I'm pretty excited to be starting this program at almost all the Kindergartens I work in this week!  I have my thought bubble printed out and am looking forward to seeing how the kids respond to this program in the four different classrooms. So far in the preparing phase, I'm really loving it.  The goal seems to be to teach students about the building blocks of social thinking - which impacts interactions, decision making, friendships, classroom success, and many other things about learning!

The simple plan is all laid out for the instructors, and is very interactive, so hopefully it all goes smoothly!  I like the vocabulary and phrases, such as 'come and put your body in the group', having a brain for a thought, a heart for a feeling and a mouth for speaking our thoughts, and thinking about a 'group plan' as the expected behaviour for that scenario.

I'm sure I'll learn just as much as the students!  Wish me luck!  
  

Well...silence isn't always golden, especially as an SLP.  But it sure has been quiet here on my website!  I'm not sure why!  I think because I have just kind of been sitting back and watching what is happening with my business, and I wasn't sure what to say about it. :)  Things have been good, very good.  Not easy all the time, and often different than I pictured things would be, but good.  

One of the things that I have enjoyed through the years in my career is when my caseload has really interesting clients, and I must say that is certainly true this year.  My mind is always racing at work, thinking through possibilities to explain certain behaviours, thinking of better ways to do things, and finding new and creative ways to reach out to kids and adults alike.  I really enjoy that, and the creativity is good for my spirit.  In my main contract, I have some really supportive teachers that I work closely with and that has meant so much and helps with some of the more frustrating moments. :)  And my individual client contracts are the sweetest little ones ever, I just adore them!

Over Christmas I did realize that I missed having daily coworkers!  I didn't even go to the Christmas parties very often once I had little kids, but this year I did miss the regular contact with colleagues to bounce ideas around with, and celebrate with.  I am so glad to have some great ladies to share the work with even though we get busy and don't always connect as regularly as my social nature desires, ha! So it's alright, just an adjustment for me, and I border on annoying-puppy status with them most of the time I'm sure, haha.  I should write on this blog more often and then I can pretend I have people to talk to about SLP issues ha!  

With the new year, I am full of new ideas and excited about my first week back at work.  With my main school contract, I am continuing to work to try find ways to be purposeful about language and speech therapy within the context of play, as we have been directed to do.  My newest strategies include improving communication with EAs in the classroom, including documenting more about what we've discussed.  For example, I made a poster to show a language concept we were going to target for the classroom for the week, and modelled to the adults how to do that, and I hope to rotate that out at least weekly so that I have a record of what we have addressed.  For my individual clients, which I see in homes, I am continuing to make very good use of Pinterest and "Teachers Pay Teachers", and am seeing some nice progress with them in the skill areas we are addressing.  Observable progress is always good. :)


Anyway, that's a little update.  I have had some fun conversations lately about some volunteer opportunities, some Skype opportunities, and have been really working at expanding my knowledge base in AAC, an area I have loved for many years in my career, particularly in the advances in literacy with students who use AAC.  Exciting!


So...as much as I had ideas about what my business would look like, it is looking much more like sitting back and watching things happen, and walking through doors as they open.  It is a trust walk.  And it is also one that I'm super grateful for, I know some people that are really wanting work these days.  Thanks for listening and for your support to me and my family!