Word Finding for Kids.com

One thing that I am so proud of in our profession is people’s willingness to share good ideas. SLP Maureen Wilson, who writes “The Speech ‘Bubble” blog (http://www.thespeechbubbleslp.com/ ) shared the following just yesterday, March 21:

This coming week many SLPs are getting tossed into the teletherapy pool without so much as pair of floaties 🏻‍♀️ I found a few webinars that are giving some great on the basics of teletherapy and more.

• SpeechTherapypd.com is hosting a Teletherapy Bootcamp on Monday March 23 staring at 10am ( central time ) CLICK HERE to see their info and presenter list. I am not sure if there are replays for this webinar.
• SLP TeleCon is being hosted by SLP Toolkit, Bjorem Speech, and The Informed SLP. It is going to be a 2 day FREE conference taking place on Monday March 23 and Tuesday 24. The topics and speakers they have listed look incredibly informative and helpful. This conference has replays going until April 5th. You can CLICK HERE to register for that.

I did find this Facebook Live from Jessie Ginsburg, M.S., CCC-SLP about doing teletherapy with kids on the spectrum if that is a population that you will need to service virtually now.

Thanks to Maureen for these resources! Hang in there, and stay healthy!!

Halloween just might be a kid’s second favorite holiday. Costumes, parties, candy. What’s not to enjoy? But for a child with word finding difficulties, it can be stressful. Practicing the words he needs to tell about his costume and his trick-or-treat plans will help him communicate with friends and family with ease.

I like to have the child describe to me his costume. What vocabulary does he need? a light saber? ruby red slippers? a crowd and sceptre? We preview his classroom party (they have certainly morphed over the last few years!) and trick-or-treat plans. I also like to present this dialog that models a variety of word finding examples. We read it together or watch a video that I made with two students acting it out:

Word Finding Script – Halloween

Student 1:  Hey, guys, let’s get ready for trick or treat day!

Student 2:  Trick or treat day?  What’s that?

Student 1:  You know, that day when we wear costumes and go trick or treating.

Student 2:  Oh, you mean Halloween!

Student 1:  Yeah, Halloween. I have a big thingamajig to put candy in.

Student 2:  A thingamajig? What do you put your candy in?

Student 1:  It’s one of those things on your bed.

Student 2:  A sheet?  A blanket?  A pillow?

Student 1:  No, the cover to a pillow…a pillow case.

Student 2:  OK, so you’ll put your candy in a pillow case.  What are you dressing up as?

Student 1:  I have one of those things that wraps around your shoulders…like Batman  wears.

Student 2:  A cape?

Student 1:  yeah, a cape.  A black cape.  And I’m going to wear fake hair.

Student 2:  You mean a wig?

Student 1:  A cape and a wig.  And I think I’ll carry a sweeper thing.

Student 2:  A sweeper thing.  You mean a broom?

Student 1:  Yeah, a broom.  Don’t you think my costume will be scary?  I want to be a scary old ghost.  I mean, a witch.  What is your costume like?

Student 2:  I’ll have a black cape, too.  Only I won’t carry a broom. I’m going to wear a mask and pretend I have a Batmobile.  

Student 1:  A Batmobile!  You must be dressing up as Spiderman.  Oops, I mean Batman!

Not too many people missed this fabulous video on social media. But in case you missed it…ENJOY!

I have to admit that I still hear my elementary school teacher’s song in my head when I try to remember which months have 30 days.  And who doesn’t sing do-re-mi (with apologies to Julie Andrews)?  I teach days of the week and months of the year with songs.  When one of my word finders has a particular group of words that are difficult to retrieve, my “go-to” is to make up a song.

Days of the week fit into the ABC song/Twinkle Twinkle Little Star very smoothly.   Frere Jacques segues into to the months of the year if you repeat March, April, May; March, April, May for “dormez-vous?”  Just repeat November, December; November, December at the end of the verse  (ding, dong, ding; ding dong ding).  If you can’t bring yourself to sing, use the rhyme and rhythm of a poem to support memory and retrieval.  Older kids love to learn American history by rapping to “Hamilton.”  Just be sure to point out where the musical deviates from documented history! Need to recall the names of all 50 states?  Just sing, “Fifty Nifty.”

Is this a word retrieval activity or a memory activity?  I really don’t care.  I know there is a lot of research demonstrating that music supports memory, and I know that I can recall lyrics from songs I haven’t heard in decades.  Add a dance or gestures, and get more senses involved!

Have a favorite concept or lesson you’ve taught with a song?  Send me an email, and I’ll share your ideas.