Love It and List It - Articulation Apps

 my favorite articulation apps to use with preschoolers

Who's ready to party?! I am linking up again with Speech Room News' Love It and List It party this month. The theme is "Articulation Apps", so here are the top apps I use to address those tricky phonemes with my preschool caseload!

1) Articulation Station Pro

Why I love it: Articulation Station Pro is definitely my go-to app for my articulation students. I use it every. single. day. This app has beautiful pictures, you can create student profiles and save scores for each student. I love, love, love that I can select multiple students and multiple sounds at the same time and the app will track the scores for each person and each sound for me.

Articulation Station allows you to practice phonemes at the word level (flashcards or matching game), sentence level (rotating sentences uses the same sentence, but the target word changes; or you can choose to have unique sentences for each turn), or the paragraph level. Whatever level you are practicing at, select if you want to practice your phonemes in the initial, medial, or final positions (or mixed).

Another great thing is instead of buying the full app, you can purchase specific phonemes individually, which is a great option that I recommend for my families who only need to practice one or two sounds.

Articulation Station Pro is currently available in the app store for $49.99 at the time of this posting. Phonemes can also be purchased individually instead of buying the entire app.


2) Speech Sounds on Cue

Why I love it: Speech Sounds on Cue first shows you with a video how to produce your selected phoneme. Then it proceeds through a short phrase three times. The first time, the entire phrase is modeled for the student, with a video playing a sample production of the target word. The second reading, the video plays the target word (no sound).

The third time, the video is gone and the student says the word, with the student's production recorded and played back. This app is great for targeting single words or working into that phrase/sentence level. I love the feedback it gives, and you can even select multiple phonemes to work on simultaneously.

Speech Sounds on Cue is currently available for $23.99 in the app store at the time of this posting.

3) Phonics Studio

Why I love it: Ohmigoodness, where do I start? Um, how about the option to add student profiles, plus a scoring feature that calculates percent accuracy and saves scores in that student's profile?

Or how about the fact the app allows you to record your students' productions and play them back for you to critique? Not enough for you?

What if I told you that Phonics Studio not only contains pictures for each letter of the alphabet plus vowels, but also allows you to customize by adding your own pictures and recordings as needed?! Need more convincing? Phonics Studio is completely FREE! Wheee! It's so great!

When you're finished practicing, save your scores and email them to parents! This app is a MUST HAVE!

Phonics Studio is currently available for FREE in the app store at the time of this posting.

4) Multiple Choice Articulation

Why I love it: The questions and options given in this app are so funny, and a little gross at times, which make for lots of laughs and silly practice in the speech room. This app is great for carryover as the questions elicit more of a conversational response than just a single word. This app targets /s, z, r, l, sh, ch, th/. You can read my full review here.

Multiple Choice Articulation is currently available for $4.99 in the app store at the time of this posting.

5) Make Dice Lite

Why I love it: This app is great because you can customize it and make as many dice as you need:

You can use up to six dice at once, so with my articulation kiddos I will select their phoneme dice plus a number dice, then they have to say their words that many times. Read my full review here.

Make Dice Lite is currently available for FREE in the app store at the time of this posting. There is also a full version which allows you to add pictures to the dice. It is available for $2.99 at this time.

6) Bamba Ice Cream/Toca Hair Salon

    

Why I love them: My students are constantly requesting to play both of these apps, and along the way I've discovered that they are both loaded with words that contain /s/, /sh/, and /s/ blends! Why not let your students think they are playing while you sneakily have them work on their target phonemes? Mwahahaha! You can read more in this post about how I've used Toca Hair Salon for articulation practice.

Bamba Ice Cream is currently available for FREE in the app store at the time of this posting.
Toca Hair Salon is currently available for $2.99 in the app store at the time of this posting. There are two versions: Toca Hair Salon and Toca Hair Salon 2.

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So there you have it! My favorite apps to use for articulation with my preschoolers! What do you like to use?

Now, go check out what other articulation apps SLPs are using!

A Plump and Perky Turkey {book companion}

I have a new Thanksgiving book companion up in my store to go along with the book A Plump and Perky Turkey (by Teresa Bateman)! This is such a cute book about a town in need of a turkey for their feast, and their attempt to trick one into joining them!

This packet is so 'plump' from all the fun inside! If you need any last-minute activities, I've got you covered! This packet has a huge variety of activities appropriate for any subject, and many of the pages are print-and-go, so you won't have a lot of prep to do!

Comprehension Questions (answers included)

Story Retell Prompts

Thanksgiving Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle

Compare/Contrast

Match the pictures that begin with the same sound.

This is a fun mini-book full of turkeys in disguise!

Have your students write about what they are thankful for.

Reusable tic-tac-toe board

Use the code to discover the secret message.

Open-ended Reinforcement Game:
collect all the turkeys and feathers in your color to win.

...and MORE!!

This packet can be found in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Get excited, because you can save $1 on this packet through November 28th!

Love It and List It - Language Apps

 my favorite language apps to use with preschoolers

I am linking up again with Speech Room News' Love It and List It party this month. The theme is "Language Apps", so here are the top apps I use to address those language goals with my preschool caseload!

1) Make a Scene: Farmyard

Why I love it: First of all, the pictures are adorable. But I really love this app for my preschoolers because it targets a lot of farm vocabulary, animals, fruits and vegetables, and farm equipment. You can also change the background to other farm scenes. There are several colors/patterns for each animal, so we talk about those describing words. I usually have my students tell me what they'd like to add to the picture next, then we expand their utterance by adding in describing words or complete phrases.

SLP: Now what should we add to our farm?

Child: Horse.

SLP: Okay! Do you want a brown horse, or a black horse?

Child: Black horse.

SLP: I want black horse.

Child: I want black horse.

(SLP then allows child access to iPad to add the black horse to the scene.)

We can also expand the activity further and talk about the location words of where the child is placing each picture (e.g. "The cat is inside the barn!"). Make a Scene Farmyard is also excellent to target following directions.

Make a Scene: Farmyard is currently available for free in the app store at the time of this posting. There are other Make a Scene themes (jungle, under the sea, etc.) that are also available for purchase.


2) Furry Friend: Lenord

Why I love it: Lenord is very similar to Talking Tom and his friends, but I enjoy Lenord so much more. He has different props along the bottom of the screen that he interacts with, or will repeat what the child says. Tickle his belly and he giggles. Blow the pinwheel to make it spin. Let go of his balloon, pop his bubbles, or give him a snack or a drink. I have found my preschoolers are fascinated by Lenord, enjoy interacting with him, and think it's hilarious when Lenord repeats what they say. I use this app to elicit requests, increase MLU, and discuss feelings or activities of daily living.

Furry Friend: Lenord is currently available for $0.99 in the app store at the time of this posting. Or, try the lite version for free.


3) Bitsboard Pro

Why I love it: Bitsboard allows you access to thousands of flash cards and categories, but you can also customize the boards to your needs or upload your own pictures. The pro version has a ton of different learning options for each picture board including flashcards, receptive identification, Bingo games, pop quizzes, matching, spelling, and more.

I find myself frequently using boards for different categories (clothing, animals, etc.), but I really love the Action Words boards to elicit language. These pictures are great for targeting different action words. I'll have my students use a verb to tell what is happening in each picture, then we practice using that word in a short phrase or sentence, depending on the student's skill level. There's a wonderful recording feature that allows me to record the student saying their new sentence, then we get to play it back and make changes. Love this app!

Bitsboard Pro is currently available for $2.99 in the app store at the time of this posting. Or, try the lite version for free.

4) Lego 4+

Why I love it: Plain and simple, my preschoolers adore this app and it gets used multiple times each day. Kiddos are able to construct their own cars, so we get lots of language practice talking about the colors, wheel shapes, drivers, items in the backs of the cars, etc. I usually have my students tell me what piece they'd like to use to build their car before they can add it on, and we work on making nice requests, expanding utterances, or using those describing words.

After you are done building your super new purple race car with red rectangle wheels and a lion in back, you get to drive it! Try to collect all the Lego pieces before you reach your destination, then a bonus Lego creation awaits for you to build. This app is mega fun for all my students :)

Lego 4+ is currently available for free in the app store or the Google Play store at the time of this posting.

5) Honorable Mention: Anything from Toca Boca!! All these apps are open-ended, engaging, and versatile.

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So there you have it! My favorite apps to use for language goals with my preschoolers! What do you like to use?

Now, go check out what other language apps SLPs are using!

Fall-ing Into Fantastic Speech

a new activity packet full of fall/autumn-themed speech and language activities

Hey you guys! I am so sorry for being absent from the blog the past couple weeks. I have been so completely busy with work, family, and personal activities that I have had almost no time to write, create, and blog. (As evidenced by the 519 unread blog posts I have to catch up on Bloglovin' right now!)

But I'm back, and finally had time to finish up the fall-themed activity packet I have been working on for over a month now. I hope you enjoy it!

This rather large packet includes all sorts of goodies:

**"Where's the Pumpkin?" book targeting preposition words

**What Does Not Belong cards:

**Roll, Say, and Color pages targeting the following sounds: /sh, ch/; /f, v/; /k, g/; /l/; /s/ blends; /th/

**Jack-o-Lantern Glyph - answer the wh-questions, then follow the key to decorate your own pumpkin!

**Multiple Reinforcement Activities including a word search, leaf/tree cut and paste, open-ended board games, and open-ended apple card game.

...and more! You can get this plump packet for yourself in my Teachers Pay Teachers store! Enjoy 20% off until November 1st!! Since fall is such an awesome season, I'm going to give away two copies of this packet to you, my awesome and faithful readers! Just enter the Rafflecopter below! Good luck and HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dollar Store Dash Linky Party

see what I got for $5 at the dollar store, and what I'm going to do with my loot

The Dollar Store is a wonderful resource for inexpensive therapy materials, office items, and stocking up your prize box :) Teach Speech 365 came up with a super fun idea of a Dollar Store Dash! The challenge: spend $5 at the dollar store, and then share how you will use your money-saving items in therapy. Challenge accepted!

1. car/animal erasers
I plan on using these during themed units. Have students pull them out of a garbage can and name the vocabulary (I work with preschoolers...). When not working on transportation or animal themes, we will use these erasers as board game tokens.

2. simple animal puzzles
I thought these were so cute! Basic, 4-5 piece puzzles that will not be too challenging with my preschoolers. I can also write on the backs of the pieces and the base for matching vocabulary, articulation drills, etc.

3. medication reminder boxes
I can place articulation words, wh-questions, vocabulary words, probe words, etc. in this with random stickers/rewards in a couple compartments (per this idea here). I can't wait to decorate the box better so kids can't see what's inside (and so it's cuter!). NOTE: I don't use food as reinforcement in therapy anyway, but I highly suggest not putting edible rewards in pill organizers. We don't want any kiddos thinking items in pill boxes are for their consumption.

4. star tap light
Kiddos will use these to "buzz in" their answers! This can be used during most activities: answering questions, story comprehension, etc. Can't wait!

5. fall leaves stickers
We are going to use these next week. I'll print off some bare tree forms, then students can stick away while we drill our speech sounds.

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Leave a Comment: What's your preferred dollar store?
I'm devoted to Dollar Tree :)

Teaching Prepositions with Pocket Charts

a fun way to practice prepositions and articulation

Here's a fun way I've been practicing preposition words with my students lately - pocket charts!

I like to hang my pocket chart on a cabinet to allow my students the chance to get up and moving. Basically, I put one high-interest picture in the center of the chart, then we practice our preposition words by placing other pictures around the first one.

To practice receptive understanding of prepositions, I give the student a card, and tell them where to put it: "Put the boy above the truck."

Sometimes I add word or picture cues to assist students.

Expressive practice can include an array of pictures. I ask the student, "Where's the ____?" and they tell me using the appropriate preposition word. This is also a great way to practice making complete sentences and expanding length of utterance. My students have fun if I use silly combinations of pictures so they can make goofy sentences!

Bonus! Pocket charts can also be a fun way to incorporate articulation practice in structured sentences (see example with velar phonemes below):

Another fun game to play with pocket charts is Tic-Tac-Toe! Make a 3x3 array of pictures, then students have to say that word with their target sound at the appropriate level before they can cover it up with their X or O. Quick and fun practice!

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Leave a Comment: How will you use your pocket chart?