One of my favorite summer themes is an ice cream theme, but let's be honest ice cream is great all year long! We hope you love sprinkling some of our suggestions with your favorite resources. Enjoy!
Disclosure: Keep in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. I link these companies (amazon) and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
Ideas Based on Developmental Areas: (Printable Version Here)
Make a sensory bin with rainbow sprinkles! Choose to hide different ice cream related items in the bin such as a spoon, pretend ice cream scoops, an ice cream scooper or choose to use the picture icons from any of our resources.
Make ice cream in a bag and include your kids in this fun science and sensory-rich experience.
When using play items: colorful pom poms make for great pretend ice cream scoops. Use tongs to place the pom poms into a cake cone.
When using real items: work on pinching cherries and placing them onto ice cream or into a dish. Grasping the stem requires a pincher grasp.
Use an ice cream scoop and shredded paper to work on the scooping movement.
Set up a relay race/course with a few stations along the path. The first station the child will pick up a cone, the next one an ice cream scoop, then toppings, and then they cross the finish line after their ice cream cone is made. Whoever crosses without dropping their cone wins!
Open up your very own pretend ice cream store. Talk about how you want to set things open and sort through items by flavors, by utensils, by toppings (etc.). Next decide who will be the customer and who will be the employee serving the ice cream. Let your child lead and model language to narrate the activities as you play together.
Pattern completion with ice cream flavors. (Example chocolate vanilla chocolate and the child needs to add vanilla to complete the pattern).
- Match mat (picture to picture matching)
- Adapted books (matching the pictures
- Following directions to fulfill “orders” for a pretend ice cream shop.
- Sequencing how to make a sundae
Read the book “Cake and I Scream! (on the recommended book list). This book helps to use the theme of ice cream in a way that teaches children about friendships. As an extension activity, you can talk about behaviors that are “sweet” and behaviors that are “unsweet or sour”
engage in pretend play with your children and run an ice cream shop together. Assign roles to one another. who will be taking orders and who will be the customer. pretend to make and eat the ice cream. Talk about which flavors are good and which ones “taste” bad.
Book Recommendations: (Printable Version Here)
This is a list of books that pair well with the Ice Cream Theme. I highly recommend searching some of these titles on Epic! or on Youtube if you're looking for free ways to utilize these stories for your kiddos. Another option is to print the recommendations and take them to your local library. There you can check out the books you're interested in.
When you know you want to add some books to your personal or school library, you can use the links below to purchase through Amazon.
Play Recommendations: (Printable Version Here)
Apps That You Can Download: (Printable Version Here)
Educational Video Links: (Printable Version Here)
Grab your list of words related to the ICE CREAM theme that are categorized by speech sound above. This is helpful for your mixed speech therapy groups or if you have a child who is working on their articulation skills in speech therapy.
Like Our Thematic Resources?
Be sure to check out the Boom Versions of our Adapted Books! These resources can be played on a phone, iPad, or computer and feature drag and drop icons! Whether you assign them to a student to get data or if you just use them with screen sharing during a session, they are engaging and a favorite amongst our students.
Leave a Comment:
Tell us what your favorite tip or resource was that we included in this post, or share an idea that we didn't include! We'd love to learn from you.
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Pin this post with the image below! If you have the Pinterest extension all you have to do is hover over the image, click "share", and then add it to your theme therapy board!
]]>Inspire your little builders to keep on creating with this theme! Teach them new vocabulary as well as descriptive language skills as they learn about what tools and machines do and the many things that construction workers do to allow us to have such incredible places. This post is meant to help get those ideas turning as you consider how to apply these activities to your own kiddos.
Disclosure: Keep in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. I link these companies (amazon) and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
Ideas Based on Developmental Areas: (Printable Version Here)
Book Recommendations: (Printable Version Here)
This is a list of books that pair well with the Construction Theme. I highly recommend searching some of these titles on Epic! or on Youtube if you're looking for free ways to utilize these stories for your kiddos. Another option is to print the recommendations and take them to your local library. There you can check out the books you're interested in.
When you know you want to add some books to your personal or school library, you can use the links below to purchase through Amazon.
Play Recommendations: (Printable Version Here)
Apps That You Can Download: (Printable Version Here)
Educational Video Links: (Printable Version Here)
Grab your list of words related to the construction theme that are categorized by speech sound above. This is helpful for your mixed speech therapy groups or if you have a child who is working on their articulation skills in speech therapy.
Like Our Thematic Resources?
Be sure to check out the Boom Versions of our Adapted Books! These resources can be played on a phone, iPad, or computer and feature drag and drop icons! Whether you assign them to a student to get data or if you just use them with screen sharing during a session, they are engaging and a favorite amongst our students.
Leave a Comment:
Tell us what your favorite tip or resource was that we included in this post, or share an idea that we didn't include! We'd love to learn from you.
Want to Save This Post So You Can Refer Back to It?
Pin this post with the image below! If you have the Pinterest extension all you have to do is hover over the image, click "share", and then add it to your theme therapy board!
]]>Music and movement bring so much joy but can also help you as you teach lessons to your children. While music can be incorporated into ANY of our themes, we chose to spend a whole unit talking about music specifically. What are the names of the instruments and more! Read on to find out our favorite recommendations that you can use at home or in the speech room.
Disclosure: Keep in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. I link these companies (amazon) and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
Ideas Based on Developmental Areas: (Printable Version Here)
Create an egg shaker with a plastic egg and rice (tape in shut just in case).
Feel the different instruments and talk about what makes each different
Set up a music wall with household objects such as a baking tin or pots/pans
play guitar with a guitar pick (work on grasp and strumming)
play piano (finger movements + dexterity)
when playing the recorder (children have to cover the small holes - finger isolation skills that are small and refined movements)
finger cymbals (pinching movement)
plucking a violin string
french horn: coordinate motor movements of the mouth with breath control/support
Play the Drums (bongos) - use your hands to hit the drums. As you do your arms are engaged in bigger movements
Being a conductor - using the wand to coordinate the music for a pretend performance
Musical Chairs - play music and students with walk quickly around the chairs and when the music stops they will find a seat and if not “they’re out!"
Dancing, jumping, and clapping are all great ways to enjoy music and move your body!
PUT ON A CONCERT: This is a fun one. Take turns playing or pretending to play an instrument.
SET UP MUSIC CENTERS: each center has a different grouping of instruments ex: percussion, wind, string (etc.).
PLAY CONDUCTOR: Let your kids direct the orchestra!
Work on sequencing and patterning with a piano activity. To do this use a play keyboard. Color code each of the keys. Then on a piece of paper put color stickers on the page in a certain order. Encourage the child to look at the paper and then press the keys in that order. This works on memory, visual processing, sequencing, color recognition and matching and more! It’s a fun activity that your child won’t even realize they’re developing those skills.
Music has a way of stirring up emotions in others. Some music can make you feel happy, some music makes you feel sad.
Play music and talk about how it makes you feel. If your student needs practice labeling emotions start there and then add in the music. You may need to model this for them by playing music and labeling how it makes you feel.
You can also talk about opinions if you “like” or “don’t like” a song. Expressing our opinions and feelings are both great skills to carryover.
we’d like to encourage you to talk about your experiences with music and playing instruments with your kids. starting the conversations can be a fun way to make this theme more meaningful. Have a family concert. take turns performing. work on phonemic awareness skills by creating songs together and rhyming.
Book Recommendations: (Printable Version Here)
This is a list of books that pair well with the music Theme. I highly recommend searching some of these titles on Epic! or on Youtube if you're looking for free ways to utilize these stories for your kiddos. Another option is to print the list of recommendations and take them to your local library. There you can check out the books you're interested in.
When you know you want to add some books to your personal or school library, you can use the links below to purchase through Amazon.
Play Recommendations: (Printable Version Here)
Apps That You Can Download: (Printable Version Here)
Educational Video Links: (Printable Version Here)
Grab your list of words related to the Music theme that are categorized by speech sound above. This is helpful for your mixed speech therapy groups or if you have a child who is working on their articulation skills in speech therapy.
Like Our Thematic Resources?
Be sure to check out the Boom Versions of our Adapted Books! These resources can be played on a phone, iPad, or computer and feature drag and drop icons! Whether you assign them to a student to get data or if you just use them with screen sharing during a session, they are engaging and a favorite amongst our students.
Leave a Comment:
Tell us what your favorite tip or resource was that we included in this post, or share an idea that we didn't include! We'd love to learn from you.
Want to Save This Post So You Can Refer Back to It?
Pin this post with the image below! If you have the Pinterest extension all you have to do is hover over the image, click "share", and then add it to your theme therapy board!
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Before
After
Do you know what you have?
HACK #1: Take Everything You Have And Lay It All Out.
Hack #2: Donate + Make an Inventory List of What You Keep
HACK #3: Sort Your Resources By Theme And/Or Skill!
HACK #4: Go Digital With Worksheets And Print ONLY As Needed
HACK #5: Store Your Picture Icons for AAC In A Toolbox!
HACK #6: Use Photo Box Storage Containers!
HACK #7: Store Puzzles, Games And Ball Poppers In Mesh Bags!
HACK #8: Keep Meeting Paperwork Ready
HACK #9: Use Clear Storage Bins
HACK #10: Choose A Tote That Helps You Stay Efficient
Ideas Based on Developmental Areas: (Printable Version Here)
Fine Motor Movements are small movements that we make. These skills are very important for our littles and they also aid in cognitive skills over time. Encouraging the use of fine motor movements during daily activities is very important.
Ways that you can support your little’s fine motor skills is to:
engage in writing/drawing activities
put together the chunky pet puzzle (on play recs)
utilize the letter puppy to make sight words and practice words with speech sounds.
Gross motor activities involve large body movements. Developing these skills helps children build body strength and help keep them healthy.
Ways to engage your kids in these large movements as it relates to a pet theme would be to act out the movements of your pets. (ex: Slither like a snake, run really fast like a hamster, hop like a frog, move slow like a turtle, jump like a cat... )
Pretend play with this theme can be SO much fun! There is a vet outfit that is linked within the blog post that I think your littles would LOVE! Role-Playing is so good for cognition and social skills as they take on the perspective of another individual.
For even further engagement set up centers. Make a grooming center, pet hospital center, and a home center. Let your little’s imagination wander through purposeful play.
There are many ways to work on cognitive skills but a few ideas to get you started:
working on patterns: use real objects and line up animals (ex: dog, cat, dog ___ what comes next ... )
Sequence Steps to Give The Dog A Bath (example: first get a towel, next take off the collar, then put the dog in the bathtub, after fill a cup up with water and pour on the dog’s back...)
Pets bring about a LOT of emotions. They are a part of our little’s families and are so important. When talking about this theme it is important to be sensitive as some of our kids may have lost a pet recently.
Some books that talk specifically about processing losing a pet can be found online but one that can help get you started is called: “I’ll Always Love You” By Hans Wilhelm.
Book Recommendations: (Printable Version Here)
This is a list of books that pair well with the Pet Theme. I highly recommend searching some of these titles on Epic! or on Youtube if you're looking for free ways to utilize these stories for your kiddos. Another option is to print the list of recommendations and take them to your local library. There you can check out the books you're interested in.
When you know you want to add some books to your personal or school library, you can use the links below to purchase through Amazon.
Play Recommendations: (Printable Version Here)
Apps That You Can Download: (Printable Version Here)
Educational Video Links: (Printable Version Here)
Grab your list of words related to the Pet theme that are categorized by speech sound above. This is helpful for your mixed speech therapy groups or if you have a child who is working on their articulation skills in speech therapy.
Like Our Thematic Resources?
Be sure to check out the Boom Versions of our Adapted Books! These resources can be played on a phone, iPad, or computer and feature drag and drop icons! Whether you assign them to a student to get data or if you just use them with screen sharing during a session, they are engaging and a favorite amongst our students.
Leave a Comment:
Tell us what your favorite tip or resource was that we included in this post, or share an idea that we didn't include! We'd love to learn from you.
Want to Save This Post So You Can Refer Back to It?
Pin this post with the image below! If you have the Pinterest extension all you have to do is hover over the image, click "share", and then add it to your theme therapy board!
]]>Important Considerations Before You Customize:
Initial Set-Up Steps:
Customizations To Complete
When Your Families Sign Up:
Private Practice Owners:
You may wish to upgrade your account for your branding purposes and to be able to integrate (private pay) billing with your account.
I hope you enjoy using this system and that it helps you streamline the scheduling process during this time. If you have any questions or if you found a new way to use it or customize that I haven't mentioned please feel free to share below! This is meant to start the conversation and help you as you navigate teletherapy services. It's something I'm starting to implement for my caseload and I hope it is a beneficial read for you.
To Save This Resource - Pin it with the image below:
Ideas Based on Developmental Areas: (Printable Version Here)
Family Activities: (Printable Family Letter)
Talk about ways that you can care for the world around you. These can be small steps that you take at home such as, turning off lights in rooms that you are no longer in, turning the water off while you are brushing your teeth, and choosing to donate used items instead of throwing them away. Together we can learn not only speech and language skills but also how to make the world a better place.
Book Recommendations: (Printable Version Here)
This is a list of books that pair well with the Earth Day Theme. I highly recommend searching some of these titles on Epic! or on Youtube if you're looking for free ways to utilize these stories for your kiddos. Another option is to print the list of recommendations and take it to your local library. Check out the books you're interested in.
When you know you want to add some books to your personal or school library, you can use the links below to purchase through Amazon.
Play Recommendations: (Printable Version Here)
Apps That You Can Download: (Printable Version Here)
Educational Video Links: (Printable Version Here)
Grab your list of words related to the Earth Day theme that are categorized by speech sound above. This is helpful for your mixed speech therapy groups or if you have a child who is working on their articulation skills in speech therapy.
As you read this blog post please know that I am not aware of what your individual district is doing. These strategies are simply what I have done and what has worked for me and the families that I service. I am not saying that you have to do these steps to successfully deal with the demands or to document. But I do believe this information can help you and that is why I compiled this information here.
So Let's Get Started:
Step 1: Documentation For You - If your district has not given you a form for documentation, make a parent communication log. This is very important. You're likely going to be using a variety of methods of communication in attempts of getting ahold of your families and this will help you see the last time you contacted families and to know when to follow up. If your district does give you a form you may consider turning it into a google form to make things easier on you. Watch this quick clip to see how to make one from start to finish and view my examples for what you should include.
Step 2: Documentation for "Them" - Make the decision on if you want to include documenting the activities you are "assigning" on the parent communication log or if you want to do this separately. Your district is going to want to know what you did during this time to support your students but that log is probably going to have 12353242 entries by the time COVID is over.. (sorry that's probably not hopeful).
Can I just say the word packet stresses me out? I can't imagine how families must feel with packets of paper being sent home. All while navigating working and trying to create a routine. I'm not the biggest fan of them BUT I do understand the intent that they are needed for our students that do not have an internet connection or access to a computer. That being said - I pulled an all-nighter to get half of my caseload individualized packets (I was given approximately 24 hrs to prep - if that. I know some of you had even less time!). It was not putting my health first, but I knew that setting things up digitally could take some time. That being said, I wanted them to have enough activities to help during the gap between school closures and establishing a digital connection.Step 1 + 2: What I Am Doing Specifically
I have created the communication log that I featured in the video above for my caseload. I have this log pinned (in the preview mode) to my bookmarks bar. This is great because I can, at a moment's notice, record an entry of a text I may receive or an email that I send. I document EVERYTHING. Nothing too small. Why? Because when there is a time of crisis, it doens't matter if there are laws "waived" not everyone is going to be super happy about the difference in speech service delivery and you just need to protect yourself. We've never been through this before, and you'll never regret being in compliance and playing it safe.
Another reason is...if the district asks well why didn't you send home something for ______(student)_____. Then I could say very clearly and honestly... I called this number 3x, emailed this address, and reached out to the office staff for a new number but have not been able to touch base. I also contacted the classroom teacher and she is also having a difficult time. (make sure that even though you're "isolated" you stay connected with your teams).
The last thing that I do, related to the first two steps, is that 1x per week I am going to be putting a record in my student's billing platform that will be a summary of the contacts that were made that week as well as the activities, any data that I get, (etc). This will be a non-billable note. To cite the source: I got this idea from an SLP in our district and I think it's genius. It is something that we can later export after COVID and then scan/upload into the student's IEP platform. We can also have a hard copy in their student folder.
Reminder: you don't have to do these things but these pieces of advice are base on my experience and you can choose to apply them as much or as litle as you need based on your circumstances.
Step 3: Packets -
Going Forward:Now that we are closed for a longer duration, we're to send home packets again. This time I will be only sending packets for my students that can't access our electronic lesson plans and activities. This will help to streamline the work being sent home, as well as my documentation.
For More Resources: (View My Resource Round-Up Blog)
Step 4: Planning What Goes Home
Step 5: Parent Communication + Documentation + Data
If you want to use the exact home learning parent survey, CLICK HERE . Be sure to make a copy of it and then add it to your drive.
Step 6: Reflect on What Is + Isn't Working This is super important.
I have a PDF form that you can print and make copies ofor write on if you don't have your own meeting minutes as a district.This is a way to cover yourself. You don't want someone to think that you're meeting didn't happen. You can do this immediately after the meeting if needed since it is hard to work the tech, share your screen and take minutes all at the time. Be sure to tell the team that you'll be sending minutes in the follow-up email and if anyone disagrees with what you wrote down to let you know so you can fix it!
I found a website to help with collecting digital signatures (I've heard it works well with the google chrome browser). Past the link below in the chat of your video conference. Ask people to send you the .png file of their signature. Do not accept one that looks like it was auto-populated. Like it should look ugly.. Those are the authentic onees.
"Here are the finalized documents with everyone's signatures. I'll be uploading them to our online system and I'll get the originals to the district after we're back to school.Please take a second to look at them and respond back to the email saying "verified" to confirm that you are in agreement with where your e-signature has been placed.Don't hesitate to ask us any questions you may have as you review the documents.Thanks again for your time! Praying we're back soon"
I don't know about you but when I have too many ideas in my feed and I'm trying to organize all of it, I get overwhelmed.
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