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Monday, May 21, 2012

Educate Yourself about GOOGLE

You may think today's post is a bit outside the box, since it is not focusing on a direct speech or language topic, but I bet there are many SLPs like myself who are unfamiliar or just inexperienced with the many fantastic things one can do with Google.  The word "google" is synonymous with search engine to many of us. I am not sure of the statistics but I would be surprised if it is not the number one search engine.  Without a doubt that is what Google is best known.  Many like myself use Gmail and their calendar, but there are several other things Google can do.  So for the older SLPs out there who are technology immigrants like myself and just learning how to maneuver within the world of technology I write this for you. 

I came across this website http://www.educatorstechnology.com/ which is a resource of free educational web tools and mobile apps for educators. There is a vast amount of useful information here, too much in fact for me to just summarize it as a good site to keep. Perhaps I will come back to this site at a later date and focus on another topic but today we will just look at the tab "Google Tools."  This is the page I want you to see http://www.educatorstechnology.com/search/label/free%20google%20tools  

You will find 20 different articles there explaining the different tools and services that can be accessed.  Each tool is explained in clear and concise language and many have a video.  Here is a sampling of what you will find:
  • Google Knowledge Graph-a service to improve search functionality.
  • Google Drive-an alternative to Google docs.
  • Google Search for Educators-provides a wide variety of lesson plans and live training sessions.
  • Google+ 8 ways students can use it.
  • Pin Drop-to bookmark favorite locations on Google Maps
  • Google Art Projects 3d Tour-visit inside popular museums.
  • Google Caption Game-add captions to comics  
There are many others for you to explore.

If you are like me and have not taken the time to educate yourself or develop your skills in technology, this looks like a great way to begin.

Have fun with your kids this week as you prepare for summer.
Leah and Dean

Leah J Musgrave, M.S. CCC-Sp
Dean Trout, retired SLP
 http://www.2galsspeechproducts.com/

Monday, May 14, 2012

HANDS in Autism

HANDS in Autism is an autism treatment center located in Indiana that is involved in clinical research and outreach activities. We want to bring to your attention their website because you will find many practical materials there. While we certainly suggest you explore their entire site, it is the "tools" tab that you will find particularly helpful in your daily work.

As we know many children within the autism spectrum learn best with visual support and here http://www.handsinautism.org/tools.html you will find many useful materials already created for you.  You will only have to print and laminate ready made materials for communication, social skills, teaching skills, transition supports, and self monitoring!

For Communication they have created help and break cards, pulley visual prompt cards, and choice boards. I need to interject here that they also have a how-to video in their e-Learning section http://www.handsinautism.org/choiceBoard.html that demonstrates how to use choice boards.

In the Social Skills section you will find visual supports to create materials for topic boards, social narratives (getting gifts and dentist visit), playbooks and playscripts,  board game visuals, and your turn-my turn cards.

The Teaching Skill area has materials for rewards systems and token boards, work systems based on the TEACCH method, and sorting tasks.

They have a good array of things in the Transition Supports: visual schedules, activity schedules, stoplight & count down boards, and first then boards.  Again in the e-Learning section you will find a video tutorial for teaching first then. http://www.handsinautism.org/FirstThenBoard.html

The final section is Self Monitoring. I love that they have included a detailed section just for sensory kits. They have taken all the time consuming work of  "thinking of items" out of it and have listed suggested items that one could in a kit for tactile, visual, olfactory, auditory, gustatory, proprioreceptive, and vestibular. In this section they also provide ready made voice charts.

As you can see this website is certainly one you will want to bookmark or pin so you will have ready access to it.

Leah J Musgrave, M.S. CCC-Sp
Dean Trout retired SLP
http://www.2galsspeechproducts.com/




Monday, May 7, 2012

Our 100th blog post

This entry marks the 100th blog post we have written. We have so enjoyed sharing tips, tricks, and tidbits with you. We continue to feel very humbled and blessed that you would take the time to read that which we share. 

What better way to celebrate the day than with this list of 100 Ways to Encourage a Child and Promote Learning.  This is from http://www.kidslife.com.au/Page.aspx?ID=1206 
  1. You're on target
  2. Wonderful work
  3. Beautiful work
  4. Tremendous effort
  5. An excellent answer
  6. Well thought out
  7. Keep on trying
  8. You are such a careful thinker
  9. You have great ideas
  10. You remembered all the rules
  11. Brilliant
  12. I’m impressed
  13. You do work well
  14. Very imaginative
  15. Quick thinking
  16. Nice try
  17. Excellent work
  18. You’re on top of it
  19. Well done
  20. I knew you could do it
  21. Now you’re flying
  22. You are exciting
  23. You’re important
  24. Remarkable job
  25. That’s correct
  26. Great discovery
  27. You really stuck with it
  28. You soon mastered that
  29. Couldn’t have done better myself
  30. Fine attempt
  31. You’re a problem solver
  32. A very good try
  33. Exceptional performance
  34. A+ job
  35. wow
  36. Good stuff
  37. Super work
  38. Try your best
  39. Good thinking
  40. Creative work
  41. Way to be
  42. on task
  43. You’re catching on
  44. What an imagination
  45. Spectacular job
  46. You’ve fitted a lot in
  47. You’re work is improving
  48. Well worked through
  49. Beautiful job
  50. It’s a pleasure to see you work like that
  51. You have your thinking cap on today
  52. You’re such a helpful worker
  53. Awesome
  54. Marvellous stuff
  55. Neat  you’re unique
  56. Looking good
  57. Super
  58. How smart
  59. I respect you
  60. Phenomenal
  61. Outstanding
  62. Sensational stuff
  63. You are 100 percent correct
  64. I’m happy that you listened to me
  65. Fine job
  66. It’s nice to see you helping others
  67. You learn quickly
  68. I’m particularly proud of you
  69. Showing promise
  70. I like what you said
  71. You don’t give up
  72. Bravo 
  73. Dynamite
  74. Terrific
  75. Fresh approach
  76. Hooray for you
  77. How nice
  78. Nothing can stop you now
  79. You’ve discovered the secret
  80. You’re a champion
  81. Clear thinking
  82. You belong
  83. You made my day
  84. Love your ideas 
  85. You’re always willing to try again
  86. You are so switched on
  87. Better than ever
  88. One more attempt and you’ll be there
  89. You’re brilliant at sharing
  90. Good planning
  91. I enjoy talking with you
  92. Thanks for all your hard work
  93. Good logic
  94. Congratulations
  95. I like that
  96. You’re a star
  97. Superb
  98. Really great
  99. Super presentation
  100. You’re such a pleasure to teach

Leah J Musgrave, M.S. CCC-Sp
Dean Trout, retired SLP
http://www.2galsspeechproducts.com/