Keeping your online therapy sessions engaging can be a struggle. It can require creative strategies to address literacy through a camera. But fear not! There’s a treasure trove of FREE online literacy resources waiting to be discovered at your local library. Websites like Internet Archive also provide these resources. These free online literacy resources offer a vast array of materials to target various speech and language goals. This keeps your students motivated and learning actively.

Online Libraries – The Best Free Tool for Reading

Now, we all know that books are one of the greatest tools to grow our students’ language, right? We can reach pretty much any goal  with a well-planned literacy unit: articulation, fluency, auditory skills, comprehension, memory, critical thinking, inferencing, prediction, and story craft. Also, story grammar, figurative language, vocabulary, prefixes and suffixes, and even pragmatics. Try getting all that in one breath!

Have you ever considered the library as one of the best-kept secrets in the world of online teletherapy for accessing free online literacy resources? Believe it or not, your local library – especially if it’s a large metropolitan one – is a treasure trove of FREE online resources just waiting to be tapped into! The online resources available have exploded in the past couple of years. So, if you haven’t checked yours out lately, do so.

Picture this: your middle school students engrossed in graphic novel versions of classics like The Odyssey, Anne of Green Gables, or Sherlock Holmes. Or, your emerging language learners delighting in interactive stories.

Boost Engagement & Stretch Your Budget:

• Cost-Effective Magic: Budgets are tight! Online libraries provide a massive selection of resources at no cost. This allows you to create dynamic learning experiences without breaking the bank.  Often, libraries offer reciprocal memberships. This greatly expands your selection of free online literacy resources!
• Content for All Ages & Styles: From interactive stories for beginners to captivating graphic novels for middle schoolers. Online resources cater to diverse age groups and learning styles.

Highlighting Powerful Reading Sites for Teletherapy:

• Local Library Gems: Your local library’s online branch is a hidden gem! Explore their website to unearth a universe of resources waiting to be used in your sessions. Explore the website or talk to one of the librarians eager to get these resources into your hands.
  • There’s more than just print books waiting for you – there’s audiobooks, graphic novels, and easy-read versions of the classics.  These free online literacy resources are incredibly diverse.
• Interactive Storytelling with TumbleBooks: For younger learners, platforms like TumbleBooks offer a delightful world of interactive stories. These bring learning to life. This platform is often a free offering from your local library system. 
• YouTube Read-Alouds: Many engaging YouTube channels offer high-quality read-alouds of children’s books. Find stories that target your students’ specific interests and age groups to add variety to your sessions. For video playlists, check out my YouTube channel – Mrs. Speech!
• Dive into the Internet Archive: This vast digital library holds a wealth of books and learning materials. Explore their collection of ebooks, audiobooks, and even teacher resources like curriculum materials and literature notebooks from top publishers.
  • Need a ready-made literacy lesson?  IA has the Teacher’s Editions of many Literacy Textbooks!  Plus, my middle school students can’t get enough of the classic short stories. These include ones by Saki, Poe, Thurber, Twain, O’Henry, and more. There’s a reason they’ve stood the test of time!
• Try ESL sites like Voice of  America:  VOA has a multitude of famous American short stories that have been simplified.  And bonus, they have an audio version and supplemental materials as well!

Empower Your Students with a Free Bonus!

View my curated list of 85+ FREE resources from the Internet Archive, featuring a variety of short stories and adapted novel collections! This list gives you a head start on incorporating these valuable materials into your teletherapy sessions. FYI – Check out my Lesson Guides to some classic short stories on TPT: Ultimate Short Story Comprehensive Lesson Guides Bundle.

Visit my other posts on using short stories in therapy:

• Why, and How, I Started Using Short Stories in Therapy
• Unlock Student Engagement: The Magic of Short Stories in Middle School Speech Therapy
• Activity Magic: Short Stories for Multi-Goal Mastery in Speech Therapy

Update 12/24

I recently found the free internet browser Brave and have been using it the past couple of weeks.  It was simple to move my Google bookmarks into Brave, and I am using it solely for use with the kids. This streamlines my therapy sessions too.  I haven’t had a single YouTube ad. Also, I haven’t noticed other ads popping up on websites.  I will say that, while it does block the ad on a website, there is often still the space where the ad would be.  Often, a reader extension like ReadBee will remove those spaces and focus on the text.

Stay tuned for more insider tips and resources to level up your teletherapy game!

Happy Teletherapy,

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Unlock Savings: Purchase Directly from My Web Store!

I understand that platform changes can sometimes be frustrating, and I want to ensure my books remain affordable. That’s why I’m pleased to share these exclusive discounts when you purchase directly from my web store:

Individual Discount

You can purchase any of my books for 10% off the Amazon list price.

Bulk Discount

If you order 3 or more items, you’ll receive a 20% discount on your entire order! This is a great way to stock up or share these valuable resources while saving with Mrs. Speech Books Discounts.

Please consider visiting Mrs. Speech Books to take advantage of these savings. Continue supporting my work directly. *Bonus – you can take advantage of my Author’s Signature add-on for free!

Understanding the Changes: Why Prices are Adjusting on Amazon KDP

The reason for these timely savings on Mrs. Speech Books is an upcoming change to the pricing of my books on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform. These new terms, implemented by Amazon, will take effect on June 10th.

Beyond the general changes in terms, a significant factor influencing these price adjustments is a shift in Amazon KDP’s royalty structure for paperback books. Effective June 10th, books priced below a certain threshold – specifically, under $9.99 USD (and equivalent amounts in other currencies) – will see a decrease in the royalty rate paid to authors. This means that for books priced at or below this level, I would receive a smaller percentage of the sale price. See Amazon’s terms.

How This Affects My Books on Amazon:

Unfortunately, these new terms necessitate an increase in the price of some of my paperback books on Amazon. This was not a decision I made lightly. I want to be transparent with you about why this is happening.

Mrs. Speech Books (including bestselling “It’s Just the Way I Talk”)

It is with a heavy heart that I must also announce a price increase of $1.00 USD for my full-color paperback children’s speech books. These books, including my stuttering facts book “It’s Just the Way I Talk,” will now be listed on Amazon for $9.99 USD.

My intention has always been to keep these resources as accessible as possible for families and educators. I am truly disappointed that these platform changes require a price adjustment.

“Beyond the Gallows,” a novel

The price of “Beyond the Gallows” on Amazon will be increasing by $1.00 USD. This will bring the new list price to $10.99 USD. Please note that this increase will likely be reflected in other currencies as well, potentially by a greater amount.

For my children’s speech books, which were already priced with a minimal return just to cover the cost of production, this royalty rate decrease directly affects sustainability. To maintain a return that allows me to continue creating these valuable resources, a price adjustment became necessary.

It’s disheartening to have to increase the price of these books, especially knowing their importance in supporting children’s communication development. My goal was always to make them as affordable as possible. This change in Amazon’s policy has unfortunately made that more challenging.

Good News Regarding Other Titles

I’m happy to report that the pricing for my self-advocacy workbook, “Talk It Out, Work It Out,” and my writer’s guide to communication disorders, “Unspoken Volumes,” will remain the same for the time being.

Their prices will remain unchanged until the next round of term changes from Amazon. So you can continue to purchase these titles at their current prices. And just like my other books, these titles are also available at a 10% discount on Mrs. Speech Books!

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. Your readership means the world to me, and I remain committed to providing valuable resources for readers of all ages.

Please feel free to visit my webstore to take advantage of my book discounts offered there.

Have a question, concern, or comment?  Please, leave a note below!

Sincerely,

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The post Important News: Amazon Price Changes for Mrs. Speech Books & Your New Discount Source! appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

Repost of original page published 5-10-24.

Language disorders affect a person’s ability to understand or express language, manifesting in various ways. These can range from difficulty finding the right words (aphasia) to struggles with reading (dyslexia), impacting vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and fluency.

Beyond Textbooks: Fostering Empathy Through Experience

While knowledge is essential for supporting individuals with language disorders, there’s an additional step you can take to deepen your understanding: an empathy challenge inspired by my book, Unspoken Volumes: Write Characters with Communication Challenges.

The 24-Hour Limited Language Challenge

This challenge invites you to spend 24 hours simulating the experience of a language disorder. Here’s how it can be adapted for different roles:

• SLPs: Choose a specific disorder and tailor the limitations accordingly. For example, for aphasia, you might focus on limited vocabulary and rely on picture communication.
• Educators: Experience the challenges students with language disorders face in the classroom. Limit your vocabulary in explanations, keep your sentences to 3-4 words, or rely on gestures to demonstrate a concept.
• Parents: Simulate the frustrations your child might experience. Opt for simple phrases when communicating needs or rely on non-verbal cues like pointing to objects.

Why Experience Limited Language?

• Empathy Through Experience: This challenge isn’t meant to mimic a specific disorder exactly. It’s about understanding the frustration and challenges of struggling to communicate effectively.
• Beyond Stereotypes: Language disorders are diverse. This exercise broadens your perspective on how limitations in language can impact communication, moving beyond tired tropes.
• Building Bridges: By experiencing limitations firsthand, you gain a deeper appreciation for the creativity and alternative communication strategies people with language disorders develop.

Important Considerations:

• Sensitivity is Paramount: This challenge is about learning, not mockery. Be mindful of the realities of language disorders and avoid perpetuating stereotypes.
• Embrace the Frustration: This experience might be frustrating. Remember, the goal is to gain understanding, not mastery.
• Communication is Key: Despite the limitations, strive to communicate your needs and ideas effectively.

The Power of Vulnerability

This challenge isn’t about replicating a medical condition. It’s about opening yourself up to a new reality. By experiencing limitations in language, even for a day, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the individuals you support. This empathy will translate into more effective communication strategies, a more inclusive learning environment, and a stronger bond with your child.

Ready to take the challenge and create a more supportive environment? Let the empathy begin!

Bonus Tip: Share your experience below and with the #UnspokenChallenge hashtag on social media and connect with other professionals and parents exploring communication disorders.

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