The best thing I learned this summer!

And we're off!  Our first Frenzied SLP linky party and I'm so excited!  We have been working hard behind the scenes to bring you a collection of the most trending topics.  We invite all SLP bloggers to link up and welcome everyone's comments and feedback below.  

Here's the best thing I learned this summer!

I attended a Learning and The Brain Conference in Wellfleet, Mass (Cape Cod).  I know, lucky me!  Funny story: I did my first PeriscopeTV while walking to the conference and got lost on the way home because I wasn't paying attention.  Anyway, I learned a whole lot about the neuropsychology of learning and have highlighted the subcategories of the three areas of learning discussed. Today I bring you reading!

 As you are probably aware, language plays a huge role in reading and SLPs are a critical part of the collaboration team.  I hope these subtype breakdowns help you to better understand the learning processes of reading.  This knowledge can assist an RTI team, evaluation team, as well as inform parents of your role in the academic subject areas.  

Facts 

90% of referrals in elementary are for Dysphonetic Dyslexia. 

Brain research shows that the brain can change! 

What is LD? learning disabilities or learning dormancy? 

 We fire the brain with interventions to wake it up!  

Frequency of services always beats duration.  

The younger kids tend to remediate, older kids tend to compensate. 

Follow my blog to see upcoming posts on the neuropsychology of writing and math!  Yes, we have a critical role in MATH~especially with Common Core.

An InLinkz Link-up

Figurative Language Giveaway!

Phew, it took an entire year to complete my Figurative Language Bundle and you now have a chance to win it in this bundle giveaway!

3 lucky winners will get the entire Figurative Language Bundle!  

This is a great resource to use throughout the entire school year to incorporate figurative language into your 3rd - 5th general ed classrooms or to use for middle school age students who struggle with these higher level language skills. 

Each season includes:  figurative language definitions, idiom cards, idiom card covers, simile and metaphor activity, personification identification, personification creation, multiple meaning match, multiple meaning story, black/white printables, idiom data tracking form, simile and metaphor data tracking form page, personification data tracking form, multiple meaning data tracking form page, figurative language rubric


Figurative language is an important piece of addressing the Common Core Standards as it requires students to use critical thinking skills not only used in the classroom but in everyday life.  

Here is a preview of my new summer figurative language product.  Each month includes the same format of pages and data forms to make seasonal tracking and progress monitoring a breeze.

Win the ENTIRE BUNDLE by entering below.  Three lucky winners be chosen!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Life's a Beach ~Cabin Fever Freebie!

It's cabin fever week at my school and I went all out with my speech room luau!  Complete with  Hawaiian music, island food and festive decor, my office made quite the splash.  It was a treat to see the reactions of my students as they showed up for their sessions!

I found pomegranate coconut juice and offered healthy snacks of pineapple and watermelon.  Many of my kids tried the fruits for the first time and even ventured out to sample the macaroons.

Beach balls were bouncing, shades and leis were donned, but no current party would be compete without photo props.

I contacted Linda from Love the Day and she gave me permission to share her way cool Photo Booth props.  I look forward to sharing my students' pix with their parents at our open house this week.

Summer Photo Booth Props

Students worked on summertime games and activities while relaxing in their lounge chairs.  

Summertime Products

It's funny how mixing it up a bit can really cheer everyone up and help with the hum-drum of the same ol'.  If you're sick of feeling stir crazy with cabin fever shake it up with a luau!

Time for the FREEBIE!  If you haven't tried language logic tasks with your students, you're in for a treat.  I made a cabin fever themed logic puzzle for you to enjoy.  

Cabin Fever Freebie!

Calendar Activities of Language Bundle and June FREEBIE!

* Update 9/14/14: Data tracking pages have been added to the bundle in order to track your students' month-to-month progress!   You may grab the progress charts HERE or re-download from teacherspayteachers.  Even if you don't have the entire bundle, these pages will help you keep tabs on the progress from the months that you do have.  Enjoy!

I'm excited to share with you a Year Full of Calendars for Language!  This HUGE bundle has been a year in the works and a labor of love.  My students have shown tremendous growth in their language and calendar skills.  Following directions, temporal/spatial concepts, executive functioning,answering "wh" questions, inferencing, and sequencing are just some of the many goal targets provided in these monthly activities.  

Here are some recent feedback comments:

For me, these calendar activities mean quick monthly prep, routine that students look forward to, functional calendar skills, and tangible language work samples for easy progress/data tracking! 

Not sure if they're for you, try a the month of June free HERE. 

For those of you who have collected the months of the year along this journey, I have the final July/August month completed HERE:

For those teachers, specialists, and parents who are interested in seeing month-to-month progress this bundle is the way to go.  You will save over 20% off the full price (worth 2 free months + free June). 

 Find it HERE. 

Purchase the bundle ANY time year as the calendars are updated each calendar year free of charge.  

Thanks for all of your kind words and feedback!  

Lava lamps, tie dye, and summer language!

Hi friends,  You may have seen my Tie Dye Language unit for higher level language learners.  I have added some fun ideas to go in with this groovy product. 

Lava Lamps!  Who doesn't love lava lamps and their bubbling fun.  I tried out this inexpensive and easy craft with my own children and am sure my older students will LOVE it too.  Here are the directions:  

Why end the fun there.  The "I Have Who Has" inferencing game found in Tie Dye Language, goes through all of the materials and associations with actually tie dying (For example, I have rubber bands, who has something that contains blobs of wax in a glass container?"

  I have never tie dyed before so I had to try this with my own three girls.  Here are the results:  

Following directions, sequencing, vocabulary, and memory recall are just a few of the many language areas that can be targeted through these fun hands-on crafts and activities.

                                              On Sale Now!

They all lead up to my many higher-level language activities in Tie Dye Language: students work on multiple meaning words, similes, metaphors, inferencing, idioms, and my favorite moods/emotions (with my Mood Ring match pages).  You can even find mood rings at many dollar stores and in bulk online.  These activities will surly be the highlight of your students' summer service time.  

Click here for my blog post with full details about Tie Dye Language and how it can make your summer planning a breeze.  

Have a rad day! 

Tie Dye Language!

Let me give you the skinny on my new far out product!

Tie Dye Language is jam-packed with 8 activities in the areas of idioms, inferencing, similes/metaphors, multiple meaning words, and identifying emotions. + Data Progress Charts for each activity.  

Middle and Upper Grade Language Activies!

Mulitple Meaning Words: Students identify two meanings of sixties themed slang/multiple meaning words and create a story (not shown) with the vocabulary words. 

Mood Ring Match: The students read/listen to sentences and use the mood ring color chart to identify which person is wearing what color ring. 

Inferencing: "I Have…Who Has?"(28 cards) is a super fun game of using those higher level language. 

Color Idioms- A rainbow of colors in these idioms (48 total).

Similes or Metaphor?  - This activity (2 pages) has students using definition page (not shown) to identify if the sentence contains a simile or a metaphor.  In addition, student needs to underline the figurative language.  

These are just a few of the many colorful activities you'll find it here:Tie Dye Language. 

Also included are Data Points for each activity!  

Easily document student progress!
Baseline + at least 2 data points per activity.  

See full size example below. 

Thanks and:

Speechy Feedback Linky Party

I'm really excited to be joining my first Linky Party!  Allison at Speechpeeps put together a Feedback Party.  

Check it out at the links below.

                                    

Here is the kind feedback I received this week.

Click on the photo above to see Ice Cream Emotions.  

I loved hearing that a school counselor was able to use Ice Scream Emotions to work on feelings.  It's great to hear that this product is reaching so many students.   

Fcolon77, email me to receive one free product from my store!

Thank you to everyone who purchases from my store and a great big thank you for those who leave feedback!  Make sure you check back in a few weeks for another feedback winner!