SLP Essentials for Back to School
To make sure we kick speech off with a bang, I've put together a list of essential items that will make our lives a breeze during those first few weeks back in school. Check 'em out:
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Binder Rings with Speech Sound Cue Cards
1. Binder Rings: I use these ALL the time! I have my speech sound cue cards on them for on the go access to the visuals. My students love to flip through them to find “their sounds”. I also use them to hang visuals around the classrooms on plastic hooks.
2. Velcro Dots: Using velcro for visual schedules, adapting books and them for behavior charts is key! I no longer have to cut my velcro with these time saving dots!
3. Copy Paper: Let's face it, we can never have enough of this stuff. Gonna be printing out activities, resources and screening record forms like crazy!
4. Laminating Sheets: I laminate SO MUCH! I can keep activities year after year and kids can’t rip the pages! I use 5 mm sheets for even more durability for my visual sentence strips and books (check out my printable Back to School book for preschoolers!)
5. Plastic Sleeves: Slip those printable resources into these sleeves for use with dry erase markers when don’t have the time to laminate!. Plus, they're super easy to wipe clean. Score!
6. Mesh Storage Bags (the big ones): I used these to store my games paired with books in one place! I have a fun S’mores speech activity that includes articulation marshmallows that can all be stored in one bag.
7. New Play-Doh: Opening play-doh for an activity and finding it gray and hard is no fun!! Who doesn’t love the smell of new play doh any way? It's time to restock our Play-Doh stash. Love using play-doh for smash mats!
8. Nice Pens: Treat yourself to some smooth writing action with good quality pens. They make note-taking way less boring!
9. Dry Erase Markers: I always have a stash of these for making on the spot speech sound visuals and they are perfect for writing on whiteboards or laminated materials.
Plastic Container with attached Lid with Sensory Materials
10. Plastic Bins with Attached Lids: Seems like I always need one to make a sensory bin for a new theme, and the bins with the attached lids work the best for me in my therapy bag since they don’t open unless I want them to.
11. Water Bottle: My goal for this year is to drink more water and even though I have SO MANY water bottles, I want to motivate myself, so I’m buying a new one!
12. Dot Painters: These bad boys can be used for all kinds of cool therapy activities, dot articulation comes to mind and can be used with little prep and kids love to use them!.
13. Glue Sticks: Never can find my glue sticks, so this year I am putting one in every pocket of my therapy bag. I like the clear ones to use with the small pieces that I laminate. I stick inside the laminating sheet to hold the pieces in place while they run through the laminator.
14. Clipboard with Storage: This was a game changer for me last year! I keep each child’s daily sign in sheets inside the storage portion and the child’s sheet that I am working with on top plus my monthly time sheet.
Now that we're armed with these essential speechie necessities, we're all set for an amazing start to the school year.
Here's to a fantastic school year ahead!
