Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP. Over 33 years experience in AAC. OMazing Kids AAC and app consulting. Creator of several AAC Feature Matching resources (https://omazingkidsllc.com/omazing-kids-aac-resource-links/). Includes info about unique features to support Gestalt Language Processors
I love using all of Karma Wilson’s books in OMazing Kids speech therapy but I’m especially a fan of the Bear series. So much so that I chose this new book as the prize in the giveaway to celebrate passing the 12,000 likes milestone on the OMazing Kids Facebook page:
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My copy of her newest book “Big Bear, Small Mouse” arrived yesterday.
Love it and made these free printable opposite cards to go with the book. It includes all the characters & opposites from the book plus several additional opposite word pairs and phrase building cards to place the adjective + noun on.
{Big App Sale} The iESLp app allows you to make interactive activities for use on the iPad or printable activities and visual supports for use off the iPad. This app is a great bargain on sale for only $9.99 considering that you could easily spend that amount on one or two items on Teachers Pay Teachers. This app is packed full of amazing features:
24,000 Symbolstix symbols and pictures built in
In-app purchase of 3,800+ Scrapin Doodle clip art images
Import photos from albums and use existing clip art from your favorite graphic designer
Build activities to meet your needs from an assortment of grids, boards, game board, visual tools and templates or design your own
Attach voice recording to text or symbols
Create activity sheets, handouts and more
Make two-dimensional assignment sheets come alive with the interactive and manipulative features
Depict action by moving the symbols around
Create movable activities like matching, sorting, counting, story-writing activities and more
Easily create goal content or curriculum-related material, articulation sets, minimal pairs sets, etc.
Students and clients can make their own boards, activity sheets, games, etc.
Create goal-targeted vocabulary or sound cards with voice-recording features
Visual strategy boards come alive using the built-in features
Share assignment and activity sheets through air drop, text messaging, email and social media
Print from within the program using an air printer
App Store link:
iESLp by Irmgard Raubenheimer https://appsto.re/us/NiPA2.i, iPad only, usually $19.99 -> currently $9.99 (50% off) (price in USA App Store. Prices in other areas vary depending on the exchange rate)
According to the app developer’s Facebook page, the app will only be offered at the sale price for a couple of days so grab it quickly and double check prices before purchasing
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The in app purchases are for extra clip art. The SymbolStix symbols are all already included in the app. See this post for details about why they included both:
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See tutorials & tons of ideas for items you can create with this app on their website & Facebook page:
These are just a few of the endless possibilities. I’m in the process of trying out the app and will be posting pics of my creations in the future. Be watching my Facebook page 😃
{Book Giveaway} I am doing a giveaway to celebrate passing the 12,000 likes milestone on the OMazing Kids Facebook page.
I still remember initially trying to get 25 likes from friends and family in order to even set up this page in March 2011 as I was preparing to do my first presentation about kids yoga at a conference the next month. I’m humbled and excited to have an ever growing community to share with!
As I was browsing online looking for an idea for a prize for the giveaway, the new book “Big Bear, Small Mouse” being released next week by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman struck me as being perfect!
Book Description: Even the smallest readers can have big fun with Bear in this sweet introduction to opposites from the New York Times bestselling creators of Bear’s New Friend. Bear is big, big, big, and mouse is small, small, small but these friends stick together through all the highs and lows! Join Bear and mouse as they spot all the opposites in their little glen. Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman team up again to bring the youngest Bear fans a delightful concept book that begs to be read out loud.
I preordered a copy for myself and will be making printable for the book and adding it to this post once it arrives.
This giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations to Kim Rankin for her winning entry:
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Easy Entry Form (be sure you are on the original blog post for the entry form to show up. Previews in e-mail often don’t show it):
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Only entries with all required information will be valid. The info comes to me directly via e-mail & is ONLY used for the purposes of selecting winners and distributing prizes.
. Helpful Info & Tips:
Folks had requested a simpler entry option. I tried Rafflecopter but most folks did not enter an address so now I’m trying this online contact form instead. I will be hand selecting winners to insure products end up in the hands of folks who will put them to the best use. Briefly tell me how winning this would help you & the kids. I take the time to read each entry so details count. It doesn’t have to be lengthy…. just heart-felt.
If you experience any problems with the entry form in this blog post, please send me a message on the OMazing Kids Facebook page with specific details so I can attempt to fix it. Facebook messaging for OMazing Kids: http://m.me/OMazingKidsYoga. The entry deadline may be extended at the sole discretion of OMazing Kids in the event of prolonged entry problems.
Each “giveaway” is handled separately on OMazing Kids. So there are no rules prohibiting previous winners from entering this or future giveaways. I really do read every entry in every giveaway carefully to insure that the products end up in the best hands to impact kids lives.
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Entry Deadline: 11:59pm CST on November 25, 2016.
. Rules of Participation:
Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
One entry per person.
Due to shipping costs only USA entries are allowed for this particular giveaway.
Employees or family members of OMazing Kids, LLC or the product’s company are not eligible.
No purchase required.
Comments submitted via entries may be copied & pasted into the blog post.
Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
Only entries with all required information will be valid.
The winner will be chosen from valid entries on November 26, 2016.
The winners will be notified via e-mail, will be posted on the blog post & will be posted on the OMazing Kids Facebook page.
The prize will be mailed to the winner using the address submitted in the entry form. OMazing Kids is not responsible for items lost in the mail or for inaccuracies in the mailing address. I copy & paste the info directly from what you submit << so PLEASE proof read your entry for accuracy before submitting it…. in the era of iPhone auto correction these errors happen pretty frequently>>
Prize Value: $16.99
. 1 winner will win a hardcover copy of this book. I will be shipping it directly to them from Amazon. Amazon requires a contact phone number for deliveries.
. Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a kids book but just to be safe here is all the legal stuff… This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You are providing your information to OMazing Kids, LLC and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for our internal purposes in relation to the administration of the giveaway. Your information will NOT be sold to any outside parties. Indemnification/Hold Harmless: By participating, entrants agree: (a) to the decisions of OMazing Kids, LLC, which shall be final in all respects; (b) to release, discharge, and hold harmless OMazing Kids, LLC and its respective representatives and agents from all liability, injuries, losses or damages of any kind to persons or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize, or from participation in and/or entry into the Contest or any Contest-related activity and for acceptance, delivery, or use of any prize; (c) that the foregoing parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guaranty, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to any prize.
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: http://m.me/OMazingKidsYoga
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}
I work with Autistic kids who often have great difficulty with self-regulation. This is one of the main things that caused me to be drawn to kids yoga & other relaxation techniques to help them. It was heartbreaking to witness one of my six year old patients have a total meltdown last week. She often has these episodes of total disregulation the day after an evening field trip or event. Like many girls her age she is highly interested in the movie Frozen. So I made the following visual supports to help teach her breathing and relaxation techniques that should help with self-regulation.
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I’m sharing it here as a free printable so others can benefit from it as well. The small blue arrow indicates where to start on each visual.
Have you seen the new line of Ladybug Girl board books? Board books are a great option when doing 1-on-1 activities. The sturdy pages and shortened text lend themselves well to repeated use with kids with special needs. I love this newest book in the Ladybug Girl series! It has a great message of gratitude and is filled with lots of opportunities for kids yoga: ladybug, dog, bumblebee breath, grasshopper (for Grasshopper Girl), crescent moon, standing star, tree, book (easy pose and open/close legs like turning pages in a book, pumpkin (child pose with hands at head for stem), pie making sequence (see details below) & ending with the Gratitude Relaxation guided relaxation and activities from the Yoga 4 Classrooms Activity Card Deck. I also include coloring as part of relaxation.
Get the free printable coloring page that I made for the yoga poses in this book:
roll out the pie dough (lay on belly & kids choose if they want their arms, legs or back rolled out with a pool noodle “rolling pin” or a real rolling pin – be mindful of kid’s sensory needs and always ask their permission before touching. Some kids may prefer to roll out their own arms or legs with the pool noodle)
easy pose legs as bowl, put in pumpkin, eggs, spices, etc., mix (stir the pot & do “washing machine” for mixer)
pie pose (seated angle)
tick-tock-toes timer (point-flex feet while saying “tick tock” as the pie “cooks” on your oven)
smell & “mmm” breath
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Fun idea:
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See this post for more ideas for teaching kids about gratitude and thankfulness. Includes lesson plans for several books, crafts, Gratitude Relaxation card and a music playlist:
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
Need to access YouTube videos without WiFi? I have several patients who have very specific YouTube videos that they request via AAC and it doesn’t end well when I can’t get those videos to play because of the poor / inconsistent WiFi at work. So I found a way to solve that issue.
Follow the steps in this post to download a video to your iPad. I just was able to get it to work on my iPad Air running iOS 9.3.1 and saved a YouTube video of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Hot Dog song to the Camera Roll on my iPad (pretty sure this song is now permanently stuck in my brain… ahhh the sacrifices we make to insure we have the stuff our patients are willing to communicate for 🤓).
The post mentions that there may be issues if you are running iOS 10 but still worth trying.
Here is the free app they mention: Documents 5 – File manager, PDF reader and browser by Readdle https://appsto.re/us/Vw_Vv.i
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UPDATE: The app listed above was no longer working so I now use this website. I save the video to my laptop and the e-mail it to the iPad that I want to save it on:
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
{Book Reviews} 5 Great Books for SLPs: Being Frank, Dragon and Captain, Hammer and Nails, Hey! That’s My Monster & I Need My Monster by Flashlight Press
Being Frank by Donna Earnhardt
Honesty is the best policy.” That’s Frank’s motto. But Frank’s overly frank comments tend to annoy his friends and teachers. Not even his own mother is all that fond of Frank’s “tell all” attitude. So Frank turns to his grandpa for help. “Everyone is mad at me for being frank. I’m not sure honesty is the best policy anymore.” A few outrageous hats, a spicy jar of relish, and some grandfatherly wisdom help Frank realize that truth is best served with more sugar and less pepper.
What I love as a SLP: This book is perfect to help kids with Autism or other special needs understand the concept of filtering the “truth” in a way that is considerate of another person’s feelings. The analogy of the truth being “best served with more sugar and less pepper” is fabulous!
Dragon is a boy who always wears his dragon robe. And Captain is a boy with a three-sided hat. But as the boys’ imaginations take over, we see them as they see themselves, and the backyard as the boys see it: a dark forest, a craggy cliff, and the immense sea. Illustrated like a comic book but for kids at the picture book age level.
What I love as a SLP: I have been looking for a comic style picture book for younger kids after reading a post about using that style of books to help kids with Autism and other special needs understand the turn taking aspect of conversations. This book is exactly what I have been needing! I love the large illustrations and simple dialogue depicted on each page or two-page spread. This style of book also lends itself well to showing kids a sequence of events. It is also filled with lots of great vocabulary, verbs, adjectives, spatial concepts, predicting, inferencing, teamwork and imagination. The pirate theme is sure to be a hit with my patients! Even the end pages are illustrated as pirate’s map.
Book read aloud video:
Hammer and Nails by Josh Bledsoe
Darcy has plans. She and her friend are going to play dress up, do each other’s hair, and polish their nails. Daddy has plans, too. He’s going to read the paper, mow the lawn, and fix the fence. When Darcy’s friend cancels and she’s sure her day is ruined, Daddy suggests a Darcy-Daddy Day. Now they can tackle their to-do lists together. But will Darcy enjoy hammering? Will Daddy do nails? You bet! Join Darcy and Daddy as they discover the fun in trying new things, especially with someone you love.
What I love as a SLP: This book has great illustrations depicting emotions and a fabulous storyline of a day that a child thought was ruined by a change in plans instead turning into a fun-filled day with her Dad. I love that the day is a mixture of what the things she wanted to do and the things her Dad needed to accomplish. This book is filled with great examples of “flexible thinking” and discussing options. Lots of great vocabulary, verbs, adjectives, spatial concepts, taking turns, trying new things, silliness/humor and showing that even chores like mowing, laundry or fixing a fence can be fun if you use your imagination and are working together.
No video of this book yet but I’ll add one here later if one is made. In the meantime a cute picture:
Hey, That’s MY Monster!, companion to the best-selling I Need My Monster, is an irresistible monster-under-the-bed story for all monster-loving kids. The perfect balance of giggles and shivers will keep you under your covers, and you’ll soon be sleeping soundly.
What I love as a SLP: This book has all the same great qualities as “I Need My Monster” with the added opportunities for pronouns (he, she, his, her). It is also fun to compare the monsters found in both books.
Book Trailer:
I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll
One night, when Ethan checks under the bed for his monster, he finds a note instead: “Gone fishing. Back in a week. –Gabe”. What will Ethan do? He needs a monster under his bed. How is he supposed to get to sleep if his monster is gone? Substitute monsters appear, but none are just right. Herbert’s teeth aren’t sharp enough, Mack’s slobbering induces giggles, Cynthia’s tail isn’t scary at all, and Ralph has nail polish on his claws! This will never work! How will Ethan ever get to sleep without his monster?
What I love as a SLP: This book is filled with great vocabulary, verbs, adjectives and is fun to use to compare/contrast the monsters. I also used it on Halloween with several patients working on articulation. It was fun to find words with their target sounds. The illustrations are exquisite and the story is the perfect level of “just a little scary but mainly funny”. The end sheets are illustrated with lots of different monsters… fun for a game of “I spy”.
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
iPads were the best purchase ever as a SLP. If you truly want iPads to be “special needs friendly”, please do this:
Maintain consistent sizes on devices. Companies that make cases need consistent sizes over time for them to invest in making cases for them. It has been a challenge to find cases for the iPad Mini 4 & iPad Pro 9.7″
Please make an iPad Pro Mini. Having the Mini size + the 4 speakers + the enhanced processor speed would make it ideal for most kids who would use it for AAC.
Please add the visual aspect back to the built in timer in your next update for iOS 10. Very useful for kids with Autism.
Thanks for considering these suggestions!
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
OMazing Kids (https://omazingkidsllc.com/)
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This feedback was submitted directly to Apple via their online feedback form on 11/6/16. I’ll keep you posted if I get a response. I have seen rumors of a an iPad Pro 7.9″ (aka. iPad Mini 5 but with 4 speakers and other features of the iPad Pro) possibly coming in March 2017. If that happens, I hope Gripcase & Lifeproof will both get on board in supporting the special needs community and offer cases for it.
Anybody else out there playing the never ending “app shuffle” where you painstakingly decide what to delete off your device to free up memory? I had been doing this daily to keep at least 1GB of memory free to insure that all of my AAC apps and therapy apps run smoothly. Even with a 128 GB iPad Air the struggle is real.
I’m usually skeptical of “hacks” since they never quite live up to the hype but was intrigued when I saw a post about this one on Lauren Enders’, an AAC and tech guru, Facebook page. I highly recommend following her on Facebook and Pinterest!
NOTE: I had one person leave a comment on my Facebook page that she was charged after tapping “rent” despite following the steps in the CNET post. She indicated that she suspected that it might have been due to her having an available balance to spend in her iTunes account. So please be advised that this could occur if you have an iTunes balance. I have had many other comments and messages that the steps in the CNET post worked for them and I know that it worked for me.
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This is seriously the best iOS hack ever! I did a hard reboot after following the steps in the post and went from 1.2GB of free space up to 5.0GB of free space (a gain of 3.8 GB additional free space on my iPad Air). That’s huge! I wonder what on earth is going on behind the scenes to hog that much space and then magically free it up?
And nothing seems to be running glitchy after doing this… is it “tech geeky” to be this giddy over the sight of 5.0GB of free space on my main therapy iPad? Probably so but I’m loving it 😉
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
OMazing Kids AAC Consulting 