Play On Words

anamalz Characters Great for Speech Language Therapy

sherry — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:22:42 +0000

As speech therapists, we appreciate toys with several props along a theme. Kids start thinking within a category and have several characters to interact in the jungle, on the farm, or in prehistoric times. Anamalz provides darling animal characters with movable arms, legs an necks that are gathered in sets. I used the Jungle Box Set with kids from 3-9, as they took their little pals on adventures, working on verbs, vocabulary, and expanding sentences. There is something about the simple design with just enough detail to suggest the animal but enough left up to the child to create open-ended play.

Here is my review:

Anamalz just multiplied the play factor by combining themed animals and props in their new box sets. Gathering animals and trees from the jungle, the wild, the farm and prehistoric times, they give kids the related characters to interact and start a story. My friends in the Jungle Box Set, the tiger, rhino and gorilla, were quickly picked up and manipulated to “run fast,” dip into the water for a drink, and climb a tree. The wild giraffe, elephant and zebra come with an orange tree for a nibble as the giraffe is just the right height. Kids easily grip the smooth bodies and shape the movable legs, arms and necks to match their intended actions. Take the play to a new venue as you play online, learning about your animals, how to help them in their environment, or my favorite which is choreographing “wild dancing,” combining animal dance moves to animate. Great toys grow with a child and encourage creativity at different ages. Anamalz creatures do just that. A 3 and 6 year-old befriended the jungle pals, bringing them into their play world, while a 9 year-old girl, loved the little creatures as collectibles to add to her special table where she reported that her “frog key chain was the mayor.” Let’s hope our jungle friends behave in that pretend world!

Ages 3 and up

The above in solely the opinion of the author. The Jungle Box Set was provided for review by anamalz.

The Magic School Bus Attracted to Magnificent Magnets Wins PAL Award

sherry — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:45:05 +0000

I love the scientific method and its dependence on strong language skills. What can be more fun than to follow The Magic School Bus’ Ms. Frizzle through 8 experiments learning about magnets? This Young Scientists Kit is the newest in a series of themed options including the study of dinosaurs, volcanoes or electricity. As speech therapists and educators we know that language undergirds all learning and a new trend in education is requiring students to explain in a journal how they figured out a math problem or write out the steps that led to conclusions in a science project. I was in a kindergarten class the other day and the teacher followed a child’s reply with, “Why do you say that?” and “What makes you say that?” to explain their thinking.

Homemade Magnetic Slime

Kids loved this exciting kit when I brought it to therapy with an autistic child and his typical peer. They started out sticking the magnets on everything possible around the room and loved discovering how to make a race car move without touching it and stirring up some magnetic slime. They felt like little scientists filling in their results in the booklet and arriving at conclusions. This kit was a nice diversion from my usual therapy materials and the kids kept wanting more.

Here is my review:

Gather your young scientists and hop on the Magic School Bus as wacky Ms. Frizzle leads you through learning with “Attracted to Magnificent Magnets.” This latest Young Scientists Club kit has the instructions and materials (other than a few household items) to invite your child into the world of magnets. With 8 experiments, the kit takes kids from going on a magnetic scavenger hunt to making a race car game, compass or magnetic slime. Each page of the instruction booklet is laid out in clever graphics, introducing a new experiment, providing the Question, Materials and Methods with space for the child to fill in the Hypothesis, Results and Conclusions. Besides learning the science of magnets, a child engages in a wonderful language learning experience. Predict what will happen, re-call the event listing the results, and draw conclusions based on your observations. Predicting, re-telling events in sequence and drawing conclusions are all critical thinking skills required of a good thinker and writer. Students are increasingly being required to explain their answers in school, whether in math or science, so they need a strong command of language. The Magic School Bus Young Scientists Club kits prepare children for learning and sharing their knowledge through exciting adventures.

Ages 5 and up

The above review is solely the opinion of the author. “The Magic School Bus Attracted to Magnificent Magnets” was provided for review by The Young Scientists Club.

“Ticked Off” by R and R Games Wins PAL Award

sherry — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:35:32 +0000

As speech therapists we are a flexible group by trade. We have to modify materials for different kids’ ages and goals. “Ticked Off” by R and R Games is a terrific language learning game for older kids but can be modified for younger ones too. I simply picked out the easier category cards or you could add your own according to what you are working on. Kids loved bidding on or guessing how many items in a category they could list and learning the hard way if they didn’t make their bid! Here is my review:

The beauty of Ticked Off” is that at its core, it’s a great language learning game as players seek to outdo each other with their knowledge of items in a category from movies starring Clint Eastwood, kitchen utensils, or composers to things you normally have in your pockets. Strategy and craziness enters the picture as players draw a category card and bid on how many items they think they can name, trying to have the top bid. Reveal the mystery category and players have a second theme to chose from as they start the timer and record their items. Scoring depends on unique answers and making your bid so thoughtful planning helps. With 168 category cards, this game has lots of variety in topics and vocabulary learning. Great fun for older kids and adults, Ticked Off can also be played with kids younger than 12 by simplifying the scoring and using some easier categories like fruits, board games, and things you wear on your feet.

Ages 12 years and up

The above is solely the opinion of the author. “Ticked Off” was provided for review by R and R Games.

“Blind Spell” Teaches in Speech Therapy

sherry — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:58:04 +0000

Do you want a new game for speech therapy that’s literally “out of sight?” “Blind Spell” is a fun way to reinforce spelling, teach vocabulary, and use all your fingers to spell. We had a lot of laughs and talk about strategy as kids quickly learned how to trick each other and make the game more challenging. Turn a Z on its side and try to distinguish it from an N! Here is my review:

Kids loved to take up the challenge to spell a 3 letter-word without seeing it. One player selects a word from the list and writes it on a dry erase board for the speller to clearly see before putting on those cool shades, blocking his view. The player who chose the word, gathers the cardboard letters for the word but adds 1-5 extras, depending on the level and complexity of play. Placing the letters in the speller’s hand, he starts the 30 minute timer to see if his friend can correctly spell the word. It didn’t take kids long to figure out that choosing words with similar shaped letters (MAN, NOW) as well as adding letters similar to those in the target word added to the difficulty of the task. “Blind Spell” is a whole lot more fun than a spelling test, and teaches kids through multi-sensory tasks as they see, remember and feel the word. Who knew spelling could be so much fun out of sight?

Ages: 7 and up

The above opinions are solely those of the author. Blind Spell was given for review by MindWare.

Lego Creative Sorter Wins PAL Award, Speech Therapy Tool

sherry — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:08:31 +0000

Here’s a multi-use lego DUPLO bucket for loads of therapy fun. Spread the word to your OT and PT friends too because there is a lot of fine motor planning and execution in this toy. I have worked on verbs, following directions and pretend play with the finished product (three animals and a tree) to address speech and language goals. Here is my review:

Lego is modeling creativity in the package design of their newest “Creative Sorter” bucket of 23 color-coded blocks for sorting, designing, and building animals. A blue, yellow and red template to build the elephant, giraffe and toucan double as a shape-sorter lid to the bucket. Kids loved to follow the visual on each lid, helping them build their animal, using the blocks they had fit into the template. Enough blocks are left to build a tree for a little munch from the giraffe or a rest for the bird. Visual, motor and language skills are tapped as kids have to match the blocks to fit into the template before building the animal. It wasn’t easy at first for a 3 year-old to learn to take a 3 dimensional block and fit it into the puzzle-like template in 2 dimensions. He had to learn to put the block on its side first. Lots of learning abounds in this bucket!

The above opinions are solely those of the author. Creative Sorter was provided for review by lego.

“You’ve Been Sentenced! Great For Speech Language Therapy

sherry — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:20:07 +0000

As speech therapists, we spend a lot of time helping kids put together a good sentence and eventually a story. “You’ve Been Sentenced!” can help such language learning and provide a lot of fun in the process. Racing against a timer and your fellow players, one must construct a meaningful sentence from a random set of words. So many skills are tapped it is hard to list them–grammar, parts of speech, meaning, word order etc. I guarantee a laugh! Check out their website for Lesson Plans and suggested variations on the game. Here is my review:

Do you want to get friends and family together and have an educational challenge, quick game and loads of laughs? Check out “You’ve Been Sentenced!” and get ready to put a silly sentence together. Flip over your 10 cards, each with 5 word options to start building your sentence. Themes start swirling in your head as you try to link words in a grammatically correct sentence. How do I combine spill, sliding, fish and lunch? Oh yes, I have 6 more cards to use. The fastest player to complete their sentence turns over the timer as the rest of the players race to finish theirs and hope that the first contestant gets his entry voted down. Our testers found that there is a balance between throwing a sentence together fast and taking too much time to think. The cards offer 5 clever variations of a root word such as rusher, rushed, rush, rushes, and rushed. An incredible language learning game, “You’ve Been Sentenced!” calls on players to know their parts of speech, draft a theme, and use correct grammar. Players act as members of the jury, deciding the fate of proposed sentences adding a social language component to this game also. Add-on decks like their newest “NASA Space Terminology” continue to expand the vocabulary kids and adults can learn. Get sentenced at home or the classroom!

The above is solely the opinion of the author. “You’ve Been Sentenced! was provided for review by McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds Inc.

Creative Cakes by DUPLO Fun for Speech Therapy

sherry — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 23:48:29 +0000

Don’t we love DUPLO lego products for getting the language learning going in speech therapy? Recently, lego introduced several new products covered in pink that are aimed at getting girls interested in building. I look forward to reviewing “Olivia’ House” designed for a bit older girl, but let’s start with the preschool set.

We know that cupcakes are the rage for adults as well as children so why not gather the essentials to stack goodies and make some treats to serve on a tray? Girls loved this set and I found there was enough variety in the 55 bricks to change up the treats and describe while building. You can use the bricks as reinforcers for a language or articulation lesson, build your bakery items, and start the pretend play as you offer your products to others–or better yet, get out the play money and sell them.

Here is my review:

Cupcakes are the rage and this newest DUPLO Creative Cakes set doesn’t disappoint our little bakers. Building, role play and storage come together as girls stack their cupcakes, cakes and chocolates with heart-sprinkled frosting, giant candles, flowers, and meringue toppings. There is plenty of pink to go around in this tub of 55 bricks with sample recipes included. My little girls served up one delectable treat after another and especially enjoyed the candles as the last addition. The box lid doubles as a serving tray which little girls loved using to bring specialties to family members, including their dog! The unique variety of shapes and party pieces provides a lot of variation as girls re-construct their products for display and carry on with the pretend play.

“Creative Cakes” was provided for review by lego

Huck Runs Amuck! by Sean Taylor wins PAL Award

sherry — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:44:18 +0000

Here’s a terrific new book with all the elements for teaching language and emergent literacy skills. I’ve used this book repeatedly in speech therapy sessions for sequencing, re-tell, rhyming and description. Here is my review:

I love when I find a new picture book that combines essential elements for learning–repetition of catchy phrases, bold words to repeat and a delightful rhythm of rhyme. “Huck Runs Amuck!” does just that as kids laugh their way through a silly mountain goat’s quest to eat flowers. Cardboard boxes, woolly gloves and birds’ nests are boring to his taste. He’d much rather scramble to the top of a steep cliff, grab Mrs. Tuppleton’s flowery underpants off the clothesline, snatch a bouquet or interrupt a wedding party for Mrs. Spooner’s Hat! When his selfish search was misinterpreted as a rescue, Huck had a decision to make. A great read-aloud, this book has kids rocking to the rhythm, “He’s up on the bridge without hesitation. He’s a clickety-clackety climbing sensation!” Peter Reynolds’ expressive illustrations provide lots of clues for kids to tell the story too.

Best Speech Therapy Apps, Articulate It! by Smarty Ears

sherry — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:31:22 +0000

As speech pathologists we are always looking for new tools to add to our bag and certainly the iPad has become a favorite for all of us, including the kids! Sifting through the thousands of apps takes time but is worth it to have a stash of great apps to enrich our therapy sessions.

Articulate It! by Smarty Ears is a welcome addition to our world of apps. Designed by one of the leading developers in speech and language apps, Barbara Fernandes, it starts with a complete video tutorial so you can learn all the features available. Besides providing over 1,000 images to practice all the consonants in the English language, you have options to select specific sounds (Phonemes) or Phonological Processes or Manner of Articulation which gives broader options than just practicing specific sounds. Words can be practiced at the Word or Phrase (sentence) level with options to hear a recorded production of each task as well as record your client’s attempt. Percentage of accuracy, words attempted, recordings and notes can all be accessed in the child’s Report Card and shared through e-mail or printed to inform parents or teachers.

What I liked:

Great 5 minute tutorial explaining all the features
Ability to use in a group session, easily selecting the target sounds for each child and setting up taking turns with appropriate tasks for each child–even the ability to rotate the image on the screen to face children around a table
Easy collection of data including recordings from the session as well as words attempted
Ability to select your goals from the last session and pick up where you left off last session without going through the selection process again
Variety of images–photographs, drawings and stick figures –to portray nouns, verbs and adjectives for various language options
Flexibility to adjust settings
Aimed at an older audience than preschool such as Thebes is a city in Egypt” or “Lori was thereby declared the winner,” which will keep the interest of adults too.

Kids loved to be involved with recording and listening to their attempts as well as rate their response, pressing the check mark! I know this app is constantly being improved and revised so would suggest that some games be added for some variety to keep kids engaged.

I highly recommend this app for speech therapists and parents so kids and adults can become more proficient in their articulation.

The opinions above are solely those of the author. Articulate It! was provided for review by Smarty Ears.

Kids Who Plan Their Speech Therapy Sessions

sherry — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 23:18:11 +0000

I really love all the kids I work with but admittedly some take a little more energy than others! I had a long day on Thursday and was pacing myself since my last appointment was with a second grader working on the /s/ sound who is quite active. Once when I was working with him, he was moving so much, he stood up on two chairs, one foot on each. I calmly told him to sit down because it wasn’t safe.

Anyways, he was too cute when I arrived last week. I brought in my bag of games and iPad for fun and he rounded the corner carrying a laptop computer. He said his brother had given him his old computer and he thought we could look up speech games on it! We searched speech therapy games and got on a site that directed us by sound and type of game. Since he is at the carryover stage of /s/ production, the match and word search games were great because he commented so much while trying to find the right answers. Here is where we were for Speech Therapy Ideas and Activities–not terribly sophisticated but my little guy was thrilled to have found them himself.

8 year-old Pippa was always armed with several activities when I arrived to work on /r/. She had her spelling sentences to practice, oral poems or reports.

It’s really nice when your students become your assistants, planning therapy for you:)