into the game for next time. (Did I mention that I have some big football fans in my groups?  lol)  

** Side Note **   I really enjoy using sports in my language groups. It's usually a motivating topic, which always gets them talking. It also incorporates a lot of really great vocabulary. Often times, our language delayed students will understand how the sport works and they know the terminology but they struggle to connect those words to everyday life. Making the connection for them helps them to link the language with a visual image of what goes on on the field. e.g. Interception- most students will know what happens in the game, but if you asked them what intercept means outside of the game, they would be stuck. 

I hope you like this post- leave a comment if you have any other football or sport related activities that you use in the therapy room!

Crazy Faces

A new, yet exciting challenge I am faced with this year, is having a few non-verbal students on my caseload. Many of my materials will most likely be based around using Mayer- Johnson's boardmaker icons for visual support. This past week my full class lesson focused on identifying facial features and attributes. Every student was provided with a communication mat- seen in the picture below. My non-verbal students used the mat to identify parts and to respond to questions. My verbal students used the mats to assist in making their verbal responses.

Each student had the opportunity to look in the mirror and use the communication mat to describe themselves. My targeted concepts were long, short, straight, and curly for describing hair and various colors for describing eyes and hair. The students also identified special features such as glasses and freckles.

Everyone then created the paper plate faces- also in the picture. I held on to the faces for a follow up activity with some students in their pull out sessions which included discussing the concepts same and different in reference to the hair color and eye color of their classmates.

Apples, Apples, Apples!

I have tons and tons of apple themed worksheets- thanks mom! - so every September I dedicate a week or two to the theme. This year I've created some new materials that I have used over and over with many students. This first picture is my apple and worm sequencing activity. The picture attach to the sentence strip with Velcro ( my new favorite material). I use it the same way I would any set of sequencing cards but the kids seem to love attaching and removing the pieces with the Velcro! I have to admit, I, too, love the sound of ripping Velcro. Lol

The next picture is my apple preposition book. Now, I really can't take credit for this because I found it online- possibly on speakingofspeech.com- I don't remember. :-/ I love this book because it's a fun way to practice spatial concepts. I use it to work on following directions- put the apple under the tree- and for where questions- where is the apple? The greatest part about this activity is that it can be remade for many different themes. I already have a 'leaf' version ready for my fall lessons.

I hope you enjoy these! If you have any other fun apple ideas, please share them in the comments!!

Back to School! Back to Blogging!

Hey all! I took a little break for the summer and needed to get settled into the school year but I am back to blogging!! So far September has been great! I have a new office, new desk and chair (which finally came today!!), I'm waiting on a computer and I will be all set! I have a few great activities that I've been using, so I will post a few new blogs today so I can share!

ELA Week

Happy ELA and Math Assessment weeks to all of you proctoring!!  I know how "fun" this week can be, so I've decided to post a little speech humor! I saw this comic today from marriedtothesea.com and it reminded me of all the students I have not been servicing since I'm too busy giving these tests!!