I can’t tell you how many of you have emailed me asking me about organization and storage! It’s certainly a hot topic!! Today I’m going to let to you peek into my speech room with a look at just how I organize everything. I’m really not a super organized person. I can usually find what I need – but it’s not always in the most efficient manner! Let’s just get to it! 
This is my room! Tada! One thing I wanted to highlight from this picture is the red pocket chart thats hanging up on the cabinet. This year I made it my goal to make my own version of the awesome Speech Sound Wall Pocket that Annie made. I used a pocket chart and a over-the door hanger with them. 
I printed pictures from Mommy Speech Therapy that you can download for free! It’s wonderful because there are words in isolation, phrases and stories. Most sounds are in the initial, medial and final position of words. 
I printed all the sounds, laminated them and then bound them with a book ring. For common sounds, like the /r/, I made many copies of the artic packets. For less common sounds, I just made a few. So when kids come into the room, I can ask them to grab the packet for their sound. 
My working files are housed in this crate that sits next to me. Each child has a file with the data sheet. They also contain homework packets for each objective. That way I have plenty of homework activities on hand whenever I need it. 
My file cabinet is organized like this! These folder house an ‘original’ packet that contains many homework pages for each goal. They are supposed to have extra copies of packets, but that rarely happens. 
Try not to be alarmed. This is my cabinet. I feel a little exposed – showing my dirty cabinet – but I know you feel the pain of overcrowding so I’m going for it and showing it to you! The top shelf if language-ish things. The second shelf is artic/phonology stuff. The third and fourth shelf are full of other preschool toys and activities. 
Within my shelves are small buckets/totes of organization. I have a big tub full of general activities. Some of my more commonly treated objectives are in these smaller tubs for easy access. The awesome paper activities you download on my site are just put in plastic bags. That keeps them easy to see and small to store. 
I keep practically every container I can get my hands on. Chinese take out plastic containers are amazing. This one I used to keep my Artic Fries in is an old Swifter wipe box! 
I have a mix of dish tubs and rubbermaid containers as well! 
I store my preschool units in these crates. For each week I plan a Circle Time lesson and accompanying individual therapy ideas. 
I keep all the materials for that week in a plastic bag. My amazing CF supervisor Kara organized her preschool lessons like this last year. It has made everything so easy this year! I just grab the bag I need, update and add any new activities for the lesson and I’m ready to go! This one is my Goldilocks & the 3 Bears bag for next week. 
And here’s a peek at my desk. In real life. I didn’t even clean it up for you! Ok, so there it is. Just a peek at how I organize things. What are you using? How about we all pull out our iphones and upload a picture onto the Speech Room News facebook page. I’d love to see what you’re using. I’m sure there are more efficient ways!
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I love working with my school’s SLP! You have a ton of the same games/tools she has. The cards (that one company that I can’t think of the name of makes) for practicing categories, who, what, when, where, why, verbs, etc. are my favorite!
I also love all your freebies you post:-D They are amazing! Where you find the time, I don’t know!
We are ALL Special!
Thanks for sharing. It’s always nice to see how others deal with organization/storage. The WH question visuals that you mention, are they available for download on your site? I looked briefly, but didn’t find them. Thanks for sharing all of your great resources.
Just found your blog and OH.MY.GOSH. I’m a second year speech pathologist based in a preschool and I am in LOVE with all of your ideas! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing!! I’m actually on vacation this weeek and been going to every dollar store I can find to gather new fun and exciting materials and storage pieces. My speech room is TINY and it is hard to find room for everything!! I keep most storage at my house and my parents!! THanks for sharing your ideas!! They are great! When I am back at work next week I will send some pics!
I love all of your organization idea! I’m staying after school today to make the articulation sound packets! What is your take on homework? Do you send it each session, once a week? Do they get a reward for bringing it back? And do you use a sticker chart or anything? Thanks so much for blogging, you have awesome ideas!
Thanks for posting this!
I am a traveling SLP working with the pre-K kiddos. I don’t have the luxury of having a speech room (usually, I have to find any nooks/crannies/closet that are available).
Do you (or your readers) have any organizing ideas for the traveling SLPs? I am tired of my vehicle looking like an office.
I love seeing where you spend your days…..your work home! Your students are so lucky to have YOU!
your proud aunt
lisa
Ok, I was inspired by your post and the pics of your room…I took my own pictures today. Here is my therapy room:
http://livespeaklove.com/2012/02/24/come-on-in/
Thanks for the inspiration!
This is for Christina. I work in an Intermediate/Middle School (home base), a High School, a Parochial School and do some home visits. What works best for me is to have a bag for each location. I try to keep everything I need for a location in a bag (so try to have duplicates where possible so I don’t have to remember to transfer too much). I have accordion files for the students I travel to see – 1 accordion file with a slot for each student, another accordion file with a slot for materials for different skills I’m targeting. I have a 3 ring binder with my weekly and monthly calendar, IEP and reeval dates, data sheets/therapy plans for each student grouped by location, my schedule slides into the front. I used to use a rolling backpack; my life improved dramatically when the parochial school gave me room with some storage area to work in – it has reduced my lifting and lugging a lot.
I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have shared; it has been so helpful and inspiring to me! I have been posting some materials from my own homemade collection and did my own Anatomy of my room here. :]
You are amazing! I LOVE your room! You inspire me.
Hi- I have a question about your articulation packets. What type of worksheets do you use to make the packets and how are they used in therapy? When you say the students come in and pick their sound packet do they choose 10 words from the packet for the day? It looks like your packets are very big…I would love to put something like this together…
The packets are used from that link listed above (click on Mommy Speech Therapy) There are 9 pages – Words, Sentences and Stories for I/M/F positions. We use them differently each day. IF we’re doing the 100 word challenge they read entire pages of words in drill form. If we’re doing grafitti drawing we just pick and choose words. If we’re playing other games like connect 4 – we use them to pick a few words each turn. You could use it however it fits your therapy that day!
What resources do you use most for your homework? I can find many activities for preschool & KG, but have difficulty for the 1-6th grades, especially for language activities. Thanks! –PamelaSLP(slpity.blogspot.com)
I took the challenge and opened my speech room door, too 🙂 Thanks for leading the way so that so many of us could walk through the doors of other SLPs! A great way to get some new ideas!
(http://slpity.blogspot.com/2012/08/sneak-peek-at-my-speech-room.html)
Noticed you said that having an extra copy of a paper seldom happens!
I’m sure y’all know but … if you use a yellow highlighter and write “original” across the (would be) last copy, you will know it’s the last and when you copy it, the yellow writing doesn’t show up!! You’ll never use the last copy of something again! :))
Jill Head
KY SLP
Thank u so much for all your great information! I am a preschool traveling speech therapist whose disorganization is making the job miserable. I love working with the children but am always winging it because i have no idea were to begin to organize my things! I would love to be able to have lessons with goals so i could just grab and go . If u have any ideas of were to begin, the goals to label things,more so language goals i would be ever so grateful!!!!!! Thank u so much.
Hi Jenna,
I was wondering if you have a specific way you do your long range planning. I’ve tried using several different templates to plot out themes and lessons a few months in advance, but nothing has really worked for me.
Thanks,
Heather
This looks like a great site! Thank you!im sure I will learn a lot from you! Ifyou ever work with feeding kiddos check out my blog! Kristina
Thanks for sharing ideas. I must say you are brave to share pics of your therapy room. I am still trying to organise the never ending tussle between number of growing items and little space 🙁
I AGREE with therapists asking about how to get organised while ‘travelling’. I also need advice on Long term/range planning.
Please share your ideas.
Vijaya
Johannesburg, South Africa.