Hello, everyone! I hope you are all surviving the heat of this summer! Growing up, I often heard the hottest part of summer referred to as “dog days.” Apparently, the original dog days were used in Greek and Roman astrology to refer to the time period for the rising of the star Sirius (the dog star). Recent research (on Wikipedia) revealed that the time frame for the dog days of summer varies, but if you use the term for July-August in the United States, you are probably using it correctly. You are especially using it correctly if you are referring to the miserable, hot, humid, sweltering weather here in the Southern US (according to me, anyway).
To help you survive these dog days, I want to share
with you some ideas for using a dog theme in speech therapy. Most people like
dogs, and this is a theme that works well for all ages (preschool-high school
and beyond).
First of all, I LOVE using books in therapy, and these are great for a dog theme:
PK-2
PK-2
My second recommendation comes from a colleague whose
students CONSTANTLY request this game: Doggie Doo! I get a little grossed out, so I haven't played it, but her kids think it is hilarious.
For the littlest littles, I like to use toys such as a vet kit or pet grooming kit with stuffed dogs in play therapy.
For larger groups of elementary-aged kids, “Doggy, Doggy, Where is your Bone” is a good game to use to target speech and language goals while having fun.
Lastly, there are tons of resources on Teachers Pay Teachers as well. For an easy packet that targets multiple speech and language
goals, take a look at my Dog Days Pack. It works well for PK-2nd
grade.
For the littlest littles, I like to use toys such as a vet kit or pet grooming kit with stuffed dogs in play therapy.
For larger groups of elementary-aged kids, “Doggy, Doggy, Where is your Bone” is a good game to use to target speech and language goals while having fun.
For middle school, I frequently use the site
Newsela.com. Several great news stories starring or about awesome dogs can be
found there. Another idea that would be interesting for older kids, teenagers,
or adults would be to research dog breeds for compare and contrast, describing,
etc. The American Kennel Club has this information on its website.
As always, dozens (maybe even hundreds) of
craftivities can be found on Pinterest. Some of my favorites can be found here.
I hope you have found something useful and fun for
your kids/students/clients during the last half of summer! If you have any
other doggy ideas for speech therapy, comment below. Have a fantastic week!
I have provided Amazon Affiliate links for your convenience.
If you choose to purchase something after using the link, I may earn a small
percentage of the purchase price from the seller.
