My iPad/iPod SLP starter guide...

It's Kristin here. 

SLP's:  Do you have an iPad for therapy yet?  If not, many school districts are getting grants or starting new programs to purchase several of these relatively inexpensive devices for the SLPs.  Someimes you don't know what you can get until you ask for it!  And putting it on your gift wish list so you can get your own is a great idea too. 

Well, I know a good chunk of our posts lately have been iPad related, but don't get discouraged yet.  Soemtimes we like to post about what we're into, and we are both having lots of fun with these new "toys."  We'll be posting on other SLP topics soon enough, I swear!

So here are a few of my thoughts on getting started:

• Right off the bat make sure you ahve "MobileMe" set up in case you lose your iPad.  VERY IMPORTANT!  I had a personal experience where this saved me!
• Create an iTunes account.
• Browse the Apps Store to see what's hot, what on sale, what's under the "Education Category," etc.
• Read the info on the "updates" before you actually upload them.
• Set the restrictions so that in-app purchases are disabled.
• Enable "triple click" under settings which allows you to turn the screen black and font white, zoom, and get voice over for the blind.
• Import your work calendar into the iPad calendar- awesome!
• Download the iPad starter guide and iPad user guide to the iBooks app (free!)
• All classic novels are free too!
• Download lotsa apps, practive them, and categorize them for ease of use.
• Use the double click feature often to clear out the apps you are not using which slow you down.  Here you can also freeze the screen so it won't flip to different orientations when you rotate the iPad.  Also adjust screen brightness here as needed.
• If you don't have Angry Birds, World of Goo, Cut the Rope- download them already!  Get with it, SLP!  :)
• Other must haves: Pandora, Penultimate, Fruit Ninja, Talking Tom, iRiddle HD, Pulse, DropBox, Facebook Friendly, Nightstand, WeatherBug, Pocket Pond, Zombie Trailer Park.
• I'll do one more post with all my favorite apps for therapy next time!
• Get a protective screen cover so you can wipe it down with disinfectant.
• Get a case to protect it and help prop it up for clients.
• Also consider a keyboard or stylus!

Of course, if you don't have the iPad- get the iPad 2 instead (I'm jealous!).  The iPad is now cheaper by a couple hundred bucks.  The iPhone and iPod touch are also cheaper and also awesome (but iPad is nicer in a therapy session for visual purposes if you have the option...)

Any thoughts from you readers?  I'm sure there are SO many experts by now!  Got any other suggestions on getting started?  Any other favorite apps I may not know??  (I'm obsessed.)  :)

XOXO,
~Kristin

New Baby Boy

Bob here, I promised that I'd let you know what was going on in regards to our baby.

Well, we had a baby boy. 7 lbs 2 oz, 20 inches long. It went very fast, we had planned to induce on the 18th (because that was his due date), but our doctor told us that he would have come that day no matter what. We were a little annoyed with the nurse. She didn't check my wife for one reason or another, just assumed that she was still at 4 cm, but when she finally did come to check my wife was already crowning. HELLO! My wife gave only two pushes and the doctor had to practically catch the baby.

The baby and his mom are doing great. I've taken a couple weeks off of work to help her while she recovers. Everything is going well (except the rest of our kids are on antibiotics!! yeah we've sequestered the baby).

Here are some pictures.

 

Student Quotes

I was cleaning my office yesterday in anticipation for having someone take over for the next two weeks. Yes, we are about to have that baby. We are scheduled to go in to the hospital in a couple of hours, but we may not have to induce with how close my wife's contractions are.

Anyway, I stumbled upon a couple of post it notes where I had written down things that I had different student say. I only have a couple, but I thought they were worth sharing.

Student: Do you know how to do the monkey bars?

Me: I use to, but I've forgotten in my old age.

Student: When I'm 60 I'll still know how to use the monkey bars.

This wasn't a "ha ha" quote some much as I thought it was insightful and nearly poetic. It came out of the mouth of a kindergartener.

The next quote came from a third grader. We were discussing how to be prepared in emergencies, and I was being silly. I asked them how prepared they were for the upcoming zombie invasion. This is what the kid said with complete seriousness.

I know I'm prepared because I can do a sweeping toe kick.

You don't need much more than that.

I'll keep you all updated on the baby front, I'll be writing tweet updates when I have internet access.

Best Speech Therapy Blogs

Check it out guys!  We were able to be featured in this site (Online Education Database) as one of the 20 Best Speech Therapy Blogs out there!  We are so proud.  Go check it out, will you?  Also, note that we added this site to our side bar. 

http://oedb.org/library/beginning-online-learning/20-best-speech-therapy-blogs


XOXO
Kristin

App Review: Speech with Milo: Verbs

Hey there, this is Bob.

I'm not sure if you guys are ever know who's writing when you first start reading one of our blog posts. I guess the topic is often a dead give a way. You're never going to see me writing about swallowing or aphasia. If the post is about working with preschool or elementary kids you can almost be sure that its me, but the confusion might still be there. So, just in case... this is Bob.

Along with our iPhone/iPad app lists I wanted to do some app reviews, and I have some catching up to do.

I wanted to start with a nice little app called Speech with Milo: Verbs. It costs $2.99 on iTunes, one of the cheaper speech therapy apps on the market. It's a universal app that will work on both the iPhone and the iPad (dear app creators, we love universal apps, please do more!). Its geared for younger children, from toddlers to 1st grade. Yet, I've tried it with 4th graders and it was surprisingly well received.

The concept is simple, Milo (the mouse) demonstrates actions for the kids. There are short little animations for each action word. It's extremely easy for the child to navigate themselves, sometimes they switch to the next action word before you would like them to though. Milo ends each action with a "ta da", he's very proud of himself after all.

There are great ideas in the therapist and parent instructions. You can use this to help teach vocabulary or grammar. I love it for grammar, its easy to target different syntax components. If you are working on present progressive you ask, "What is Milo doing?". If you are working on past tense you can ask, "He's all done. What did Milo do?". You can pick and choose which words you would like to work on in the options. And you can turn the music off (I wasn't a big fan of the music).

 

The animations are engaging, they keep the kids attention much better than action cards do. I can keep preschoolers on task for a whole session with this app! I have also found that its hit with my students with autism. If you are doing any language therapy with you kids and you have an iPhone, iPodtouch, or iPad then this is a must buy, especially since the price is less than a value meal.

The creators of this app have recently released an app specifically for prepositions. I have yet to get my hands on that one, but if its anything like this app then its probably well worth it.

You can learn more about Speech with Milo at their webpage.

Are there any apps out there that you would like us to review? Email us at pathologicallyspeaking (at) gmail (dot) com.

AAC Assessment

It's Kristin here!

So I am in the middle of trying to design an AAC assessment that will work for the patients in the ICU here at the hospital.  Any suggestions for things to include of specific tests you like?  Also, does anyone remember the old "Lifespace Access Profile?"  They don't print it anymore and I am desperate for a copy.  If you have any clue or an old copy you'd be willing to send or fax me, email me!

Posts in the making:
All the iPad Apps that an SLP should have! (an update of my previous and now very outdated post)
Medical SLP newbies parts 4 and 5
My favorite AAC devices - a review.
How to implement AAC in a PT/OT session - my ideas
and
A trach/vent post...details TBD.

Thought for the day:  If you don't love what you're doing- you're in the wrong profession!  What we do is fun and amazing.  Change your perspective or your setting, it's never too late.

Thanks for all your comments- we love 'em!

XOXO
-Kristin

Just so you know

Just so you know, I haven't been the best at keeping on top of things, but here I am with my list of excuses:

1. Netflix
2. I'm behind on my IEPs as usual (need to go schedule a couple of them right now).
3. Kids are sick.
4. I'm sick.
5. Baby boy is due on Feb 18th, trying to get ready for the new arrival.


Kristin can come up with her own list of excuses. Unfortunately Netflix might be one of the worse offenders, but our life is a little in turmoil. But I hope to write more soon.