Using Book Companions in Early Language Groups

I received an AWESOME email this week from one of my friends and fellow co-workers after she used one of my book companions (The Busy Little Squirrel) for her early childhood language group. I think I'm a pretty organized person but, after reading this email, this lady takes the cake! AMAZING is all I have to say. Below you will find a copy of her language center lesson plans, and pictures of how she organizes her materials for future use. In my head, this is always how language centers should run in an early intervention group. Kudos to Melissa Yakel, M.A., CCC-SLP for writing it all out for us. I am in awe of your awesomeness (you must have had an amazing teacher).

Melissa used my companion set for The Busy Little Squirrel, by Nancy Tafuri. Click here to find more info on this set or click here to see the set in my TpT store.

Melissa started by writing out lesson plans for her early childhood group. A copy of the lesson plan can be found here. During her group, she printed out three copies, and highlighted the directions for each center on one of the copies (that way if paras or other staff were assisting in a specific center they would have the directions and specific targets at their finger tips).

 



She allotted approximately 40-45 minutes for her language group, and she typically runs language groups one time per month based on her classroom's theme.

When storing her materials for future use, she utilizes several manila envelopes (in a variety of  sizes) and places each of them into one large envelope, with a copy of her lesson plan, and labels it with the title of the book.

 

 

 

 

Again, HUGE kudos to Melissa Yakel, M.A., CCC-SLP for typing up and sharing her lesson plans and storage pictures with us! You are a rock star!

 

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!