Speech with Milo Articulation Game Board!

Speech with Milo Articulation Board Game: Common Sounds Pack-Review and Giveaway!
By Doonan Speech Therapy (iPad ONLY)

$5.99 View in iTunes 

                             

A fun new way to work on articulation skills!  

I APPsolutely love it! 

This app is a first of its kind and it turns regular articulation drills into a fun and engaging board game!

Features: 

• The common sounds offered in this app are /F/, /V/, /K/, /G/, /S/, /Z/, /CH/, /SH/. Initial, medial, and final positions for each sound. (Over 500 target words!)
  

• Add, store and track up to 20 students ($.99 for each additional 3 students after 20)
  

• Run groups with up to 5 players at a time. 
  

• Each student gets to choose a unique character to play with.
  
  
  

Set Up: Add each student in "Student Set up" tab on home screen. You will add their name and select their target sounds and positions. Next you will go back to home screen and push play. The app will ask you to choose which students are playing (you can also select the therapist if you want to play along with them) and each student can pick their own character to play with. 

Game Play: The students' characters will be displayed on the game board to show whose turn it is. The student will tap the spinner in the middle of the board then they will move that number of spaces (1-6).  I really like that you have to place your finger on your character and physically drag it to each square (similar to a real board game and great for fine motor!). There is a lit up cue on the targeted space to show the students where to go. When the student lands on a space it will pop up one of their target words in a picture card. You then can request a certain number of productions to move on to the next turn (I usually do 5). There are data collection buttons right on each picture card (correct/approximations/incorrect).  On the board you will see many different fun squares and obstacles such as STOP, BONUS, GO BACK, and GO FORWARD. The students I have used this with really like these squares. The game ends when the first player makes it to the school at the end of the board. 


Data: As a speech therapist, this is the first thing I look for when buying new apps to use in therapy! As I stated above, you keep track of productions during the game on each picture card. At the end of the session you can view their data and email it. The data is also stored in the app to be viewed at anytime. I really like viewing data after several sessions to track progress! 
 
 


Options: You can customize the sounds in the app (turn on/off: dice sound, background sound, card sound, game piece sounds, and spoken word). You can also turn on/off the written word on the picture card. 

 

Click here for a demo video by Speech with Milo



What I love: I really like the board game! I have used board games for years in therapy and now I have one right on my iPad! As a traveling SLP this is gold!!!! I also love the bargain price!! $5.99 for this app seems like a steal (SLP apps are pricey!). 

What I would like to see different: I would love to see all phonemes (maybe there will be more board game apps from Speech with Milo at a later date!!!). I also would like to see the ability to add more than 20 students (most of us SLPs have huge caseloads these days!!) without having to pay an extra .99 for 3 students. 

Giveaway! 

I am giving away two copies of this amazing app! There are two ways to enter!  Contest will end October 4, 2012 at 11pm.

1.  Enter using the rafflecopter below. 

2. Enter by leaving a blog comment on this post answering the question below. This is for all of you who don't prefer rafflecopters! Entries will put into a hat and drawn at random by my son (a picture will be posted of the winning name!).  

Here is the question I want you to answer in your comment: What is the most important feature you look for in an articulation app? 

*You may enter both ways but you may only win once! If your name is chosen on both, I will re-draw in the rafflecopter. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



click here for rafflecopter help! 

Rafflecopter instructions

Here is a quick guide on how to enter each step of the giveaway

Step One: These are the only mandatory steps! 

Like Panda Speech and Zorten on Facebook!

Click +1 DO IT! button to the left of each "Like" and it will bring up the next window. 

 

Rafflecopter makes it easy by placing the Facebook "like" button right in this window and all you have to do is click it! 

You can also do this on Facebook on another web page tab. 

If you already "like" Panda Speech and the App Developer you can simply just push the enter button. (This will give you 2 entries). 

Step 2: (This is not mandatory but it will get you +3 entries!!) 

Click the +3 DO IT button and it will pop up this window. 

Scroll down to the bottom of the blog page (the page you are on when entering the rafflecopter) and you will see "enter your comment" in a blank white box: see below)

 

Type the answer to the question I posted in the rafflecopter here and then click "publish"

Now scroll back up to the rafflecopter (it should be right above the comment section) and click the green ENTER button.

You have now just added 3 entries to your name and increased your chances of winning!

Step 3: (This is not mandatory but it will increase you chances of winning) Tweeting about the giveaway! 

This one is the most challenging because there are multiple steps.

Click the +2 DO IT button

Click the "Tweet" button on the rafflecopter. This will bring up a new window in your twitter account (you may have to log in if you haven't already). 

You should see a screen that looks similar to this.You will notice the tweet is already written and ready to go. Simply push the "tweet" button on the lower right. 

The next screen you should see should have a "view it on twitter" link in blue type at the top. Click it quick because this page will self close.

This will take you straight to your tweet in twitter. 

Click and select the entire web URL at that top of the page and copy it. 

You will then go back to the blog and paste this URL in the box provided.  

Press the green "ENTER" button and you are done!

If you tweeted but are having difficulty getting the URL and pasting it in rafflecopter here is what you can do:

After you tweet it go ahead and hit the green "ENTER" button in the rafflecopter for this step. 

Next try to find the tweet URL in twitter and you can copy and paste it in an email to me. If you can not do that, simply email me and I will check twitter to validate your entry!

You can complete this step (Tweeting) daily to get more entries! 

I hope this helps! As always email me panda speech@gmail.com with any further questions!

Adjective Remix Review

Adjective Remix Review
By Smarty Ears $9.99

Buy it in iTunes!





This is another great tool for you iPad if you are a speech pathologist, teacher, or parent! This app is designed to build vocabulary skills by receptive identification of adjectives.  Being able to describe the world around you/understand descriptions is a key language feature to increase expression and comprehension.

Basic Features:

• Two stimuli are presented with a auditory prompt (question) and the child has to tap on the correct picture. For example : Which one is cold?  (a picture of ice and hot coffee is presented). 
• You can store and track multiple uses with the ability to run group sessions. 
• 8 Major categories to choose from (appearance, colors, feelings, quantity, shape, size, time, touch/taste). 
• The ability to choose the specific adjectives to target. 
• Report cards that are emailable and printable (see my son's report card on the upper right). 
• Positive reinforcement (audio and visual) with the ability to customize what the app does when the child chooses wrong (keep going, no response, audio signal). 
• Choose the presentation of the items (randomly or in order). 
• A quick start mode that lets you jump right into practicing adjectives without having to choose or add students.

What I like: 

• I really like the images used in this app. Smarty ears chose real life photos, which can make the images more meaningful for speech/language delayed kids. 
• I like that the child's photo (or chosen avatar) is displayed in the upper left hand corner! Kids love seeing themselves and it helps reinforce turn taking and patients! ("Wait until you see your picture and then it's your turn!")
• I love the in-app support (a feature that Smarty Ears is known for). It links you directly to their customer support email, video tutorial, Facebook page, and information on their other apps.
• I love the $9.99 price! This app targets one concept and is a real bargain! This is great for people who want target specific apps! 

What I would improve on: 

• This is tough because this app is so simple and great! I would like to see the ability to tailor the settings for each child in group sessions. (Choose the targets/categories/adjectives to use for each one).

How I use in therapy:

• I always try to think outside the box to make each app I buy more effective in therapy sessions. This app is great for receptive identification but you can also use it for expressive language and generalizing. After a stimulus is presented and selected,  I would say "Let's think of other cold things" I may model a few and see if I can get the child respond (ice cream, snow, water ect..). 
• I love it when the stimulus can be related to items directly in my room "Which one is red?" I then  get out my pointer finger (that the students love) and we point to all of the other red things we see in my room and name them. 

Check out the Smarty Ears website!

I was given 3 codes of Adjective Remix to giveaway here on Pandaspeech! Enter below on the rafflecopter. If you need help entering email me at pandaspeech@gmail.com or send me a message on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pandaspeech). Good luck! Share this post with your friends!! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter Help!

Great review and give away!

This app combines powerful AAC features with a learning program $170.00 app! Enter to win from iMums at the link below! http://www.theimum.com/2012/06/speechtree-by-iac-professionals-review-and-giveaway/

Custom Boards Premium Review

                     Custom Boards Premium by Smarty Ears $39.99
Download It Now!!!
What is it? This app was designed to turn your iPad into a board and activity creator using smarty symbols or your photo library.  This is ideal for people who need visual pictures to communicate and to learn. There are endless amount of uses for this app. As a speech therapist I use this for AAC (augmentative/alternative communication), visual schedules, calendars, visual aids, visual activity charts,  worksheets, story and literacy aids, and many more! 

The creators of the app really did all the hard work for you (creating lay outs, designing activities, making the boards fit AAC devices, ect...) Your job is to choose the symbols you want and put them in the templates! I love when someone makes my job easier!! As an SLP, teacher, and parent that works with picture symbols we all know how many hours can be spent making boards and activities for our kids 


Here are your options in the app:


Activities and Games: In this section you will see a plethora of pre-made boards to incorporate into your lesson plans.  My favorite in this section is the bingo boards! My speech kids love to play bingo and this gives me the power to make custom boards that target their specific goals (whether that is articulation words or different vocabulary/language concepts). This section also includes articulation sheets, visual scenes, visual scripts, matching cards, 11 themed boards (animals, christmas tree, pumpkin, heart ect...) ludo game board, simple game board, dominoes board, and which go-together board.  See a go-together example below!

Devices & Switches: I wanted to jump for joy when I saw this section. Making boards or layouts for AAC devices is so time consuming! You have to continuously update vocabulary and switch out boards for different settings. Smarty Ears has taken many of the common devices and created templates for you!! All you have to do is choose the device and select the symbols! 
Devices included: Amid 32, Big Mac, Big Point, Big Step by Step, Sub Mini Lever Switch, Voice Pod, Go Talk 4+, Go Talk 9+, Go Talk 20+, Micro Level Switch, Partner Plus, Voice Pal, Access Switch Small, Big Red&Jelly bean, Buddy Button, Chatter Box, Chatter Box 10, Disk Switch, Go Talk Express 32, Go Talk one, Traxysy Inclusive Scan 4, Lagre adjustable pressure switch, Lage Pal Pads, Medium adjustable pressure switch, Mini Pal pad, Moon Switch, Piko Butoon, Small Pal Pad, Smoothie Switch, Spec Switch, Switch Click, Tech Talk, and Tobii S32.

Sign & Labels:  This section is neat because it has pre made signs that some students may need for safely purposes, rules, reminders, directions, and visual aids.  There are 14 different signs available (alert signs, traffic signs, one way arrow sign, and many more) You can choose the symbols and text in the signs.  Here are examples of  signs I created! 

Grids & Boards:  This section can be used for anything! It is handy for making low tech communication boards, communication notebooks, and quick visual aids. It includes 15 templates that you can add symbols or photos to. 


Schedules and Calendars: I work with many kids who need visual schedules and visual calendars! I use this section the most! I really like the first-then template for students who need reinforcement of what is required of them before they get what they want!!

 (First do your homework and then you can play with legos, see example above!).  This section includes hourly, monthly, weekly, orderly, first/then, first/then/last, five weeks calendar, clock, events, and meals schedules. 

Worksheets: These worksheet templates are very useful when making homework for your students. There are 19 different templates including: before and after, different animal/theme sheets, follow the worm game, greeting card, mini book, My Book, sequencing sheets, story boards, and sorting sheets. You can get creative in this section! 


How to add symbols: This is very easy. Choose a template and simply tap on the cell you want to add a symbol to. A window will pop up and you can search for images in the Smarty Symbols bank or you can add your own from your iPad library. You can add text with  your symbol and choose the color of the background. After you have your symbol ready, simply tap on the picture and it adds it to your board. 

Key Features in my opinion:

• Over 11, 000 Smarty Symbols included 
• Customize the cell background colors
• Use your own symbols and photos from you iPad photo library
• Save, print, and share the boards you make (You can make folders to organize all your boards in the app). 
• Over 100 templates to choose from
• Save templates as PDFs on your PC using iTunes
• Video Tutorials by Smarty Ears

Things I would like to see in the future:

• The ability to add more than one symbol to a cell or button
• A template design feature (right now you can suggests templates to Smarty Ears for the app). 

Overall Opinion of the app: Incredibly useful and well worth the money! A great investment for you iPad! A must for SLPs and teachers! 

www.smartyearsapps.com

Articulation Scenes Review

                           Articulation Scenes by Smarty Ears!

download it now! iTunes $49.99



Smarty Ears has done it again! Articulation Scenes is a new creative and engaging way to work on articulation and language skills! The app premise is based on scenes and has very cute, hollywoodish graphics and animations. 

There are four modes of play: Find the hidden items, tap and say it, the movie theater, and the production room. You choose the phoneme (sound) and placement (initial, medial, and final position of words) to work on and it lets you choose different scenes to play with. There are three scenes per phoneme (one for initial, medial, and final placement) with the exception of /r/, which contains 10 scenes. 

Find the hidden item: This mode is a seek and find activity. There are words listed at the bottom of thescene (if the child taps on the written word it will say it for them). As the child finds the pictures it says the target words again (this is great for auditory bombardment).  I also have the child produce the target after they find it to practice their speech! The child is rewarded with points for every picture they find and if they score enough they will get a trophy for their trophy case.  This task also promotes vocabulary building and listening skills! 

Tap and Say it: This is exactly what is sounds like! The child taps on target words in each scene and the picture pops up bigger. Here the therapist (parent/teacher) has data recording tools (missed it, almost, and got it). This keeps track of accuracy for you! There is also an option to record the child's voice for instant personal feedback. What I really like is that you can practice each word as many times as you want. To get more practice you can have the child say each word 3 times!  When you are finished with the scene it provides a nice report with percentage of accuracy.  Again you can also use this game for vocabulary building for those kids who have language and articulation goals!

The Movie Theater: The scenes is presented in a movie theater like graphic and a story/script is read aloud (containing target words). When it is finished you can have the child read the script of the movie (for articulation practice while reading) or create their own story. When they choose to read, the story is presented in a teleprompter! So cute! You can record the student reading the script. If you choose to create a story, the scene is presented again and the student can make up their own story and record it! (This is great for working on articulation in structured speaking situations).  

The Production Room: This section is similar to the Movie theater except it doesn't include the read aloud script first. This is ideal for student who are ready to just create! See above for the description of the two options (read the script and create your own story).  You can use this app for story elements and narrative skills as well! (Targeting those language goals!)

Things I really like: 

• Create quick user profiles: Name and photo/avatar only! This makes set up much quicker (as opposed to entering birth date and grade level)! This is great when you want to start a game quick and you don't have the student's records handy. 

• Homework Document: Each scene comes with a homework document (Amazing!!) that has picture cardswith images straight from the scene! Send these home with your kiddos for great carry over practice! It will get your kids talking about Articulation Scenes at home! I have even planned on taking screen shots of the individual scenes to print out with the scripts so that the students can practice exactly what we did in therapy with their caregiver! I may type up their recorded story (or have them write it) too! Example of a homework page (screen shot from my iPad, it prints or emails as a full page). 

• The Lounge: The lounge displays each child's progress report and trophy case when you tap on their picture. This stores their data from each session which comes in handy when you are needing some data for school reports or therapy notes! My son loved this and wanted to check his trophy case after each session! :) Great way to keep student's motivated! This is my son's lounge to the left!

• Reports: You can share the progress reports via email or Print (I still haven't bought a printer for my iPad). I like that you have the option to only share the most recent session and you can attach audio files!! 

• The tricky /r/ phoneme! This phoneme is one of the most prevalent targets and Smarty ears broke it down into the different types of /r/ sounds (pre-vocalic, blends, air, ar, ear, ire, or, rl). A speech    therapist's dream! 

Some may think this app is a little pricey but it is worth the money. This app provides endless articulation practice with over 1200 target pictures and 72 different scenes! This company has great customer service and provides video tutorials for all of their apps!  If you want high quality therapy apps you have to pay for them!

www.smartyearsapps.com