Tell me about your day...

Have you ever had a hard time getting your school-age child to talk to you about their day?  This is a really common issue parents share with me.  I have the opportunity to work with wonderful, involved, and creative parents who share the different ways they try to ask their child about their day, but their attempts are usually met with one word responses...PARENTS WANT MORE! :)


At the beginning of most of my speech/language sessions, I pull out my WH questions cards.  These cards are made on cardstock or flash cards and I wrote "What", "Where", "Who", "When", and "Why" on the cards.  I start with all the cards facing up with the question word showing.  I ask the students to tell me one thing they did over the weekend/last night/today in school...but just one thing.  The student might say, "I went out to dinner".  I then tell the other students in the group that it is our job to be detectives and use our questions to find out more information.  Each student takes a turn picking a "WH" question, asking the question, listening to the response, and turning the card over after the question is answered.  We continue until all the cards are flipped over.  If we have more questions, we can go for another round of asking questions or we can move onto the next student.
The students love this because it feels like a game.  Parents/teachers find value in it because not only are you getting great information about your child's day, but your child is working on asking/answering questions, developing listening skills, social skills, and more.
Try it at home and make it part of your routine...before homework, at dinner, before bed...
Let me know how it is working for you! :)

Leaving on a jet plane...with a baby

Me: "I'm taking my 6 month old baby on a flight to Nebraska, with one stop in Denver, by myself"
Everyone I talked to: WHAT?!  You are nuts!
My brother was planning to propose to his fabulous girlfriend in Nebraska.  Both families were invited to join in the celebration and surprise my brother's girlfriend at an engagement dinner after the proposal (good thing she said "yes" or that could have been awkward).  When I found out my husband was not going to be able to go to Nebraska for the weekend (darn school and work), I decided that I was going to take on traveling with a baby on my own...I NEEDED to be at this engagement celebration and my little T man needed to be there, too!

I scoured the internet for tips for flying with a baby.  There are some great tips out there. I used some of the tips, but came up with some suggestions of my own:

1.  Give yourself plenty of time to pack!

I used to be a last minute packer.  I would think about what I wanted to pack for weeks, but would wait until the final hours to get everything together and in my suitcase so packing a week ahead of time was incredibly foreign, but so necessary!  Not only are you packing for you, you are packing for the baby, you are packing your diaper bag...and not your everyday diaper bag...a diaper bag to help you and baby happily travel through the friendly skies!
2.  Plan out outfits, activities, and food
Baby clothes, while so cute, have so many little pieces.  I have found that packing outfits in zip-loc bags helps to keep all the little pieces together.  It also makes it really easy to get my little T dressed....pull out a zip-loc bag and the outfit is complete!  In my "Super flying through the friendly skies" diaper bag, I packed go-to toys, books, even my iPad with downloaded episodes of Sesame Street.  A fun tip from my mom was to have a few new items...so I bought a couple small new toys and new books!  T loved the new items and they really worked to keep his attention when we were delayed on the runway.  I would also suggest packing a blanket you don't mind putting on the floor so your little one can stretch out during layovers.  Food was the hard part to plan.  T was still nursing so I packed one refrigerated bag of pumped milk (in case I couldn't easily nurse) and two frozen bags.  When going through security, they needed to inspect the thawed bag, but the frozen bags didn't require any additional inspection!
*Don't forget to pack a snack for yourself...granola bars, crackers, and water!
3.  Practice collapsing everything
One thing I did not think through was collapsing everything with baby in tow to get through security.  Make a plan for getting the stroller, carseat, diaper bag, etc. through the security belt.
4.  Check in at the gate!
I did not know about this step!  Once you get through security, go to your gate and check in there.  Let the airline employee at the gate know that you have items to gate check.  They will tag your items and then you are ready!
5.  Pick you seat wisely
For a baby who isn't walking, sitting next to the window is the way to go.  You can rest on the side of the plane and you can have some privacy if you are nursing.  If you have a walker, pick the aisle...easy access to walk the plane.
6.  Be prepared for take off and landing
Baby ear's aren't the best for handling air pressure changes.  If you are nursing your baby, be prepared to nurse during take off and landing.  Bring your cover and get as comfortable as you can get snuggling up to the side of the plane.  If you are lucky, you will nurse at take off and your little one will fall asleep!  If your baby isn't nursing, be prepared with a bottle, pacifier...anything that will let the baby chew or suck.
I'd love to hear other tips/tricks of traveling with a little one.  What are some of your go-to travel tips?
-Julianne

UPDATE: Suggestions and Questions

 1.  What strollers do you recommend for airport travel?
-If you child is still in the infant car seats, check out the snap and go options:**
[caption id="attachment_85" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Click for website to stroller[/caption]
     We have the Graco version

Click for website to Graco stroller

     If your child is no longer in an infant car seat, a great umbrella stroller will do.  We like the Upton Stroller from Babies R Us.  It folds up easily and has great functionality for traveling:Click for website to Upton Stroller

**I am in no way affiliated with the products I'm recommending.  I am simply sharing my recommendations from personal experience.

What other suggestions or questions do you have?

Cheese and pepperoni....hold the anchovies

My first two years working as a SLP, I had the privilege of working at an early intervention program with children ages 3-5  years old.  During my time at the early intervention program, I was blessed to be supported by intelligent and caring coworkers.  I didn't realize just how crucial their support would be in helping to shape me as a SLP.  My time with the amazing professionals at the early intervention program shaped me and my philosophy for serving our speech and language students:

“Play is the work of the child.” – Maria Montessori

To this day, even when working with my older students, I make our therapy sessions together the equivalent of their "play".  Meaning, our time together and what we work on needs to be intentional, functional, and meaningful to my students.  I thank my coworkers and friends at the early intervention program (you all know who you are) for helping to solidify that theory!
With that, I am pleased to share with you a post by Jennifer LeGardeur.  Jennifer works at the early intervention program where I started my SLP career.  Jennifer started out as my CFY supervisor and mentor, but quickly became a dear friend.  When I was at the early intervention program, Jennifer and I saw our preschool groups at the same time in neighboring rooms.  We spent a lot of time collaborating, and I was nervous that when I left the early intervention program, I would not have that same collaborative experience, but Jennifer has kept it going.  I get emails from her with ideas, new books, new apps, etc. to share with me.  I asked her if she would want to write a post for my blog, and I'm so excited she agreed!  Enjoy...

I have been trying to come up with some fun ideas to get my kids with social language goals interacting in new ways.  Last week, I decided to do a pizza theme.  First, we read the book "Hi, Pizza Man!" by Virginia Walter.  The kids identified the person/animal that came to the door, stated where the pizza was (e.g. "It's on the dog's head!"), and said the animals sound and 'hi' to it (e.g. "Woof Woof, pizza dog").  Next, we sang "I am a Pizza," which they loved and continue to request.  After the song, I pulled out two phones, a wooden pizza and wooden toppings, and a pizza box that Round Table kindly donated.  One student would volunteer to order the pizza and another would volunteer to be the Pizza Man.  The child ordering would call and ask if they could order a pizza and said which topping(s) they wanted (choices were mushrooms, peppers, and pepperoni).  They would ask how long it would take and then say 'good-bye' or 'see you soon' before hanging up.  The Pizza Man would have to remember what was ordered and put the pizza together.  They would then go and knock on the classroom door to deliver it. We practiced appropriate greetings and we ended up inviting the Pizza Man in to eat with us.  The child who ordered the pizza was given the wooden pizza cutter and had to ask each student if they wanted a slice.   On our last day of the pizza theme, we sequenced making pizzas with mini pita bread, tomato sauce, shredded cheese, and mini pepperoni.  Each student was responsible for one item and other students had to request the items that they needed.  They had so much fun!

Thanks, Jennifer!!!

10 tips for reading books with your baby

Reading books to babies?!  YES!  You can and should read books with your babies.  Here are 10 tips for reading books with babies.

1.  Choose picture books with bright, colorful pictures
Babies' eyes are still developing.  They are not able to see pictures, objects, or people the way we see them.  However, they are so interested in bright, colorful designs and pictures.  Reading books with colorful illustrations will capture your baby's interest and support cognitive development.
2.  Take a picture walk
Take your baby on a picture walk through the book.  Don't read the story.  Look at the pictures.  Point to the pictures.  Label what you and your baby are looking at.  You can label the actual objects, colors, size, etc.
3.  Let your child explore
If you child is old enough to grab at the pages or even grab at the pictures on a page, follow his/her lead.  If they grab to turn the page, help them turn it.  If they grab at a picture on the page, start talking about it.  If your child grabs the whole book, help him/her look through it...
4.  "Read" the book
You can always read word for word the written story in a book.  I recommend doing that as those authors are talented and creative people.  However, I often make my own story when reading through the book with little kiddos.
5.  Make sounds
How many little babies love to make sounds with their mouths?!  I mean our little ones are classic noise makers and I LOVE it!  Use their strength to include them in the "reading".  For example, when reading a book that has a car or truck, make a rumble sound with you mouth.  Get your baby's attention and make the sound again pausing after to encourage your little one to copy and make the sound back.
6. Get moving
Children learn so much when movements are associated with new skills.  It is never too early to start moving...you just modify based on your baby's ability.  Referring back to the car or truck I mentioned in #5...think of a simple movement that can go along with it that you can do with you baby.  Maybe it is a horn honking move or a whole body wiggle for a rumbling sound.
7.  Look for books with texture
Around 3 months (some before and some after), babies start to take interest in different textures.  There are great books out there with different textures throughout the story.  This adds a whole new level of conversation to the book.
8.  Books with repetition
Babies love repetition.  Reading a book that has a repeated phrase throughout the story allows your baby to hear those words multiple times.  You might find that you baby starts to make sounds during the repeated phrase.
9.  Have books easily available
A fabulous SLP shared with me that when her children were little, she had a basket in the living room filled with children's books.  Such a great idea.  The books are easily accessible for adults to grab to share with the baby, and once the baby gets more mobile, he/she can grab the books independently!

10.  Repeat a favorite book
Do you notice your baby having a favorite book or even a favorite page in a book?  My little guy loves the last page of The Very Hungry Caterpillar (the page with the brightly colored butterfly).  We spend so much time on that page talking about all the different colors and shapes.  If you notice the same in your little one, great...repeat that book over and over.  This engages your little one as he/she is naturally interested in the book, allows for repetition, and gives the opportunity to expand on new ideas each time you read together.
It is never too soon to introduce books to your little love.  It might feel foreign to read to a 2 month old, but it is a wonderful gift you are giving your baby.  Soon it will not feel foreign, and storytime will be a highlight of the day!

UPDATE: Suggestions and Questions

Some of you have shared some really wonderful reading tips and have asked questions that I'm sure many are also wondering.  I thought it would be helpful to share the tips and questions below:

 1.  One mama shared that she used to record her voice when reading stories to her children.  She would play the recording for her children when they were going to sleep.  She said they loved them and would request the "mommy tape".
-Very creative!  I bet this could be very soothing for little ones, too!
2.  One mama shared that her 9 month old just wants to eat the books and he will grab at the book until it is in his mouth!
-My little guy is also at the stage where EVERYTHING ends up in his mouth.  Sometimes I let him "eat" the book as a way of exploring.  Other times, when I'm reading the book or talking about the book, I give him something to hold that he can put in his mouth, in place of putting the book in his mouth.  That way his hands are occupied, he can chew on something if he needs that input, and I am able to read and talk about the book.

Have a questions or suggestion....please share!!

Conversation Jenga

If you have played Jenga, chances are, YOU LOVE JENGA!  Everyone loves Jenga!  Especially children...they love anything you can build and then knock over, right?!

With my elementary school students, we play Jenga, but of course with a speechie twist.  :)

How to make and play: On a regular Jenga set, I wrote conversation starters on each of the blocks.  As a student picks a block, he/she reads the conversation starter out loud, and then speaks on the topic.  The other students in the group listen to their peer and then ask one related question.  Another way to play is to have the student who picks the block present the conversation starter to a peer.  This is a great game to practice conversing socially, listening, asking questions, and turn-taking.

Amazon: Jenga Classic Refresh Game

Amazon: Bugged Out (Good for those smaller hands)

Stumped with conversation starters?!  Let me give you a little jumpstart:
1.  Tell me about your favorite animal.
2.  Tell me about your favorite meal.
3.  Tell me about something that makes you happy.
4.  Tell me about your family.
5.  Tell me about your last birthday.
6.  Tell me about your day at school.
7.  Tell me about your favorite sport.

The key with the conversation starts is to make sure the questions/statements are open-ended.

What do you do to help facilitate conversation in a fun and functional way?

Reading Passages Resource: FREE

Quick post to share an excellent resource I used almost daily this last year.  Read Works (http://www.readworks.org).  Have you heard of it?  If not and you work with elementary, middle school, and high school students, you are in for a treat.

Let me start by saying that I am in no way affiliated with Read Works and I have not been asked to review the website nor am I receiving any reimbursement for my review.  This is simply a genuine and excited share of a fabulous resource.  

Read Works is a non-profit organization aimed to support reading comprehension.  By signing up for FREE you have access to research-based units/lessons and reading passages sorted by genre, grade level, and reading level.  I have been working to make my speech and language sessions align with common core standards and work addressed in the classroom while keeping the students' attention and motivation.  Knowing the topics covered in class or even in current new events, I go onto Read Works at the beginning of the week and find articles that aligned with those topics.  I print out a choice of articles...usually two.  During the speech and language sessions, I give a quick intro for each article and let the students decide which article we should work through.

We use the article to address all the speech and language goals.  For example, with articulation, I give each student a copy of the article and have them highlight their speech sounds.  Then we popcorn read through the article while practicing our sounds.  For example, with language, we stop at the end of each paragraph to summarize or discuss literary concepts in correct and complete sentences.  Clearly, the options are endless...those are just two examples of way I have used the articles to target speech and language goals. 

What are your favorite resources?

10 tips for reading books with babies

Reading books to babies?!  YES!  You can and should read books with your babies.  Here are 10 tips for reading books with babies.

1.  Choose picture books with bright, colorful pictures
Babies' eyes are still developing.  They are not able to see pictures, objects, or people the way we see them.  However, they are so interested in bright, colorful designs and pictures.  Reading books with colorful illustrations will capture your baby's interest and support cognitive development.

2.  Take a picture walk
Take your baby on a picture walk through the book.  Don't read the story.  Look at the pictures.  Point to the pictures.  Label what you and your baby are looking at.  You can label the actual objects, colors, size, etc.

3.  Let your child explore
If you child is old enough to grab at the pages or even grab at the pictures on a page, follow his/her lead.  If they grab to turn the page, help them turn it.  If they grab at a picture on the page, start talking about it.  If your child grabs the whole book, help him/her look through it...

4.  "Read" the book
You can always read word for word the written story in a book.  I recommend doing that as those authors are talented and creative people.  However, I often make my own story when reading through the book with little kiddos.

5.  Make sounds
How many little babies love to make sounds with their mouths?!  I mean our little ones are classic noise makers and I LOVE it!  Use their strength to include them in the "reading".  For example, when reading a book that has a car or truck, make a rumble sound with you mouth.  Get your baby's attention and make the sound again pausing after to encourage your little one to copy and make the sound back.

6. Get moving
 Children learn so much when movements are associated with new skills.  It is never too early to start moving...you just modify based on your baby's ability.  Referring back to the car or truck I mentioned in #5...think of a simple movement that can go along with it that you can do with you baby.  Maybe it is a horn honking move or a whole body wiggle for a rumbling sound.

7.  Look for books with texture
Around 3 months (some before and some after), babies start to take interest in different textures.  There are great books out there with different textures throughout the story.  This adds a whole new level of conversation to the book.

8.  Books with repetition
Babies love repetition.  Reading a book that has a repeated phrase throughout the story allows your baby to hear those words multiple times.  You might find that you baby starts to make sounds during the repeated phrase.

9.  Have books easily available
A fabulous SLP shared with me that when her children were little, she had a basket in the living room filled with children's books.  Such a great idea.  The books are easily accessible for adults to grab to share with the baby, and once the baby gets more mobile, he/she can grab the books independently!

10.  Repeat a favorite book
Do you notice your baby having a favorite book or even a favorite page in a book?  My little guy loves the last page of The Very Hungry Caterpillar (the page with the brightly colored butterfly).  We spend so much time on that page talking about all the different colors and shapes.  If you notice the same in your little one, great...repeat that book over and over.  This engages your little one as he/she is naturally interested in the book, allows for repetition, and gives the opportunity to expand on new ideas each time you read together.

It is never too soon to introduce books to your little love.  It might feel foreign to read to a 2 month old, but it is a wonderful gift you are giving your baby.  Soon it will not feel foreign, and storytime will be a highlight of the day!

New mama...new speech therapy outlook

Hello there!  Wow it has been a long time since I have posted. 

Thank you, Katie Niemann Photography http://www.katieniemann.com/main.php

My baby boy, TJ, was born in March...on my first day of maternity leave.  Instead of waking up and getting ready for work, I woke up and went straight to the hospital.  No hospital bag packed, no car seat installed, NOTHING.  I felt completely unprepared, but I have found that TJ and the big GOD were teaching this planner a little lesson.  Trust in yourself and in God's plan, be flexible, and know that it will all be ok.  And it has been more than ok.  Being a mommy has been the hardest thing I have ever done, but the most unbelievably rewarding.  Days when TJ cries and fusses are all forgotten with just one of his charming smiles...he melts my whole being!

In graduate school, I learned that babies start making connections and learning language from day 1, but it is a completely different experience watching it first hand in your own child.  At two months, TJ makes eye contact, smiles, vocalizes, localizes sounds and follows sounds, and is beginning to understand turn taking with vocalizations...makes the SLP mommy giddy.  I have always had a loving spot in my heart for early intervention and loved working with the preschool population; however, I have never experienced working with individuals this young.  As I gawk at my TJ, I am constantly thinking through how I can modify some of my books, songs, and toys to be appropriate for him because the truth is he can learn SO much right now...he is a sponge!

For other fellow mommies and fellow SLPs, I'm going to be posting about my journey.