Large Group Activities by The Speech Bubble

Part of the service I provide in my school building is for a self-contained LD room. There are 10 students in this room, so making sessions applicable and engaging for all their goals has taken some creativity.  First, personal white boards, dry erase markers, desks, and tissues will be your new BFFs.  Also, never underestimate the power of a good book.

1. Visit your library

Fun book that can target lots of goals

I like to use books a lot with large groups. Reading a story allows students to be introduced to new text in relaxed environment and a great way to target lots of goals in one session.  I like 'Plantzilla' by Jerdine Nolen a lot as well as fairy tales. It allows you to target predicting, inferencing, articulation, and grammar. I give each student a dry erase marker and white board. If you do not have enough white boards for each student then just have them write on their desks. Don't worry it will erase with the tissue. Give each student a tissue as well to use as an eraser.  As you read, pause and ask the students questions with two or three choices. Students will write their choice on their desk and you can check to see if it is correct and take data. This is great to do with grammar as well. You can locate a word in the story and have the students write a synonym, antonyms, correct verb tense, etc. If you are having students write on their desks,  allow them to put a tally mark, star, smiley face, etc in the corner to keep track of their correct answers. They don't have to but it usually motivating.

2. Teamwork
Never underestimate the power of teamwork. Divide students into teams and give each team one whiteboard and marker. Give students a category and one-two minutes to write as many items in that category as possible. You are pretty much playing Scategories.  Students must collaborate and come up with responses. When the time is up, have the 'writers' for each team come up and take turns stating their responses. If a team has an item listed that another does not, they get a point. If both teams have the same item listed it is considered a draw for that item an no one gets a point.

3. Get Crafty

This is not the activity my kids did, just a picture from Google. I couldn't find the pics from winter 

I love arts and crafts, so anytime I can have my students get hands on and make something I am all for it. Speech Peeps has a great example of a craft that can be used for a large group and uses the EET.  I find crafts work best with describing and/or sequencing tasks. For example, after reading Sadie and the Snowman (for some background information) we made snowmen. On each part of the snowman, I had students write a step they would need to do to make a snowman.

4. Station Rotation
If you have a lot of different goals in a room consider setting up stations. Three to four stations is best. Each station targets a goal.  I will have students sort synonym or antonym pairs and then write the pairs down on their white board for me to check. This is a great way to use book companions as well. They have so many activities that go with the story.  You can read the story and then arrange the activities into different stations. As students visit each station I like to walk around and monitor. After everyone has visited the station we do a 'check up'. I will randomly ask each student a question about something from one of the stations. These questions are related to their goals so I can collect data.

5. Be an Eggspert

There is a wireless version

This item will only work for groups of 6 or less. The teacher  in the LD room has this and I like to use it quite a bit. Each student gets a buzzer. Ask a question and the student who pushes their buzzer first has their egg light up.  I will let that student answer first and then ask the rest of the students a different question if I feel I am not getting enough data. You can also block a particular buzz if a single student keeps getting to answer.

To find more ideas stop by The Speech Bubble blog or Facebook.  To find some great materials to use for large groups stop by The Speech Bubble's TpT store.

Upcoming St. Patty's Day Activities!

What activities do you all have planned for the month of March?!  More specifically, are you planning any exciting St. Patrick's Day activities?  I wanted to share with you a bunch of the ideas and activities I plan on using throughout the month of March.

As you can see in the picture above, my students will be reading the book, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Clover.  I will be incorporating the AWESOME companion pack which was created by Jenna from Speech Room News!  The packet includes activities for my language AND articulation students.  My students love this series of books so I'm sure this will be a hit!

We will also be reading the book, The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever!  If you haven't heard of or read this book, it is absolutely adorable!  It is perfect for elementary school students.  I am going to do two different activities to go along with the book.  First, my students will be making Scented Shamrocks!  I found this craft last year while browsing the internet.  My students will each get a printed shamrock.  Next, they will color them green and cut them out.  Then, they spread glue all over their shamrocks.  Next comes the fun part!  The students will sprinkle lime Jell-O onto their shamrocks and TA DA..SCENTED SHAMROCKS! You can find all the specific details on how to make a scented shamrock HERE.

Here is an activity I will be using with my articulation kiddos along with The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever! First, we will read the book as a group.  Next, each student will get a sheet of blank shamrocks.  My groups will work together going through the book and looking for words or phrases with their speech sounds to write on their shamrocks.  Finally, the students will color and decorate their shamrocks however they would like.  I haven't decided yet, but I think we will cut them out and make a St. Patty's Day booklet.  Perfect for carryover!!

This activity is perfect for younger students and can be used to target ANY goal.  Each student gets a rainbow sheet (I just searched for a rainbow coloring sheet in google and came across this one.)  You can use either dot art markers or chips (depends on how "responsible" your students can be!)  Here are some examples of how to use this sheet:  Each time a student names two rhyming words, speech sound words, or answers "wh" questions, he/she can dot or place chips on "X" number of spots.  ALTERNATIVE:  Students take turns rolling the dice and place that number of chips or dot that number of spots after they complete the given task.

Last but certainly not least, we will be using my Shamrock Articulation for R, S, and L {FREEBIE}.  The adorable cupcake cards each contain words and phrases.  Students can play this game like memory or use the cards for drill.  You can grab this activity HERE!

Hope you enjoy this post and are able to use some of the ideas listed here!!

SWAP-N-BLOG: Sublime Speech's Monster Questions

Well, we finally made it to Friday which means the weekend is here!!  Danielle from Sublime Speech and I decided to SWAP-N-BLOG this week!  I am so excited to share my review and some pictures of her awesome activity Monster Questions!  If you haven’t already visited her blog and/or TpT store, then you must head over to them.  Her products are so innovative, organized, eye-catching, and fun.  The ideas/activities on her blog will keep your students interested and excited.  

This activity targets answering AND formulating questions.  There are actually 4 different games in the packet: Formulating questions, answering questions, question/answer go fish, and replying.  Here is everything included in the HUGE 228 card packet….

6 printable monster grins. Just cut them out, laminate, and attach to a popsicle stick and use during the game for added hilarity!

Each game includes “wild cards” which are sad monsters and grin-exciting monster events!

Answering: 72 Who, What, Where, When, and How questions

Formulating: 42 Y/N, Who, What, Where, When, and How questions with a given topic.  Students formulate questions accordingly.

 

Replying: 24 cards for students to reply appropriately to a peer's statement with a question. 

Question Go-Fish: 36 Y/N, Who, What, Where, When, and How questions to match with their answers. The cards are color and grin-coordinated to easily spot a match!

Blank Template Pages: 24 blank cards included in the deck for you to use for extra questions or other games.

How I used the game with my students:

First of all, my students LOVED the monster grins on the Popsicle sticks.  They thought it was so funny when holding them up to their mouths.  Each student in my groups received a monster grin before the game started.  

I used “Answering questions” with a few different groups.  I placed all cards face down in a pile in the center of the table.  For my older students, they read the cards themselves and answered the questions.  For my younger students, I read the question to them and if answered correctly, they collected the card.  The student with the most cards at the end was the winner! 

I have so many students struggling with formulating questions so I was so excited to try the activity out.  I set up the game by placing all cards face down in the center of the table.  They took turns choosing cards and reading their chosen topic and the question starter.  If an appropriate question was formulated, the student kept the card.  Whoever had the most cards at the end was the winner!

The last activity I used was Replying where students take turns choosing cards and read the prompt (i.e. I had a soccer game this weekend).  Another student in the group must reply with an appropriate question (i.e. Did you win or what was the score?)  This is another great activity for student struggling with formulating questions.  My students were very successful with this activity because of the prompts on the cards.

This is an extremely useful and engaging game that I’m sure your students will absolutely love.  I used this activity with students in grades 1-4.  This activity has endless possibilities and is a must have! 

 This product is one of many products by one of my absolute favorite SLP bloggin' friends, Danielle.  She is truly a talented SLP!  This material can be found on her TpT store.  Also, check out her Facebook page and blog!

Enjoy everyone!!

Kristine

{NEW} Formulating and Identifying Simple/Compound Sentences!

This "monkey" themed game focuses on identifying and expressing simple and compound sentences. This activity is perfect for students working on grammar, expanding utterances, formulating sentences, and more!!!

There are two games included in this activity. 

Game 1:
Poster: How to formulate sentences
36 cards with a word/words which students must use in a complete sentence. Each card has a point value 1 through 3.
Mats for students to track their points earned.
9 wild cards worth 5 points

 Game 2:

Poster: Simple vs. compound sentences

48 cards with either simple or compound sentences.

Choice cards stating “simple” and “compound” for students to hold up during the game. Optional: attach to popsicle sticks.

Answer key

HOW TO PLAY:

Game 1:
Students take turns choosing cards and putting the word/words in a complete sentence. If produced correctly, the student either collects the card or marks the number of points on his/her mat. Once the game is finished, students should total their points. 
Whoever has the most points wins! 

Game 2:
The SLP/teacher chooses and reads a card. Students listen and will either hold up the “simple” or “compound” card. Each student who answers correctly earns 1 point. Points can be tracked on a dry/erase board or paper. The student with the most points wins!

Enjoy everyone!!! 

New activities for Articulation and Naming Attributes!!!

I am so excited to show all of you my THREE newest activities!  Each one focuses on either Vocalic /r/, /th/ and /s/ PLUS naming attributes.  That's articulation and language goals all rolled into one!  Each activity is listed separately in my TpT store in hopes that it is easier for all of you to grab what you need.   Check out details and pictures below...

Each activity includes: 

A Poster explaining what an attribute is

Hint cards with examples of attributes

3 Sets: Numbers 1 through 5

24 Wild Cards

Vocalic R 

Included:
96 cards: /er/, /ar/, /air/, /ear/, /ire/, and /or/

/S/

Included: 

84 Cards: /S/ in the initial, medial, and final positions

/TH/

Included:

48 cards: /TH/ in the initial, medial, and final positions

How to play:

Shuffle and spread the “shield” number cards face down on the table. Place the R, S, or TH cards face down in a pile within reach of all students. Students take turns choosing the top articulation card from the pile and choosing a number card from the table. The students will name the specified number of attributes according to the number card chosen. Example: If a student chooses “tooth” and the number 3, he/she must name 3 attributes that describes a tooth. Once the student has successfully named the chosen number of attributes, he/she keeps the card. If chosen, follow the directions on the included wild cards. The student with the most cards wins!
CHALLENGE: 
Have students formulate sentences using the targeted R, S, or TH word and one of the named attributes.

Hope you all enjoy these activities!!!! Please leave feedback and/or comments! 

SLP <3

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kristine-Lamb

{New} Vocabulary Activity: Secret iPod Words!!!

Hey everyone!!  I hope you are enjoying your 3 day weekend (if you are having one!).  I used some of my time off to make this AWESOME activity which I like to call "Secret" iPod Word!  I think you and your students will absolutely love it.

This activity/game focuses on synonyms, antonyms, and rhyming words.

Included: 

•Poster explaining what synonyms, antonyms, and rhyming words are.

•72 cards with a “secret word”, synonym, antonym, and rhyming word.

•9 homework/extra practice pages.

How to play:

Students can be divided into teams or each student can play for himself/herself.  On a board, make 3 columns with the headings, synonym, antonym, and rhyming word.   

The SLP/teacher chooses a card (as seen above)  and starts by reading ONLY the antonym.  The first team/student to raise their hand, gets a chance to guess the “secret word”.  Alternative: Go back and forth between students/teams allowing each a chance to solve a “secret word”. If a team/student is able to guess the “secret word” when given only the antonym, 3 points are earned.  When both the antonym and synonym are given, 2 points are earned.  When all three clues are given, 1 point is earned.  Less clues equals more points!

 Use the included homework pages for students to practice the “new” words they have learned!

Hope you all enjoy this activity!  I had so much fun creating it!  Thanks everyone for the support!!!

Kristine 

Live Love Speech