Summer Speech Review

I love flowers. I learned how to preserve flowers from my daughter Laura. 

Thanks to one of my client for giving me these Sweet pea flowers so I could preserve them!

Quick dried flower recipe; 

1, You flatten the flowers between parchment paper, a napkin below the paper and above the paper.  Set a heavy board or square or round glass dish on top for about 10-15 minutes.

2, Next, microwave  the flowers/paper set for 30 seconds, stop,  let it air/cool a bit 10 seconds or so. repeat this process no more than 4 times. (depends on how moist the flowers are. (for my dried sweet pea flowers, I only did this process 2 times because they were so dry already.). Watch so the flowers don't burn, especially the white flowers.

3, Let them cool completely.  Glue the flowers carefully onto your selected card/paper, or frame. I use card-stock paper.  

Optional; use large fabric hoops with fabric or paper to glue the flowers onto. It make a great wall decor.

How to promote/preserve session success; A little review of my June Summer Intensive Speech Program.  

A) Hold an evaluation a month before it starts. It is a good idea.

You get to meet the client and parents and get a feel for the client's interest and personality.

B) Plan 2-3 activities per sessions to match the client's goals. (set out the materials near by; the time goes by faster than one expects.  

C) Know your client's interests; Some clients are motivated by a simple turn taking game (Tic,tac, toe, Connect Four, etc. While others are motivated by small breaks with  thematic toys- puppy set/ farm set or sensory box/items.)

D) Set a timer for 28 minutes; so the last two minutes can be used to review, put away items, and hand over any homework or suggestions, answer questions. (if you sessions are back to back, then maybe stop 5 minutes earlier for this process.) 

E) To preserve their success,  it's recommended to focus on generalizing to maintain their progress over the summer; (e.g. read a page from a book to work on difficult words; briefly model the word, practice each word 2-3 times clearly. Do this 2-3 times were week.

Here is a sample photo of a hard working client from this summer session; (Photo shared with parent permission)

She said; "Hey, let's get to work guys" and proceeded to do the work on her own; as I was a bit late discussing things with her mother.

I love how this client was motivated to work and make progress.  I think that is why I love my profession so much, it really is about the client and the parent support!

 

Time to Embrace the Spring Light and Your light

 I work at three schools as a speech therapist.  Each school has their Spirit Week or Hope Week. 

Today one of my secondary schools had Bling Day.  I got to wear my fancy jacket.

The whole week was about "Hope" letting in the light during dark moments or letting others bring their light to you during your dark moments. What a great message for Hope Week.

Here is my bling outfit. Thanks to a friend (Annette) who likes to shop and find great deals. She is also a very generous person who lets her light shine to so many people.  I hope you have a friend who brings you light or you can be a friend to others that need light. I hope I can be more like her.

Speaking of Hope, if your child or you need help with speech, check into my intensive summer speech program. See the previous blog for details.

Summer Speech Plans

Yes, It's only Spring, but it's never too early to start planning for Summer

It's a great time to start thinking of summer speech therapy for your child. If your child has resistive articulation issues, check out the visual tool that may be the answer to help them get their speech sounds on target. 

I'm letting you know that I am holding my intensive summer speech program in June again. I did it last summer and it worked out well after being out of it for a couple years due to Covid. I'm running the program out of my home. 

Feel free to let parents know if they'd like to try visual speech therapy using the SmartPlate, they can reach out to me. I only do the therapy.  However, they can also look up information on CompleteSpeech.com for the SmartPalate information. I can also answer most of their questions. They can email me at adorais159@gmail.com or text/call at 801-372-4383. They can email for the details and available spots. Most of the detail are listed on by blog at https://palatometertherapy.blogspot.com/ 

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 What is the Summer Intensive Speech Therapy?   

You can choose with or without the smart palate system for the summer speech program.  

You should obtain the finished product before June from CompleteSpeech Company that makes the device but they don't provide therapy. Call them to find out how long it will take to get the final product (mouthpiece). Their time table has changed and is taking longer to receive your child's customized mouthpiece. Call them for full details. 

Disclosure; I have no financial ties nor do I get get any commission from CompleteSpeech).

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 More Details. 

 When? June 10- June 27th, 30-minutes sessions 

 Where? My Home Office; 635 Dalton Drive, Pleasant Grove, Utah 

 How? You must call or email to reserve your time slot and weeks. 

To reserve your spot; You can email; adorais159@gmail.com. Or you can call and leave a message at 801-372-4383. 

Cost: Tuition based, which means all sessions are paid up front to hold your spot; 

The Price Break down; $50 per session X 12 possible sessions.

No make-up sessions, for missed session(s) for any reason. It's a limited program with limited spots, the tuition payment reserves your spot 

Additional cost: Your child may need a formal or informal assessment charges prior to therapy time as needed. If your child is on an IEP, you will receive a significant assessment discount only with a copy of the IEP. 

Call and ask about those details. SMART PALATE is a visual tool. EXAMPLES of placement scores

Happy New Year

You can contact me for availability and prices for evaluations and therapy services.

via Email; adorais159@gmail.com

Visit my Blog; https://palatometertherapy.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html 

Be sure and note the new Office Address; 635 Dalton Drive, Pleasant Grove, UT, 84062

 

JUNE SPEECH ENROLLMENT IS NOW OPEN

IN SUMMER . . . by Olaf; 

What? Summer Intensive Speech Therapy (You can choose with or without the smart palate system that you obtain finished product before June from CompleteSpeech Company that makes the device but they don't provide therapy. Call them to find out how long it will take to get the final product (mouthpiece). Their time table has changed and is taking longer to receive your child's customized mouthpiece. Call them for full details. 

Disclosure;  I have no financial ties nor do I get get any commission from CompleteSpeech).

When?  June 12-29th, 30-minutes sessions 

Where? My Home Office; 635 Dalton Drive, Pleasant Grove, Utah

How? You must call or email to reserve your time slot and weeks.

To reserve your spot; You can email; adorais159@gmail.com. Or you can call and leave a message at 801-372-4383.

Cost: Tuition based, which means all sessions are paid up front to hold your spot; Break down; $50 per session X the 12 possible sessions.  No make-up sessions, for missed session(s) for any reason. It's a limited program with limited spots.

Additional cost: Your child may need a formal or informal assessment charges prior to therapy time as needed. If your child is on an IEP, you will receive a significant assessment discount only with a copy of the IEP.  Call and ask about those details.

SMART PALATE is a visual tool.  EXAMPLES of placement scores

 

Old but New

 Check this out for the full article.

https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=52169340&itype=CMSID News

From research stage to full production took only 35+ years. 

If you are looking for visual tool to help your student, child, or client to improve their speech this technology is very helpful. But it's a bit costly. But time is money too, right?

New version of old technology 

aids speech therapy Custom electronic 

mouthpieces help people learn more quickly.

 

                                     

DONE, TAKEN OFF THE WEBSITE.

The online library was taken off the internet, but here are some books I like.

1, Smart but Scattered Teen

2, Smart but Scattered

3, Idioms for Every Day

4, Think Tank

5, Literacy Strategies

6, The Art of Comprehension

7, The Whole-Brained Child

8, At Wits End

9, Feeling Good

Join my speech and language google classroom

 Speech and Language Google Classroom Now Available

If you become a client, you will receive an invite link to join my speech and language google classroom if you would like access to materials to use at home.

The google classroom will provide the following;

1, Speech and Language information

2, Free material to download and try

3, Links for more resources.

HOME OFFICE REMODEL COMPLETED

Welcome to my new home office

 I switched from paying for an office in Orem to my home office after covid.  I am now located in P.G. (635 Dalton Drive, P.G, Ut, 84062)

My situation has changed where I downsized my private practice and I am now working full time for Alpine School District as a speech therapist and I am  taking just a few part-time clients in the afternoons. The home office finally got remodeled.  It took way way  longer than expected due to lumber shortage, etc.

Here are a few pictures of the completed remodel.

BEFORE REMODEL OLD OFFICE PICTURES

It's not bad but I didn't like the way the desk furniture cut into the room.  And I didn't like the high walls were wasted space. 

AFTER REMODEL OFFICE PICS; We replaced the old carpet with new hard wood floors. 

We added a vaulted bookshelf with a ladder and replaced the old light with a new light not seen in these two photos yet. I had the desk go across the bookshelf verses cutting into the room. Now we can still have a desk, a sitting area and a table area for card games or for eating, etc.

FALL SPEECH

 Welcome back 

It's been new and interesting going through an office remodel.  

Things definitely don't run as smoothly or or time as one would expect.

Here is a peek of the rough stage

ONLINE THERAPY TO CONTINUE

 Thanks for your patents.

My office is under construction so all therapy will remain  online till further notice.

Speech Service Update

Wow, so much has happened in the last several months.  I will share a few things I've learned and a few tips.

I learned when you have to make changes to your teaching, there is a new steep learning curve that has to happen. I wanted to keep working with my clients so within one week, I had to learn how to hold distant telepractice with Zoom effectively.
I was also helping at BYU (University level to prepare for TelePractice delivery model for the Fall term for the graduate students and clinical educators. Because of this, I did a lot of reading and researching and reviewing materials to best support TelePractice.

For parents, You can rest easy that you can still get quality speech therapy viz Zoom.  In fact most of my families would like to continue with Teletherapy to ease their burden of driving and time. And Yes, I have held a speech assessment over Zoom. The parents was my E-assistant that helped a ton.
Surprisingly enough, It's been a  win win for everyone.

For therapists,You can relax too because there are so many good materials available to support Zoom sessions.  Here are a few of my favorites that I've used regularly now.
1, JamBoards, you can premake these boards, or co-create with your clients as their is a google image link you can use on the boards. They love them.  Just leave off identifying information.  (their names, etc.)  you can download a screen shot and email their creation to them.
2, Google Class- You can pre-select any assignments, links, pdfs, etc and invite them to your class.
3, Read Works- is free to the public
4, Newsela- is free to the public
5, Doc Camera- you can use objectives and papers you have at home.
It's awesome.  There has been such a demand for these, you may have to just order and wait for it. The price has gone up because of the demand.  I purchased one V4K doc camera when it was $99.
6, Teachers pay Teachers- check their free handouts.
7. Boom Cards, super fun self testing for the school age population

Changes due to the Covid-19 Virus

A+ Speech Therapy will be following the State Governors guideline due to the Covid-19 Pandemic to CLOSE my walk-in office till further notice.https://ksltv.com/434593/stay-at-home-order-in-utah/

OPTIONS for therapy.
TeleTherapy has started and will continue till further notice.
You are welcome to still contact me to get on the waitlist.
Email; adorais159@gmail.com
Call or text; Phone; 801-372-4383

What do I need to know about TeleTherapy?
It's approved by our national ASHA- professional organization. https://www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Professional-Issues/Telepractice/


It's the same therapy, just delivered in a different way.
Think of it like picking up your favorite food orders, you expect the same quality of food , you pick it up by curbside or it can be delivered to your home.

Your session are now from your home and my home over the internet (zoom platform). Distant connection.
I can provide sharing screens, and used the  annotate feature, which allows control of the shared item.  Example; Elli, used a heart stamp to find all her words.

Session should still meet your needs. We can zoom from phones, IPads, or computers.
You do need a good internet system.

HAPPY 2020

Here is the link to a fun free New Years bingo Cards  .https://www.momresource.com/new-years-bingo-2020-printable-bingo-cards/

This website has all the holiday bingo sheets.  If you want their free 5 sheet bingo, you have to provide your email to them.  It's worth it to get their reminder to get their seasonal -holiday Bingo cards.

Enjoy

FALL IS IN THE AIR

Fall is in the air with the hint of cooler nights and mornings.

It's a good time for back to school shopping and extra school activities like Speech Classes.
Email me (Ann Dorais)  with any questions or concerns; adorais159@gmail.com

Some people don't know what Speech Language Therapist do or provide.

Here is a reminder of the areas we cover.

1. Speech Sound Disorders- called articulation and or phonological processes
2. Stuttering; or Stammering,
3. Voice disorders
4. Accent Modification

5. Language; receptive- understanding,  expressive- sharing ideas and thoughts in complete logical sentences, conversations, presentations, sharing stories in logical sequence, etc.
6: Social pragmatic issues; conversation framework, social conversations,  problem solving scenarios
7. Auditory Processing; have normal hearing but not processing information well
8  Literacy; problems with phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, spelling difficulties, reading and writing difficulties.  (Yes we work on Literacy)
9. Tongue Thrust- correct swallowing

I recommend this app for speech improvement   http://www.littlebeespeech.com/

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY AMERICA

light up the sky with your good speech

Blast off with good speech

Let Freedom Ring with your good speech

Who to follow on Teachers pay Teachers?

Teachers Pay Teachers are a great resource.

I found some fun freebies to try;
check out Teacher's Pay Teachers; It's free to join. I then follow all the speech people or speech companies after I try out their free item.  You can click on their name and usually they provide a free sample of their work to check them out.
This week I got this free describing deck by itty bitty speech
. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Describing-Deck-Back-to-School-Edition-4654592

Here are a few others that I follow
1. Fun in Speech
2. Adventures in Speech Pathology
3. Listening Fun
4. Speechy Musings
5. Type B SLP
6. Simply Speech
7. Dean Trouts little shop of SLP

Happy New Year

Welcome to the new year!
If you have any questions about your child's speech or language email me with your question. 
I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.

Have a great Day!!!

Speech, Language and Literacy

Often people ask how to improve a child's speech first without realizing how intertwined oral language- speech is with literacy development.
Here are a few nice pictures I found on Google images to show the steps that listening and speaking are the first steps.        

WELCOME

I USE TO LOVE SPRING TIME THE BEST, BECAUSE OF ALL THE FLOWERS.
BUT AS I HAVE GOTTEN OLDER, I LOVE FALL BECAUSE OF THE CRISP AIR COMING ON, DIFFERENT PRODUCE LIKE PEACHES AND APPLES.  THERE IS SURGE OF NEW ENERGY WITH PEOPLE GETTING HYPED ABOUT STARTING SCHOOL AND ALL THE FALL SPORTS.

WHATEVER FANCIES YOU FOR FALL, I HOPE YOU WILL "FALL IN LOVE WITH LEARNING"  I LOVE TO LEARN!!!  I WOULD SAY IT'S MY PASSION TO LEARN AND TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.