The Literacy-Based Speech Podcast

Send us a Text Message.With fall just around the corner, we know many teachers and SLPs are eager to bring in some fall-themed books into their classrooms and therapy sessions. However, not every fall-themed book is going to give you the content you need to work on a student's specific goals. That's why during our deep dive episodes, we like to select books that are fun and engaging while also having relevant speech and language goals and key concepts to use with your students. So, during this episode, we're doing a deep dive into The Golden Acorn by Katie Hudson and sharing why we're pulling this book off our shelf. Resources Mentioned:The Golden Acorn by Katie HudsonFall Book Companions for Speech TherapySpeech Therapy Book Cheat SheetsNarrative Key Teaching Points - Seasonal Book Search - FallFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/deep-dive-into-the-golden-acorn

Send us a Text Message.A common theme that many teachers use at some point during the school year is a farm theme. With the opportunity to talk about animals, farm life, work responsibilities, and so much more, this theme provides students with elements of fun and learning. Children's authors also love writing about farm life and farm animals, which can be used to teach students about a new way of living while incorporating their favorite farm animals. However, not all farm-themed books are great for speech therapy. So, in today's episode, we're sharing our favorite farm-themed picture books and ways to use them during your speech therapy sessions.Resources Mentioned:Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Farm by Joy CowleyHogwash! by Karma WilsonThe Cow Loves Cookies by Karma WilsonClick, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen CroninA Squash and a Squeeze by Julia Donaldson  Big Chickens by Leslie HelakoskiBook Search - Farm ThemeAmazon Books - Farm ThemeFarm and Pond - Cheat Sheet Book CompanionsClick, Clack, Moo - Book CompanionEpisode 41, Using the Little Blue Truck Series in Speech TherapyFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/favorite-farm-themed-picture-books

Send us a Text Message.We love it when we can find a series by a specific author that meets all of our key concepts, speech sounds, and language goals to use with our students during speech therapy sessions. And one series we can't stop using with our students is Wendi Silvano's Turkey series. One of the things we enjoy most about this series is that all of her books are written with a different focused theme so that you can use them throughout the school year. In today's episode, we're diving into Wendi Silvano's Turkey series and highlighting the different key concepts in each book and what they all have in common. Resources Mentioned:Turkey Trouble Book InventoryFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/turkey-series

Send us a Text Message.With back-to-school season upon us, we love incorporating books with that theme into our speech therapy sessions. There are so many wonderful books out there, but we always go back to a classic favorite, Pete the Cat. This fun, loveable, and fan-favorite is a classic read for a reason, but it also has great key concepts to work on with your students. In today's episode, we're doing a deep dive using Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by James Dean and sharing how to effectively use this book in your speech therapy sessions.Resources Mentioned:Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by James DeanBook Search - Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School ShoesBook Search - Back to SchoolFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/deep-dive-using-pete-the-cat

Send us a Text Message.It's hard to believe, but back-to-school is just around the corner. And the start of a new school year can stir up a lot of emotions in kids, especially those who are starting school for the first time. Therefore, it's nice to have some books to incorporate into your speech therapy sessions that help relieve their stress and show how school can be a fun and safe place for kids. Two books we think do a great job of showcasing those ideas are Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen and School's First Day of School by Adam Rex. So, in today's episode, we're doing a back-to-school this or that edition and sharing how we're using these books in our speech therapy sessions. Resources Mentioned:Our Class is a Family by Shannon OlsenSchool's First Day of School by Adam RexNarrative Key Teaching Points - Back to SchoolBack to School Book CompanionBack to School Book Companions for Speech Therapy Blog PostBook Search - Back to SchoolFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/back-to-school-this-or-that

Send us a Text Message.Do you know that amazing feeling of discovering a cute, engaging book that meets all your literacy concepts? That was us when we discovered Neck & Neck by Elise Paisley! Once we read this fun, zoo-themed book, we instantly loved it and wanted to use it during our speech therapy sessions. Since we love this book so much, we're doing a deep dive using Neck & Neck to highlight the key concepts you can use and show you why we're pulling this book off our shelves. Resources Mentioned:Neck & Neck by Elise PaisleyNeck & Neck Instagram ReelBook Search - Neck & NeckBook Search - ZooFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/deep-dive-using-neck-&-neck

Send us a Text Message.In last week's episode, we shared some of our favorite /s/ sound picture books, and there are so many more books that we love, so we decided to do another episode with the same topic! However, the slight difference in this episode is that we're sharing books that have /s/ blends, mixed, or recurring /s/ sound words. This list we've created has engaging books with high-frequency /s/ sounds in the content, not just the titles. We're so excited to share more of our favorite /s/ sound picture books with you!Resources Mentioned:Book Search - /s/ blendsFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/favorite-s-sound-picture-books

Send us a Text Message.When working with students on their speech sounds, especially in a literacy-based approach, it's important to incorporate books with those sounds for students to practice with. We spend a lot of our episodes going over books with specific themes or literacy concepts, so we wanted to dedicate a few episodes focusing on books with high-frequency speech sounds. The first speech sound is the /s/ sound. So, in today's episode, we're sharing our favorite /s/ sound picture books that you can use in your speech therapy sessions.Resources Mentioned:Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes Narrative NotesFree Wordless Book ListEpisode 51, Dive into the Mother Bruce Books Series for Speech TherapyBook Search - S SoundFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/s-sound-picture-books

We had so much to talk about with Elizabeth that we kept her around to talk about more things related to Speech-Language Pathologists! Elizabeth has a passion for reading and decoding, which is why she decided to specialize in those two areas, along with being Orton-Gillingham certified. Therefore, we picked Elizabeth's brain so that she could share her knowledge and experience in those areas. So, in today's episode, Elizabeth shares how to implement the Orton-Gillingham approach and how she successfully addresses reading in her speech therapy sessions.Resources Mentioned:Spire Illustrated Decodable ReadersBooks for Upper Elementary StudentsElizabeth's PD Course: The Word Reading SLP – use this link for $20 off!Follow Elizabeth on Instagram: elizabeth_readingslpFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/orton-gillingham-approach

As speech-language pathologists, we focus a lot of our time with students on developing their speech and oral language. However, an aspect that we're starting to focus on is reading. Even though reading is in our wheelhouse, research has shown that SLPs feel less confident in teaching or focusing on it during their speech therapy sessions. Our guest on the podcast, Elizabeth Doherty, is a private practice SLP in NYC who also has associate-level training through the Orton-Gillingham Academy. In this episode, Elizabeth shares why you should target reading during your speech therapy sessions and how you can feel more confident in this area.Resources Mentioned:Structured Literacy Interventions by Louise Spears-SwerlingSpeech to Print by Louisa Cook MoatsASHA Learning PassOrton-Gillingham Academy Training & Certification Elizabeth's PD Course: The Word Reading SLP - use this link for $20 off!Follow Elizabeth on Instagram: elizabeth_readingslpFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/why-to-target-reading

As Speech Language Pathologists we love when we can use a book series with our students during our speech therapy sessions. Book series are typically written with the same theme in mind and structured the same way while also encompassing a variety of speech sounds and key concepts. Therefore, it's no surprise that we love using Kate Messner's Over and Under book series. In this episode, we're sharing why we love this series, a description of each book, and how we'd use it in speech therapy.Resources Mentioned:Kate Messner Book Inventory FreebieBook Companion - SpringBook Companion - SummerBook Companion - WinterNarrative Key Teaching Points - SeasonalNarrative Key Teaching Points - ThemeFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/over-and-under-book-series

Kids are excited and eager to try new things, but they can also have an internal struggle of feeling scared, nervous, or anxious about their new experiences. Summer often brings these new experiences for kids, so it's helpful for them to read books about characters going through the same things. Jabari Jumps is the perfect book for this because it's a fun and relatable summer-themed book that also teaches kids lessons. In today's episode, we're doing a deep dive into using Jabari Jumps and showing how to use it during your speech therapy sessions. Resources Mentioned:Jabari Jumps by Gaia CornwallEpisode 4, Our Top 10 Summer Books for Speech TherapyNarrative Key Teaching Points - SeasonalBook Search - SummerFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/deep-dive-into-using-jabari-jumps

What's one thing kids love to have as a nice, sweet, cool treat in the summer? Ice cream! When it's hot outside, and kids have been playing or at the pool all day, it's refreshing to have a scoop of ice cream to top off their day. So why not bring that same excited feeling into your speech therapy session? By incorporating ice cream theme books, you can help get students excited about summer break while working on their speech and language goals. In this episode, we're doing a this or that episode using an ice cream theme with The Little Ice Cream Truck and Paletero Man. Resources Mentioned:The Little Ice Cream Truck by Margery CuylerPaletero Man by Lucky DiazNarrative Key Teaching Points - SeasonalBook Search - Ice CreamFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/ice-cream-theme

With summer just around the corner, it's easy to start dreaming about days on the beach and playing in the sand. So why not get your students excited about the freedom and fun of summer by incorporating beach-themed picture books in your speech therapy sessions? We thought the exact same thing, which is why we wanted to give you all the best selections for this very fun theme. In today's episode, we're sharing our favorite beach-themed books to help bring in some fun while teaching your students key concepts.Resources Mentioned:Narrative Key Teaching Points - ThemedSummer Speech Therapy 1 Page Cheat Sheet Book CompanionsBook Search - Beach/OceanEpisode 5, This OR That (Comparing There Was an Old Lady… and Sharing a Shell)Follow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/favorite-beach-themed-books

We're always excited about doing podcast episodes, but this particular one makes us so excited, and our smiles are a mile wide because it's our one-year podcast anniversary! We have learned so much over the past year and have enjoyed sharing our favorite books with y'all and hopefully have provided you with fresh ideas to use during your speech therapy sessions. Since it's our podcast anniversary, we wanted to celebrate by getting our listeners and community involved. So, in today's episode, we're answering all of your literacy-based speech questions to further help you during your speech therapy sessions.Resources Mentioned:Speech Therapy PDThe Informed SLPSLP ToolkitMind Wing ConceptsOrton-GillinghamPicture Book Inventory - SeasonalPicture Book Inventory - ThemedProfessional Development Books  Upper Elementary Books Book Search - Middle SchoolBook SearchFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/literacy-based-speech-questions

With the weather getting nice and families starting to spend more time outside, we wanted to bring that energy into your speech therapy sessions. A lot of families spend the spring and summer months camping and enjoying the outdoors, which is why we're doing a "this or that" episode with camping books. So, in today's episode, we've chosen the books Scaredy Squirrel and The Camping Trip and are deciphering which book is best used for your speech therapy students. Resources Mentioned:Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping by Melanie Watt The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. MannKey Teaching Points - SeasonalNarrative Notes - SummerBook Companions - SummerBook Search - CampingEpisode 52, How to Plan a Literacy-Based Summer Camp Episode 4, Our Top 10 Summer Books for Speech TherapyFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/speech-therapy-camping-books

Doing anything in a theme immediately makes it more fun! And using themed picture books to go over speech and language goals with your students is no exception. We've shared a lot of these types of episodes with you in the past because we love putting together lists of our favorite books to use with different themes. With the weather becoming nicer and kids spending more time outside and exploring nature, we knew this theme was perfect. So in today's episode, we're sharing our favorite bug-themed picture books to use in speech therapy.Resources Mentioned:Narrative Notes - BugsNarrative Notes - SpringKey Teaching Points - Theme (Including Bugs)Key Teaching Points - SpringBook Search - BugsFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/favorite-bug-themed-picture-books

With summer just around the corner, many of you might be thinking about or already planning on hosting a literacy-based summer camp. These are wonderful opportunities to do something new and fun while still helping kids work on their literacy, language, and phonics concepts. After hosting a few ourselves, we know the most effective routine, how to handle the logistics, and ways to add in some fun and engaging crafts for the kids. So, in today's episode, we're sharing how to structure a literacy-based summer camp, along with a few theme ideas.Resources Mentioned:Narrative Key Teaching Points - SeasonalNarrative Key Teaching Points - ThemedNarrative Note Cheat Sheet BundleBook Companions - SummerBook SearchKristine Deworocki's InstagramEpisode 4, Our Top 10 Summer Books for Speech TherapyEpisode 19, Our Favorite Pirate BooksFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/literacy-based-summer-camp

When we find a book series we like, we consume all of the books they have to offer and find ways to incorporate them into our speech therapy sessions. One book series that's gaining popularity and we're enjoying right now is the Mother Bruce book series. There are 9 books in total, with 3 Little Bruce books as well. Just a heads up that we're not discussing all of the books in the series because we believe that 4 are better to be read at home or for a fun read-aloud in the classroom. With the books we are discussing, we're going to dive further into the Mother Bruce book series, how you can use them during speech therapy, and which key concepts to target the most. Resources Mentioned:Mother Bruce Series Free DownloadSeasonal Picture Books ListThemed Picture Books ListMother BruceSpring StinksBruce's Big StormBruce and the Legend of Soggy HollowThanks for NothingSanta Bruce Out ColdFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts! For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/mother-bruce-book-series

As a busy SLP, we know that you serve a variety of students of various ages, abilities, skill levels, and interests. So, it's part of our goal to make sure we're providing you with the right tools and books to best serve your students in speech therapy. A group we don't typically cover is books for early intervention and preschool-aged children. Last week, we had Jenna Rayburn on the podcast, where she shared which books are best for preschool students. This got us thinking about our own favorites, and we wanted to share them with you. So, in today's episode, we're sharing our top early intervention and preschool books to engage your students with during speech therapy.Resources Mentioned:Episode 49, Using Books with Preschool Students in Speech Therapy with Jenna Rayburn Episode 41, Using the Little Blue Truck Series in Speech TherapyEpisode 36, Our Favorite Wordless Picture Books in Speech Therapy: Part OneFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/early-intervention-and-preschool-books

When we share our picture book selections with you all, we try to pick books that target a wide variety of students. However, sometimes, you're looking for books that target a certain age group of students. So, to help you out, we have our first guest on the podcast, Jenna Rayburn. She is an early childhood SLP, a lover of picture books, and has many helpful resources in her TPT store. Jenna has a wealth of knowledge and, in today's episode, is sharing the qualities she looks for in books and ways of using books with preschool students in speech therapy.Resources Mentioned:AAC Core Vocabulary Adapted Picture Books for FallVisit Jenna's TPT StoreFollow Speech Room News on InstagramFollow Speech Room Library on Instagram Early Childhood Amazon ListUnion Square Kids First Sports board booksNosy Crow felt flap booksFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/using-books-with-preschool-students

When we discuss a variety of topics and key concepts during each episode, we like to reference some of our favorite books that are great examples of the concepts we're discussing. Although we have a long list of favorite picture books, this book might be our all-time favorite, which is The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. After listening to our podcast for so long, you know we mention this book frequently because it targets so many key concepts we look for when working with students. Because of this, in today's episode, we're doing a deep dive using The Gruffalo and sharing how to best use this book during your speech therapy sessions. Resources Mentioned:The Gruffalo by Julia DonaldsonThe Gruffalo Blog PostFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/deep-dive-using-the-gruffalo

We do a lot of episodes showing why we choose different books to use during our speech therapy sessions. One of the criteria on which we base a good book is its level of vocabulary enrichment. Multiple studies have shown that vocabulary is the number one factor for reading comprehension and a predictor of academic success and intellectual ability. In other words, building and growing a student's vocabulary is extremely important. So, in today's episode, we're sharing a list of books that target vocabulary that you can use with students during your sessions. Resources Mentioned:Book SearchEpisode 46, Deep Dive into Using Bear Finds Eggs in Speech TherapyEpisode 42, How to Select Rich Vocabulary for Your Speech Therapy Sessions Episode 41, Using the Little Blue Truck Series in Speech TherapyBook Companion - Bear Snores OnBook Companion - Doctor De SotoAll TPT Book CompanionsNarrative NotesFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/books-that-target-vocabulary

We love finding and introducing books to our students that we know they'll enjoy during their speech therapy sessions, and we love sharing our discoveries with you all as well! As spring is upon us and Easter isn't too far away, we're excited to introduce a newly released book, Bear Finds Eggs. Being part of the Bear series by Karma Wilson, this adorable book hits all the criteria - it engages students and hits the key teaching points we look for when using a book in speech therapy. So, in today's episode, we want to do a deep dive into Bear Finds Eggs, where we introduce you to this book and share how to best use it with your students. Resources Mentioned:Bear Finds Eggs by Karma WilsonBook Search - Easter/SpringFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/deep-dive-into-bear-finds-eggs

Just like with every season or holiday that comes around, there's a list of picture books related to that theme. While it's amazing there are so many books to choose from, it can be hard to discern which ones are right for your speech therapy sessions. That's where we come in! We're doing another this or that episode to decipher which leprechaun book is the perfect fit to discuss during your speech sessions.Resources Mentioned:This or That Notes DownloadHow to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam WallaceHow to Trap a Leprechaun by Sue FliessSeasonal Narrative Key Teaching PointsBook Search - St. Patrick's DayFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapyWrite your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/this-or-that-leprechaun-book

With spring just on the horizon, we're getting you prepared to incorporate spring picture books in your speech therapy sessions. In last week's episode, we shared our favorite spring books list with you, but we wanted to focus on one book in particular with another deep dive episode. Our deep dive episodes show you how we go through books and pull out all of the relevant speech and language goals. From one of our favorite authors, we're doing a deep dive using Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms.Resources Mentioned:Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms Notes Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia RawlinsonSpring Book Companions for Speech Therapy Book Search - SpringFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/deep-dive-using-fletcher-and-the-springtime-blossoms

It's hard to believe, but spring is just around the corner, which means it's time to think about incorporating spring picture books into your rotation. With the changing of seasons, plants and trees starting to bloom, and more color being brought to life, spring picture books can create happiness and joy in the eyes of our readers. The seasonal changes are the exact topic we chose to focus on with the books we're covering today. So, in today's episode, we're sharing our favorite spring picture books for speech therapy and how they can be utilized in your sessions. Resources Mentioned:Favorite Spring Picture Books NotesSpring Book Companions for Speech Therapy Book Search - SpringFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/spring-picture-books-for-speech-therapy

When we do any deep dive or this or that episode and talk about the key teaching points of books, one of the main components we look for is a rich vocabulary. But why is that an important aspect to cover with a text, and how does it relate to a student's oral language development? Vocabulary is the single best indicator of intellectual ability and the number one factor in comprehension. It's also a predictor of success at school, which makes it extremely important! In today's episode, we're discussing how to select rich vocabulary for your speech therapy sessions, which includes research and effective practices.Resources Mentioned:Bringing Words to Life: Robust Instruction by Isabel Beck, Margaret McKeown, & Linda Kucan“Effects of Integrated Literacy and Content-Area Instruction on Vocabulary and Comprehension in the Elementary Years: A Meta-Analysis, Scientific Studies of Reading” Article“The Effects of Vocabulary Instruction: A Model-Based Meta-Analysis” ArticleFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/rich-vocabulary-for-your-speech-therapy

We talk a lot in these podcast episodes about books and the value they have when you use them in a literacy-based speech therapy session. One topic we mention is that just because a book is popular amongst kids, parents, or Amazon doesn't mean it's best to use it with your students to work on specific speech and language goals. A popular series that many teachers like to read is the Little Blue Truck series, but do all the books meet the requirements? In today's episode, we're doing a special this or that episode using the Little Blue Truck series in speech therapy. Resources Mentioned:Little Blue Truck Book Inventory FreebieNarrative Key Teaching Points - SeasonalLittle Blue Truck Book CollectionFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/little-blue-truck-in-speech-therapy

We're diving deep into Valentine's Day books you can use with your students during your speech therapy sessions that focus on their goals and have sweet, kind, and loving messages. One of our favorite books is Love Monster by Rachel Bright, which not only has a great theme but key concepts that you can work on with your students. So, in today's episode, we're doing a deep dive into Love Monster and showcasing the relevant speech and language goals you could use. Resources Mentioned:Love Monster Notes DownloadLove Monster by Rachel BrightLove Monster Narrative NotesNarrative Key Teaching PointsBook Search - Valentine's DayFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/deep-dive-into-love-monster

There are so many sweet, cute, and popular Valentine's Day books out there, but not all of them are ideal to use during your speech therapy sessions. When using a literacy-based speech approach, you're looking for books that have certain key concepts that target the speech and language goals of your students. And since we know popular doesn't always mean the best option, we're doing a this or that Valentine's Day episode with the books Day It Rained Hearts and Pete the Cat: Valentine's Day is Cool. Resources Mentioned:This or That Valentine's NotesDay It Rained Hearts by Felicia BondPete the Cat: Valentine's Day Is Cool by James Dean & Kimberly DeanKey Teaching Points - Seasonal Book Search - Valentine's DayEpisode 38, Our Favorite Valentine's Day Picture Books in Speech Therapy Follow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/this-or-that-valentines-day

It's the time of year when love is in the air! So, what better way to celebrate than by using Valentine's Day-themed picture books during your speech therapy sessions? Since you serve a variety of students with different speech and language goals, finding the right books to meet all those needs can be challenging. Therefore, in today's episode, we're sharing our favorite Valentine's Day picture books with you and the benefits of each book.Resources Mentioned:Favorite Valentine's Day Books Free NotesNarrative Notes Valentine's Day Book Companions Read and Review Valentine's Day Book Companions Valentine's Day Language BookmarksBook Search - Valentine's DayFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/valentines-day-picture-books-podcast

We believe in the value and benefit of using wordless picture books with your students, so we dedicated another episode sharing more of our favorite wordless picture books with you. As we continue to mention, despite not having any text in them, you can still discuss character analysis, theme, vocabulary, and narrative structure with your students when reading these books. With this being a genre you may not have a lot of on your shelves, in today's episode, we're sharing our favorite wordless picture books part two. Resources Mentioned:Free Wordless Book ListFavorite Wordless Books: Part Two Free Notes Episode 36, Our Favorite Wordless Picture Books in Speech Therapy:  Part OneEpisode 35, How to Use Wordless Picture Books in Your Speech Therapy SessionsBook Search - WordlessNarrative Notes - Farm and Pond Theme Follow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/favorite-wordless-picture-books-part-two

In last week's episode, we discussed wordless picture books and the many benefits of using them in your speech therapy sessions. Despite not having any text on the pages, they still provide value towards your students' speech and language goals. But like with most genres, there are so many books that it can be difficult finding the right match for your students that provide the most value. So in today's episode, we're sharing part one of our favorite wordless picture books to use during speech therapy.Resources Mentioned:Free Wordless Book ListFavorite Wordless Books: Part One Free Notes Episode 35, How to Use Wordless Picture Books in Your Speech Therapy SessionsEpisode 6, Using Ribbit! and Dude! in Speech TherapyBook Search - WordlessGood Night, Gorilla Book CompanionFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/favorite-wordless-picture-books

On the podcast, we share a lot of narrative picture books to use with your students, but a type of book we don't often mention is wordless picture books. If you are anything like we used to be, maybe you were uncomfortable using these types of books when you first became an SLP because you didn't know how to use them appropriately. Now that we have done more research and have seen how effective they are, we love using them and value the benefits they bring students. So in today's episode, we're sharing how to use wordless picture books in your speech therapy sessions.Resources Mentioned:Narrative Notes “Beyond the Written Word: The Role of Text on Preschool Teachers' Book Sharing Styles”“Exploring Wordless Picture Books”Using Wordless Picture Books in Speech Therapy Episode 20, How to Assess Narrative Language Story Grammar ElementsKey Teaching PointsBook Search - WordlessFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/wordless-picture-books

With so many picture books out there, we wanted to use this podcast to highlight some of our favorites and share the best ways to use them during your speech therapy sessions. The book that we're discussing today is one of our top five favorite picture books of all time, which is Brave Irene by William Steig. This is an amazing book that includes a lot of unique and thematic concepts to discuss with your students. In this deep dive episode, we're discussing how to use Brave Irene in speech therapy and why we'd use it with our students.Resources Mentioned:Deep Dive NotesBrave Irene by William SteigNarrative Notes - WinterFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/brave-irene-in-speech-therapy

As you know, there are a lot of winter themed picture books to choose from, so it can be overwhelming to pick the ones that will benefit your students and target their speech and language goals. So instead of spending your time discerning which books are right for your speech therapy, we decided to do that for you. In another round of our this or that episode, we're showing you our process for selecting books to use during your speech therapy sessions. The two books we're covering today are The Mitten and A Thing Called Snow. Resources Mentioned:This or That Free NotesThe Mitten by Jan BrettA Thing Called Snow by Yuval ZommerBook Search - WinterNarrative NotesEpisode 32, Our Favorite Winter Picture Books in Speech TherapyFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/a-thing-called-snow

With the winter season officially in full swing, it's only fitting to provide you with a list of picture books you can use during your speech therapy sessions. Whether you live in a place where it's cold and snowy or it's sunny and hot outside, inside your classroom you can create a cozy and winter environment with these winter books. In today's episode, we're sharing our 10 favorite winter picture books and how to best use them in your speech therapy sessions.Resources Mentioned:Favorite Winter Books Notes Book Companion - Winter Narrative Notes - Winter Bear Snores On Book Companion The Snowy Day Book Companion Book Search - WinterFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/winter-picture-books

There are so many wonderful and engaging Christmas themed books out there, but that doesn't mean they're best to be used in speech therapy sessions. During our deep dive episodes, we like to take listeners behind the scenes on our process for how we go through books to use during our sessions. We aim to select books that check as many boxes on our key teaching points as possible, along with complete episodes. So in today's deep dive, we're discussing all aspects of the book Olive, the Other Reindeer. Resources Mentioned:Deep Dive Free NotesOlive, the Other Reindeer by Vivian WalshBook Search - Olive, the Other ReindeerFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/olive-the-other-reindeer

During the holiday seasons, it's natural and a fun way to engage students by incorporating holiday-themed books in your speech therapy sessions. But just because they're engaging and a cute story, doesn't necessarily mean they'd make a good fit in your therapy sessions. So to help you out, we're discussing our process for selecting books with two Christmas-themed books. In our this or that Christmas edition, we're comparing How to Catch an Elf and Mooseltoe.Resources Mentioned:This or That Free Notes DownloadHow to Catch an Elf by Adam WallaceMooseltoe by Margie PalatiniEpisode 29, Our Favorite Christmas Books in Speech TherapyChristmas Activities for Speech TherapyBook Companions for Speech Therapy - ChristmasKey Teaching PointsBook Search - ChristmasFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/this-or-that-christmas-edition

It's the most wonderful time of the year…to read amazing Christmas books! The holidays, especially Christmas, can be a happy and magical time for kids, so it's nice to create those same feelings during your speech therapy sessions. With so many fantastic Christmas-themed books to choose from, it was hard to narrow it down to just our top 10. So in today's episode, we're sharing our favorite Christmas books and how to use them with your students.Resources Mentioned:Favorite Christmas Books Free NotesBook Companions - ChristmasKey Teaching PointsBook Search - ChristmasFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/favorite-christmas-books

In many of our episodes, you hear us mention our Key Teaching Points when we recommend or discuss books on a deeper level. This is our method for taking inventory on books and all their relevant speech and language concepts. When using these for selecting books, it ultimately saves you time and increases the productivity time with your students. Whether you've used these in the past or are brand new to them, we're taking a deeper look into our key teaching points and examining the specific language concepts that are critical to language and literacy development.Resources Mentioned:Key Teaching Points Book Inventory: SeasonalKey Teaching Points Book Inventory: ThemedAll Key Teaching PointsBook SearchBlog Posts - Book ListsFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/key-teaching-points

With most of our this or that episodes, we highlight two books then eventually share which book we'd use in our therapy sessions between the two. And with holiday or thematic books, there's so many to choose from. However, in this episode, we're not choosing between the two because we think they both have a spot in your session and provide different academic benefits for your students. In our this or that turkey edition episode, we're highlighting 10 Turkeys in the Road and Turkey Trouble.Resources Mentioned:This or That Comparison Notes10 Turkeys in the Road by Brenda Reeves SturgisTurkey Trouble by Wendi SilvanoTurkey Book CompanionsKey Teaching Points - SeasonalBook Search - ThanksgivingThanksgiving Turkey CraftSpeech Therapy Craft Templates - Room DecorFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/this-or-that-turkey-edition

We know that if we can find books that kids relate to or go along with a holiday or occasion that's happening, they're more likely to be engaged in your lesson. So with Thanksgiving just around the corner, we wanted to give you a list of our favorite Thanksgiving-themed books to use during your literacy-based speech therapy sessions. The meaning and purpose of Thanksgiving is portrayed in these books, which make for special discussions amongst your students. In this episode, we also share the skills highlighted in each of our favorite Thanksgiving books and reasons why you should add them to your library.Resources Mentioned:Favorite Thanksgiving Books Free NotesBook Search – ThanksgivingThanksgiving Book Companion Follow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!For the full book list and resources, head to the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/thanksgiving-themed-books

As SLPs, we're responsible for assessing language and sounds. Back in Episode 20, we discussed narrative assessment, which is the language side of literacy. But in today's episode, we're going to focus on decoding, which has to do with sounds. More specifically, we're going to discuss how to assess phonological awareness, why it needs to be assessed, and the benchmarks to look for. Resources Mentioned:Episode 20, How to Assess Narrative Language“A Comparison of Early Literacy Skills in Children with Specific Language Impairment and Their Typically Developing Peers” Article“Prevention and Remediation of Severe Reading Disabilities: Keeping the End in Mind” ArticleFoundations of Reading Acquisition and Dyslexia: Implications for Early Intervention BookSpeech Therapy Book Companions Bundle - with phonological analysisFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/assess-phonological-awareness

If you've been searching for a book that serves older students in upper elementary or even middle school, this book is what you need! Bone Soup by Cambria Evans is a fantastic book to use during this Halloween season while also hitting on key concepts and speech and language goals for your students. In this episode, we're doing a deep dive into Bone Soup and sharing all the reasons why we love this book and how we'd use it in our literacy-based speech therapy sessions. Resources Mentioned:Free Deep Dive Notes Bone Soup by Cambria EvansNarrative Key Teaching Points - Seasonal/HalloweenBook Search - HalloweenFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/deep-dive-into-bone-soup

There's still time to incorporate some Halloween-themed books in your speech therapy sessions. It's a fun way to engage your students where they don't realize they're actually working on their speech language goals. But with so many Halloween books, it's hard to know which ones can serve a variety of your students while also touching on a multitude of concepts. So to help you find the best book, we're doing another episode of "this or that" with Halloween books. Resources Mentioned:This or That: Halloween Free Note Taking DocumentLittle Blue Truck's Halloween by Alice Schertle Room on the Broom by Julia DonaldsonBook Search - HalloweenNarrative Key Teaching Points - HalloweenFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/this-or-that-with-halloween-books

Even though many kids love Halloween and everything related to it, we need to remember it's not for everyone. But what do you do when you still want to incorporate that theme in your literacy-based speech therapy sessions? You use alternatives to Halloween picture books. Yes, there is such a thing and we've got you covered! We're sharing eight of our favorite alternatives to Halloween books to use with your students.Resources Mentioned:Free Alternative Halloween Book Notes1 Page Book Cheat Sheets - Fall and HalloweenHalloween Book CompanionsSeasonal Narrative Key Teaching PointsBook Search - Halloween AlternativesSee the full book list in the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/alternatives-to-halloween-books

With Halloween just around the corner, we thought it would be appropriate to highlight our favorite Halloween themed books to use in your speech therapy sessions. We review our process for selecting books and then discuss each of our favorite Halloween themed books in depth to give you the best idea on which ones to read with your students.Resources Mentioned:Free Halloween Book Notes1 Page Book Cheat Sheets - Fall and HalloweenHalloween Book CompanionsSpeech Therapy Book CompanionsSeasonal Narrative Key Teaching PointsHalloween Book SearchSee the full book list in the show notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/halloween-themed-books

We've focused a lot of this podcast on the best books to read with your students that help develop their speech language skills. By now you know we whole-heartedly believe in a literacy-based speech approach for your sessions which also means that we believe in narrative language assessments. When you assess narrative language with your students, it helps you identify academic successes and communication deficits, which we're going to dive into during this episode.There's an abundance of research that supports being able to assess narrative language in students. Not only does it clarify possible weaknesses in social pragmatic language, but it also bridges the gap between oral and written language. But more than just the research, we discuss the various aspects and components you're looking for when you give this assessment, and then ultimately ways you would assess narrative language with your students. No matter if your assessments are provided by your district or yourself, make sure that narrative assessments are on your list! Resources Mentioned:Read and Review Picture Book Companions - Seasonal BundleBook Search - Wordless BooksEpisode 13, Our Favorite Books with Repetitive Texts for CASFollow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/assess-narrative-language

Working with elementary students, you get an opportunity to read picture books in your sessions that have fun themes and engage students. In another round of our favorites episodes, we've selected a fun category of pirate themed books to use during your literacy-based speech therapy sessions. This entertaining theme has a lot of great books that we share to help work on literacy skills with your students.With so many pirate themed books, how do you choose which ones to use with your students? Well, we've done the work for you! We break down all of the literacy and speech language skills each book displays and how best to utilize them in your sessions. These 9 pirate themed picture books have unique components to them that help your students with their speech language goals in a fun way. Resources Mentioned:Top Pirate-Themed Notes Free DownloadHow to Be a Pirate by Sue FliessPirate's Perfect Pet by Beth FerryThe Pirates Next Door by Jonny DuddleKlyde the Kraken Wants a Friend by Brooke HartmanPete the Cat and the Treasure Map by James DeanTen Little Pirates by Mike BrownlowThe Pirates are Coming! by John CondonHow I Became a Pirate by Melinda LongNarrative Notes BundlePirate Day Speech Therapy Book Companion for PK-2nd GradePirate Theme Book Search Follow us on Instagram @literacybasedspeechtherapy.Write your review on Apple Podcasts!Show Notes: https://sweetsouthernspeech.com/podcast/pirate-themed-books