The Functional Toolbox posts explore how we could use functional, real-life items in speech therapy, to exercise language or cognitive skills, or practice strategies that improve function. Some patients have a negative reaction to worksheets, so using functional, tangible items is another vehicle we can use to target patient-centered goals or strategies.
Affiliate links from Amazon are included to link the exact items I use. Thank you for considering using these links as a way to support the efforts of Honeycomb Speech Therapy.
Toolbox Item: Garden Seed Packets!
I ordered these packets from Amazon because of the clear, bright images, but you could pick up a variety of seed packets nearly anywhere!
For YOU:
I created a Sample Planting Instructions that may help you in speech therapy with adults, depending on your goals! These are specific to the seed packets I use (I didn’t love the instructions that came with the seed packets).
Here you go! GardenSeedPackets
Sample Therapy Ideas:
I hope these ideas are useful or help you easily target a patient-centered goal using a relevant topic! If you would like other ideas like this, please check out my Home Sweet Home Series.
To Target Strategies or Skills in This Area: | The Patient Could Do This: |
Verbal Expression | *Name plants (cover words)
*Explain steps required to ready garden *Describe differences in seed, plant directions, size of plants, etc |
Written Expression | *Write sentences for neighbor to care daily for garden
*Write a proposal for garden size and set-up, including rationale for placement of plants |
Auditory Comprehension | *Use written seed instructions to challenge comprehension across 1-4 units of information.
*Practice using strategies such as note-taking to enhance comprehension. |
Reading Comprehension | *Locate care instructions for 1 specific plant
*Use all written instructions to select 6 plants for 6 by 6 foot garden bed |
Motor Speech | *Challenge ability to carry-over motor speech strategy or skill while reading or relaying instructions for plant care |
Attention | *Sustain attention: Sort by color, organize by seed size, alphabetize seed names
*Divide attention: Do above task while also listening to plant instructions and check recall |
Memory | *Short-term recall for seed instructions (immediate or delayed), can add multiple units of info to increase complexity. |
Thought Organization | *Organize a list of factors to consider or plan for when planting a garden |
Problem-Solving / Reasoning | *Create a scaled drawing of a 10 ft by 10ft garden bed, considering plant growth needs and size
*Determine all solutions for using produce |
Executive Function | *Evaluate strategy success during task or planning how to adapt strategies for new situation.
*Plan home program task that could be a similar challenge |
Pragmatics | *Use appropriate social language for a verbal task (Practice adjusting to situation: peers vs calling a garden store vs selling produce to others).
*Use appropriate eye contact, facial expression, gestures for presentation. |
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So awesome Sarah! You’re a genius!
Thanks, Colleen! Let me know if you have any favorite “functional toolbox” activities! I want to create a bunch of these this year!