A springtime favorite of mine

Hey y’all!! 

It’s springtime at last!!  We've been getting ready for Earth Day tomorrow...

(click here for a peek at these)

but today we are started bugging out in my speech room!

If you follow me on Instagram, you saw that we had some creepy crawly fun...all while addressing artic and language goals of course!  The You’re Bugging Me game was slightly disgusting but also FUN today during artic therapy, and it sure elicited lots of language for my language students!! 

Check it out HERE! Each child gets a Velcro armband which is loaded up with bugs.  They roll a die to see how many bugs they get to take OFF, and whoever gets all of their bugs off first, wins the game!! Besides that, I just used the Velcro bugs for reinforcing language and correct articulation during drill. 

No one could resist the bugs! 

Check out my little guy all covered in them!  

Lots of squeals and tons of requests for "more,"  "on," "off," "green one," "bugs please,"  "my turn," etc.!  We also looked at them through a tiny magnifying glass. 

Ooohs and ahhhs followed :)

This little girl below wanted all the bugs to be twins (since she is one and thinks they all need a sister).  She earned the twin insects with lots of articulation drill! 

The last 2 days have been TOO beautiful here in the deep south to NOT do some fun spring activities!! I'm so excited for the fun Spring and Summer activities I've got lined up in these last few weeks of school! 

Of course, if you're an SLP, you know allllllll about that "go-to" springtime book....you know.... the one about the caterpillar and his binge eating....but I wanted to share with you one of my very favorite storybooks for spring that I suspect you've never heard of...

Ladybug on the Move

 by Richard Fowler

By the way, I should clarify that I am not associated with the author or any affiliates in any way. 

I just happen to love this book! 

This is NOT your ordinary storybook.  It’s hands-on!! I LOVE that it’s interactive, and it’s a clever way to introduce print awareness and tracking to our young students! 

As soon as I take the ladybug out of the little clear pocket on the front cover and show how she can glide along the print as I read the first page, my students are just itching for their turn to move the ladybug, too. 

It’s the perfect opportunity to explain that the ladybug moves along the words because the words that are the best part of the book;  they tell the story! If my kiddos want to be "in charge" of the ladybug, they must move her along the words while I read.  It’s a sneaky way to get my preschoolers and kindergartners to attend to print.  For my higher kindergartners, first graders, and so on, it’s a cool way to get them pumped about tracking print. 

You can see that my ladybug has been beat up and repaired many times over the years. I think my book is almost 20 years old, but it’s still in bookstores. 

You can find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, but it goes for a pretty penny these days!  Oh, by the way, don't worry about losing the ladybug; the book includes a pattern for making another one should that happen! 

Richard Fowler has similar interactive books with the same concept that are a little easier on the pocketbook.  In fact, today I ordered Honeybee’s Busy Day  and There's a Mouse about the House for a steal.  (Same concept!)

So as I read, or as the students read (if they are readers), the children get to push the ladybug over the print. It’s not rocket science, but it’s hugely motivating to them!  It also keeps their eyes glued to the page. I don’t know about you, but with my kids that’s a major accomplishment!

We keep reading, and the ladybug keeps moving. She slips under objects (with slits) on each page. That part is a little tricky. I always tell my kids to only slip her halfway through so that we can turn the page and she doesn’t fall down.   

It really is a beautiful book with a fun storyline.  Ladybug is looking for a home, but none of the other critters want her invading their space (except these oogey slugs above and she wants no part of that).

My little ones need a little help opening the slit to move the ladybug through, but I tell you, they’re giddy with excitement and would read this book again and again. 

Check out one my favorite little people moving that ladybug like a boss!! 

What's YOUR favorite spring themed book for therapy? 

I would really love to know! 

Hope spring has sprung in your neck of the woods!