Where are you?!

Grad school friends! Where are you? What are you up to? When will I see you again?

-Kristin

PS: Maybe a better question would have been- who looks at this blog? We should all click on the "followers" link so it emails you if anyone posts.
Do you guys know about Google Reader? If not, you should ask me in an email- it's great.
Kristinm333@gmail.com

Illiteracy in Louisiana?

I got this email from one of my 3rd grade teachers at school. I thought y'all might enjoy this. By the way, if you are on twitter, my speech twitter account is speechbob, feel free to follow me, I have several SLPs on my list from across the globe, not a bad way to network with other professionals.

~Bob

How would you pronounce this child's name?

She spells her name "Le-a"

So how would YOU pronounce her name?

Leah? ......................NO.
Lee - A? ................. NOPE.
Lay - a? ............ NOT A CHANCE.
Lei?..........NICE TRY, BUT GUESS AGAIN!

This child attends a school in Livingston Parish, LA.

Her mother is irate because everyone is getting her child's name wrong.

She says it's pronounced "Ledasha."

When the Mother was asked how in the world she figured

it should be pronounced that way, she said,

"cause the dash don't be silent!"

So, if you see a name come across your desk like this,

please remember to pronounce the dash.

And if anyone axes you why, tell dem it's 'cause the dash don't be silent!

Someone... pleeeeze, pleeeze tell me dis don't bes true!

Surely, someone bes jokin' wid us?!?!

Fwd: the blog

Hey, we updated our blog!

http://sherunslikeagirl.blogspot.com/

--
Kristin

I did it!

I have a blog now!  (If you don't know her...) my friend Danna and I started it together to log our marathon training experience- More posts to come so check back soon!  Note:  they are posted in descending order, so the first post of the 4 is at the bottom.

Kristin

http://sherunslikeagirl.blogspot.com/

more info on the comd summer seminars

Kristin, I hope this information helps you.  I live in Logan, so let me know what days you are here and we could get together.


Yeah.  The dates are June 15-19th.  It begins at 8:30 each day and ends at 5:00.  You have an hour and a half for lunch.  Each day is 0.6 CEUs.  The website is http://comd.usu.edu/htm/workshops

Cost:
1 day   $180
2 days  $250
3 days  $310
4 days  $360
5 days  $400

If you want USU credit as well, that is an extra fee.  I hope this helps.

Summer Seminars are coming up!!

The USU ComD Seminars are June 15-19th.  Is anyone going?  If you are, let's meet up somewhere. 

Monday:  Howard Goldstein - Improving language & literacy outcomes
Tuesday:  Michelle Bourgeois - Effective therapeutic strategies for dementia & TBI
Wednesday:  Paula Sullivan - Update on dysphagia practice
Thursday:  Barbara Hodson - Enhancing phonological & metaphonological skills
Friday:  Elaine Geller - Reflections on supervision

Preregistration deadline is June 8th.  It would be great to see you guys again.  For those of you working in the schools - summer is almost here!!!

Fire Drill

Started to teach a language lesson to the functional skills class about firefighters when a fire drill went off. How ironic. It was a great way to start the new theme unit.

blingy

So, I was working on synonyms with a student today when we got to the word "sparkle". The student's response? "Blingy" in reference to bling bling. Do I count that as right? lol, at least he got the concept down.

Hello from Jo Lynne

Hi Friends and Former Classmates,

This is your long lost pal JoLynne. As some of you know I currently live in Nova Scotia, Canada and my husband Curtis is in his 2nd year of dental school. We had a handsome baby boy in June and I am staying home playing the mommy role. I will continue to do so until we move back to the states.

I am currently a member of CASLPA. It is the Canadian version of ASHA. I want to stay as currents as I can so that when I do move elsewhere I can find a job and not feel completely in the dark. There are a few things I don't know that I would like to get a better grasp on. Does anyone have any information on lisps they can send my way as well as info on tounge thrust? I am going to study on my own in addition to the continuing ed credits I am required to learn so I can be even more prepared to jump into work. Does anyone have any advice on where I should start or areas you wish you would have been more prepared for before hitting the work force? I am interested in preschool/elementary, possibly middle school age.

I am willing to make materials and use this time I have at home wisely. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Has anyone bought any books they absolutely love?

Here is a picture of our little Samuel (Sammy as I like to call him)


Jo Lynne

Too many IEPs

So, for you who aren't in the schools I just thought I'd make you feel better about yourself. Okay, so I have 9 IEPs next week. None of them that I schedule so they are almost all during my therapy time. /sigh. Luckily 4 of them are preschool transitioning IEPs which I don't have to do any work except show up.

Anyway, where setting are you working in? What are the pros and cons with your setting? I think overall the high amount of paperwork is probably a con across settings (like IEPs).

~Bob~

Funny kids

So, I have a very fun creative and "out there" student I've been working with. Her teacher told me about a conversation they had:

Student: "Do you want to meet my Auntie?"
Teacher: "Sure I do."
Student: "No you don't, cause she's mean with a side of nastiness and she has a mustache."

I'm finishing up the /r/ sound with this kid at the conversation level. I gave her the option of either using conversation cards or just telling me a story. She decided to tell me a story (name in the story isn't her real name of course):

"Once upon a time there was an Amy and she was really great. And that's my story."

We ended up using conversation cards.

Calling All Blogs

I have updated the sites on the side bar of the blogs that y'all have added that I know about. If you would like to have your blog listed on the side so we can all go to your blog and ooo and ah over the pictures then please either send me an email at aoirselvar@gmail.com, or post it in the comments.

Have a nice day.

Social Skills Lesson

Hey Bob,
I love that you are so diligent about trying to keep us all in touch. I would love to try to get together sometime this spring or summer. Here is a little story for the blog.

I work with two third grade students that face some intellectual challenges. The little girl got in trouble because she was hugging and kissing the boys during recess. So I thought it time to bump up the social skills lessons. She came into me and blurted out that the little boy was not coming because he was mad at her. I took that opportunity to talk about personal space, hugging and kissing are for our families, we give high 5's at school, you know the drill. As we finished practicing some of those skills in walks the little boy. Who was mad because the little girl had been hugging him. So I launch into a repeat discussion and we practice a couple more times. They were both so excited they wanted me to take their picture to use in a social story. She says, "Let me practice one more time". After she appropriately approaches the little boy and he appropriately responds, I praise and praise. The little boy gets so excited he jumps up and gives the little girl a hug.

Networking over the Web

I've been trying to do more networking in the field of speech language pathology. So, I started playing with twitter with the idea that I could chat with other speech therapist (and people who share other interests). If you go to www.twitter.com and sign up, add me. My user name on there is @aoirselvar.

One of my friends on Twitter sent me the following blogs that other SLP's write.

If Only I had Super Powers, is a blog by an SLP who has some great ideas.

Play on Words, another blog by another speech pathologist.

Early Intervention Speech Therapy, a blog by AdvanceWeb for SLPs

KidsTalk Therapy, a website by @Tawnicoronado (twitter name), my twitter friend that gave me the other links.

Of course there is always email. The email I'm doing for my blogs is aoirselvar@gmail.com. Please email me with questions, comments, suggestions, etc, etc. If you would like to post something let me know.

classic moment

I was working with a 5th grade kid, who is on the autism spectrum, today. We was getting a baseline for the voiceless "th" sound. I started with a word list with the sound in the medial position. The first word was "anything". So, I said, "Say anything." The student complied and said "goose". I was a little befuddled at first, it took me a second to realize that he was just following my instructions.

oh, to be forgotten by all

I just went to go pick up a student for speech. As I walk up to the classroom she comes out. I'm thinking, "Great! She's remembering to come to speech". But no, at this point the student informs me that she really did forget, she just came out of her class to use the bathroom. So, instead of patiently wait for her (she's a 6th grader, she doesn't need me to wait), I decided to write this blog post. Oh, there she is now.

Rants of /r/ articulation therapy

Oh, I just want to rant a little bit. I'm sick of /r/ kiddos not progressing. My younger kids make some good progress, but my 6th graders are making no progress. I don't know what to do short of grabbing their tongue and putting it in the right spot. Errr... (or rather Ehhhhh). Anyway, who's still in the schools? Anybody have any good ideas for /r/ articulation therapy for older students?]

Is anybody out there?

I actually know you guys are because I still get hits for this site, so I'll just posting. I try to do that a little more often. If you would like to post something and you forgot the email, please contact me. I don't want to post that email on the web (don't want just anybody to post), but email me, I have the same email from college (the gmail one that is).

Happy New Year!!

Fellow SLPs!  It's been TOO long!  I miss you all.  It is time for a blog entry from each of us.  I know Linds had a baby since I last saw her, Rachel moved, Bob's wife is pregnant again (right?) and I need to know more!
I'm still working at UofU Hospital and I love it but sometimes I think about doing traveling therapy.  Have any of you ever thought of that?  Good money, lots of adventure?
I get my very first student on Monday- she's straight from our beloved USU, and I am excited and a little nervous to share my incompetence...er, knowledge with another.  :) 
I heard Gantz isn't teaching anymore, and that Chad still is, and also works for Prenke-Romich AAC company.  I saw Gillam at ASHA, and that PhD student who's name escapes me right now.  Anyway, let's reunite and eat good food soon!  That last party at Fat Cats was fun.  Love y'all!
Kristin