by Anne Page | Apr 6, 2017 | AAC, Autism, Therapy Ideas
Do you struggle with planning functional communication therapy?
Do you leave those sessions feeling frustrated and like it nothing is working?
I sure used to. And then I discovered the power of Core Vocabulary.
You can add structure, consistency and fun to your sessions by using Core Vocabulary. You’ll be amazed at how you can do more with less!
It’s not just for labeling. These words are used to comment, request and command.
Of course, you want students to learn many other words, these are fringe vocabulary. But by focusing on core words you are teaching them a vocabulary that is used most often throughout the day and that they can use throughout their daily lives from classroom to playground to cafeteria to home.
So what exactly is core vocabulary?
Core vocabulary is a small set of simple words, in any language, that are used frequently and across contexts (Cross, Baker, Klotz & Badman, 1997). These words make up 75-80% of the words we use every day.
I love to use big core vocabulary boards with my students. You can choose your core words from many sources and create your own board using symbols.
I just created this core vocabulary board. I spent months tweaking the size, the positioning of the symbols and using it with my students. Here’s what I love about it:
- Big squares are easy for little hands to grasp and large enough to see clearly.
- Made for classroom and/or speech room use
- Uses DLM Core Vocabulary words which are evidence based
It’s available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store now. Included with the board are two different choices of backgrounds, one vibrant and one more subdued. There is also a smaller poster to put on the classroom door to help with carryover. And smaller squares to use for lanyards to encourage use of the core vocabulary words throughout the day.
If you’re sold on Core Vocabulary but wondering how to get started, I also included enough ideas to get you through a few sessions incorporating wind-up toys and movement.
Click on this link to see the Big Core Vocabulary Board.
Psssssst…April 7th only….This is at an Introductory Price of just $5.00 (I know are you kidding me? That’s a whole lotta resource, that will last a lifetime)
I hope this gives you a good start. I don’t teach core vocabulary for the whole session, but consistently work it in for 10 to 15 minutes of each 30 minute session.
Keep coming back, because I’ll be sharing more ideas on how to use core vocabulary to make communication gains. Also join me on Instagram, where I share lots of ideas in my Instastories.
I’d love to hear from you once you’ve tried this. How did it work for you? What new ideas did it generate?
Hugs and high-fives,
by Anne Page | Mar 27, 2017 | SLP Like a Boss
In this series I’m interviewing SLP boss women who work by day as a speech language pathologist, but at night (and on weekends) they are building a business. I’m talking about websites, blogs, courses and therapy materials for their fellow SLPs and teachers. These are women I admire professionally and who inspire me. I write this series because I feel we can all make our practice as SLPs better and stronger by connecting with other SLPs.[spacer height=”20px”]
This month, I’m featuring Adrienne from Learn with Adrienne. I met Adrienne two years ago when we took a massive online course together. I’m pretty sure we were the only two SLPs in the class and we became accountability partners. I was one of the beta testers for her course and am so impressed by what she’s created. She is an ASHA certified speech language pathologist who, along with her sign language course, works in early intervention.
Adrienne, tell me about yourself in seven words:
I teach Sign Language online to beginners.
Where did you go to grad school?:
Western Kentucky University.[spacer height=”20px”]
What are your top three SLP must haves ?:
1. Powersheets Intentional Goal Planner by Lara Casey. I started using this at the beginning of the year. It helps me set goals and have a structured system to chip away at my goals without feeling overwhelmed. My favorite part is the “Tending List” that you create at the beginning of each month. You can find out more about Powersheets on Instagram here: @cultivatewhatmatters Also, I enjoy following the Powersheets creator, Lara, at @laracasey.
2. My Swell water bottle. It keeps my water ice cold in the car between home visits for Early Intervention therapy.[spacer height=”20px” id=”2″]
- 3. My dayplanner: AT-A-GLANCE Academic Year Weekly/Monthly Appointment Book. I have used this type of planner for years. It has a slot for each hour of the day. I book my client sessions, write appointments, block out time for my goals, and plan meals. Love it.
What do you love most about what you do?
My happiest moments are when I am helping people learn Sign Language. I love watching my students add Sign Language to their SLP toolbox while earning ASHA CEUs at the same time.
Julie, one of my students said, “I just got an Early Intervention referral…both parents are Deaf! I am so thankful for this course, not only for Speech Therapy, but now I am able to introduce myself, and show them I am trying.”
Another one of my students, Isabella, told me: “My cousin is Deaf and I have always wanted to have a conversation with her. I want to show her that I care and include her when the family gets together. Now, after practice and watching your videos in your online Sign Language class, I will be able to talk to her and we can become even closer.”
So, I am happiest when I am watching people sign to connect with others. #signtoconnect has become my motto.
Tell me your advice for the newly minted SLP:
My best advice is to start an “Aha-Moments” Journal.
Aha-moments happen when you least expect them.
It is the twinkle in a toddler’s eye when she realizes for the first time that she can use words to make a request.
It is the 5th grader who finally perfects their /r/ sound in a sentence.
It is the high-schooler who delivers his big Graduation Speech confidently and smoothly in the auditorium. When you are sitting in the audience with proud tears of joy because he has dysfluency and has been practicing his speech with you for months.
It is the man in the Skilled Nursing Facility who can remember his daughter’s name again when she comes to visit, because he is using the strategies and tips you taught him.
Chase after the “aha-moments.” Cherish them, celebrate them, and strive for them. In your “Aha-Moments” journal, write down whenever you help someone in a profound way. Write it down and celebrate it. When you feel discouraged, or have a rough day, you will have a beautiful collection of moments to remember times when you changed peoples’ lives. At the end of your career, you will have a unique keepsake to walk down memory lane and reminisce about the lives you touched.
Tell me about your course:
I teach the “Sign Language in 30 Days Online Course” for beginners. This course is for people who have always wanted to learn Sign Language, but feel intimidated. It is for people who are overwhelmed by learning signs from a book or random sources online. It is for people who need to know basic Sign Language vocabulary to use with clients, students, or patients in their speech therapy sessions.
As an SLP, I know that earning CEUs is always a priority for me to further my education on topics that I need to use in my own therapy sessions. My Sign Language course is available for up to 5 hours of ASHA CEUs for my students who are SLPs.
Before I first started learning Sign Language over ten years ago, I thought it would be so complicated and confusing. But once I started coming up with my own secret strategies to remember the words, I was obsessed! I never realized how most signs look like the words they portray. The language is beautiful. That’s one reason I love teaching Sign Language in my online course, because I can help beginners to learn the basics in 30 days. I shortcut the time it takes my students to learn. I teach them strategies to learn faster and remember signs for a long long time.[spacer height=”20px”]
My students learn over 300 words in one month and have lifetime access to the class online to review in the future.[spacer height=”20px”]
Tell me about your website:
My website is www.learnwithadrienne.com. There, I give away the first lesson of my Sign Language Online Course as a gift. My site also has videos for Early Intervention SLPs. I share ideas and inspiration for therapy activities with babies and toddlers in my videos.
What SLP-boss inspires you?
Lia Kurtin from SpeechandLanguageatHome.com. She makes amazing resources for Early Intervention on TPT. I use her materials all the time in my Early Intervention home visits. She also has a course about how to go “Bagless” in Early Intervention visits and use the coaching model.[spacer height=”20px”]
If you are interested in taking an Adrienne’s course click here
http://bit.ly/learnsignathome for more information. I like the course so much that I am an affiliate.[spacer height=”20px”]
The thing that makes her course different is that she groups the words into categories (of course she does, she’s an SLP) AND she gives you little tips and tricks that help you remember the signs. For example, the sign for pizza (very important to me) looks like you’re putting a slice in your mouth.[spacer height=”20px”]
I use sign language to provide visual support when I’m teaching core vocabulary. It really helps to have multi-modality. In my primary functional skill classroom we use the sign for “more” a lot. I took her course last summer and really enjoyed it. Since I have lifetime access, I go back and check in from time to time for a refresher. [spacer height=”20px”]
So there you have it, another inspirational SLP boss. If you enjoyed this interview, head on over to Adrienne’s site and learn more.[spacer height=”20px”]
Is there an SLP you admire and would like to know more about? Let me know in the comments below.[spacer height=”20px”]
Until next time, together we are stronger,[spacer height=”20px”]
by Anne Page | Mar 13, 2017 | Freebies
Have you been working your nicely manicured fingers to the bone? I know I have, it’s just that time of year.[spacer height=”20px” id=”2″]
Loads of IEP meetings, evaluations and always progress reports (ugh).[spacer height=”20px” id=”2″]
I’m giving you a few handy resources. You can give these to parents, your team, or share them with a CF student you’re supervising…and they’re FREE.[spacer height=”20px” id=”2″]
First click
here for those colorful Spring Speech Punch cards, there’s a colored version and b/w.
While some of you may have seen them in my TPT store, a lot of you are new, so I wanted to make sure you knew about these.[spacer height=”20px” id=”2″]
Use this as a poster or handout to share with your team at school!
Created to celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month, May 2017; this is a great tool to promote understanding of the role of Speech Language Pathologists in the school setting. Collaboration is key![spacer height=”20px” id=”2″]
Did you know there is a developmental order of prepositional acquisition? Here’s a handy little FREE chart you can show to parents and teachers. Use this to help determine what preposition your student is ready to learn next.[spacer height=”20px” id=”2″]
This FREE download explains the difference between speech and language. We SLPs know there is a huge difference. I created these posters/handouts using parent friendly language and visuals for use when you need to give a brief explanation. Perfect to use as posters in the speech/language room, teacher’s lounge, and school conference room. Also great for use when explaining evaluation results to parents.
I hope this helps!
by Anne Page | Jan 21, 2017 | AAC
Did you catch my “Putting the Fun in Functional Communication” presentation last week on SLP Summit? I hope so. I really enjoyed the interaction but to be honest it was really hard to talk and keep up with the chat feature of the platform. Luckily, I was able to review the entire chat to make sure I can answer everything for you.[spacer height=”20px”]
Here’s where you can find the most asked about items:[spacer height=”20px”]
In case you missed the session, you can still see the recorded version until January 31, 2017 at
SLP Summit. Here is a quick review of how to use each item.[spacer height=”20px”]
Magic wand
Use as a reinforcer, to teach greetings and farewells. PS don’t let the students hold it or the magic will disappear.[spacer height=”20px”]
Penpal program
This amazing program is the brainchild of Kim from Activity Taylor and Gabby from middle school speech. This year, my junior high functional skills class in Arizona is paired with a similar group of students in Oregon. With so many opportunities to pair language with a daily living type of activity, this program is a big hit! Learn more by emailing Kim:
[email protected][spacer height=”20px”]
DLM core words
You can find them here. Also here’s an
article with more details on how are use them.[spacer height=”20px”]
Products for middle school and junior high
I developed these because I was really having a lot of trouble teaching prepositions to my students. These books combine teaching one concept with errorless learning and lots of repetition.[spacer height=”20px”]
Sign language
I like using sign to reinforce the core vocabulary words. Also it seems like I usually have a student transfer that uses sign language. My friend Adrienne who is an SLP has a wonderful online sign language course. Use my
affiliate link to learn more.[spacer height=”20px”]
Cough drop AAC
I’m just trying this with a student now and so far I’m really impressed. I’ll be interviewing the owner for an upcoming article very soon. In the meantime, Coughdrop AAC offers a two month free subscription for users. They also let SLPs use this app for free to evaluate students. Contact Scott at
Coughdrop AAC for more details.[spacer height=”20px”]
Core vocabulary
Teachers pay teachers has many core vocabulary products. Susan Berkowitz, Jenna Raeburn and Felice Clark have resources that you can check out. I’m working on a core board that I’ll be listing soon.[spacer height=”20px”]
You’ve got this,[spacer height=”20px”]
Anne
by Anne Page | Jan 2, 2017 | Freebies
Happy New Year SLPgirlbosses,[spacer height=”20px”]
SLP Summit
I don’t know about you but I feel like everyone’s been trying to sell me something during the holidays. And then all the post holiday sales; don’t get me wrong, I do LOVE to shop, just not constantly.
We bought the presents, opened the presents, ate all the cookies, and drank all the champagne. The holidays are over for another year. But now it’s time for some balance.
Did you make resolutions, set goals or choose a word for the year?
Work-wise what will you do to bring your best self to the therapy table in 2017?
We both know you’re already a caring, amazing SLP.[spacer height=”20px”]
But maybe you have some areas that you’d like to know more about. Have we got something for you! And you don’t have to buy anything!
SLP Summit is the brain child of my good friends Lisa and Sara from SLP Toolkit and Marisha from SLP Now. I’m so thrilled to be involved.
This FREE
two week-long virtual summit is for school-based SLPs by school-based SLPs. You’ll get tips you can implement the next day AND get Free CEUs.
Starting January 9th and running through the 20th, it features these dynamic speakers:[spacer height=”20px”]
Come join the fun.
You can grow professionally and be your best for 2017. It’s 100% free to attend and based completely online—you don’t have to buy a plane ticket, book a hotel, or spend days away from your friends and family.
The SLP Summit will be live, so you’ll have an opportunity to ask presenters questions and to win prizes. But don’t worry if you can’t make all of the offered sessions, as everyone who signs up will also have access to recordings of each session.[spacer height=”20px”]
Can’t wait to see you there,[spacer height=”20px”]
Anne
P.S. You can also make an impact by spreading the word about the SLP Summit through your networks. Share it on social networks, write a blog post about it, email people. Every action takes us one step closer toward our goal of supporting school-based SLPeeps across the country.[spacer height=”20px”]
P.
P.S. – Yes, you can earn professional development hours for attending these webinars! The SLP Summit sessions are not pre-approved by ASHA, but they do meet the standards of accepted professional development. We will be providing certificates as documentation of your participation.
Hey there I’m Anne Page. I help heart centered SLPs and educators put the fun in functional communication. 