Speech Teletherapy Articulation
Articulation therapy through the use of teletherapy can be effective, engaging, and easy to implement with my speech teletherapy articulation guide. Learn here how I use only conversation and 3 websites to effortlessly create awesome therapy sessions that kids love!
I have actually grown to appreciate teletherapy, and over the past 6 months, I have perfected my therapy programs for articulation clients. Below, I outline how I do it!
Speech Teletherapy Articulation Guide
1. Chat
First things first, chat. No joke.
I first attempt to engage the child in conversation to create rapport. Creating a bond is KEY for a successful speech therapy program.
More importantly, I also observe how the child is producing sounds in connected speech. I check for any progress and/or generalization.
* 5 minutes
2. Speech Therapy Talk Membership Site
Now, this is not just a self-promotion (I promise). I actually use the membership site I created EVERY.SINGLE.SESSION.
Quick background - I started the membership website a few years ago by "accident." When I started my private practice, I needed all my own materials. This is an expensive and daunting task. I made a list of my wants:
- Affordable (scarce)
- No print (I love trees & the earth)
- Not cutesy (I hate cutting and pasting)
- Effective
- Versatile
I couldn't find these things. So, I started making my own materials and putting them on my website so I could find them. As my materials grew, I thought....maybe other SLPs and parents could benefit from these? So, for a nominal fee, I started the membership website.
However, I digress. Back to the topic at hand.
I use my site to:
- First, introduce the goal. I pull up materials that review how to say a sound (articulation placement, etc...), phonological awareness tasks for the sound, and a quick drill practice. I have a variety of materials for this so I can spice things up!
- Second, get a lot of focused drill practice. Games are fun but distracting and sometimes a time suck. So, I get "work" done early. I either annotate a PDF, use an interactive PowerPoint, or pull up a Google Slides deck. This will depend on if my client is working at the syllable, word, phrase, or sentence level. These "drill" games are still interactive and engaging, so kids don't mind.
- If we fly through those tasks, I usually bring up a Google Slides "game" or "I Spy" cards to get some more drill done while still keeping the client engaged.
*15-20 minutes. We are at 20-25 minutes.
3. Pink Cat Games
After getting through our work, we move on to games!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Pink Cat Games. It is also a paid site but relatively inexpensive! Kids from 2.5 to 11 years old so far are enjoying it! I am not an affiliate for them, and this is not an ad or promotion. I just LOVE it!
On this site, I search pre-made materials that match my target goal (i.e., initial CH). I click on those materials and then let the child pick the game.
Most games are very engaging and the child is still getting focused practice with a slight distraction of a game. The child has to remember to say his/her sound correctly while being distracted by a fun game.
If you want to check out Pink Cat Games, click here.
* 15 minutes. We are now at 35-40 minutes.
4. ABCYA
ABCYA is an awesome site! It is free and full of fun games!
I use this site as the ultimate reward and play it at the end. This is how I play it for EVERY CLIENT and they love it.
- I have the client pick out a "make a ....." game. These are games in which we make something such as a house, backpack, cake, etc...
- I slightly lie and tell the client that the website doesn't allow them to "take control" of the screen. This way the client has to use their speech to tell me how to make whatever we are creating.
- I get creative quickly and think of a carrier phrase that the child must say before I will do what they tell me to.
- For example, let's say we are working on /l/. The client would have to say "I Like the chocoLate cake," and then I click the chocolate cake for them.
They all beg to play these games so check them out. They are a HIT.
* 5 minutes (though you can make this longer). Total time 40-45 minutes.
Bonus Ideas for Energetic Clients
If you have an active client, here are some of my favorite ideas:
- Scavenger hunt - give a list of common items that contain the target sound. Have the child find the objects and name them.
- Pictionary - have the child think of a word/object with the target sound and draw it while the therapist guesses it. Take turns drawing and guessing.
- Be P.E. teachers - take turns giving each other "exercises" to do (i.e., touching toes, jumping jacks). Weave in sound practice in the carrier phrases. (i.e., if targeting L-blends say "touch your toes, PLEASE).
Become a Member
If you are interested in becoming a member of Speech Therapy Talk Services, check it out here. You have access to ALL my current materials and any new materials that I make.
I will even take requests! If there is something that you need, please let me know.