Every year, I find myself doing something exciting, something that resonates deep within me and captivates my thoughts and energy. This year was no different. This was the year that I dove farther into the media world, blending my interests in media processing research and educational media (especially as it impacts those with communication impairments). This was the year that I earned a Master's Degree in Media and Communication. This was the year that I published my first j

A few years ago during a speech therapy session, a group of preschoolers and I were reading a book about a bear. Despite a persnickety bee, the bear enjoyed some honey from a nearby bee hive. One of preschoolers commented that she had never seen a bee hive before and wanted to know what went on inside of it. So, what did we do? We took a virtual field trip. We found an online documentary about the inner workings of bee hives, turned off the volume, and talked about what we we

In today's world it's easy to find yourself between a tablet and a hard place. As SLPs, educators, and parents, we want kids to use screens in educational and beneficial ways. However, digital media isn't always associated with quality, communicative interactions and educational experiences. It's easy to feel that the struggle between people and media regularly ends with technology declaring a victory, imprisoning everyone involved. What about wordless media? Why not? Wordle

It's heeeeeeeeeeere, back to school! While many feel a fresh start with the arrival of a new year on the calendar, those tied to education begin a new chapter in life with the arrival of a new school year. August arrives and the loss of summer is mourned. But the promise and excitement of endless possibilities slowly begin to take over. Unlike a new calendar year, the arrival of a new school year brings dramatic changes in schedules, activities, and the company of co-workers,

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work." - Daniel Hudson Burnham This summer I spent a day at the Field Museum in Chicago. It was just your typical day on vacation - great food, walking the city streets enjoying the phenomenal weather, riding the 'L' train, and of course catching a few dinosaurs. The Field Museum offers an array of exhibits, including Sue the dinosau

It all started with a Thanksgiving Parade and a little Google magic! In preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday our speech group was reading a Thanksgiving story. One of our target words was PARADE, highlighting /d/ at the end of words. The kids loved talking about the parade float featured in the story and a teachable moment was born. Google Image was an invaluable tool in our tech toolbox and helped make the most of this moment. Since we don't typically see large Thanksgiv