We are so trilled to announce that we have joined the Apple developer program and we now have our first Sticker app available to download. If you are not familiar with the brand new category created by Apple called Stickers, let us give you a general overview. When you send text messages now from an [...]
There are two main color conventions when it comes to how words are organized into alternative communication systems: The Modified Fitzgerald Key and the Goossens,’ Crain, and Elder. When we color code the communication systems, we allow users to find these words more easily within the screen. Regardless on which convention you decide to use, it [...]
Has it been a rough year? Did not everything go quite as planned? Not to worry because I’m sure you’ve hear the expression: “It’s not about how you start its how you finish.” Memory is a funny thing and sometimes we remember just how things ended so much more clearly than how they began. Now is a moment that you can connect on a deeper level for one last time with students, teachers, parents by recognizing the best in them . Symbolic Certificates of Positive Qualities— It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, we all like to know what people like about us. I’vs seen variations of this activity work well with elementary, middle school and High school students; I’ve even seen it work with college students (really they can eat it up just like they were 5 again)
Who hates hearing someone say, “I’m bored”? it’s even worse in a group setting like a classroom, because attitudes can be contagious. Whether it’s adults or kids if one person starts complaining, soon you won’t have enough cheese to go around for all that “whine”. But seriously, our board games are simply divine. Wait…I mean your board games, because really it’s you who needs to create them, but we’ve got the perfect template and enormous amount of great symbols to fill the content. If you haven’t used Smarty Symbols “board game” template then…. YOU’RE MISSING OUT! Just click on the “printing center” button on the top blue bar. It will bring you to a new menu where you will select “from template”; find the “board game” template and press “apply”. You’re all set to create a masterpiece. We’ve got some great ideas to get you started:
Happy Mother's day from Smarty Symbols Communication is Everything-- When we created Smarty Symbols one of our main goals was to help people communicate. We know not everyone has the luxury of being able to communicate verbally. So we wanted to build the largest library of symbols to help others communicate their ideas non-verbally. Even if you [...]
I know how you’re feeling: The kids they need a day off (or is it you?), or they just need to have some fun with what they’re working on, but they still need to be learning something. We have just what you need: and Bingo is its Name-O Smarty Symbols has a built in Bingo Template in the “Printing Center” It’s really easy to use, and an awesome tool for any parent, teacher, SLP, or someone who just needs an activity for an event. Just click on the “printing center” button on the top blue bar. It will bring you to a new menu where you will select “from template”; find the “bingo” template and press “apply”. Now its just up to your imagination… but if your imagination is struggling we’ve decided to give you a few ideas:
We wouldn’t forget “Earth Day” in our vast category of “holidays”. April 22 is a special day for us to reassess what we can do to help our planet. Smarty Symbols is filled with excellent vocabulary whether you are wanting to discuss the life of our planet (using our “plants”, “animals”, “birds”, “mammals” and “marine life”) or discuss the more abstract elements (using our “science”, “weather”, and “nature” categories); Smarty Symbols has the symbols you need for the simplest to the most complex words.
We all love free classroom materials. That's why we took the time today to have some fun and spend some time on keynote creating some awesome classroom signs for you. You can download any or all of these signs in a variety of formats or even as images. If you are feeling inspired like we were today, you can even use some of the files we have provided as a basis in which you create modifications that would fit your needs better. For example, you can use the "computer lab" sign and replace it with " We are in recess" and replace the picture with our recess image.The power point or keynote file give you the freedom to modify and create a whole new sign.
We are on a roll this week! If you are anywhere on social medial you probably saw one of our memes going viral. We created a few of the popular #belike memes using our characters. All of the memes focused on raising awareness for speech therapy issues and other fun facts about speech-language-pathologists. We plan on creating a few more this week ( All pending on our creative juices). If you have ideas for text to go along with our characters focusing on a issue send it to us and we will be happy to create it and post on our social medial accounts. We will of course give full credit to you. If you are a subscriber feel free to download from one of our images and create your own #belike image. Please make sure to give proper credit to our image and to tag us via social so we can help share it with others.
The aftermath of an acquired medical conditions can lead to some serious communication difficulties for those with established verbal communication. Adults who suffered a stroke or other head trauma can be left with some long term difficulties communicating in the same way they have been their entire life. This life changing event can effect not only their communication, but also their self esteem. According to R., Tamblyn, R., et al. (2008) "If we can provide a means of enhancing communication, many of those adverse outcomes can be avoided." The first few days at the hospital or at home can be challenging when health care professionals and family members struggle to communicate and interact with the patient.
