I LOVE speedy speech! (In the research you may see it listed as the "intensive articulation model" of therapy). With speedy speech, I have seen wonderful progress in my articulation students, the students' parents have been impressed with their child's progress, and the teachers love that I only pull a student out for 5 minutes at a time (so they don't miss much-if any-instruction time).
I remember reading that within a given school year a student misses 1 week of instruction time walking back and forth for pull-out groups (speech, resource, PT, OT, reading recovery, TitleI, etc). Wow! I worked in a school where we did speedy speech sessions at an empty desk in the hallway by each "pod" of grade-level classrooms, and in my current school I have that option in some halls, but typically just sit on the floor in the hallway(!).
Here's my top reasons for loving speedy speech (in no particular order):
- it's fast, so behavior is rarely an issue
- it's fast, so the students stay engaged
- progress! progress! progress!
- a variety of activities are perfect for 5 minutes with very little prep time
- not material-heavy (the students don't get bored with the activities, so I can 're-cycle' through my materials/activities every month or so and I can do the same activity within a week)
- progress! progress! progress!
- the teachers love it
- I get to see my students 4-5 days/week, so I get to know them individually better
- I get to see my students 4-5 days/week, so I am more in-tune with educationally-relevant changes and can work along side teachers/parents with problem solving (e.g., medication issues, vision/hearing concerns, home changes that impact the school day, sleep issues)
- progress! progress! progress!
- the students see "my face" 4-5 days/week, so using correct speech sounds is on their mind more frequently
- I am around the building so all students see me--that makes making a relationship for a screening, starting RtI, testing, etc. much faster and easier
I'd be happy to help anyone set up their speedy speech program! More posts to help out!
I am curious...how many buildings do you serve? This seems like a great idea, just didn't know if it would work in a multiple building schedule like mine.
ReplyDeleteI serve a district birth to 21, which includes 3 buildings (preschool, K-6 elem and 7-12 jr/high school). Logistically, here's what I'd say....
Delete*I write 14 or 16 days/month into IEPs, to allow for a minimum of 4speech sessions/week. My elementary speedy speech students do not see me on Wednesdays. I use weekly homework to 'stand in the gap.'
*I have actually had great parent and staff support so I can see my junior/high school students via Skype 3 days/week and "live"/in person 1 day/week for a slightly extended amount of time (15 minutes with the small group). I keep a folder of articulation word lists for each student next to the computer they use for Skype and have set up a 'speech students' account. The computer is in the resource room's office, which is separated from the other students with a glass window (private and less distracting but supervision is available). My students and their last period teacher are responsible for their Skype attendance (with reminder emails from me:)
*I use my speedy speech basket for the elementary, and have a speedy speech 'binder' at the junior/high school with more age-appropriate materials. I still use cards--but they are cards I have made/copied (less$!)
*If you use a plastic container with a lid (those snap-on lids with handles have worked well), your speech 'basket' can travel.
Hope this helps! Let me know if I can be more helpful!