Maker Bio
I'm Laura, the maker behind Communication Crafted. I'm a school-based Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) who has been practicing for 15 years and counting, working primarily at the elementary level. Connecting and building relationships with students is my top priority - this is the very foundation that our shared work rests on. One way to foster that connection is to use materials that are engaging, fun, and motivating for students - this is how kids learn best! I also understand how busy SLPs are and how challenging it can be to plan engaging activities for diverse caseloads every single day. My goal is to provide thoughtfully curated materials that sit at the intersection of fun and functional, materials that address a wide variety of goals that don't feel like "work" - for the kids OR for you.
The SILLY GOOSE! card deck started as a personal deck that I made for my own therapy room, printed with my limited allotment of color pages at my school site and laminated on the big workroom laminator. It quickly became a favorite with students across ages, ability levels, and goals. I would find myself reaching for this deck time and time again, mainly for its ability to address a wide variety of therapy targets while being engaging for the students (and for me). I eventually started to wonder if anything else like it was available commercially; since I couldn't find anything, I decided to make it myself! Digital download companion documents were then crafted to help lighten your therapy prep and maximize the utility of the card deck. I'm really proud of these resources and hope that they will find their way into your therapy room too!
I'm also a longtime crafter in the literal sense. These days I spend most of my time weaving and sewing, and I've been developing a series of custom SLP-themed fabrics to transform into playful handmade work accessories to help you get organized and show off your speechie pride. Every sewn item is handmade by me in my home-based studio, which is why quantities are limited (read: if you see something you love, you better act right away before someone else snatches it up!).
I hope you find something here to lighten your planning load, inject some playfulness into therapy, and brighten your workday. And always remember to MAKE IT FUN!
