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/

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/

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/