No snow? Make some magic!

This post includes Amazon Affiliate links.

It's a green Christmas in Vermont and my kids are wishing for snow so I pulled out the package of magical crystals that they got from Santa.  Snow was so easy to make as it only required the package of crystals and a cup of water.  Although they couldn't take out the new sled, the girls enjoyed making snowballs and squishing the white concoction through their little fingers.  

I can't locate the "Just Like Snow" product that we used, but found these similar instant snow making products available at Amazon.  These had the best ratings and ship free with Prime.

 

Free Option

Sodium Polymer, also known as water lock, is used to make fake snow and is found in laundry detergents, thickening agents, and disposable diapers.  My kids are out of diapers, but if you have disposable diapers, you can make snow!  Use the cotton center of the diaper by cutting it into small pieces, placing the pieces in a bucket, and pouring between 2-4 cups of water on the pieces.  Voila, snow!  

Whether real or artificial, snow is great for sensory bins, teaching thematic units, weather related activities, and just plain fun for the sake of fun.  

Siri-ous results in speech.

As most of you know, I primarily work with middle school students.  This year's caseload surprisingly consists of many students with speech challenges including apraxia of speech, fluency, and articulation   I find it hard to find materials for this age range.  My students have had years of speech services and, not surprisingly, speech therapy is not their favorite part of the day.  My goal this year is to make their service time fun and functional and my most recent idea of using speech recognition technology has been a huge hit.   

Some of my students have iPhones and I'm lucky enough to have an iPad with Siri.  Siri is a voice to text application for Apple products.  There are other voice recognition apps such as Android Voice. The recognition technology is pretty amazing and improving daily. 

Students must be intelligible for Siri to respond appropriately to the request.   The motivation is huge as students drive the search with their interests.  I ask students to share their interests, hobbies, favorite tv shows/music, etc., and Siri does the search for information.  For example, I have a Mine Craft obsessed 5th grader who is constantly searching for tricks of the game.  My 7th grader loves basketball and enjoys reviewing game stats.  This avenue gives students immediate feedback and they are very careful to use their strategies to improve intelligibility. 

The SLP may also drive more language-based searches by asking students calendar related questions or making inquiries about general knowledge, community places, and even asking "how-to" questions for sequencing.   Other functions are available too.  Students may text the teacher, check/input into their calendar, and set the alarm clock.  The service options are endless as is the fun and motivation.  

I would love to hear how you plan to use Siri with your students.  

 You may also like these products related to speech and technology.  

Toilet Paper Crafts~ really

A beautiful, simple craft that is a snap to create and comes from reusing/recycling toilet paper rolls!  

Whether for Christmas, winter, or as an EET Companion, your students will feel so proud of this craft.  I would love to see yours.  Feel free to post pix on my SLPrunner FB page or Instagram @SLPrunner.  

You may also like Warm Fuzzy EET Companion!

What's in Your Cart-Linky Party

Get ready for a HUGE Teachers pay Teachers sale extravaganza!  It's the perfect time to shop with up to 28% off (even bigger savings off my already reduced $-saving bundles!).   My cart is full with some amazing products from talented SLP bloggers as well as some cool clip art for new products ideas!

First, here are a few of my new and seasonal products that you might like to add to your carts.

        My best-seller gone holiday!  Thanksgiving through New Years' situations to target perspective taking, emotions, and problem solving.  

Taking Perspective Holiday!

  An amazingly effective Problem Solving strategy for serious middle & high school issues.  This product will make a huge impact in how you approach Problem Solving.

Hot off the press: similes/metaphors, personification, idioms, multiple meaning words with data tracking and rubric for assessing progress.  

Winter Figurative Language

                                      

Check out these awesome products that I can't wait to get me hands on! 

Social Group Curriculum for Middle and High School Students 

by Nicole Allison

Multiple Meaning Snowflakes by Activity Tailor

Christmas Analogies for Middle and High School Students by Happily SLP

Christmas Around the World! by Super Power Speech

Don't forget to use the code:  TPTCYBER at checkout.  

Enjoy!

Head back to Speech Room News for more TpT ideas.  

Make your own Plinko Game

Come on down, you're the next contestant in 

Speech and Language Plinko!  

I'm a big fan of The Price Is Right, especially the old episodes with Bob Barker as the host, and I always longed to play Plinko!  In fact, one item on my bucket list was to be on the game show.  I even stood in line in Hollywood, but sadly missed the cut off.  So when I saw this Instagram (regram) by Pediastaff, I just had to try it for myself!  

These are not technical instructions as box sizes and creativity will vary.  

Cut a large cardboard box to the size board you desire and bend the backing to make it stand.  Use a hot glue gun to adhere clear straws to the sides of the Plinko panel.  The straws are cut to make 9 rows leading towards the winning numbers.   Paint sides of the board with acrylic paint.  Insert colored thumb tacks about 1 inch apart with enough space for marbles   Cut glue sticks as marble stoppers at the bottom of the board.  Let dry and give it a try.  

I did not include graphics because everyone's board size will be different.  You may create-your-own or search online for suitable graphics.   

* Warning: The thumbtacks did go through the cardboard.  I folded the extra cardboard as a backing and duct taped it to make as a stand.  You may also cover the thumbtack backs with duct tape or adhere a piece of cardboard to make a backing.  

You may like these other speech therapy games that may stand alone or be used with Plinko: 

Thanksgiving Soup - Freebie!

The youth classes at my church assembled 150 Thanksgiving Soup mixes for charity this past weekend.  My kids (ages 4-10) were all able to participate in making the soup mixes and it was so great to see how much fun and organized the process was.  There is my little one in the first picture.  

I thought that this would be a great activity for my Life Skills students as they work at so many different levels.  They say that the secret of happiness is giving to others.  What a great feeling to create something that can be so useful and appreciated by others!

I put together the ingredients and assembly instructions for you too!
 Click HERE to download. 

Enjoy!  

Describing Turkeys

Turkey legs for language!  I had the materials and thought that this adorable Thanksgiving place setting idea by The Party Animal looked to be a quick and easy craft so I gave it a try.  

Instead of place settings, I made a describing activity to use with the 
Expanding Expression Tool.  

Students pick a leg and describe their word using the Expanding Expression Tool by Sara Smith.  Instead of filling the turkey legs with newspaper, you could fill them with the items indicated on the bag, prizes, or fun food!  

I filled mine with popcorn.  

You could even pop the popcorn in the paper bags.

Paper Bag Popcorn: 

              1. Put 1/4 cup popcorn kernels into a brown paper lunch bag.  

              2. Fold the top of the bag over and tape.

              3. Microwave until there is more than 3 seconds between 
                  popping kernels.
              4. Carefully remove and open bag.  

I hope your students enjoy this craftivity.  Feel free to send your pix to my Instagram and/or Facebook page.  I love hearing from you! 

You may also like my Describing Turkeys product: