Top 75 Speech Pathology Websites for 2015 as published by Kidmunicate!

Hello and Happy December!

I came across an amazing resource today and I'm so excited about it!  Kidmunicate, a pediatric SLP clinic in Pennsylvania with an outstanding follow-worthy blog, has an article on their site listing out their top 75 SLP websites as well as short descriptions of each.  I just wish there were more hours in the day to read each of these at length!

Naturally things like the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Autism Speaks are listed.  However, there are also lesser-known gems such as personal blogs with information for therapists (think: great ideas and resources to have in your tool box!) and parents (think: advice from other parents, information about developmental milestones and suggestions of things you can do at home to increase your child's communication skills).  Anyone with a vested interest in speech-language therapy should check out this informative article/list.

Without further ado, I bring you:

Top 75 Speech Pathology Websites for 2015! (click link!)

Enjoy!

~Ms. Matyasse

Speech and Language Blogs I Love

I had a great meeting this morning with the mother of a sweet kindergarten student I work with and she asked if I had any favorite speech and language blogs...while there are many blogs that I enjoy perusing for ideas I hadn't ever written a comprehensive list to share when asked.  Being asked for such a list was just the motivation I needed to get in gear and quickly write this up!

The internet can be a fabulous resource...I use it daily to look up treatment suggestions for students I work with.  However, at times I find myself feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the beautiful Pinterest boards and blog posts with great, creative ideas for speech/language therapy activities.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that it is just fine to not have what I feel like are the cutest or most creative games and that sticking with the basics with things like playing a simple game with a tried-and-true deck of articulation cards can be sufficient with proper interaction and instruction!

While I sincerely love to write and have high hopes to one day make more time for blogging...that time is not now and I am instead content to use this space for a few speech/language suggestions here and there as well as to share links to what I believe are helpful resources.

That said...here are some links to a few great speech and language blogs:

1.  Mommy Speech Therapy:  This is one of my favorite blogs!  It is well-written with great advice and suggestions both for practicing SLPs and parents.  The author says,  'The reason I named this blog “Mommy Speech Therapy” is because as parents we have the greatest impact on our children’s language development. No one can make a bigger difference than you!  My goal is to share some tips and techniques I have learned over the years in working with my clients and my own kids, and hopefully give you the information you need to be successful in helping your little ones become the very best communicators they can be."  Beautiful!!

2.   Speech Room News:  This blog has some outstanding posts, including app reviews and some free downloadable activities!

3.  Auditory Verbal Center of Wheaton:  This is an awesome blog written by a professional who works with individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing using an auditory verbal (spoken language) approach.  While the blog is written for parents and professionals working with this population, many of the speech and language activities are great for targeting these skills in students who are not deaf/hard of hearing as well.

 4.  Speaking of Speech:  This author shares a plethora of wisdom, from activity suggestions to how to organize materials.  Recent posts include information about stuttering in preschoolers.

5.  Playing with Words 365:  I just LOVE this blog!  The author provides practical suggestions for working speech and language targets into everyday routines.

A simple quick Google search for "speech and language blogs" will show you that my little list is barely scratching the surface of what's available out there on our lovely World Wide Web.  Hopefully, though, my weeding-through process and providing you with these five blogs as a starting place will provide you with some useful resources as you build your own arsenal of materials and suggestions...whether you are a fellow SLP or a parent of littles!

Have a wonderful day :),

~Ms. Matyasse

Free Apps!

My personal favorite therapy tool is the iPad.  I've had mine now for a few years and feel it is invaluable.  While an iPad is NOT a replacement for teaching meaningful communication between people....it is a great teaching tool!  I use apps as visual supports (schedules, timers) and as supports when teaching a variety of concepts, including receptive and expressive language as well as articulation/phonology/speech clarity.  Apps can be great tools for clinicians and parents alike when working with children.

I follow a number of blogs and websites that advertise and write reviews of educational apps...one of my favorites is www.smartappsforkids.com.

I signed up for e-mail updates from this site and on Fridays, I LOVE to peruse their "Free App Friday" selections.  Today's list is great (in my opinion :)).  Check it out HERE. 

I actually downloaded one of the apps on this list earlier this week after a friend told me it was free:  Toca Doctor.  I've used the app in a few lessons already this week...great for targeting direction following, WH questions (both asking and answering), sequencing, retelling, listening skills and also simply used as a reinforcer/reward for hard work at the end of a lesson.

If you are unfamiliar with the Toca Boca apps...do yourself and your students (or children!) a favor and check them out.  They're cute, fun, engaging and educational!

Have fun!