WOW! Over 1,000 likes on FB! I think that calls for a FLASH FREEBIE!

Again, thank you all so much for making this journey into cyber space a pleasant one! I have enjoyed every minute! I just put the finishing touches on my latest book companion (Bear's New Friend, By Karma Wilson). It's one of my very favorite books to read during the first weeks back in school. So, for the next 24 hours it will be 20% off! But wait friends, that's not all! I've got an add-on language activity (targeting categories) that will be FREE until midnight tonight (CST)! So don't wait, download your copy tonight! Links to products are below. Again, THANK YOU ALL!

Bear's New Friend - Language Packet

 

Bear's New Friend - Add-On Language Activity FLASH FREEBIE

 

 

Enjoy!



Love it & List it: Organization

Speech Room News is hosting another linky! This week SLP Bloggers, participating in the linky, are talking about organization. Below are a few things I use to keep myself organized (as best I can!)

1. Monthly Planner - I start getting my planner ready at the beginning of August. I write IEP dates, re-eval dates, training dates (all color coded by event).

2. Plastic Storage Containers - All Kinds! I have tubs, shoe box sized containers, book holders (on my book shelf), and small (deck of card-sized) containers on my filing cabinet. My newest addition, this year, are my small stackable ones on my filing cabinet. They are cute, stackable, and easily accessible during my speech sessions. I printed out labels for the outside of each and I am in LOVE with them! I've filled them with my most used speech decks.

 

3. Label Maker - as you can see from some of my pictures above, I label everything. So I love my label maker!

 

4. Binders - I have a data binder, a forms binder, a team binder...you name it - it's probably in a binder! I try to make sure all of my binders are ready to go before the first day of school. It truly makes my life a little easier!

 

LAST, but not least....

5. Coffee! A trip to Starbucks helps me organize my whole world a bit better. Non-fat Peppermint Mocha no whipcream is the perfect start to ANY day!  

Don't forget to check out the other SLPs linky posts by clicking here.

Enjoy!

Moving up the articulation ladder (with a little bit of crafting)

I love the look of clip charts. I wanted to incorporate one in my speech room but, I wanted a chart that targeted something other than "behavior".  So, I decided to turn my clip chart into an Articulation Ladder!

I started with this (and some card stock)...

 

and ended up with this!

 

I love it (and I'm sure my students will LOVE it too)! I printed out each articulation level (Syllable Sets, Words, Phrases, Sentences, Reading Tasks, Conversation) on a sheet of card stock (cut and laminated), hung each sheet together with small silver book rings (through holes made with my handy hole punch), tied a ribbon to the top, hung it on a hook, and before I knew it...Articulation Ladder complete! Then I took clothes pins and wrote (with multi-colored sharpies) each student's name and the sound they are targeting on the pin. If they were targeting more than one sound, I made more than one pin.  Beside the chart,  I have two small silver containers. One says "sounds"  - this is for holding the pins of students who have just started a new sound and are not yet consistent at the isolation level.  The other says "GRADUATES!" - this is for students who have completed their journey up the ladder!

 

I posted a freebie on my TpT site with a few different versions of this chart. It really is the perfect addition to any speech room! Check it out! (Don't forget to leave feedback if you download. I appreciate it, and I LOVE reading it all!) **If you'd like a smaller chart just adjust the print size before printing in pdf. Hit print, go down to "page sizing and handling", click "custom scale" then enter a percentage (if you'd like it smaller pick a percentage smaller than 100).**

 

Articulation Ladder 

 

 

Enjoy!





Yes, this girl went shopping today too!

First I want to say THANK YOU for the awesome feedback and numerous purchases made on my TpT store today. I am truly thankful! (I LOVE reading every bit of feedback - so keep it coming!) I couldn't resist getting in on the action so I filled my cart, left some feedback, and earned additional credits for MORE shopping tomorrow! I've listed a few of my favorite purchases below.  

1. Classroom Rule Posters from For His Glory. These posters are beautifully designed, and applicable to any classroom (and/or speech room) at school.

2. Back to School Task Cards from Teaching With a Mountain View. This looks like an AMAZING back to school activity for my speech students. Can't wait to use it during my first sessions!

3. Take a Break - Behavior Management and Self Regulation from Teaching in Progress. I am not a fan of clip charts, and typically will not use them in my speech room, so I'm always looking for different behavior management systems. This one was one of my favorites (I also LOVED her blog post. Check it out: Why I Will Never Use a Behavior Chart Again).

4. Speech-Language Therapy Objective Binder (and Companion) from Queen's Speech. I can't wait to start using these with my students!

5. Curriculum Based Language Assessments for Grades K-5 Aligned with Standards and Quick Articulation and Phonology Bundle Card Pack for Speech Therapy from Nicole Allison. These are wonderful tools that every school-based SLP should look into purchasing. Very user friendly, and nicely designed! I'm so happy I found these!

The TpT sale lasts through tomorrow at mid-night (EST) so don't miss out. Use the code: BTS13 for additional savings at check out. Move those wish listed items into your cart before it's too late!

Follow me on TpT and check out my store (and the stores listed above for some truly amazing materials). Don't forget to leave feedback and earn your TpT credits!

Who doesn't LOVE a good sale?

TpT's 2-day Back to School Sale is coming up this Sunday! August 18th and 19th my ENTIRE store will be 20% off (this includes my already reduced book companion bundles). Plus, you'll receive an additional 8% off if you use the following code: BTS13. That's 28% off! So, it's time to clean out those wish lists! Make sure you "Follow Me" on TpT when you stop by this weekend to make your purchase! Click on The Speech Bucket's link below and check out the items in my store! Happy shopping friends!

The Speech Bucket (Mindy Stenger) TpT Store

Thank you Courtney Gragg for the awesome graphic! 

And the winner is...

Michelle Biery McCormick! Congratulations Michelle (check your inbox), you were selected as the winner of the "If You Take a Mouse..." Bundle! Thank you to everyone who entered!

Over 500 Facebook likes = super sale and awesome giveaway!

Thank you so much for making this venture into the blogging world an enjoyable one! I love my profession, I love making materials, and I love getting to meet so many new people through social media. So, let's celebrate this FB milestone by throwing a Fantastic Fans Sale and {{Giveaway}}! My best selling back to school products will be 20% off beginning tonight (08/11/2013 at 8:00 p.m. CST) through tomorrow evening (08/12/2013 at 8:00 p.m. CST). This includes the following companion sets - If You Take a Mouse to School, There Was and Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves. Click here to view my TpT Store.

Now for the giveaway...

Enter below for your chance to win your own copy of my "If You Take a Mouse...BUNDLE". This bundle includes the following companion sets - If You Take a Mouse to School (plus additional language add-on pack), If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and If You Take a Mouse to the Movies.  Click here to view these products in my store. Entries will be accepted beginning 08/12/2013 12:00 a.m, through 08/14/2013 12:00 a.m. CST. Good luck!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Again, thank you and enjoy!
Mindy

A few of my favorite books for back to school...

Only a few more days to go before I get to see my students again. And I have to say, I'm almost ready! A few of my favorite books to have on hand for the first couple of weeks of school are: Bears New Friend (by Karma Wilson), If You Take a Mouse to School (by Laura Numeroff), and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books (by Lucille Colandro).  I've included the links to my throwback posts for the last two books (I'm still revising my bear set...hopefully I'll get that posted before winter gets here!) Enjoy, and welcome back to school friends!

If You Take a Mouse to School

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books

Click here to visit my TpT storefront. 

If You Take a Mouse...

Laura Numeroff's Mouse books are another one of my favorite series. I posted another mouse companion today, and created a back to school mouse bundle (including companion packets for the following books - If You Take a Mouse to School, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and If You Take a Mouse to the Movies)! Click on the links below to check them out.

If You Take a Mouse to the Movies - Language Packet

If You Take a Mouse...[BUNDLE]

WH-Questions...

I created a wh-questions visual for my classroom (I've used several different ones in the past but thought I'd make my own this school year). Like me on FB to download the freebie and let me know what you think.

The Speech Bucket on Facebook

 

For those of you already back to school - WELCOME BACK...and for those of you still soaking up the summer, enjoy!

August Link Up [LINKY]...

All Y'all Need is hosting their monthly Link-Up, and for August, they are asking SLPs to leave info on what they are - buying, trying, and speeching! I am loving these linkies! Enjoy (and follow the link above to check out what other SLPs are saying.)

 

 

BUYING - I feel like I am always buying speech materials! Every trip to Target ends with a speech material find in the dollar section! (Shhhh, don't tell my hubby!) We're also getting ready to purchase my daughter's competitive leotard and warm-up. Gymnastics season starts at the end of November...I can't wait!

TRYING - Once the school year hits...it's full speed ahead. Which means dinner is tough! This year, both of my girls will be in middle school (which honestly is making me a bit of a mess :/) but, with that being said, that also means the mom shuttle is open for business. Between cheer, gymnastics, and coaching, we spend a massive amount of time in our vehicle. So dinner, in the past, has been whatever I can throw together or stop and buy. But, not this year! I'm going to try really hard to utilize my crock pot! (and I've made step by step recipe cards for easy to make meals for my husband) so hopefully we can start eating better, and eating together more often.

SPEECHING - Wow! These last few moths have flown by, and I have had a blast! I started my blog and TpT store in June - 1) because I LOVE what I do; and  2) I LOVE making materials. I have been blessed with awesome followers, supportive friends and amazing co-workers! Which made the big plunge a little less scary!

And the winner is...

Sheri Liebman! Congratulations Sheri (check your inbox), you were selected as the winner of the Old Lady Companion Sets! Thank you to everyone who entered! Keep checking back for more back to school fun!