July 12, 2019
Issue 22, Volume 12
It's All About the Choices!     
          
Greetings and Happy Friday

 Please enjoy our weekly newsletter
 
News Items:
  • Positive Affirmations for Children
  • Reminding Kids of Their Many Roles in Society May Improve Problem Solving 
  • New Research Suggests Three Profiles of Communication Delays in Early Childhood
  • The Brain Consumes Half of a Child's Energy - and That Could Matter for Weight Gain
  • Gut Microbes Linked to Temperament Traits in Infants
  • Survey Finds Teachers, Paraeducators Largely Unprepared For Students With IEPs

PediaStaff News and Hot Jobs 
  • Hot, New Job!  Maternity Leave School SLP - Berwyn, IL
  • Hot, New Job! School Psychologist - Yamhill, OR
  • Hot, New Job! 2019/20 SY - School Nurse, Salinas, CA
Therapy Activities, Tips and Resources
  • "Tom goes to the Dentist" - A Social Story for Children with Autism
  • 10 Tips to Teach Children Self-Help Skills
  • Activity of the Week: Secret Message Speech
  • Book Review: The Ant and the Grasshopper, A Lesson in Descriptive Language for Speech Therapy
Articles and Special Features 
  • Early Intervention Corner: Taking A Baby To The Beach Has Important Benefits
  • Pediatric Therapy Corner:   - Sensory Art Therapy
  • AAC Corner: (Video) AAC for Students Who Can Speak
  • Accessibility Corner: Modification Ideas of Playground Play for Children
  • Autism Corner: Why an Inclusive Classroom isn't the Best Fit for my Daughter
Feel free to contact us with any questions about our openings or items in these pages. Have you discovered our RSS feed? Click on the orange button below to subscribe to all our openings and have them delivered to your Feed Reader!  Don't have an RSS Feed Reader set up? Sign up at Blogtrottr and have our blog posts delivered right to your email.

Have a great weekend and Take Care!

Heidi Kay and the PediaStaff Team
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Positive Affirmations for Children
[Source:  Your Therapy Source]

Positive affirmations for children (and mantras) are terrific tools that children can use to support themselves. They help them develop a healthy sense of self as well as a positive mental-social-emotional mindset.

What are Positive Affirmations for Children?  Affirmations are short; positive "I am" statements that call you into an intentional way of being.  They should be accompanied by a visual image and inspire visceral sensations.   When you use an affirmation, you should experience yourself as you are declaring.

Read the Rest of This Article Through a Link on our Blog
Reminding Kids of Their Many Roles in Society May Improve Problem Solving
[Source:  Psych Central]

Simply reminding children of their many roles in society - helper, friend, neighbor, son or daughter - can lead to better problem-solving and more flexible thinking, according to a new study at Duke University.

"This is some of the first research on reminding kids about their multifaceted selves," said lead author Dr. Sarah Gaither, an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke. "Such reminders boost their problem-solving skills and how flexibly they see their social worlds, all from a simple mindset switch."

Read the Rest of this Article Through a Link our Blog
New Research Suggests Three Profiles of Communication Delays in Early Childhood
[Source:  Medical X-Press]

Parenting books, magazines and apps are filled with tools to help parents keep track of their child's developmental milestones. Parents are often particularly concerned about their child's language and communication skills. But what does it mean if your child doesn't meet these early milestones?
New research published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics suggests

Read the Rest of this Article Through a Link our Blog
The Brain Consumes Half of a Child's Energy - and That Could Matter for Weight Gain
[Source:  Science Daily]

A new study proposes that variation in the energy needs of brain development across kids - in terms of the timing, intensity and duration of energy use - could influence patterns of energy expenditure and weight gain.

Weight gain occurs when an individual's energy intake exceeds their energy expenditure - in other words, when calories in exceed calories out. What is less well understood is the fact that, on average, nearly half of the body's energy is used by the brain during early childhood.

Read the Rest of This Article Through a Link on our Blog
Gut Microbes Linked to Temperament Traits in Infants
[Source: Psych Central]

A new Finnish study of 303 infants finds that the gut microbiome of a two-month-old appears to be associated with the child's temperament traits at six months of age.

The University of Turku researchers found that different temperament traits are connected with individual microbe genera, microbial diversity and different microbe clusters. For example, greater diversity in gut bacteria was connected to lesser negative emotionality and fear reactivity.

Read the Rest of this Article Through a Link our Blog
Survey Finds Teachers, Paraeducators Largely Unprepared For Students With IEP s
[Source: Disability Scoop]

Special educators say that many of the teachers and paraprofessionals who work directly with students with disabilities are ill-prepared to do so.

In a survey of nearly 1,500 special education teachers across the country, just 8 percent rated the general education teachers they work alongside as well-prepared to serve students with exceptionalities. And, only 12 percent had confidence in the paraeducators who are frequently tasked with supporting kids with disabilities at school.

Read the Rest of this Article Through a Link our Blog
We're hiring a Speech-Language Pathologist to cover a leave starting in November 2019-February 2020.

This is a full-time School-based Speech-Language Pathologist coverage needed in the vicinity of Berwyn, IL.

- Master's Degree in Speech and Language Pathology
- License from the Illinois Department of Professional Regulations
- Illinois State Board of Education Type 10 Certificate, Type 73 Certificate, or Type 03-09 Certificate with endorsement.
- Bilingual Required

Learn About / Apply for This Job on our Blog
Want a location that has something for just about everyone? We are seeking a School Psychologist for a beautiful district in the Salem, Oregon area for this 2019-20 SY. Explore the scenic wonders, drive one hour to the beach, mountains, or progressive large cities.

* Full-Time School Psychologist
* 190-day calendar beginning on August 23, 2019; M-F 7.5 hours per day
* Based out of Yamhill

Qualifications: You will need to have a Master's Degree in School Psychology, and a current state license (or be eligible for same)

Learn About / Apply for This Job on our Blog
Hot, New Job! 2019/20 SY - School Nurse, Salinas, CA
We are looking for registered nurses who want to make public school nursing their career and Central California is calling you!

Central California is home to beautiful destinations such as Carmel-By-the-Sea, the Monterey Zoo, and flourishing vineyards.

*  RN will provide case management for children of varying diagnoses
*  Registered Nurse position is full time, 7.5 hour days, 5 days per week
*  Reliable transportation is a must as travel is a part of this position
*  Work with a cohesive team of nurses in partnership with families and other caregivers.
*  Time off over holidays and Medical Benefits are a part of this offering.

Learn About / Apply for This Job on our Blog
"Tom goes to the Dentist" - A Social Story for Children with Autism
[Source: Dental Health IE]

Some people with autism find it helpful to prepare for their visit to the dentist. "Tom goes to the dentist" is an example of a Social Story that can be used and adapted to help children with autism prepare for a dental visit.

Read the Rest of This Article Through a Link on our Blog
10 Tips to Teach Children Self Help Skills
[Source: Your Therapy Source]

Here are 10 tips to help teach children to be independent with self help skills and everyday routines:
1.  Make sure you have time to give the child your undivided attention when you are first teaching a new skill or routine.  Likewise, make sure that the child is paying attention when learning the skill.

Minimize distractions and create a quiet environment at first.

Read the Rest of this Article Through a Link on our Blog
Activity of the Week: Secret Message Speech
[Source:  The Speech Bubble]

Sometimes we need something different to spice our speech sessions.  So, when I saw this on Pinterest I had to try it in my speech room!

All you need is a white crayon, white paper, watercolors, and brushes.  I borrowed the watercolors and brushes from the fabulous art teacher at my school.

On the paper, I wrote down words that students would have to give a synonym or antonym for, or define.  I also wrote down describing words that as the students uncovered, they had to identify what object was being described.

Read the Rest of this Article Through a Link our Blog
Book Review:    The Ant and the Grasshopper
[Source:  Play on Words]

Readers are drawn into the vibrant collage of colors on the first page of  The Ant and the Grasshopper,  "Somewhere on the boulevard of backyards an ant was struggling with the remnants of a picnic." Each page is equally as rich, packed with delicious vocabulary for young minds. The ant grew weary dragging her chunk of watermelon hoping  for "the smallest of breezes to cool her blistering forehead," when she perked up to some magical 

Read this Book Review Through a Link on our Blog
EI Corner: Taking A Baby To The Beach Has Important Benefits
[Source:  Romper]

We first took our daughter to the beach when she was 9 months old. Her eyes widened at the sight and sound of the waves, the people, and the gulls. She kicked her feet in the water, scooped up fistfuls of sand again and again, and left exhausted but happy. Having always found   


Pediatric Therapy Corner:   - Sensory Art Therapy
By: Pamela Ullmann, ATR-BC, LCAT

Creative art making can offer unique ways for children to gain a sense of control and mastery of their environment, grow in self expression, self awareness and self-esteem. This holds true for children with special needs, ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), and other developmental issues as well. However, these children very often have "sensory" issues or sensory integration disorder which can affect their responses to various art materials.


AAC Corner: AAC for Students Who Can Speak 
[Source:   PrAACtically AAC]

We often get this question from our fellow SLPs, particularly those who work with students who have autism. From the question alone, it seems like AAC is not needed, and would be a step backward for this particular student. But what happens when we dig a little deeper?
The last time this question was posed to me, it was about Marcella, an 8 year old with ASD. As the conversation progressed, we learned more about Marcella's communication profile. Independently, she uses 2-3 word sentences to ask for things she wants (e.g., "Want that popsicle." "More Dora") and single words to protest ("No!"). With prompting 


Accessibility Corner: Modification Ideas of Playground Play
[Source:  Growing Hands-On Kids]

Playgrounds are usually a very popular activity among younger and school age children. My daughter always asks to go to the park and she loves checking out new playgrounds in the area. For some children however, playing on a typical playground can be challenging because of special needs, sensory processing concerns or developmental delays. I am teaming up with some therapy bloggers today to discuss playgrounds and I will be sharing some modifications of playground play and equipment for children.


Autism Corner:  Why an Inclusive Classroom isn't the Best Fit for my Daughter 
[Source:  Washington Post]

"I wish I got to spend more time with Charlotte," the teacher told me with a slight frown. "It's hard for her to make friends when she's not here very much."

We were sitting at a child-sized table, perched awkwardly on small blue plastic chairs. It was parent-teacher conference day, and I shivered a little in the unheated classroom.

I smiled at her because I knew she meant well, but I didn't need a reminder about how valuable inclusion is; everyone from my autistic daughter's teacher to the principal of her school has waxed poetic to me about its merits for the last two years. They all agree that it's what is best for her. I'm the only one who seems to notice how painful inclusion actually is.


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