Two! A Blogiversary Celebration!

I can't believe it's been two years! On Sunday, I'm celebrating my 2nd blogiversary! I've been incredibly blessed by this little speech blog. It gives me pleasure to make blogging my second job. Without a doubt SRN has made me a better therapist.

I think about evidence more often.

I talk with SLPs more often. 

I try new materials more often.

I ask questions more often. 

I make my own materials more often. 

I think about current SLP issues more often. 

Thanks for hanging in with me! I love sharing what's happening and facilitating sharing in the field. 

I thought I'd celebrate with some freebies! Enter the rafflecopters below to win some prizes! 

First up, I'm giving one lucky reader 10 different downloads from my TPT store! You can pick anything except bundles! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Next up, I'm giving away 3 app codes from my friends at Virtual Speech Center! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My friends are Smarty Ears are donating two copies of the Custom Boards App. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And two copies of Sunny Articulation Test App!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for being friends of Speech Room News! 

Wanna go to an open studio tomorrow?

DC and California: Works by Sidney Lawrence

"DC and California: Works by Sidney Lawrence"

Opening Tuesday, Oct. 1, 6-8 pm
Artist talk Friday, Oct. 11, noon (approx. 40 minutes)
Where: University of California Washington Center's Alcove Gallery
1608 Rhode Island Ave NW (one block east of Connecticut Ave at Scott Circle, look for the flags).
Exhibition continues through Thursday, Oct. 31.

Day hours are 8 am to 8 pm. Weekend entry by door security. Gallery is to the left, with occasional UCDC events.

Information: sidneylawrenceart.com or 202-246-6963

Love It and List It Linky: Vocabulary Activities

I'm back!! The Love It and List It Linky Party is back! This month we're linking up to list our favorite vocabulary activities. This a goal we all work on so I'm dying to see what you're working with!

Here's how it works. The Love It & List It Linky will happen on the 3rd Friday each month. Each month I'll throw out a topic. Any and all SLP bloggers are invited. If you want to get involved just share a short list (3-5 items) on the topic! The only requirements are that you write a NEW post and use the Linky Picture above! Then link your post at the bottom of this page (remember that if you link, don't use your general URL, use the specific POST URL)! Fun right? If you don't have your own blog (uh, hello, I know most of you don't :)) just comment below to share your list of vocabulary favorites! 

The theme for this month is Love It & List It:: Vocabulary. This week I threw all my favorites out on the table. I have a lot of favorites, but here are some of the best!

ONE:: Spotlight on Vocabulary is one of my all time favorites. I have this series for older kids and it's very thorough.

TWO:: The Expanding Expression Toolkit is a wonderful multi-sensory tool.

THREE:: Word Feast Elementary is one of my new favorites! I just purchased it and am loving the activities so far! I bought the book on CD so I can easily print and go!

FOUR:: Vocabulary Take Along is published by Super Duper. It's been perfect for baseline data! The Amazon Affiliate Link is below.

FIVE:: Fill-in Flip Books for Grammar, Vocabulary, and More: 25 Interactive Study Aids is a new book I picked up. It has flipbooks and other materials for things like synonyms and homonyms.

SIX:: Hot Dots are a great tool. I love these 'Laugh It Up' vocabulary set. 

SEVEN:: Candy Land Language is one of my favorites! It never fails!

And start planning for next month's topic!

Link up right here and share you're own vocabulary list::

Go to this tonight!

Ryan McCoy - Paintings

Opening Reception

Thursday, September 19th
6:30 - 8:00pm  

RSVP at the facebook event page

Show Dates: September 19 - October 20

Long View Gallery is pleased to announce RYAN MCCOY :: PAINTINGS, an exhibition by Ryan McCoy, opening on Thursday, September 19, with a public reception from 6:30-8:00pm. The exhibit will be on view through October 20, 2013.
In RYAN MCCOY :: PAINTINGS, McCoy presents a new body of work where he attempts to structure meaning through specific materials to create a personal iconography about time, place, and memory.
“With a consideration for the limitations of written language – that words are just approximations of thoughts and feelings – I attempt to structure experiences and memories from my life through material. The materials I use signify important moments from my life. The materials, representing otherwise disparate moments, are structured onto the canvas or into a space to create new intersections of meaning for me. They are a physical representation of how I feel and think; I try to say what I cannot say with words. This forms the basic logic through which the work is made. I try to just make really honest and personal work.”
McCoy’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and is included in collections on four continents. McCoy earned his MFA and BFA from George Mason University and teaches at various schools in the DC metro area.

Long View Gallery

Warning to Artists

I know a lot of you have artwork on Saatchi Online... so:

Dear Artist,

We have recently been contacted by someone called Sophie Dare who is claiming to want to acquire a lot of works by Saatchi Online artists. I have subsequently discovered that she is contacting artists directly and asking to buy multiple works from them and offering all kinds of incentives. We have heard that one artist (not from Saatchi Online) sent her many works a while ago as part of an agreement and never got paid.

So we would strongly advise not to respond to any emails from this person.

We are very sorry about this and are trying to be as vigilant as possible with cases like this in order to protect Saatchi Online artists.

 

Rebecca Wilson

Chief Curator and Director of Artist Development, Saatchi Online
Director, Saatchi Gallery

Reading and Graphic organizers for Articulation

I'm sure you're full into the swing of therapy by now! I have one group of articulation students who are working on some interesting sounds.  It's really hard to find materials for 'j' and 'ng'. Today we worked on a reading activity I thought I'd share.   

With those two sounds in mind I found a Martin Luther King Jr. book at ReadingA-Z.com (I have a subscription through my district.)

We used the graphic organizer from this book: 3-D Graphic Organizers. Check out the Amazon Affiliate Link below. 

My kiddos loved it and it was a great way to reinforce skills such as paraphrasing, main idea, and details that are so important int he Common Core while we worked on articulation. 

Any other ideas for the NG and J sounds?

SLP 101: Learning Targets {with Freebie}

I'm back with another session in the SLP 101 series! Today's post is all about learning targets. More than likely your school building has adopted learning targets as a building so these are nothing new to you! 

Learning targets make a ton of sense. Your students should definitely know what they are working on when they come to you. If you're building is already doing 'I can' statements it's an easy carryover to the speech room. 

This year I made a simple sheet that lists an 'I can' statement for most of the areas we are working on. 

This is the bulletin board in my office. 

Then each student made their own sheet with their specific goals. 

This my board before the year started. 

This is where we posted all of our goals! 

I posted these documents as a freebie on my TeachersPayTeachers site! Just make sure you select 'follow me' while you're there! 

Do you use I can statements? How else do you have your student's know their speech and language goals?

Is my Copyright Internationally Protected?

There is no international copyright protecting creative work in countries around the world.  Each country has its own laws and regulations.  However, most countries have signed on to one or more international treaties that provide protections for works within those contracting countries.  The United States is a party to the following:

Read it all online here.

Catalyst Projects Opens New Gallery Space

Catalyst Projects is pleased to announce the opening of its new gallery and project space at Monroe Street Market in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, DC, the center of a fast growing arts community. 

The doors will open for Catalyst on October 10th with monthly, curated contemporary art exhibitions featuring artists from the metropolitan DC area and beyond.  In addition to a robust exhibition schedule, Catalyst will engage the local DC community of artists and arts stakeholders by presenting panel discussions and artist workshops. 

Catalyst was launched on January 1, 2013 by DC artists Zofie Lang and Gail Vollrath.  The duo met while exhibiting at Artomatic the summer of 2012 and soon after began talking about organizing a vehicle for networking artists, collectors and other art enthusiasts.  Since the beginning of the year, Catalyst has organized two discussion panels; Miami Art Fairs, Real Deal or Hype? (hosted by the Hive 2.0 and Arch Development Corporation in Anacostia) and Art and Acquisition, A Conversation with Artists and their Collectors (hosted by the Hamiltonian Gallery and partners ArtSee and Artinista Art Advisory); an art book swap (hosted by Capitol Hill Arts Workshop); and a happy hour event (hosted by the Passenger) where the DC art community came together to share their thoughts on the state of the arts in the region. 

The need to find affordable space where Catalyst could organize exhibitions and host artist workshops was key to rounding out their programming.  In late January, Lang and Vollrath applied for one of 27 studios offered through CulturalDC at Monroe Street Market.  In July, Catalyst was offered a six month lease for Studio 13, to begin in October 2013. 

The new 500+ sq. ft. project space is located a few feet from the Brookland-CUA red line metro stop, at 716 Monroe Street, NE.  Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday noon to 7 pm, and by appointment.

Visit their web site for more information http://catalystartprojects.com
Contact  them at catalystartprojects@gmail.com

Catalyst Projects
716 Monroe Street, NE, St. 13
Washington, DC 20017

Expected & Unexpected Behavior Worksheets

I've spend the first few weeks of school introducing Social Thinking to all my students. 

None of the materials I was using were really appropriate for my older elementary students but this is one of the foundational concepts we will use all year.   I wanted to make sure they could understand it. 

I used clipart specifically designed for the older age set. 

Use the included worksheets to facilitate conversations about Social Thinking skills. Use the worksheets to list expected and unexpected behaviors in each given situation. Pages 3-12 include given situations common for school. Pages 13-22 include blank sheets for your customization. 

Each page is structured with the Setting and spaces for writing.  

The is an example of a blank item included for your customization. 

You can purchase this item in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. 

Can I Register Multiple Works with the Copyright Office?

When copyrighting published works, each must be registered individually with some exceptions. For unpublished works, there is a bit more flexibility.  First, though, to recognize when these exceptions are applicable, copyright holders must understand the difference between a published and unpublished work.

Copyright law defines “publication” as the distribution of copies of a work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership or by rental, lease, or lending.

Read online here.

Story Grammar Marker {App Review & Giveaway}

SGM. Just another set of letters for the SLP toolbox! Story Grammar Marker is a MindWing Concepts  program for narratives. Developed by Maryellen Rooney Moreau M.Ed. CCC-SLP, Story Grammar Marker is a product for children in 3-5th grades for narrative development.

SGM is system I had heard about but never used. The MindWing Concepts folks asked me to review their app, so my first questions was... "Do I have to have the whole program or prior knowledge?" They indicated I would be able to use the app without any prior experience. So I started by heading over to the MindWing website and took a look at the evidence for the SGM system. I read over the program and got the big picture. Here is some info straight from the source: 

"The SGM® incorporates MindWing’s patented icons to give children a visual, kinesthetic tool for help with “WH” Story Grammar questions and common graphic organizers. The SGM® delves into the “why” question: motivations, feelings, plans – all necessary for the development of critical thinking skills. This colorful, hands-on tool enables children to externalize the macrostructure of the story so they can concentrate on literate language features (microstructure)."

 I thought it sounded like another great multi-sensory tool! So let's take a look at the app.

This is the home page. I started with the 'paper' icon so I could learn more about how to use the app. 

The app took me through this tutorial, which helped me not miss any features! 

The program moves through the different symbols used through out a narrative. 

It shows you how to find more visuals for your student in each portion of the app! 

I chose to read more information (similar to what is on the website) through the app. 

Above you can see the different developmental sequences for narratives used throughout the app. 

When you start your own story, you will see this page. 

You're given the option to password protect a story. This is great for keeping student information protected. 

I started by selecting the 'stages of story development' at the bottom of the page. If you click on one of these strands, those appropriate icons will be added to the page. 

As the icons are added to the left side of the page, you can begin to write or retell your story. 

When you select an icon, you are taken to a page to add story information. Here you choose from typing, drawing, adding images or photos. This part of the app was a little frustrating. Twice my student deleted her information because she hit the 'back' arrow instead of 'done.' I also couldn't find a way to add both images and text in the same page. My students needed both to recall all the parts of the story. 

As you click each part of the story there is a 'more info' button. This button shows a image that includes reminders for the student.  

Here is my 'hockey game' drawing for the first action in our story! 

Clearly I'm not an artist but the ability to draw makes the app engaging for my clients. 

So here was my story! About our family hockey game in Colorado a few years ago. I recorded the story using the 'record' button at the bottom of the page.

When the story replays it's done as though it's a news story. 

Save the story for later!

Here's the story list screen! 

Pros: The app fills the 'gap' for narrative development. I don't have any other apps for creating narratives skills. Those who already use the SGM program will be very excited to have another avenue for instruction. Using SGM for the very first time already increased my student's ability to include details and a cohesive sequence to their writing. Doing it on the iPad made it even more appealing! 

Cons: Since the app accompanies a whole program, I'm sure using the app independently doesn't give the user all the knowledge and skills that having the full SGM materials would create. I found that my students had difficulty adding their content when typing. They have to select 'done' on the keyboard and then 'done' on the side bar. Twice my student lost the paragraph she typed. 

MindWing is offering 3 free copies of the Story Grammar Marker App to Speech Room News readers! Enter on rafflecopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: MindWing provided a copy of this app for review. The opinions are mine. 

At the Katzen now...

American University's Fall for the Arts will bring neighbors, students, faculty, and friends together through art. It's on exhibition now through Oct. 5th at the Katzen.

The day will feature an afternoon of dynamic Courses and Workshops including orchestral conducting, the history of audio recording, a playwriting class, and a discussion of the role of interruption as a catalyst for art, to name just a few. Classes suitable for children are so noted in the descriptions. 

Surprise performances will pop up when you least expect them. The day will conclude with an early evening cocktail reception in the Katzen Arts Center and a Live Art Auction featuring local artists. 

The event is open to the public and an invitation is extended to local residents, patrons of the arts, parents of AU students, and the entire AU community.

Check out the details, the artists, and the terrific artwork here. There's an amazing Alan Feltus that someone will get for a steal! Also check out this gorgeous Tim Tate!

You can register here.

Objects of Desire

Please join lots of us for the exhibition opening of "Objects of Desire" this next Friday, September 20, in Georgetown at Neptune Fine Art from 6 - 8 pm.

 

The opening is free and open to the public.  

 

The show was selected by the Washington Post's arts critic, Mark Jenkins, as one of the "Best gallery exhibits this fall" and was an "Editors' Pick: The Best Washington Art Shows and Events in September" in the Washingtonian.  In addition, a number of galleries in the Book Hill neighborhood will be open, so it should be a lovely opportunity to see art. 

Here are the details:

Objects of Desire

Neptune Fine Art 

1662 33rd Street, NW at Wisconsin Ave. and Reservoir Rd., Washington, DC 20007

Opening Reception: Friday, September 20, 2013, 6 - 8 pm

Exhibition runs September 18 - October 26, 2013

Artists include: William Bruce Adair, Raya Bodnarchuk, Jeff Chyatte, Will Clift, Tazuko Ichikawa, Elaine Langerman, Laurel Lukaszewski, Jimmy Miracle, Wendy M. Ross and Foon Sham

Website: http://neptunefineart.com/inventory/30_Objects-of-Desire_

Call to Artists

Call to Artists

WHAT: An Outdoor Fine Arts Festival 

WHERE: Bethesda, MD

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday 

May 10-11, 2014

 

NOTEWORTHY: 

*Complimentary breakfast and lunch for participating artists. 

*Free parking within 1 block. 

*Limited to 140 booth spaces of juried fine art and fine craft.

*Estimated attendance: 20,000. 

*$2,500 in cash awards. 

*24-hour security. 

*Booth sitters. 

*Entry/booth fees: $30/$425 (10x10); $850 (10x20).

*For more details about the show, click HERE

The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival was ranked #78 of the 200 Best Shows in the USA by Sunshine Artist Magazine in September, 2008, making it the highest ranked fine art festival in Maryland. Artists report consistently high sales every year. Electronic application available on the festival's website. 

Celebrating Norm Parish

Millennium Arts Salon - In cooperation with many Arts organizations will join in celebrating the life of Norman Parish on Saturday Afternoon, November 2, 2013.

Norman Parish and the Parish Gallery of Georgetown has meant so much to so many: visual artists from around the world...the book signings and artist talks...the photography community...the collectors...the celebrities...the Art Dealers Association...his many, many gallerist friends...All of us have benefited from that signature smile, that stentorian voice, that wonderful jazz, and that conviviality that was so much of the experience fostered by Norm Parish and his widow Gwen through 22 years, 170 exhibitions, and countless special events at the Gallery. 

Let's celebrate Norm's life, and gather to recommit ourselves to embracing each other in the community of art fans and patrons so beautifully fostered at the Gallery.

As details firm, look to this space for details on venue and time.  Those of you who wish to support this celebration, please write back to mel@millenniumartssalon.org with your expressions of interest.

Silly Sets {Review and Giveaway}

 If you're working with preschool children or younger elementary students with phonological disorders, today's product review is just for you! Silly Sets is a new Super Duper product. Silly Sets: Minimal Pairs for Maximum Progress Card Deck is developed by  Kim Patterson, M.S., CCC-SLP and Rynette Kjesbo, M.S., CCC-SLP. I've reviewing the product today and hosting a giveaway too! So stick with me and enter below!

The Minimal Pairs approach to phonological disorders pairs two words with only one sound difference together. The Silly Set cards include 100 illustrated minimal pairs. Each card has an illustration on one side. The back side includes sentences with minimal pairs. For example, "Kim wore a pretty dress." and "Tim wore a pretty dress."

The silly factor will definitely get your students laughing. Changing the meaning will really get your students attending to their sound. 

The cards include the following processes: Cluster Reduction, Fronting, Stopping and Final Consonant Deletion.

Pros: I love that it includes a cheat sheet page that tells the different pairs included. The cards are also color coded for easy use.

Cons: The set only includes 4 different processes. I'd love if they included a second set with other processes.

You can purchase Silly Sets through Super Duper Pub. for $21.95. Enter to win your free copy below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this item for review. No other compensation was provided and these opinions are mine!