Something in my Pocket

There's just something about rhythm and a catchy tune that leads to retention for little ones. My predecessor introduced us to this song and I recreated it for my classrooms. 

We're currently using it to practice vocabulary (related to our unit theme and book; "Winter" and "The Mitten," respectively) pre-literacy skills, and syllable segmentation as a large group. However, I can put anything in the pocket to target a variety of skills: articulation, Letter of the Week words and pictures, name recognition (show just the first letter, "L" for....), sight words, etc. 

Sang (chanted?) to the tune of "Tiny Tim the Turtle," patting knees in rhythm:

        

I pull the words out slowly, emphasizing each syllable separately and pausing between. Progressively, I shorten the pause between syllables until preschoolers guess the word. Then, I flip it over to show the picture ("Was s/he right? RAB-BIT, Rabbit! It's a ...!") and we clap out the syllables together.

My song chart is half of a piece of poster board, laminated, with the words printed and glued on the bottom. I printed the pocket on cardstock and laminated it separately. The pocket is attached with clear packing tape, top end left open. I made the words size 2"x8" and printed them double-sided.

Find the template here (you will need Boardmaker to open this file).

But - ter - fly

We're working on syllables and segmentation as part of the preschool general education curriculum and I've been correcting some related phonological patterns.

I've been pulling pictures and objects from a variety of activities to target multisyllabic words and I typically pair the words with a motor movement cue (usually hand-claps). However, I am ready to start fading cues for some of my little friends and I needed a picture card set specifically targeting two, three, and four syllable words.

I included dots below each butterfly to indicate syllable number. I arrange my prompting hierarchy to fade from full motor (clapping or finger-tapping) to tactile (touching each dot) to visual and then I can cover the dots completely when appropriate.

We've also discovered a few words for which my team has been vehemently debating the syllable count. Epenthesis, anyone?

If you use my butterflies, please take a second to say so and let me (or rather, my wonderful teammate) know below: how many syllables are in the name "Kyle"?

My Fav *affordable* Apps for Preschool

Last year, my department provided each preschool team with an iPad - yay! It arrived, however, preloaded with apps, most of which were geared toward a more advanced population, and with ties to an iTunes account that we could not access - bummer, right? Perhaps due mainly to my lack of techno-savvy, it spent most of last year acting as a glorified camera. How's that for a confession?

I have since overcome the iTunes issue, and this (albiet expensive) little tool has quickly become my new best friend. I am sharing a list of some of my personal favorite iPad apps for preschool speech and language for those of you, like me, who have no idea where to begin...

Articulation Station Pro ($49.99) 

Okay, I know I said, "affordable," and yes, I'm contradicting immediately with a splurge, but I promise it's the only one and worth the price. This is my most-used app and by far my favorite for articulation. Contains virtual flashcards that depict high-quality, real-life photos (great for an added vocabulary bonus) and allows you to work in all positions at word, sentence, and story levels. Data collection/progress tracking also embedded.

iSequences ($2.99)

I use this app to work on "first, next, then, last," sequencing language and it throws in some extras such as emotions ("How will __ feel?") and prediction ("What happens next?"). It's customizable so that I can preselect the sequences that will be presented.

Furry Friend (Free)

Meet Lenord. My preschoolers love that he can hear them talk and will repeat back everything they say (great for working on intelligibility and MLU). This furry friend comes with a collection of silly little activities: he blows bubbles (pop them), eats a sandwich, and has a pinwheel (make it spin). Plus, he's highly ticklish. I use it mainly for reinforcement and communication temptation.

What Doesn't Belong? Fun Deck ($1.99)

One of many apps from Super Duper - behold, Fun Decks in electronic form. This app is great for working on receptive and expressive categories; I turn the sound off and also use it for object-function and wh- questions. Data collection embedded.

ABA Problem Solving Game - Which Go Together? ($1.99)

Students choose pairs of pictures (field of four) that go together. I also like it to target functional vocabulary, object-function, categories, etc. Higher level "why?" component is also available.

Action Words (Free)

Presents sets of four photographs depicting present progressive verbs for receptive identification. I turn the sound off and use this app to work on expressive he/she pronouns and -ing endings. Settings allow me to select or deselect specific verbs depending on the client.

Time Timer ($2.99)

This is my most-recommended app for parents. Time is such an abstract concept for preschoolers and the visual of, "When the red is all gone..." literally allows children to watch time pass, making it so much more concrete. I use this app (and my actual visual timer) in the classroom constantly.

Comparative Adjectives (Free)

Great for work on adjectives, comparative and superlative morphemes (-er, -est), this app is a simple comparison of real-life pictures and provides immediate feedback.

ABA Receptive Identification - FFC Combined ($0.99)

Receptive identification of photographs based on feature ("Show me the one that has a tail"), function ("Touch the one that you sit on"), or class ("Where is the farm animal?"). Also provides verbal labels for each item and tracks responses/accuracy.

Play123 (Free)

This app is very cause-and-effect, and I use it with my youngest clients. I like it for following directions, practicing shapes and colors, and prewriting strokes. It also includes some opportunities to target prepositions and introduce some basic concepts.

This is by no means a comprehensive list - I'd love to hear how you are learning to incorporate iPad technology into therapy. What are your must-have apps for early childhood?

Quick Picture Artic

Trying to incorporate articulation therapy into the preschool classroom setting (I don't do any pull-out) is challenging and sometimes the best-laid plans fall through. I'm always looking for a quick grab-and-go artic activity to chart a few data points. I've generated a collection of preschool-vocabulary-friendly picture worksheets that I tend to use in a pinch.

/p/, /t/, /k/, /g/, /f/, /s/, /z/, s-blends, "j", "ch", "sh", /l/

In the classroom, I keep copies to snag pictures for a variety of activities. I have a set that I made into replacement cards for my Cariboo game (I know it's out of production, but I LOVE this game for artic practice with little ones). For some quick practice, they make great placemats for snack (we put snack items on the pictures). I also share them with parents for at-home practice with a letter outlining suggestions for use, including:

• Color, cut, and glue. Practice saying each word as your color, cut out, or glue pictures to make a collage or piece of artwork.
• Turn the worksheet into a parking lot for matchbox cars. Name the picture on which you park.
• Cut out two sets of the cards, flip them upside down, and play “Memory.” Limit the number of pairs that you present at a time so that your child can be successful.
• Play “Bingo.” Give clues describing the picture and have the child name the item before placing a marker on each one.
• Roll a die and place the corresponding number of (dried noodles, pennies, beans, poker chips) on the pictures. Say the name of each one as you cover it. Win the game by filling up the whole board.
• Go on a scavenger hunt. Hide the pictures around the room and name each one as you find them.
• Play “I Spy."
• Incorporate the pictures into another board game (I like Crocodile Dentist, Don’t Spill the Beans, Jenga, Connect Four). Have your child say a word before each turn.
• Create a Grab-Bag or Surprise Sound Box: Cut out the pictures and have your child pull them out of the box. Find actual items from around your house to mix in! Make it even more fun and fill your box with dried rice or beans.
• Carry a set of words with you to pull out during waiting times at the doctor, restaurants, etc.
• Cut out the cards and use them to play “Go Fish."
• Stick stickers on each picture. Have your child tell you where they are going to place or where they put their stickers.

What else would you add to the list?

Caboose Sounds

Final consonant deletion is currently trending on my caseload. I created this activity with a certain little one in mind, but what preschooler doesn't love trains?

The purpose of the activity is to target minimal pairs. We talk about trains and how each one has a special car that always rides on the end: the caboose. Then I explain that some words have a special "caboose sound" too. If we forget the caboose sound, people might think we are talking about something else.

There are two sets of cards. Train Cards carry words that have caboose sounds...

... and Coal Cards carry words that do not. The object is to collect train cards to build a loooong train behind your engine (I draw or put a picture of the client in as the conductor), but you have to remember the caboose sound or you'll end up with a piece of coal in your rock pile instead - bummer!

There are other variations for the cards. Sometimes we work on auditory discrimination where I say the words and the student guesses whether they heard the "train" word or the "coal" word.

What language do you use to talk about final consonant deletion with little ones?

Trick-or-Treat...

We've been practicing our trick-or-treating and filling up treat bags with /k/ and /g/ sounds in the form of candy corn and gumdrops.

I made these gumdrop and candy corn cards to hide in the hallway or on our playground (weather permitting) and my preschoolers love hunting for them and collecting the "candy" in their treat bags or buckets. Students practice the sounds in all positions at word or phrase level as they find the cards and review again as they count their loot. Best work = a real gummy bear :) My crowd is easily pleased.

 

I also made these "treat bags" to use as a game. In this version of the activity, students practice turn-taking by drawing cards. If they say the targeted sound correctly, they get to keep the card on their "bag." The object is to get a lot of candy. Sometimes in preschool it's best if everybody wins.

/s/ is for Spider

Fall Break is quickly approaching, and I've been working on some new preschool articulation games to go along with our upcoming Fall Unit. I made these little spiders to target /s/ and s-blends with a little Halloween flare.

I use the cards to work at word, phrase, and sentence levels. Each spider "swallowed" an object containing the target sound/blend in the initial, medial, or final position. Players begin with an empty "spider web" and take turns drawing cards ("My spider swallowed a..."). 

The object of the game is to collect as many spiders on your web as you can. But watch out for the Silly Monsters that are mixed in! Silly Monsters scare spiders away...

How are you incorporating articulation into your unit themes? Other ideas for some spider fun?

What? No Webbers?

One of the hardships about being a new therapist is that you pretty much start at ground zero in terms of building your collection of materials. I realized early during my first year that many of the supplies I took for granted during my graduate school clinical placements, such as Webber Articulation Cards, suddenly required out-of-pocket purchasing.

I supplemented my shopping by creating articulation cards for some of the popular target sounds on my caseload. 

I printed the pictures on heavy-duty cardstock, cut them apart, laminated them, and voila! Easily emailed or copied for additional practice at home. :)

Download your own initial /f/, initial /k/ and /g/, and initial /s/ and s-blends cards and let me know how you use them!