Discover the benefits of taking speech therapy sessions outdoors. From physical health and sensorimotor development to language enrichment and social skills, outdoor activities enhance therapy outcomes. The novelty and engagement of the outdoor environment create a fresh context for learning. Prioritize safety and individual needs for a stimulating and effective outdoor therapy experience.

Discover the excitement of incorporating scavenger hunts into your speech therapy sessions. Whether indoors or outdoors, scavenger hunts keep clients engaged while targeting speech and language goals. Find themed resources on TPT, adapt tasks to individual needs, and watch as clients light up with enthusiasm. Scavenger hunts add a dynamic and interactive twist to therapy, fostering progress and enjoyment. Try it out and experience the adventure firsthand!

Discover the benefits of using punch cards and reward cards as a behavior management system in speech therapy sessions. They are cost-effective, customizable, and provide a visual representation of progress toward a goal. With punch cards, clients receive punches for meeting behavior targets, leading to a reward card. This system keeps clients motivated, empowers them, and eliminates the need for tangible prizes. Get started by setting goals, explaining the process, and customizing rewards. Punch cards and reward cards are a simple yet effective way to enhance engagement and progress in therapy. Give it a try and see the positive impact it has on your clients!

Discover the versatility of the Expanding Expression Tool (EET) for teaching language skills, specifically comparing and contrasting. With its visual and interactive approach, the EET breaks down complex concepts into manageable parts. SLPs can use Venn Diagrams and colored beads to help clients identify similarities and differences. Real-life examples, objects, and stories enhance the learning experience. The EET is a valuable tool recommended by SLPs for developing strong language skills and effective communication. Check out the research and consider training options available. Unlock the power of the EET in your therapy sessions!

SLP Toolkit is a powerful website offering a range of tools and resources for speech and language therapists. Its user-friendly interface and features cater to therapists of all levels. The comprehensive library of assessments helps evaluate clients' speech and language abilities, while the customizable goal bank simplifies IEP writing. Caseload management and reporting features ensure timely completion of deadlines and generate informative reports. The community feature fosters collaboration and idea sharing. With ongoing updates and improvements, SLP Toolkit is an invaluable asset for therapists, providing support and organization in their daily tasks.

Engaging middle schoolers in speech-language therapy can be a challenge, but fear not! Online game-style activities like EdPuzzle and Jeopardy Labs promote teamwork while covering various topics. Activities like Mad Libs and Would You Rather work on grammar, reasoning, and articulation, keeping the group entertained and engaged. Reading books or using ReadWorks audio stories highlights target vocabulary and comprehension questions. These tried and true favorites make therapy fun while addressing individual goals.

Trashketball is a fast-paced, engaging, and affordable activity that can be adapted for therapy sessions with students of various ages. The game involves throwing trash, such as crumpled-up paper, into a trash can for points. Clearly posted rules are essential to maintain order, and students must participate in drilling before taking their shots. Options for materials, scoring methods, and goal targeting provide flexibility. Trashketball can be used to target articulation, listening comprehension, categories, social scenarios, describing, and compare/contrast skills. It's a fun and interactive game that keeps students motivated and excited while working on their therapy goals.

Functional challenges can be a valuable addition to speech therapy sessions, helping students develop important life skills. By clarifying that these challenges won't take away from therapy time, SLPs can focus on IEP goals while encouraging students to learn and demonstrate functional skills independently. Challenges can be practiced at home, with SpEd teachers, or during OT sessions. Examples of challenges include birthday, address, and phone number recognition, signature writing, coin identification, analog clock reading, shoe tying, recipe reading, and community/safety sign recognition.

Smarty Symbols is a valuable resource that I highly recommend for SLPs. With over 20,000 images, it covers a wide range of vocabulary. The game creation feature allows for interactive and engaging activities. The printing center is perfect for customizing activities quickly. The activity library offers a vast collection of pre-made resources. Overall, Smarty Symbols is a must-have tool for SLPs looking to enhance their therapy sessions.

The first week of speech can be overwhelming. Get organized with an SLP planner, learn about students through engaging activities, introduce yourself to parents, set up a reward system, review goals, and end with fun games like Would You Rather. Start the year off right!

I recently discovered that my SLP Now subscription is just as valuable with my middle school caseload. Non-fiction units provide engaging articles and activities for a variety of language goals. Video activities offer a multimedia approach to therapy. Skill-based lessons, such as inferences and narratives, provide systematic teaching and practice. Vocational skill units are perfect for preparing students for post-secondary life. SLP Now is a must-have resource for SLPs working with older students!

Looking for a fun and engaging project for your speech-language therapy sessions? Create menus with your students! This multi-session activity allows for creativity, language practice, and a finished product to take home. Take your time, pre-write sections, encourage silliness, and let students practice with each other. Target articulation, categories, critical thinking, describing, grammar, life skills, math, perspective-taking, problem-solving, vocabulary, and more. Get the free menu template and start this exciting project today!

Avoid the burnout of taking work home as an SLP by making strategic changes. Adjust your schedule to have one day dedicated to paperwork and other tasks. Simplify activity planning with no-prep/low-prep materials. Streamline Medicaid billing with tools like SLP Toolkit. Take a day to focus solely on progress reports. Create templates for IEPs and reports. Learn to say "no" and delegate tasks. Don't hesitate to ask for help. Consider changing your work environment if necessary. Prioritize self-care and find a setting that respects your time and workload.

Spark Sequencing Cards are versatile tools for targeting a range of language goals. They can be used for storytelling, predicting, problem-solving, verbs, pronouns, sentence structure, inferencing, and reasoning. The cards come with a user guide, 8 sets of sequencing cards, relevant questions, dividers, and color-coded sets. They are suitable for SLPs, special education and general education teachers, and parents. The durable material, included questions, large color pictures, and multiple sets make them engaging and practical for therapy sessions.

These are some of my favorite Valentine's Day apps for speech-language therapy. They help practice targets such as vocabulary, following directions, verbs, articulation, prepositions, and more! These apps provide engaging and educational activities for therapy sessions.

Articulation Station Hive is a comprehensive app for articulation needs, offering various levels and activities. However, the pricing model as a subscription service may not be ideal for SLPs reliant on school funds. The app's features, such as expanded levels and updated word lists, are impressive. The data collection page with graphed progress is a valuable tool, allowing for easy tracking and planning for future sessions. Despite the pricing structure, the app's enhancements make it a worthwhile consideration for articulation therapy.

Speedy Speech® is an evidence-based program that focuses on short, intensive 1:1 drill-based sessions to improve speech-sound production. The program includes workbooks for various phonemes, providing flexibility to target specific speech sounds. It offers a comprehensive package, including a program guide, auditory discrimination pair sets, drill pages, conversational prompts, data collection forms, and more. The program also provides guidance on writing service times in IEPs and implementing it for RTI. With minimal academic disruption and a focus on quick progress, Speedy Speech® offers an efficient and effective approach to speech therapy.

Looking for the perfect gift for the SLP in your life? Check out these tried-and-true subscriptions like SLP Now and SLP Toolkit, which make lesson planning and caseload management a breeze. Consider gifting an Amazon Prime membership for quick material delivery or Audible/Kindle Unlimited for SLPs on the go. Don't forget to explore curated lists for therapy items based on their area of expertise and consider stocking stuffers like reward systems, oral mech supplies, and miscellaneous goodies. Your favorite SLP will appreciate these thoughtful and practical gifts!

Looking to add affordable holiday-themed items to your therapy room? Check out these must-have items under $5! Foam snowflakes are great for scavenger hunts and home practice. Themed stickers make decorating activities fun while targeting various skills. Wrapping paper offers versatile crafting opportunities. Mini presents are perfect for teaching concepts and articulation games. Toy catalogs engage students in speech sound search, categorization, and perspective-taking activities. Find these budget-friendly items at Dollar Tree, Walmart, or request free catalogs. Elevate your Christmas therapy with these engaging and cost-effective tools!

Incorporating wrapping paper into therapy sessions is a creative and budget-friendly way to engage students during the holiday season. From crafts to games, the possibilities are endless. Use wrapping paper to target a range of goals, including categories, pronouns, verbs, MLU expansion, prepositions, requesting, turn-taking, following directions, basic concepts, and articulation. With its colorful and tactile nature, wrapping paper adds an element of excitement to therapy sessions while providing meaningful opportunities for learning and skill practice.