From the Field

Prepping for Back-to-School

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:58:00 GMT

The new school year is approaching and it’s time to begin to get yourself prepared for the exciting challenges that you will soon face. Whether you are a novice or expert at beginning of the school year preparation, there are always new strategies that you can learn. There are a multitude of items that you can accomplish prior to actually setting foot on a schools campus.

More...

Fun Summer Activities

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:25:00 GMT

Well it’s Summer! Some of us are still working with children and families in the schools completing ESY, while some of us took the Summer off and are home with our own children. Either way, you will probably be in the mood for some fun, energy releasers for the children.

More...

Wrapping up the School Year

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:04:00 GMT

The end of the year is finally here. It’s time to start saying goodbyes to students for the long 2 month hiatus. It’s also time to start packing up boxes of therapy materials and preparing the therapy room for your departure. It’s always a bittersweet and exciting time. As you leave your schools, there is just so much to accomplish.

More...

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!

Mon, 03 May 2010 18:25:00 GMT

May is Better Speech and Hearing Month. I take great pride in this month because it highlights the various communication disabilities that SLPs strive hard to make better for those impacted by them. Communication impairments afflict everyone from the young to the old. And, I find that even though I have worked in the schools for over a decade, there is still a significant deficit in the amount of knowledge out there amongst teachers, parents and students themselves.

More...

Autism Awareness

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:32:00 GMT

As a therapist in the schools, it’s inevitable that you will encounter students afflicted by Autism. It’s a disability that we are all too familiar with on a daily basis. April is Autism Awareness month. Some interesting facts about Autism as stated by autismspeaks.org:

More...

Fresh Craft Ideas

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:30:00 GMT

When asked by others, “Are you crafty?” my answer to this question is a big fat “NO!” And as a result of this, the school year is nearly three fourths complete and I find myself recycling art activities to go with my language and speech lessons from years past. Frustrated and tired of doing the same old crafts year in and year out, I decided to start doing some research. By just consulting the web and doing a search, I have found a plethora of websites dedicated solely to kids crafts.

More...

CEUs on SpeechPathology.com

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:29:00 GMT

Now that we are settled into the New Year, if you are like me, you are starting to think about getting some of your CEU requirements out of the way. You may be trying to meet the requirements for your professional association such as ASHA or your state licensure requirements. I have found one of the most efficient ways to accomplish this task is using www.speechpathology.com.

More...

Great Way to Organize in 2010

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:51:00 GMT

With the start of the new year, I have been hearing so much about organization and decluttering. And, as a result it got me thinking about CASELITE. I have been a school based therapist for 11 years and I have always done my schedule the traditional way. After seeing a Caselite demonstration and actually speaking with one of the founders of the program, I decided that I was going to take the leap of faith this year to make life less hectic and more organized.

More...

Getting Parents Involved

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:54:00 GMT

Throughout my many years of working in the schools, one of my biggest frustrations has been lack of parental involvement. Sure, there are some schools I have worked in during my career, where I prayed for privacy from some parents. However, I can say that unfortunately, the norm for me, has been the uninvolved parent. So, I find myself trying to figure out the optimal method to really reach out to these folks and help them to understand how their participation is essential in their child's progress.

More...

Being Resourceful About Therapy Materials

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:09:00 GMT

As a seasoned therapist, I sometimes find myself challenged as to where to obtain materials and ideas for therapy. Of course, there's always Super Duper, but sometimes I just don't have the funds. So, in times like these, I start to get resourceful. Over the years, I have found the web to be one of the most valuable tools out there. There are a plethora of websites, loaded with FREE downloadable takeaways, therapy ideas, and lesson plans.

More...