For the past year, I kept hearing about this fabulous therapy tool that folks kept referring to as the EET. What in the world? I did some research and found out that the EET, or Expanding Expression Tool, is a tool to use as a multi-sensory approach to language therapy, specifically targeting oral and written language. It has been on my wish list for quite some time…but not anymore! I bit the bullet and bought this with my very own money (budget schmudget). Check it…
The EET was created by Sara Smith who is an ASHA certified SLP. She created this based on her work with her own students. First of all…yay for SLPs creating materials they KNOW work! Second…it just makes sense! You know most of our kids do so much better with hands on and visual activities.
Included in the kit are an instruction manual, one EET strand, classroom poster, student stickers with icons, foam dice with icons, and card deck with teacher icons, prompt cards, and picture cards.
The manual is fabulous and includes tons of ways to implement this learning program, examples, and reproducibles. You can check out more and ordering information on the website HERE.
Can you tell that I can't wait to start using this in the fall???? I know I will be posting many ideas when I start implementing with my students. But until then, many of my blogger friends have used the EET in posts, with tons of great freebies & DIY ideas….
Jenna over at Speech Room News has used the EET for several posts:
- EET Treatment Ideas – she shows us how she used the EET during a artic bingo game!
- EET Baseball – a great DIY idea for incorporating a baseball theme
- Bumparena & EET – using the EET with a simple children's game
- Angry Birds & EET – using the popular game to engage students in describing with a freebie!
Consonantly Speaking did an awesome ABC's for SLPs series, and she included the EET as one of her favorites, read about her ideas HERE.
Miss Speechie has a general post about using with games she already has and classroom ideas!
And last freebie idea is from Nicole at Speech Peeps who incorporated the EET in a craftivity (my fave!) with a freebie! Check it out HERE.
Do you have this therapy tool? What other ideas have you used or seen for the EET?
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This has been on my wish list forever too! I am planning on getting this fall, and can’t wait! Thanks for posting some companion activities to go along with it.
I would definitely say it is worth every cent! I can’t wait to start the year with it! You’re welcome 🙂
You are gonna LOVE it!
Hi,
Our Educational Service Center loved the EET so much that we wrote a grant for up to 30,000 to pay for Sara Smith to speak to all of the elementary teachers at our county inservice day. We purchased 28 kits and some of the accessories. We gave the accessories for prizes for teachers who were back in their chairs on time. It was monumental that the SLP’s guided curriculum in the county. The teachers loved receiving free kits and we see writing samples on the wall using the EET model in our schools.
I am planning to write a grant for an individual kit through our local foundation (only up to $500). Any tips, ideas in doing so?
Thanks in advance,
Stacy Harrison
What ages is the EET appropriate for? I didn’t see that info on their website.
You can use it from PK to college! It is super versatile!
Has anyone figured out what the cubes are used for?
I use the cubes as a game. So we have the EET picture cards and when it is the student’s turn, they pick a card and roll the dice. Then they have to identify that icon’s description about the picture card. Does that make sense?
What are some goals yor target when using the EET?
Hi Emily! Because the EET breaks it down so well, I can do a long term goal to use descriptive vocabulary at whatever level the student is (describing nouns, using descriptors in retell, writing, etc) and then do short term goals for the types of vocabulary concepts covered, usually recognizing/naming attributes, using background knowledge, etc. I hope that helps!
Thanks so much Jenn! I really appreciate you getting back to me!
Is this tool appropriate for a special needs preschool with kids ages 3-5 years? Lots of our kids have very limited language base. Will this tool help them or will they have to be able to remember what each color/bead stands for?
I’m not sure Tammy…I have never used it with children that young. Sara Smith’s website says that it can be used with preschoolers, and she has a video that shows it being used with preschoolers, so maybe check that out! http://www.expandingexpression.com
Would this work well for expanding vocabulary with a middle school student with autism who uses an iPad as the sole method of communication (no verbal expressive language)? I have never used the EET but I am thinking maybe I could prep her iPad ahead of time for options to use with the EET. Does that make sense? Do you think that would work? I have 7 AU students and several others working on language skills. It would be worth spending more than half of my money from the special education department if it works well. Thanks so much!!!
I think so, but I’ve never tried to use it with a nonverbal student. I think as long as she has the receptive language to understand how to use the EET and the concepts, it would definitely work!