{Review} Tense Builder

Past, present, and future tense verbs can be difficult for students to understand and utilize, which is why Tense Builder by Mobile Education Store really comes in handy!

This first screen makes adjusting the settings a snap.  In my opinion, the most important features of the settings function are determining the level of play (1 vs. 2), the tense (future, present, or past), and the verbs (regular or irregular).

Then, you can add your student(s).

Level 1

When you start using the app and get to the videos, you'll need to choose to play the movie.  A short movie will pop up for the students to watch.  Typically, the video depicts a short sequence of events.

Then, students must choose the picture that accurately represents the sentence displayed at the top of the screen.

The student can even record the sentence that describes the picture.

If a student chooses an incorrect answer, they are provided with a short video to watch that explains the past, present, and future tense of each verb in detail.  Here, the video describes the difference between "will fill", "is filling", and "filled".

Level 2

In level 2, students can choose the correct word or phrase to fill in the blank.

You can also keep track of correct responses, as well as the level, and how many tries it took a student to get the correct answer.

What I love about this app:

- It uses short cartoons "skits", which go a long way in grabbing and holding a student's attention.

- It targets a goal area that, at least in my experience, is very common.

- It provides various levels that can be used with a range of students.

This awesome verb app is available at iTunes for $19.99.

Disclaimer: This app was given to me for review.  No other compensation was provided.  The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

{Review} Fun with "R"

Here's a great new app from Virtual Speech Center called Fun with "R".  This app is well stocked (and organized) with all things /r/ and it even has some fun games to go along with all of that practice!

The settings tab allows you to customize the app to your own preferences. You can even add your own words.

Here's how you can add your own words and images.  Name the picture, create a phrase and/or sentence and then add the picture.

Now, just add your student(s),

select your game,

and determine your targets.

Here are some basic flashcards.  You can see how the targets can be presented at the word, phrase, and sentence level.  On the right side of the screen, you can keep track of correct vs. incorrect vs. approximated productions.  You can also record a student's productions and play them back.

Below is an example of the sentence option.

The game of memory is also included in this app, which is an easy matching game that anyone can play.

Last but not least is a bingo game.  Pictures show up on the right side of the screen and can be matched to a student's bingo board.

You can also track a student's progress throughout the session and then grab the data when you are finished.

What I love about this app:

- It's an entire app dedicated to all things /r/!

- It can be used to target words in the initial, medial, and final positions.

- It has the option of recording a student's production so that they can analyze their speech.

You can find this "all about /r/" app at iTunes.  It is currently on sale for $14.99!

Disclaimer:  This app was given to me for review.  No other compensation was provided.  The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

{Review} Custom Boards

Here's a great, versatile app that can be used to create individual game/homework boards for your students and/or can be used for AAC boards.

Introducing, Custom Boards by Smarty Ears!

There are six main uses for this app, including:

- activities & games
- devices & switches
- signs & labels
- grids & boards
- schedules & calendars
- worksheets

The Activities & Games option has tons of boards to work with, including thematic boards, bingo, matching cards, etc.

Here's an example of a bingo board that I started for /r/.

Creating this game board was really very simple.  I searched for the icon that I wanted by typing the name in the box at the top of the screen.

You can also search by categories, such as "animals", "action words", etc.

If you can't find an icon for a word that you have in mind, you can even search google!  (This may be my favorite aspect of this app!)

The Devices & Switches tab allows you to create sheets for various devices and boards.  Here, I've created an animal board for the Go Talk 9+.

Look at all of these devices with ready-to-use templates on the app!

The Signs & Labels option allows you to make a variety of signs.

Grids & Boards allows the user to create pages with a variety of pre-made grid templates.

The Schedules & Calendars tab allows you to create visual schedules for students.

Here's an example of a "first-then" schedule that I created.

One last function is Worksheets, where the user can create a multitude of basic (and cute!) worksheets for students.

What I love about this app:
-There are tons of pre-made AAC templates that can be easy utilized.
- You can make custom game boards for students.
- You can access google for additional images.

You can find this awesome Custom Boards app for $29.99 in iTunes!


Disclaimer: This app was given to me for review.  No other compensation was provided.  The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Magazine Stories!

Here's an artic/phonology therapy idea that is really easy and fun!  All you'll need are a few old magazines, scissors, and glue!  Simply cut out pictures related to targeted speech sounds, then get creative making stories that include those sounds!  Here's a gem that one of my first graders created!  Enjoy!

{Review} Sunny Articulation Phonology Test

The beginning of the school year is a perfect time to get a better understanding of a student's articulation and phonology skills... Enter Sunny Articulation Phonology Test by Smarty Ears!

This app can be used to identify artic errors and phonological difficulties, either by a full evaluation or a quick screening.

Getting started is easy - just add a new student and include their birth date!

The screening allows the user to indicate incorrect sounds by clicking on the individual sound.  (The app turns the incorrect sound red.)

The full evaluation provides a few more options.  When a sound is produced incorrectly, the user can indicate the type of error that was demonstrated.

You can also record substituted sounds.

Last, but not least, and intelligibility rating is recorded as well.

The analysis provides a whole host of information about each student for the user.  First of all, the position of errors can be recorded, as well as

manner,

voicing,

words (all words, whether correct or incorrectly produced are recorded here),

place,

and error (types of errors are broken down here).

What I love about this app:
- It can be used as a quick screener or a more extensive test.
- You can record a student's production of the words.
- It provides a detailed analysis of all errors.

You can find this very handy screening/assessment tool at iTunes for $49.99 HERE!


Disclaimer: This app was given to me for review.  No other compensation was provided.  The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

{Review} Language Development Lessons for Early Childhood

I'm always looking for more resources for early childhood, so I'm excited to have found Language Development Lessons for Early Childhood by Great Ideas for Teaching!

This resource is intended to improve listening skills, target oral answers to questions, and allow young children to have a positive view of communication with others.

Twenty units are included in this resource.  Each comes with a picture page, as well as three additional instructor's worksheet pages.

Included in each unit is a "Yes or No Answers" page that poses basic questions, such as, "Are the girls walking to school?"

In addition, a "Choosing Between Two Answers" sheet provides choices for the student, such as "Are the girls wearing boots or shoes?"

Last but not least, is a "Completing Sentences" page that includes fill-in-the-blank statements, such as, "One girl is holding the straps of her ___________."

What I love about this material:
- It highlights the goal areas that are often targeted in early childhood.
- Each unit includes a picture reference page.
- It also includes 30 different questions about each picture, which provides students with many exposures to their goal area(s).

You can find this awesome early childhood material for $29.50 HERE!


Disclaimer: This material was given to me for review.  No other compensation was provided.  The opinions expressed here are solely my own.