I get carried away sometimes...

We are close to wrapping up this therapy/clinic semester, only about 3 more weeks of clinic before Ill have a two week break, and then start over again with summer clinic session! WHEWW WHOO, longest break ever. (read that sarcastically). Anyway, I have taken a little bit more time to be creative this semester. Mainly because I only have one child client, and well, adults dont exactly want to make puppy dog crafts with me.......unfortunately. This client has some apraxia characteristics, and so I have been attempting to make all of my targets in therapy very "functional".
 Presenting flashcards to children with apraxia or asking  them to imitate you over and over isnt exactly functional. Some children need a purpose/ reason for speech and require a different way of stimulus presentation. So games and structured play will usually work better.  In my attempts to do this, I have used a theme for most every treatment session. And I get carried away sometimes! I have had "Hello Kitty's birthday party", puppy dog day, an 'under the sea' adventure, jungle animals, bug day, etc...and ofcourse a bunny theme last week! This way of  functional "thinking" has made a huge difference in my own performance and the clients.

 

This is the product of a late night. I needed a sailboat, and could not find a cheap toy one, so Pete used his carving skills, and made Hello Kitty a boat! 

In making all of these materials over the past year, my poor husband has become an excellent cutter, carver, and gluer. Bless his heart, he says that he has worked just as much as me, and that he deserves the degree as well.

I also have been learning outside of the clinic. Last week before the Easter holidays, I went to Jackson for the Mississippi Speech and Hearing Conference. My grad school friend Kristen and I stayed with Kristin (confusing) at her house and we all went out for a yummy dinner. Kristen and I enjoyed seeing other SLP friends at the conference and we also had a chance to take a mock licensure ASHA exam. This is the big test I will have to take early next spring in order to obtain my license. Im really glad I had that opportunity because I now know what to expect and what to brush up on! Can u say SCARRRRYY???

Kristin and Kristen at dinner

 

As much as I like to complain about my never ending schedule, making therapy materials, counting data, and writing reports, I am learning and I am thankful. But, next May cant come soon enough! In the meantine, thanks for reading and listening to my rants!

 

Have a blessed week,

Sam