To kick us off, I’ll talk about one of my all-time favorite SLP tools, SLP Toolkit (aptly named, eh?).  When I first met “Tool” and “Kit” (Sarah and Lisa being their given names) I loved their energy and after seeing their product was even more impressed.  I was not sure how much I would use the Toolkit but after over a semester of using it, I’m sure I’d would never like to go back!  Read on!

What is SLP Toolkit?

To find out all of the sweet specifics, check out their website or this video that SLP Toolkit put together which covers so much about the product… they do it much better than I could, so take a look:

SLP Toolkit Intro Video from SLP Toolkit on Vimeo.

What SLP Toolkit offers – Quick & Dirty:

• Present Level Assessments: Quick, thorough screening tools to assess a student’s strengths and needs.
• Progress Monitoring Tools: Criterion Referenced Tests and rubrics for a variety of speech and language skills.
• Goals: Measurable and customizable goals for targeted skills, levels of cueing, criteria for mastery, assessment methods, and assessment frequency.
• Caseload Management: Sortable record of your students’ demographics, IEP/Evaluation dates, service times, and treatment areas.
• Strategies: Tips to enhance speech and language skills. Used as accommodations in a student’s IEP.
• Daily Data option.
• Scheduling Tool.
• Ability to send student files to other SLPs using SLP Toolkit.
• Storage of all paperless information on a HIPAA-compliant server.

How I WANTED to use it:

You know SLPs, I wanted to use it with 100% of my caseload on minute number one of walking back into my therapy room after signing up.  I wanted to get present level assessments on EVERY student immediately.  I wanted to add their goals and accommodations into their profiles and have the information in there to utilize seamlessly and right away.  I wanted an A+ in SLP Toolkit… but in reality I probably got a C in my first semester…

How I ACTUALLY used it:

I began using SLP Toolkit in December of last year.  I definitely can’t wait to start using it at the beginning of a year instead of mid-year as it will give me some time to update levels, integrate new students into the caseload, etc.  Some of the main features I used SLP Toolkit for in my first semester using it were:

• the goals
• progress monitoring
• present level assessments.  (I sort of have a crush on the present level assessments.)

I used the present level assessments for a few things including annual IEPs and initial evaluations.  I loved these for those tricky little nuggets who have scores and skills all over the place.  When there is no cut and dry goal, SLP Toolkit helps me to identify skill areas that students are most lacking and what may be most impacting their access to the curriculum.  While I do not use Toolkit to qualify students, it is often what I use for RtI or as additional informal information that can be included in the evaluation and/or IEP.  I was able to utilize the strengths/ weaknesses from these in IEPs and then in writing goals.  I was also able to write very specific and clear goals based on present level assessments and progress monitoring.  I felt very comfortable and prepared in my IEP meetings.  Recently, after they added some great updates, a coworker was able to send me the “file” of a student who is moving from her school to mine!  In a district with as many transient students, this is an incredible resource!

How I WILL use it this year:

Like I said above, I am so excited to use this from day one this year.  I will have all students in my caseload and can add new students.  I will be utilizing the scheduling tool to make those first 46 drafts of my therapy schedule a bit easier to navigate.  I can also utilize the sharing feature to send the files to SLPs in my district to start their year off well!  I’m excited to use more progress monitoring for my students from last year and to share more beneficial strategies and tips with classroom teachers and parents as well this year!

Is it worth it?

Yes, yep, duh, of course, why not, oh yeah!  Why is it worth it?  It makes me more confident, organized, and diligent.  It makes it EASY to be good at progress monitoring and writing great IEPs and Evals!  If I was a new SLP I would spend almost everyday hugging my computer if I had SLP Toolkit (Great graduation present for new grads!).  But… you should probably just check it out for yourself.  You are able to sign up for a free trial where you have access for 5 clients so you can dig in and see if it is right for you.

You can also use this sweet code, SUBLIME17, to get 1 FREE MONTH OF FULL ACCESS or $19 off of an annual subscription!  So go on with your bad SLP self and sign up!

You can also catch Sarah and Lisa of SLP Toolkit when they present their FREE course “5 Mistakes to Avoid in Data Collection” at the upcoming SLP Summit!

SLP Toolkit is a great Tool for SLPs and Speech/Language Therapy… I hope this little lovefest (aka review) was helpful to you.  If you have other questions/comments, add them below and/or contact SLP Toolkit!

I’m an SLP and I enjoy long walks… down the hallway?

Most SLPs have a packed schedule.  Trying to organize therapy minutes for 60+ students across multiple grade levels and goals into about 30-35 hours per week is extremely difficult.  I’m not sure about you, but I end up with sessions back-to-back nearly all day.

Each year I’m surprised with how long it takes me to walk to and from my students’ classrooms.  This year I’m on a very spacious campus.  For example, if I have 1st grade students scheduled at 9:00, I am leaving my office with my previous group at 8:58.  It takes a few minutes for me to gather all of them from their classrooms and organize them.  It’s 9:02 when we leave their pod area.  We begin walking, as briskly as their 1st grade legs will move, and arrive at my room at 9:05.  By the time they are sitting and calm and I begin our activity or lesson, it can be nearly 9:10.  At 9:28 we must depart to return to their rooms.  We don’t walk silently, I’m trying to engage them in conversations that further target their therapy goals but it is difficult to do without bringing along materials.  I feel like I’m missing out on so many minutes of potential therapy each day.

I know that part of the solution is students moving about campus and arriving to my room independently.  While my older students should be able to come to me on their own, there are those beginning weeks of learning schedules as well as those students who demonstrate “difficulty” with getting from their classroom to me.  And eventually I’d like to be able to send my Kindergarteners and 1st graders back on their own but we’ll likely be starting our sessions together for a majority of the year.

To take advantage of these minutes of transition, I’ve developed these Walk ‘n Talk cards to keep on hand.  I have included a majority of the targets my students work on in 16 prompt cards (printed 2-sided) that I can use as we walk across campus.  I can have students practice articulation for 3 more minutes, warm up with some reminders and questions, practice fluency carry-over or conversation skills, etc.  These cards are available here!

I have really enjoyed having prompts on-hand during our transitions and it has also been something that I can utilize for quick articulation and language RtI and screenings, provide to teachers for RtI and carryover in the classroom, and send home for parents.

I would love to hear from you on this topic.  Are transition times something you struggle with as well?  How do you take advantage of those minutes?

Have a great week!

I’m a huge advocate of making certain things easier about speech and language therapy.  One thing that has always driven me crazy is toting around oodles of paper copies of articulation screeners.  Luckily Little Bee Speech (and a few other app companies) has delivered the goods with their articulation test/screener.

Choose between Screener and Full Test, adjust settings, view information/tutorials, and see results from the start page.

 Little Bee’s Articulation Test Center offers a wide range of goodies in their comprehensive app.  It’s incredibly complete and easy to use.  If you’d like to learn more about the details of the Screener or Full Test, I suggest you take a few moments to view the video tutorials below.  This will help you to decide if this is the right tool for your iTherapy box!

Screener: Choose appropriate age/phonemes to screen, mark errors in as much detail as you’d like, record notes, etc!

In the elementary school that I last worked in, I utilized the screener portion of this app to screen RtI students.  I loved the mobility and flexibility of this app.  Plus, this screener is more motivating than the screener forms and easy to use with non-readers.  I could simply mark if a child made an error or be very specific with the type of error or substitution that was made.  I also loved the notes section where I could jot down things that happened or were noted during screening.  You all have incredible memories but we can all use a little reminder sometimes!  The notes section is perfect for this and is available throughout testing for use.

Full Test: Much like the screener – choose positions and if a sample is needed. Progress through stimulus cards.

I love how clear the stimulus photos are.  They are also great for vocabulary during testing!  You can even turn the photo to face the child with one easy click.  Perfect for sitting across from students during testing without having to turn the ipad for them and trying to mark the test upside down!

Speech Sample: These colorful scenes record the entire conversation that you have with the client. It is interactive and you can click on objects/animals throughout for prompts.

 The Full Test is also great for gathering even more information.  While this is not yet standardized, it is a great tool for progress monitoring, gathering detailed speech samples, and more.  I have also used this as a more detailed screener for RtI students.  While I could not include the results from the prompts into formal SpEd testing, I often used the speech sample portion of this test as an addition to the GFTA, etc.

Results are comprehensive and easy to utilize in reports to teachers, parents, and for your own files.

 I love the easy to use results section. Ready-made results are easy to tweak for your own reports for parents, teachers, and for student files.  I also love that recommendations for phonemes to address are given.  This makes transitioning over to Articulation Station a breeze. (yes, we used that great app too!)

Overall, this app is a must-have for SLPs using an iPad for therapy.  No, it isn’t standardized yet and some may not be able to utilize it for formal testing purposes.  However, for progress monitoring, screenings, and RtI, this app is extremely valuable!  I look forward to utilizing it with my Pre-K and EI students as well.

 Little Bee is having an incredible sale on this app right now – Take advantage of 50% off!

Only $24.99!

If you’d like to win a copy, enter below!  Enjoy this incredible Back to School Buy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Q: Are google docs HIPAA compliant?
A: This answer is a little ambiguous.  I found a few articles that spell out some answers (Click here and Here) but I would caution you against using information such as DOB or SSN.  Other information, if you store it correctly (Security setting for you only to be able to view it!) then you should be safe with most information.