What do you think?

As we approach the beginning of August, I'm just wondering how the blog is working out for everyone.  Please take a minute and email me (at my school email address) and let me know if you are finding the blog helpful.  I am also always interested to find out if there is anything you would like to see on the blog--I will do my best to get it posted for you!

Imagination!

Have you seen this video?  It's about a 9 year old boy in Los Angeles, who created his own arcade out of used cardboard boxes.  It is amazing!

Here's the challenge...

Our first theme when we get back to school in September is "At the Fair."  Now, if you've ever been to a fair, you know that there are lots of games like the ones Caine created.  Your summer homework is to create a game (it doesn't have to be as big as Caine's games) and be able to explain how you made it, and how to play it.  If it's small enough, you can even bring it to school and we can use it in our speech group!

I can't wait to see what you create!

Speech by the Seashore

Articulation practice at the beach?  Why not?  Pack a word list in your beach bag and try these games...

Wave Jumper--Have your child say her word every time she jumps over a wave.

Tic-Tac-Toe--Draw a grid in the sand.  Use shells and rocks instead of x's and o's  Make sure your child says her word several times before she takes a turn.

Target Practice--Draw three circles (one inside the next) to resemble a target.  Take turns tossing small pebbles or shells trying to hit the bulls-eye.  Remember to say articulation words before taking a turn.

Erase a Word--Write a word from your list in the sand just inside where the waves reach the shore line.  Challenge your child to say the word 5 times before it is erased by the waves.

Scavenger Hunt--Go for a walk and try to find items with your sound.
L sound:  castle, pail, shovel, sunglasses, lotion, towel, sandals...
S sound:  sand, sun, sailboat, seaweed, starfish, shells, rocks...
R sound:  rock, reed, red towel, cart, car, frisbee, crab...
K sound:  crab, castle, candy, back pack, cooler, can, blanket...
F sound:  fish, flag, whiffle ball, coffee, taffy, feet..

What other words can you think of?

Listening Comprehension--The Rainbow Fish

Here is an activity to practice the skills of listening comprehension and answering questions.  Click here for a link to the Storyline Online website, which is a website that contains videos of famous actors reading  children's stories.  Then at the top of the list, click on The Rainbow Fish, read by Ernest Borgnine.  After listening to the story, click on the "Related Activities" button and have your child try to answer the questions about the story, or to retell the story.  If necessary, you can go back to the story and replay parts to help your child remember what happened.  Another technique you can use to help your child answer the questions is to give him/her choices of answers.  For example, if your child has trouble answering what was special about the Rainbow Fish, say, "Was the Rainbow Fish special because he had shiny glittering scales, or because he was very strong?"

Listening to stories and answering questions such as these are important skills that children need to have in school.  Practicing activities like these at home will help your child to become a better listener, and to improve his/her communication skills.

Rhyme Time--Ocean Theme

Rhyming is an important skill that supports literacy.  It shows that a child can break a word into two parts--the beginning sound and the remainder of the word, and then recognize when another word ends the same way.  It helps with understanding word families (groups of words that end the same way such as ball, mall, tall, call)...and when a child can group words together in this way, it makes spelling and reading that much easier.

Click here for a link to an Ocean themed PowerPoint to reinforce the skill of rhyming.  If you would like a printable book type format, click here.

Story Time

Visiting the library for story time offers great opportunities for improving your child's communication skills over the summer--listening, peer interaction, following directions, answering questions, and vocabulary.  There are story times for children of all ages and books are chosen to be developmentally appropriate--there is usually a craft available, too.  Click on the link here to check out the website for times and dates.