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App Review: Storybook Maker by Merge Mobile

Ok, so most of you know that I love apps! I recently found app developer Merge Mobile and want to share another app from them with you, Storybook Maker. I am so loving this app, it is definitely a must-have! Why? You can use this app to address so many goals, including writing narratives, grammatical skills, retelling stories, vocabulary, following directions, listening comprehension, describing, articulation, fluency, social skills, and more! Wow! I can use this with every child on my caseload and be able to justify it.

So, let's start at the beginning. When you open the app, you can choose from "My Library" or "Public Library."  The "My Library" option shows all of the books that you have created, and allows you to create a new  book.  The "Public Library" option is AMAZING!  Click there, and it takes you to a wealth of resources created by other people and shared with everyone!

So, how do you make your own book?  Great question!  First, you tap on the new book icon and type in your title and tap "Create Book.  Then you get to select your page style.  Here I chose 3 pictures to a page, with writing next to each.  I made an alphabet book for my daughter in this example:

If you need a picture not in the image library, you can use your camera to take a picture, or use your photographs already on your camera roll.... I'm thinking, social story time here!  I see so many uses for this.


Now for the fun part!  You can choose to record your (or your student's) voice, set background music, and customize the look of your pages with borders or backgrounds!  If you want to change the layout of your page, click on the hand that says "move", and you can change where your words and text are located.  You can make the pictures larger or smaller, and increase or decrease text size as well.

This app truly makes books come out the way you imagine!  And all for $3.99.  I think this would be a wonderful app for any SLP, teacher, or parent.  You can find it in the app store HERE.

Oh, and by the way, Merge Mobile has offered three copies to give away!  Enter to win through the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

App review: Clicky Sticky Cars

Have kids who love cars? Do they also like stickers? If so, your kids might just be as addicted to Clicky Sticky Cars as mine are!

There are several background scenes to choose from. In each scene, kids can choose from a large variety of interesting cars, add tires, people or background items, such as benches, trees, or lights, and then watch the sticker scene come to life.

My kids still use color forms, from when I was still providing home-based speech services. This app takes it to the next level. My kids loved the sounds and the motion once they finished each scene.

This app was wonderful for vocabulary, following directions, and addressing basic and spatial concepts. So if your kids or speech students are like mine, give it a try!

Here are some pictures of the app. My son wanted to use as many stickers as he could in this first picture. When you click on the green arrow in the bottom right, the movement and sounds start.

Please scroll down to enter the giveaway. Three lucky winners will receive a code for Clicky Sticky Cars!

Here is the information for Merge Mobile:

Clicky Sticky Cars on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clickysticky-cars/id465188375?mt=8

Thousands of kids have enjoyed ClickySticky™, the #1 animated Stickerbook App, which was recently recognized as one of the 2010 Hot Trend Apps by Apple. “Apps in 2010 that reached new heights of productivity, creativity – and dare we say – magic.”  Now there’s ClickySticky™ Cars!  Your children will have fun using their imaginations with this exciting new interactive sticker-book.  ClickySticky™ Cars comes packed with drag race, retro, vintage, sports and monster cars! Your child’s imagination will run wild with these 4 new great scenes.

Website: www.mergemobile.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MergeMobile?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MergeMobileInc

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two "Moore" ways to help Oklahoma SLPs

Since I have started this blog and facebook page, I have gotten to know many SLPs from around the country and beyond.  One person whose blog I follow, Amy from Major Speech Pathology Fun by a Minor Girl, was working at her school in Moore, Oklahoma when the tornado struck on May 20^th.  You can read her account of it here.  As a community, the SLPs reached out, not only to offer support, but to raise funds to help out the SLPs who lost everything when the storm hit their schools. 

As a result of collaboration and many people offering a product of theirs to bundle together, we are proud to offer two bundles to offer support for the SLPs of Moore, Oklahoma.  You can find both bundles here.  Each bundle is valued over $140, and is packed with fabulous products from your favorite SLP sellers.  These bundles will be available for purchase throughout the month of June for a $15 donation per bundle.  With about 30 products per bundle, how can anyone resist?

Finally, please head over to Amy's blog again for all of the details of this project and how many companies are also helping the schools of Moore, Oklahoma!

May SLP Link Up

Thanks to Oh, How Pintearesting for providing the Link Up for May!  Please go to her blog here for the directions for this fun link up! 

Buying: All about Moms this weekend!  Need to get plants, not only for my front yard, but for the moms in my life! 

Hearting: I definitely have spring fever!  It is so nice to have warm weather and more daylight.  Spending time outside with my kids is so much more enjoyable than, let’s say, Annual Reviews, IEPs, and writing reports!  It seemed like this winter was never going to end.  It makes me so happy to see flowers blooming and leaves on the trees.  It is such a beautiful time of year, even though my allergies have been out of control lately.

Sharing: Some Juniors and Seniors in the high school where I work asked me to speak to them about becoming an SLP.  That was so exciting.  I had some brochures from ASHA that I had ordered several years ago, so I was able to hand them out and then talk about requirements for college and graduate school and about my experiences from private practice, to a private special ed school, to working in a district.  It was fun, and it was nice to meet with such a wonderful bunch of kids.

Making: To go with the plants, my kids are going to finish making homemade cards for the grandmothers.  I always have a picture in my head, which of course, is never the same picture that my kids have in their heads.  I don’t mind (most of the time anyway, LOL), the cards will be cute no matter what!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there!

Teacher Appreciation Week -- Speechie TpT Link Up

Hi everyone!  I wanted to try my hand at a link up party for Teacher, or should I say Speech-er Appreciation Week!  If you have a TpT store, and you would like to participate, link up below!

I have a few items you may want to check out during the sale.  

Regular Past Tense

Irregular Past Tense

Race to the Princess Language Games 

Sports Game Boards for S, L, and R blends, and Multiple Meaning Words

Link away!  

Product review: Queen's Speech Owl's Multiple Meaning Words Are a Hoot!

Note: For some reason blogger is not allowing me to post pictures, I will edit when I can get them in…

I love being able to review activities from other Speech Pathologists!  Not only does it allow me to see what others are doing, but it gives my students a chance to address their goals in a different way.  I have been looking for additional ways to focus on multiple meaning words, so when Rachel, from Queen's Speech, posted about her Owl's Multiple Meaning Words, I knew I had to try it out!  

What is there to love about this product?

1.   Ok, I don’t know about you, but I think these owls are absolutely adorable.  My students love the graphics!

·         2.  I love the mini posters and the poster that explains the three types of multiple meaning words!  So useful for our students!

·         3.  A variety of activities are included: Bingo, a game board, cards you can use for matching, and more! 

·         4.  Each word has the definition for both meanings, as well as a picture for each, which my students need to help them make a connection.

·         5.  Carryover pages….  Thank you!  It is always wonderful to have homework pages to send home, or a great activity to use as an exit ticket….  See the last two pages in the packet.  One page has an area to list words for homonyms, heteronyms, and heterographs, the other has students choose three words and write them in sentences, list words that have multiple meanings that are not included, and then draw a picture of them.  The last page can also be used as a sorting mat with her included pictures, but I did have them write examples in each section at the end of the session so I could see what they remembered.  My administrators love exit tickets, so I am always searching for materials that can be repurposed for that.

This is definitely a must-have activity in my speech room.  To view her activity, please go here.  Follow her on Facebook here, and her blog here!  Enjoy!