Speech Screenings

As a part of my clinical experience, I get to go to elementary schools and do speech screenings. This is basically where we pull each kindergarten and first grader out of their class, one at a time, and do a quick test to see if they need to be further evaluation for their speech or language, for speech therapy. This is the general gist of the test:

1. Articulation (repeat these words after me)
zipper table grapes bathroom thumb sock chair etc...

2. Syntax (say these sentences after me)
Is she still hiding in the tree house?
My Grandma started the car and took me bowling.
The dentist pulled my tooth etc...

3. Prepositions (name the location of the pen)
Under On Behind Front Beside

4. Use (what do you do with a...)
Pencil Knife Piano Soap etc...

5. Following Directions (do what I say after I say go)
Say your name, touch your toes, pull your ear
Stand up, touch your nose, put your hands on top of your head
Clap your hands, close your eyes, and wave at me

Oh my gosh, kindergarteners and first graders are SO SO SO SO cute!! I think I got someone adorable for every single section.
On the first section, there is a list of 24 words, collectively representing each of the sounds. Its so fun because you tell the child to repeat after you, so they will usually say it exactly like you say it. If your pitch goes up at the end, theirs will too. If you say one fast, they'll say it fast. If you say it slow and quiet, they'll say it slow and quiet, and so on...

On the second section, I got a few kids who answer the question.
Dev: "Repeat after me. Is she still hiding in our treehouse?"
K: "Ummmm, yes."

This next one, 3, is the most fun for kids. Most of them, at first, when you ask them where the pen is, start looking and find and say "Right there!!"

For section 4, my most favorite student was actually last year. When I asked him what you do with a knife, he went into this long story about how he hunts with his dad and you use a knife to cut the deer. It was amazing!

The last one, following directions, is the most difficult, but the kids are just so darn cute. Yesterday there was a little boy with a pearl snap shirt, tucked in only in the front, and cowboy boots. When I asked him to stand up, touch his nose, and put his hands on top of his head, he hesitantly stood up, looked at me, then proceeded to sing the entire song, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes...with the actions! Then he looked me for a long time (you know, like 5 seconds) and sat down. It was awesome!! I think he really thought thats what I was asking him to do! I counted it as following directions because he did touch his nose and head throughout that song. It was ok though, because he completed the other two tasks perfectly.

Oh my heck. Yet another day and I LOVE MY FIELD!!

Worth it?

Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning!

Cheesy-post-alert! Cheesy-post-alert! Cheesy-post-alert! Cheesy-post-alert!

Sometimes I think a little to much, and too deeply. This one may be overkill....

Recently I've been thinking. Thinking about worth. Definition of worth from PrincetonWeb:

• an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value; "10 dollars worth of gasoline"
• the quality that renders something desirable or valuable or useful
• deserving: worthy of being treated in a particular way; "an idea worth considering"; "the deserving poor" (often used ironically)
• French couturier (born in England) regarded as the founder of Parisian haute couture; noted for introducing the bustle (1825-1895)
• worth(p): having a specified value; "not worth his salt"; "worth her weight in gold"

Well I, of course, am not referring to the French couturier born in England, and I'm not even really referring to the specified value or indefinite quantity of something having a specified value. The second and third ones are really the most critical ones.

What gives something worth? What makes something valuable, or deserving? Is something just "of worth" to everyone, everywhere? I don't think that is the case. I know for a fact that the picture in my living room of the Osmonds and I, is not worth a penny to many (most) people. To me, however, I LOVE IT! My Little Mermaid pillowcase that I've had since I was three, is on the verge of either unraveling into nothing, or one nap away from a giant Devery's-head size hole, from use. But to me, I would rather have it than a brand new, 9000 thread count pillow sent from heaven. Oh sure, a million dollars is worth a million dollars to everyone...right now. But even the value of money changes over time.


Unfortunately, I've decided that the worth of something, to a person, can change. What was once worth a great deal may not stay the same way. Can someone change the worth of something on purpose? How many people does it take saying: "Its not worth it" for someone to believe it. Can other people even choose, or have an opinion, on what is or isn't "worth it?" How do they know? What does that mean anyway, "worth IT?" Worth what?? Money? Time? Energy? Worry? Conversation? Stress? Gold? Cows? Cakes?

And if you decide "they" ARE right, what steps have to be taken to deliberately change the worth of something? I think, as with the money, it takes time. With time, you can change the worth of something, whether you like it or not.

...and I think, the answer to the question, can other people choose, is yes and no. Sometimes, "they" do know if it is worth it or not. Sometimes "they" know better than you do. There are professionals who can determine, better than me, the worth of a dollar. They have a better understanding, or better picture, of the real worth.

SO...maybe after all this time, it really ISN'T worth it. You don't need to hang on to the worth of a dollar from 1850. Back then, 10 dollars could get you a lot more then it can now. If I try and spend dollars, and expect the 1850 value of something, I'm going to be sadly brought back to real life, in 2010. The question is, do I have the ability to intentionally change the worth of something. I think that I can. Especially for items that contain worth to just one individual.

Hmmm....things to ponder....

Flippin' your fins, you don't get too far. Legs are required for jumping, dancing.

I would just like to let you know, that TWO TIMES last week somebody told me that my bangs looked like Ariel's. Is it not every girl's childhood dream to have bangs like Ariel (especially redheads!)? I was so extremely excited!! I don't know that they actually looked like Ariel's...but it was on two different days by two different people. What a great week!!

"Hey Boo! Catch-up!!" "Mustard!!"

Don't judge. I do love scripture scouts. When I was thinking of a title for this post, and I decided it was kind of a catch-up blog...and this immediately came to mind. Due to the many many hours and hours listening to these blessed tapes (I think they're available on CD now...) I am often reminded of the many songs, stories, and quotes from them!
I apologize for it being more than a month since I posted! I will definitely do better during September. Because it has been so long since I have written, it will probably be a lot of reading - so bear with me! Here's what I have been up to over the past month:

1. Schooooool! School officially started August 23. It is my LAST fall semester of college ever! That may be close to the best news of all time. Naw, I do love school, but it is such a great feeling to be less than eight months away from graduation day! Oh yeah, and with the start of school comes the start of clinic! I am loving my clients and, once again, know that I am in the write program!
   
2. Kansas City. The weekend right after school started, Audrey Nash and I went to Harrisonville to pick up Ross (in the car, not lift him up...) then we went to Kansas City MO to see all the church history sites. I guess technically we were in Independence and Liberty, but close enough! I will say that not only were we greatly inspired and touched by all of the sites were got to see, but there is also a wonderful place called Sheridan's Frozen Custard that is as close to inspiring as custard can be! I recommend the blackberry sunday. Oh yeah, also, a piece of advice - don't try and eat out, even at taco bell, when you are gluten-free and when another person in your group can't eat anything that is cooked at all. Haha, it makes for an interesting adventure. **Here's my thank-you shout-out to the Independence Taco Bell for dealing with us, THANK YOU!!**Ross was a little bit nervous about the drive home from Independence. He didn't want anything to happen to him before his mission!
3. Externship!!!! I have been interviewing at a school and medical settings to figure out where exactly I will be placed. It is so real now! ...and I am starting to get nervous...but also excited!
4. New Roommate! (wow, I have a lot of exclamation points in this blog) After a month and a half of living by myself in my apartment, my new roommate moved in! Her name is Codi Keyser, she just graduated from BYU and is going to Missouri State now in the PT program. We have had a blast! Also, I didn't know there was anyone who could like cookie dough as much as I do (except Kiely...flashback to July when she filled a tupperware container full of it for lunch at school...) but she does! She also agrees with me that the chocolate chips in choc chip cookie dough are fine, but really, if you are going to eat cookie dough, the chocolate chips are just a waste of calories! Its like destiny! ;) Luckily we also have the same taste in movies so there have been plenty of chick flicks watched in our free time (what little free time we have)
5. Guitar. Skyler Barger moved to Utah and was basically selling everything but the clothes on his back, so I bought one of his guitars! Its not the highest quality instrument, so I decided to have my friend at work paint it! It will look very artsy, creative, stylish and trendy, just like me...(yeah that was a joke, feel free to laugh. Nothing about me is any of those things...see picture below and caption below...) But seriously, I am excited about the guitar. Pictures of the guitar to come later!!Okay, the reason this angle is so weird is because I tried to capture the entire essence of this outfit. Yeah, I wore scrubs that are too big, my I Heart BBQ shirt and a baseball cap...for two days in a row. (Hey give me a break, I didn't really leave my apt at all!) Don't you worry, the first and half of the second day I wore my USU hat, and the second half of the second day I wore my MSU hat. I didn't want either to get jealous. Hey, my hair was straightened, doesn't that count for something? Oh yeah did I also mention no makeup? Hmmm, I wonder if I should actually post this picture... ******Dear Future Spouse. I promise I usually wear makeup and I usually don't wear the exact same outfit two days in a row. A pair of jeans a few days in a row, yes, and maybe even a t-shirt twice in a week, but not the whole outfit! Don't worry!! Please don't make any long-term decisions based on this picture!******
   
6. Amycakes Bakery! The job is going SO GREAT! I love the people who work there, as well as the job in general! I also love that I'm starting to get some forearm muscle back from the giant rolling pin. I am basically responsible for making the cookies, bars, brownies, cinnamon rolls, and the occasional cake/cupcakes or danish. Stop in for a treat! You won't be sorry I promise!
7. The Banks have come!! Yeah sorry Meagan, I couldn't think of a good title for this one. I am so so so so happy that Meagan and her husband Jaron have moved to Missouri! I've been looking forward to it for so long! Jaron is going to chiropractic school in Chesterfield MO, which is just 3-ish short hours from Springfield, but 1.5 hrs. from Rolla! Wahoooooo! Take that, long distance friendship, Meag and I will show you whats up! Its kind of funny that we're sticking with our pattern of 3 hours apart though. It seems like since we were across the street neighbors in Rock Springs WY we haven't been able to live closer than three hours away from each other...weird...
8. Hair Cut! I almost did it. I almost went short(ish). But luckily, I didn't have the guts! By the time I got in there I asked her not to take any length off, but to just fix up the bangs and stuff. She ended up taking off WAY more than I thought (okay okay, it was like 2 inches) but its ok. I still like it. And I still like her. Here's a pic...You can kind of tell how short it is here...ummm, basically out of all the pictures I tried to take of my haircut, this one was the least embarrassing...but if you are dying to see a real picture of the hair, let me know. This can suffice as "the day Devery got her haircut and only wanted to show everyone half of her face."
   

Whew! I think that's about it! OH YEAH! What have I been doing day in and day out? Working on my THESIS!!! That can easily take up 3-5 hours of any given day. But I think its finally coming and starting to look good. I'm on page 35 right now (and I just finished up the Into and Methods sections), so keep your fingers crossed. It should be done by January!!

You want to see what my playlist has been this month?
(they're all hyperlinked so you can listen if you want :) )
Dynamite - Taio Cruz
Love Like Woe - The Ready Set
Haven't Met You Yet - Do I Even Need To Say?
Bulletproof - La Roux
Look Through My Eyes - Phil Collins
What a Feeling - Irene Cara
Come What May - Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor

Alright alright, I'm out of your hair. Sorry I was so long winded! Enjoy!!

P.S. The carrot on the right is a normal size baby carrot. The carrot on the left is the wonderful treasure I found in the last bag of baby carrots I bought. Score!! Someone in the checking the carrots for the appropriate size department isn't doing their job. This one is more like a teenager carrot!