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.

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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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What else do you like to use in your “Functional Toolbox?”