In My APPinion: iName It

Monday, March 31, 2014
APPy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend! Here, we are just getting back to the real world after Spring Break! That can be tough, so why not make Monday a little better with a giveaway?! Recently, the creative people from Smarty Ears contacted me about doing an app review on their app,  iName It. 
Smarty Ears did provide me with a free copy of the app, however, all opinions expressed in this review are mine. 
iName it is an app designed by a speech language pathologist for those with word finding difficulties. The app is designed for adults but is age appropriate for kids and adolescents as well. To get started, first choose your user. This app allows for one user at a time. 
Next, choose the room that you want to target. iName It contains 50 nouns that are commonly found around the home. 
Once a room is chosen, the user is presented with a picture of a room filled with common items.The targeted items for that room are pictured at the bottom of the screen. Choose an item by touching it. The rest of the room goes grey and only the item chosen it highlighted. The user is then to name the item. If he/she correctly names the item, they receive a check. If he/she does not, touch the blue circle on the screen. The user will then be prompted with assistance cues. 
The first cue option is a written cue (pencil icon) The patient is presented with the first few letters of the word. 

The next cue is a definition of the word. 

The third cue option is a sentence frame. 
There is also a phonetic cue where the patient can hear the initial part of the word. And last but not least, the patient can be presented with the word. 
 The app also collects and stores data!
I currently work with preschool and school age students. Even though this app was designed for adults with Aphasia, so many of my students' goals were coming to mind as I was trying out this app: vocabulary, describing, categories, life skills, articulation, and answering WH questions... just to name a few! Smarty Ears has done it again and created another wonderful, versatile app that is great for all ages. 
To get more information about the app, you can watch a video here.
iName It currently sells for $14.99. You can download a copy of this app in the iTunes store here
Feeling lucky? The wonderful people from Smarty Ears kindly offered a second app code so I could share this app with one of you! Enter below for a chance to win a copy of iName It!




There Wan an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick

Wednesday, March 26, 2014
This post contains Amazon Affiliate links for your convience!
That lovable "Old Lady" is back and ready to celebrate spring!! Since becoming an SLP, I don't think there has been one holiday or season that I haven't spent with an old lady book. What's a perfect book for Easter and spring therapy? 

I created a speech and language story extension activity packet so I could help my students reach their goals while enjoying the story. Here is what is included...
Pages 4-7: Large story sequencing Activity
Print, cut, and laminate. Have your students “feed” the lady (page 4) as you read the story. These can also be used as vocabulary cards.
Pages 8-10: Student Story Sequence activity
Let your students demonstrate their story sequencing skills as they put the story in order. Pictures are black and white so they can color in the pictures when they are done.
Pages 11-15: Cover The Dots!
Have your students cover the dots with chips, markers or even better- candy as they correctly practice a target word or answer a question!
Page 16: Color the Story

Have your students work on vocabulary as they color in the pictures as they read about them in the story.
Page 17: Story Scavenger Hunt
Have your students search the story for words that contain their target sound!
Pages 18-22: Mini Book
Students can illustrate a mini version of the story. Great for story retell, articulation practice, and homework!
Pages 23-24: Prepositions
Have your students practice prepositions/ spatial skills with vocabulary from the story.
Pages 25-26: Following Directions!
Read the instructions on page 28 for your students to follow or make up your own!
Page 27-29: Compare & Contrast
Have your students Compare and contrast vocabulary words and characters from the story!
You can download a copy of this packet in my store here!
What's a thematic unit packet without matching homework sheets?
I also created a homework packet with open-ended articulation worksheets that go with the story!
You can download this packet in my store for FREE here!

15 Books To Get You Hoppin Into Spring!

Thursday, March 20, 2014
This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.
Spring has finally arrived!! Good-bye winter clothes (although I do love my scarves and boots!) and hello beautiful weather! This also means that it is time to pull your spring books off the shelves and into your therapy sessions!! I called on some of my favorite SLPs and fellow bloggers to help me compile a list of the best books to read this time of year. Spring is all about growing and changing, why not let your book collection do a little growing as well!
My favorite book to read in the spring is
Jenna from Speech Room News recommends
Lauren from Busy Bee Speech recommends
Kristin Minden recommends
Whitney from Let's Talk! recommends
Jenn from Crazy Speech World recommends
Felice from The Dabbling Speechie recommends
Maureen from The Speech Bubble recommends 
Patti Bohlman recommends
Katie from Playing With Words 365 recommends
Carrie from Carrie's Speech Corner recommends 
Teach Speech 365 recommends
Rachel Jones from Let's Talk Speech Therapy recommends

Wake Up, Bear
Miss Speechie from Speech Time Fun recommends
Jessica Chase from Consonantly Speaking recommends

I hope this list gets you excited and motivated for spring therapy sessions! Have a favorite that didn't make it on the list? Please share it in a comment below!

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