Articulation Techniques At Home

Once again, thanks to Pinterest I have found some great resources for explaining articulation techniques for specific speech sounds in parent friendly language.  I hope to find additional sounds in the near future.  These handouts are courtesy of an amazing blog I often visit called Heard in Speech.



Link:  https://www.box.com/s/rflq5x6ppqmc88snpddk



Link:  https://www.box.com/s/d0hilmej1rfy55z7x50n



Link:  https://www.box.com/s/15d1baril9u6t9pa8bu9

Speech Signals

When working with students' articulation (speech sound) skills it's always helpful to have auditory or visual signals the students can refer to when attempting to produce a specific sound.

Below are kid friendly names that can help the student visualize what each sound should look or sound like.

Below are visual cues I use with students to think about articulator placement or airflow when producing target sounds.

Speech Sound Development

Teachers and parents often ask "Jimmy can't say his /l/'s.  Is this normal?"  Well, it depends on his age.  Here is a speech sound development chart which reflects at what age specific sounds should be mastered.  Keep in mind there can be a wide age range from when a sound may begin to emerge to when it should be mastered developmentally.

What is an ACT Week?

Assessment

Consultation

Teaming and Training

I have been implementing a 3:1 service delivery model for speech/language services for approximately four years.  The concept of a 3:1 model is that direct services (DS) are provided for three (3) consecutive weeks of the month (or 15 consecutive school days) followed by a fourth week of indirect services (ID) (5 consecutive school days).  

My ACT week activities often include the following:

·        Consult with teachers, paras, parents, specialists and outside agencies

·        Observe students across school settings

·        Develop materials for student use at home, in the classroom, and/or for therapy sessions

·        Complete student evaluations

·        Provide ongoing direct service to students if needed

·        3^rd party billing

·        Participate/facilitate monthly district speech meetings

·        Provide in-service and training to staff

·        Analyze student's data toward achievement of goals

·        Provide mini lessons within classrooms

Over the past four years, I have found this service delivery model to be highly beneficial in my students' making progress in meeting their goals and objectives.

A little practice at home

Save a tree, save some time, save your mind!!  This year I am trying to K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Students) for all of my speech/language students and their parents when it comes to "speech homework" or as I like to call it "home practice."  Home practice opportunities can be found on my website and/or blog.  There are a few options for home practice with either a weekly articulation calendar, monthly language/voice/fluency calendar or your child may choose to interact with games and activities under their area of need on my web page. 

This year, students can earn Bonus Reward Points in my class if they do one of the following to show that they have practiced their speech/language skills at home:

1. Bring in a copy of the completed homework.
2. Have their parents help them leave me an email to indicate they have completed a home practice activity.  nstreif@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
3. Have their parents help them leave a comment on my Speech Spot blog to confirm they have completed a home practice activity.  http://streifspeechspot.blogspot.com/

Back to the Grind



It's official.... summer is over (at least for me and my fellow 750+ colleagues).

I've been back to the grind for four days now and it's always funny how it feels like I was just here.

Last night was our Open House/Back to School Night.  I love watching the students coming in so excited to meet their new teacher, wanting to quick visit their previous teachers and parents smiling ear to ear thinking, "they're all yours for the next 9 months."  I only wish this excitement could stay with all of them throughout the entire year... hee hee. 

This is the start of my 13th year at Glendale so I get plenty of visits from students past, present and future.  Some make me feel really old..."I remember when you were in Kindergarten," as I am looking at the student towering over me.  While others make my gears turn as soon as I see them..."Oooo we are going to have fun this year.  I have some new ideas!!"  And of course there are those who aren't yet on my caseload, but a parent or teacher has already stopped to ask me questions or give me a "heads up" to have a chat with their son, daughter or student. 

This is always such a great kick off to the school year and I am looking forward to seeing these smiling faces back here on September 4th.

Pinterest... Fun and Functional

I was introduced to Pinterest (a virtual bulletin board) by a friend and co-worker early last spring.  I initially just followed a few friends and "pinned" ideas for home improvements, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and my boys.  However, as time went on (not too much mind you) my addiction took hold and I was a servant to the Pinterest gods.  I have now created boards for many areas in the realm of speech and language (articulation, language, fluency, social communication) which include resources for speech/language development, strategies and activities to implement in therapy, the use of technology in therapy, in addition to resources via other SLPs blogs.  As the school year progresses, I imagine I will be reviewing and sharing ideas, strategies, activities, and visuals that students can use at school or home to improve their speech and language skills.