Toca Kitchen Monsters – A Review

Toca Kitchen Monsters

By Toca Boca ($Free)

This post originally appeared on Activity Tailor February 19, 2013: The developers at Toca Boca know how to entice an audience and grapple for our attention. The premise of the app is simple: Slice, blend, boil, fry, and/or microwave a selection of food for one of two monsters. Yet, it has turned into so much more within the context of speech therapy.

One of my favorite ways to use Toca Kitchen Monsters is to target sequencing or narrative skills. While reading a book and retelling the story has its time and place, incorporating an app which does not require clients to read allows for creativity and fun.  Furthermore, a child’s ability to verbally create narratives has been linked to successful acquisition of literacy (Catts, Hogan, & Fey; Snow, Burns, & Griffin, 1998; Tabors, Snow, & Dickinson, 2001). With that being said, a pre-game activity helps foster the narrative skills for children.

Pre-Game Activity

Before opening the app, I have the client or group decide what monster, food, and cooking method we will use, and in what order we will do complete the task using the sequencing sheet I’ve created. For instance, we decide to select the blue monster that will eat the monster food. First he will blend it up, and then cut it into 10 pieces. Last, he will gobble it up. Once finished, the sequencing sheet looks like the below example.  Once we review the sequence, let the games begin!

After-Game Activity

Open the app and follow the order of the sequence sheet with client. Afterwards, depending on your targeted goals and age, you can have them retell the sequence of events as a narrative using S + V + O (subject + verb + object) sentences, descriptive vocabulary (i.e. the yellow lemon, the stinky monster), and  temporal words (first, next, last). 

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SLP Graduate School Interview Tips

While I am enjoying my transition into app review posts, I wanted step back into my continued interest in helping fellow graduate students and grad-student hopefuls. I’m still here, listening and swimming in the same boat.

There seems to be a flurry of acceptance letters and interview requests for those applying to SLP graduate schools starting this fall. So, what are they going to ask? What will you say? How can you dazzle them with your skills and talents? There are many sites with general interview questions (see Resources below). Yet, not many (I can’t find any, actually) to offer advice on interviewing for Speech-Language Pathology Graduate schools. Since every SLP graduate school interview process is different, questions vary by program. A comprehensive list would be impossible; yet as I always do, I went in search of evidence. Here are my findings to help you nail your interview!

Niki Time – A Review

Niki Time

By: Alessandro La Rocca

Purpose:

The app developer designed the app for use with children working on time concepts such as minutes, hour, half hour, days, months, weather, and seasons. Easy manipulation of the clock allows for instruction as well as interaction between a client and an SLP.

Price: $3.99

 

Fun & Functional – A Review

Fun & Functional

by Smarty Ears 

Purpose:

The app was designed to target identifying and describing nouns. In addition, within the description the developer notes it has the potential to help increase descriptive vocabulary to aid in increased language comprehension and literacy (Bromley, 2007).

Price: $9.99

Naming TherAppy – A Review

Naming TherAppy

by Tactus Therapy

Purpose: 

“A word-finding app to help people with aphasia and children with special needs practice important naming and description skills.” I also find it useful for working with children and adults on expressive and receptive vocabulary, describing words, categorization, and other goals.

Price: $24.99, or try the Free, lite version of Language TherAppy which contains Naming TherAppy

My PlayHome – A Review

My PlayHome 

by Shimon Young

Purpose: 

“My PlayHome is a doll house for the iGeneration…where your child can use everything, even the closets, TV and shower…fry an egg and feed the family pizza. Where you can pour drinks, blow bubbles and turn out the lights.” (via the iTunes description).

Price: Full version, $3.99 (Lite version $Free)

Categories Learning Center: A Review

Categories Learning Center

by Smarty Ears

Purpose:

An app designed by SLPs to improve language comprehension for all age groups. More specifically, it was developed to target categorization skills to improve word finding, memory, and reading comprehension difficulties.

Price = $9.99

A Transition

Sooner or later, change occurs. A change from what is, to what will be.

I will be graduating in 6 short months from graduate school, transitioning from grad student to Speech-Language Pathologist. As my focus shifts, I want my blog to shift as well. What better way to announce the type of shift I’m pursuing than with shifting my medium.

Comfort zones are for the stagnant, and I am anything but. Join me as I step out and venture onward. Take a moment and watch my vlog post (video + blog) as I hope you will be as excited as I am to dabble in this new venture.

Today

There’s a naiveté about being a new clinician. Stumbling through therapy sessions, wondering if you are talking too much, giving the right prompts, or using the right technique.  As a supervisor sits, watching, I wonder “What does she really think about my skills?” Sweaty hands.

Everyone has been through the process. Courses. Syllabi. Ethics. Evidence. Rationale. Professionalism. A constant flood of lists, charts, and data. Why does it seem that I should be at a higher level than the one I am now? Why must I still ask why?

I’m still new at this. Designing therapy like a pathologist’s pauper, hoping if I do it his or her way, perhaps I will find my own. Asking what seems like an obvious question, followed by a much more obvious answer. Hand to face. Why didn’t I think of that?

A child talks out of turn. I must look incompetent. This one picks his nose and touches my iPad. I need a hand wipe, but don’t want to seem overly clean. Why can’t kids just leave their nose alone?

So. Many. Goals. I started with one client, now I have forty times that. Constantly thinking what’s next. Tally marks. Was that right? Wait, did they say “cab” or “cap”? Crap. Did that one just say shit?

Lunch seems like a break from my thoughts. Email. Twitter. Take a picture. Enjoy this moment because soon I will be eating alone, instead of taking time to chat. Conversation turns to the how. The why. Why Alaska? Why not.

Halls filled with faces, unknown. That child is confused, should I step in? I’m new. Wearing a visitor’s badge. I already look creepy, just leave him be. Gather the kiddos. Make sure I don’t lose them on the way back to speech. Now, which one is which? Are you this one or that one?

End of the day. Let’s hear it. How did I do? Oh. I forgot to do that. Wait, you think I did well?

Driving home. Wondering if this illusion wears off. I’m having fun, not working all day. How can a job be more than  a passion? How can a degree be more than 9 to 5? With all the newness of being a grad, I’m just so humbled by all the support. If there is no limit, why wait to find more?

Letter of Intent: The first date of SLP Graduate Admissions

If you are applying to a Speech-Language Pathology graduate school program anywhere in the country, you may need to submit a statement (or letter) of intent. Did you already Google “How to write a letter of intent for Speech Pathology graduate school? ”There are limited, relevant results. First off, what is a statement of intent? In my opinion, it’s like a first date with a total stranger. Only you are trying to convince them to marry you, blindfolded, based on a test score, GPA, and resume. Talk about pressure. *Applies Makeup* But truly, the statement/letter is your opportunity to highlight strengths and weaknesses, explain your passion & interest in the career, and answer questions they may pose. First dates are always awkward, so let’s wade through this one together.