Teaching past tense verbs is crucial for children’s language development as it enhances their ability to express events that have already happened. Mastering past tense forms allows children to convey stories and experiences more accurately, improving both their narrative skills and overall communication. The Tense Builder app by the Mobile Education Store offers an engaging platform to practice these skills with its interactive features and customizable settings. By incorporating such tools into therapy sessions, speech-language pathologists can effectively reinforce past tense concepts in a dynamic and enjoyable way, ensuring lasting language proficiency.
With two levels of play, short video clips, and a variety of settings, this app will surely please any crowd. This app has been on my iPad since its release in 2012 and I still use it for teaching verb tenses twelve years later! For those who have not seen it before, let me show you the settings and two levels of play.
Over a decade ago, I was given this app so I could put it to the test and offer a first person, hands on review of the product.
PROS:
Ability to record answers to foster expressive language and articulation practice.
Engaging video clips that hold attention
Leveled game play
Built-in teaching tool
Settings Screen
The following features can be switched on or off:
Audio Instructions: select to play the same direction on each screen.
Answer Reinforcement: a naturally sounding voice repeats the correct sentence.
Record Correct Answer: clients work on their own expressive skills and gain auditory feedback by recording their voice reading the accurate sentence. Also a great option to work on articulation of sounds at the sentence level. My young examiners LOVED this feature!
Teaching Past Tense with Varying Play Levels
Level 1: clients match a sentence to the correct picture in a field of three. First, you hit the “Play Video” button and then watch a short clip. The clips are really fun and they contain sound effects that delighted my clients! Next, you will see one of the scenes from the movie. Last, you tap the correct picture answer.
Level 2: clients must drag the correct verb tense to complete the sentence. You can select future, present, past, or all verb tenses for either level. Again, you must first watch an animated video. While the videos only use sound effects, you may see some word bubbles above characters.
In this level, the word choice you select is said aloud as you begin to drag the word or word phrase to the top of the page to complete the sentence. I especially like this feature because it allows clients self correct errors. You can also set how many choices you want to display. This way, you can start at an easy level with three choices and increase the challenge gradually to as many as seven choices.
Tense: select future/ present/ past/ all
Regular/ Irregular Verbs/ All: select one or both for a mixed play
Lesson Style: chose between a “long” or “short” lesson. Should you hit the “Play lesson” on a picture screen, you will get a lesson about the verb target. Regardless of which type of lesson you chose, short or long, you will see a visual demonstration with verbal instructions. Yet another, great feature!
Enhancing Language Skills: Teaching Past Tense with Interactive Tools
Mastering past tense verbs is a crucial milestone in language development, and tools like the Tense Builder app can make learning engaging and effective. By incorporating interactive features and customizable settings, this app not only enhances understanding but also keeps children motivated to practice and succeed. Whether used at home or in therapy sessions, the Tense Builder app remains a valuable resource for teaching verb tenses, ensuring that children can confidently express themselves in both spoken and written language
I hope that you get a chance to try this app at home! At $9.99, it’s an affordable and interactive option for teaching verb tenses. This gem made it to my top 10 list of favorite apps.
What do you think is a reasonable price for an AAC app compatible with the iPhone/ iPad that includes over 14,000 images and acts as a voice output communication system? An AAC app of this magnitude typically costs over a hundred dollars. What if I told you that you could get this app for under sixty dollars? Crazy, right? Well, the cost for the Expressive app by Smarty Ears is an affordable $59.99!
I was given this app so I could put it to the test and offer a first person, hands on review of the product.
PROS:
This AAC app with 14,000 images is a steal for the price.
The ability to customize it with settings controls and links to add your own photos!
The main menu page is very organized and user friendly.
CONS:
It would be even better if the developers could eliminate moving to a new screen to view category members.
Main Page: AAC App Overview
Now, let’s take a closer look at this affordable AAC app and its customization features. We begin at the opening menu page. Here you will find color coded folders for the following groups: basics, categories, expressions, descriptive, food, people, places, questions, verbs, and time. After you tap the icon, you are navigated to another screen with category member images.
The main page also includes the following, core icons: not, yes, go, be, like, have, want, do, bad, and more.
Settings
The settings allow you to select either “on” or “off” modes for the ‘iCloud’, ‘lock’, ‘capital/lowercase’, ‘speak folder’, ‘automatically erases messages’, and ‘go to home after selection’ features.
Locking the app will prevent users from seeing the bottom tabs that bring you to the settings; allow you to delete or add images and folders; and give you access to other links for Smarty Ears, which includes a tutorial of this app. It is a good idea to lock the app if you want to avoid accidental deletion of images and folders.
The capital/lowercase selection displays the written word for the pictures you select to appear in either all lowercase or capital/lowercase. The Speak folder allows you to hear the name of the selected folder. Finally, the automatically erase feature removes images in the top bar after you play the sentence strip.
You can also change the speaker’s voice by choosing from four different male/female voices. If desired, you can slow down the rate of voicing or speed it up faster.
Another handy feature is the delete key. Simply tap the red “x” icon at the bottom of the screen to enter edit mode for delete, replace, or hide options.
If you need some specific pictures from your own photo library or if you want to add more smarty symbols, you can create new folders and add new images by tapping the green “+” button. In the screenshot below, you will notice a color wheel, which allows you to select a tab color for the folders and images you create. Once you add the picture and text, the app automatically sets an audio recording of the word! This by far is my favorite feature because you can really customize the app to suit any client, regardless of age!
Over a decade ago, Smarty Ears apps released their Syntax City App, an innovative tool for teaching syntax. They were kind enough to gift me this $19.99 app so I could provide a first person, hands on review for caregivers and colleagues. Nearly 12 years later and Syntax City still ranks in my top 10 list of apps for speech therapy. Let’s take an even closer look at this engaging and reinforcing app: Syntax City.
PROS:
You can customize this app for game play with several students at one time.
Ability to select easy to more challenging levels.
Fun layout and pictures that make learning engaging
Reinforcing, virtual prizes
CONS:
Sentences are read aloud and users must tap the correct word choice to fill in the blank. Unfortunately, the audio stops as soon as the user makes a selection. I would like to see the audio play the entire sentence.
Getting Started
Before you dive into the app, I highly recommend that you take a tour through a tutorial that lasts just under 10 minutes via the ‘Support’ tab. Next, you will need to set up some profiles. Type in the user name and chose either an avatar or photo image for a visitor badge. Up to five users can ‘visit the city’ at one time. You could also opt for a ‘quick play’ with one player, which will give you a chance to play and collect data, but the information will not save in ‘quick play’ mode. At any time, you can remove badges too by deleting users.
While in settings mode, you can also chose the following:
Play Audio on/off
Remove error choices or allow users to hear a buzzer when incorrect
Recorder on/off
Before playing, you need to select the players that will visit, and then the next screen will show you selected users on the bottom. Simply drag and click users to any area you desire. Even better, you can bring one user to multiple locations. This is my favorite feature because you can target each individuals goal all during one game!! First, you move your player ID to a location, then you select a level. Some locations have more options for levels than others.
Syntax city is primarily a receptive language app with 2-3 word choices to fill in the blanks for sentences. However, you can also work on expressive language skills by having users record correct sentences, thereby giving users a chance to hear auditory feedback of syntactically correct sentences. By recording, you can also address any articulation concerns by having clients self-rate their utterances.
Teaching Syntax Through Play
Initially, the first thing that caught my eye about this app, was the clever, categorical layout of the city. You have the option of visiting any or all of the following locations:
Plurals Zoo
Was-Were Bakery
Do-Does Gym
Irregular Past Tense Farm
Is-Are Park
Have-Has Grocery
3rd Person Singular Beach
He-She Ski Resort
After dragging players to locations, you are prompted to select a level of play.
When you first enter a location, you will see a scene related to that destination and hear a cute passage that talks about the importance of using that particular syntax appropriately.
Play commences with users shown his or her visitor badge in the upper left hand corner of the screen. A picture scene that matches the location appears with a sentence and 2-4 word choices (depending on the level of play selected.) Sentences are read aloud and users must tap the correct word choice to fill in the blank. Unfortunately, the audio stops as soon as the user makes a selection. I would like to see the audio play the entire sentence even if answer choices are selected quickly.
Teaching Syntax Through Game Rewards
The absolute highlight for all my trial users was earning prizes for correct answer choices. Each location has a shelf load of items that relate to the destination. For example, accurate answers on the beach earn you prizes like a beach towel, chair, and container of sea salt. I REALLY like the categorization design for prizes too! We have been reviewing the prize shelf, and then removing pictures and talking about the items we can recall from that category.
Also included in this app is a data collection screen. This page tracks each users performance in each location when you play in the ‘visit the city’ mode. You can opt to email, print or copy this page for fast and efficient data collection!
Embark on a colorful journey of language development as we delve into the efficacy of using the Rainbow Sentences app in therapy. You might have noticed a brief mention of Rainbow Sentences in my post, 10 Apps that Stand the Test of Time. I’d like to delve into creating grammatically correct sentences in more detail with the vibrant features of this app. Rainbow Sentences, developed by Mobile Education Store, is accessible for $9.99 on the iPad platform.
I was given this app over a decade ago so I could put it to the test and offer a first person, hands on review of the product.
PROS:
You can toggle to allow sentence recordings to build expressive language skills and practice articulation of speech at the sentence level.
Reinforcing puzzle completion after accurately word ordering several sentences. The app stores the puzzles for you so when you return to your profile, you can pick up where you left off.
You get a nice break down of how many items clients answered correctly on their first, second, and third attempts for each complexity level. Plus, you can email this information!
Shown a scrambled sentence, you select “show,” then “play lesson.” This tool teaches sentence formation by answering questions, color-coding parts.
This tool guides clients in formulating sentences, answering questions, and color-coding sentence parts like “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why.”
Rainbow Sentences Settings
First, you set the stage at the settings screen. Select the on or off mode for the following:
Audio instructions
Correct answer reinforcement
Record correct answer
Line color coding: Subjective parts of the sentence are coded in blue, while the predicate portions are red.
Word color coding: For more support, you can allow clients to match words to designated line colors.
Word grouping: Challenge your clients a bit by selecting this option and just a few lines are shown. Users must group words together into an accurate sentence with minimal cueing.
Levels of Play
There are three complexity levels in Rainbow Sentences for constructing short to longer grammatically correct sentences. The first level is simple: sequence a few blocks or 4-5 words into a grammatically correct sentence order.
The second level is slightly harder as it requires sequencing three blocks or seven words into a grammatically correct sentence.
The last level is the most difficult and can contain four blocks or as many as fourteen scrambled words.
As stated in the PROs section, you receive a breakdown of correct answers for each complexity level on first, second, and third attempts. Plus, you can email this information!
I couldn’t find any cons to owning this app, especially if your child needs help with constructing grammatically correct sentences.
“Speech is movement made audible…, oral-motor therapy, as it is practiced today, can be defined as the process of facilitating improved oral (jaw, lip, tongue) movements.” Oral-Motor Techniques in Articulation & Phonological Therapy by Pam Marshalla, M.A., CCC-SLP
Sometimes, children need a little more than auditory and visual cues to make sequenced movements for speech. We know that making these movements brings them one step closer to pairing sounds with those motions. Adding tactile learning can be an essential piece in the puzzle for children who need to feel more information in and around their mouths before producing a sound.
Developing a new speech movement takes time, successful practice, supports, and extinction of inaccurate movements. This comprehensive oral motor wake up routine for home intends to support caregivers in using oral motor tools sold through Ark Therapeutic to prepare the mouth for feeding and/or speech.
Years ago, I connected with Ark and they graciously gifted me several products to try with clients on my caseload. I do not advocate purchasing or implementing oral motor products unless a speech pathologist has recommended these specifically. Comprehensive assessments support appropriate treatment planning and identify other medical, contributing factors like hearing loss or tongue tie that may need intervention prior to initiating speech-language therapy.
Develop Oral Awareness With a Wake Up Oral Routine
Before a child can develop sequenced movements for speech, he needs to be able to feel and attend to the structures of his mouth. Without this knowledge, he may not be able to perform tasks like putting lips together, moving the tongue, or chewing. As a result, these children do not comprehend an auditory (verbal) direction to “Lift the tongue up and make the /d, t, n/ sound,” even when you show them how it is done.
Oral awareness through “wake-up” practice helps children feel the boundaries in and around their mouths. One tool that I have used over the last two decades in private practice is the Z-Vibe by Ark Therapeutic. You can purchase this instrument alone or as part of a grabber in the form of the Z-Grabber. For more information on the Z-Grabber, please see my post on jaw work.
Tools for a Wake Up Oral Motor Routine
Ark’s Z-Vibe Oral Stimulator
This single probe tip instrument provides intense vibration input to support stimulation, improving awareness, and exploration. In other words, it helps “wake-up” the mouth before feeding and/or speech practice. While you can only use one tip at a time, there are over 35 different ones that you can twist and secure on the Z-Vibe.
Ark’s 10-Tip Kit Set for the Z-Vibe
This kit includes the following tips for the Z-Vibe:
Preefer
Probe
Mini
Hard Fine
Bite-n-Chew
Textured Bite-n-Chew XL
Hard Spoon
Soft Spoon
Hard Brush
Soft Brush
I will be describing a “wake-up” routine using the first, four tips in the list above: Preefer, Probe, Mini, and Hard Fine. You can read more information on the Bite-n-Chew and Textured Bite-n-Chew XL in my post about the jaw. The hard and soft spoons are helpful in transitioning infants to textured foods. These spoons are especially useful if your child stuffs his mouth full as this is a sign that he needs more information and input before being able to chew and swallow.
The Z-Vibe vibration with spoon tips give oral musculature appropriate sensory input and ensures safety while eating. Finally, the brush tips support oral hygiene and dental care. These are both good options for getting ready to use a regular toothbrush. Consult your child’s speech pathologist about appropriate tips.
Wake-Up Oral Motor Routine
ALWAYS maintain control of the Z-Vibe and refrain from letting your child hold the tool itself to place on his face. We do not want the child to use this tool like a toy and/or place it on bones like the nose or ears as this is a useless, sensory stimulation experience. You may allow your child to hold the device with you, but never independently.
Step 1:
When you first introduce oral motor tools, you will need to begin by having your child feel the gentle vibration on his hands, gradually moving up his arms and towards his mouth. We want to make every step of this stimulation a positive experience and starting at someone’s face is too intrusive. Hold and count from 3-5 on your child’s hands, arms, then cheeks using the Z-Vibe with Preefer Tip.
Preefer Tip: This particular tip was designed to roll along inner cheeks and/or lips to increase oral awareness. The ridged surface of this tip was a brilliant idea because it provides the perfect amount of stimulation without being overbearing.
Step 2:
Continue proceeding with caution and positive acceptance by alerting the outside of your child’s face before moving inside the mouth. Stroke the outside of your child’s cheeks in a downward motion, starting near his ears and moving towards the lips in three rows on each cheek, counting from 3-5 each time.
Step 3:
For lip awareness, you can continue using the Preefer tip or switch to the Probe or Mini Tip.
Preefer Tip: Hold vertically at one lip corner and roll it moving towards the opposite corner. If age appropriate, you can sing a song while you move back and forth 3-5 times or simply stretch out your counting.
Probe/Mini Tip: These removable tips have three surfaces: bumpy, striated, and smooth. Start out introducing the smooth side and then take baby steps towards trying the textured ones. Stroke the lips using one surface at a time applying gentle pressure and counting for 3-5 seconds. Please note that the Mini Tip is great for smaller mouths and infants.
Step 4:
Start moving inside your child’s mouth using the Preefer, Probe, or Mini Tip to alert the inner cheeks. This area is a boundary cue for moving foods towards the molars for chewing.
Preefer Tip: Roll the tip inside each cheek with an up-and-down motion while and counting for 3-5 seconds.
Probe/Mini Tip: Position the Z-Vibe Probe or Mini Tip horizontally on the bottom of your child’s cheek inside his mouth and then walk it up using counting or a song.
Step 5:
The last step is to alert the tongue. You may use the Preefer, Probe, Mini, or Fine Tip for this final part of the routine. The only area overly sensitive to vibration is the palate, or top of your child’s mouth.
Preefer Tip: Roll this across the middle of the tongue from side to side while counting from 3-5 repetitions.
Probe/Mini Tip: Start with the bumpy side for the first round of 3-5 repetitions and then repeat this count using the striated end. Place the Tip of the Z-Vibe a few centimeters from your child’s tongue tip, holding and gently pressing as you move the tip vertically back and forth. The Z-Vibe should maintain contact with the tongue during each of the 3-5 repetitions.
Fine Tip: To build awareness at the sides of the tongue, use the Fine Tip to gently stroke with a back and forth motion for 3-5 repetitions on each side.
Take Away Points for Wake Up Oral Motor Routines
1. I use a variation of the “wake-up” routine at session starts to build muscle awareness for feeding and speech.
2. Tactile sensation is part of my comprehensive plan for children with feeding and speech delays.
3. A multi-sensory approach includes auditory, visual, and tactile cues, supporting overall progress with caregiver training.
Over the last three decades, I have witnessed that some children benefit from feeling where to place their tongues to successfully produce target sounds, particularly those who have made little progress with traditional articulation therapy. A tactile approach, such as speech buddies, has proven effective in unlocking articulation breakthroughs for children who have struggled with conventional therapy methods.
What are Speech Buddies?
One tool that I have used with moderate success is Speech Buddies. These tools are the size and length of a tongue depressor that individually target: L, R, S, CH, and SH sounds by helping a child identify correct placement of the tongue to accurately produce that sound. Here is how you introduce and use this product:
I always begin with letting the child hold and feel the flexible tool before placing it in his mouth.
Next, we talk about where his teeth and tongue should be positioned on the tool using the images in the booklet that the company provides.
I always hold the Speech Buddy at first to help the child feel the right placement, but I quickly give them independence as this helps make them feel more comfortable.
We start with saying words that begin with the targeted speech sound with the Speech Buddy in the mouth, but I swiftly transition to saying the word with the Buddy and then without. Removing the Speech Buddy provides a reset that supports programming the muscles to store a memory of proper movement. To teach the mouth muscles to recall the correct placement, the child needs to say the word with support, then without.
Practicing with the Speech Buddy twice weekly for 20 minutes fosters muscle memory better than longer, once-a-week sessions.
Considerations Before Buying Speech Buddies
Consult your speech pathologist before trialing any tool; it ensures suitability and maximizes investment effectiveness for parents. These tools are not appropriate for everyone for several reasons:
They require a certain level of cognitive ability to follow directions.
Some children need to develop better jaw support before working on tongue movements.
Not every child can tolerate having a tool in his mouth due to oral sensitivity and/or hyperactive gag reflex.
Your child may not require this type of feedback to learn how to produce /l, r, s, ch, sh/ sounds. Verbal cues alone may suffice.
These products are not a ‘stand alone’ option or replacement for skilled speech evaluation and therapy.
Pros
I’ve found great success with Speech Buddies for improving /s, sh, ch, l/ sounds, in both school and private practice.
Parents can easily help children generalize practice at home. The tool helps ensure accurate articulator placement occurs every time.
Cons
In truth, my success with the R Buddy has been limited. There are two options for producing R: retroflex and bunched. The Speech Buddy only supports the retroflex option.
The retroflex R movement is not best for everyone. Some children, especially those with tongue ties have a hard time with retroflex R.
Mastering the retroflex movement with the R Speech Buddy poses a challenge as it requires unraveling the Buddy with the tongue tip.
Speech Buddies are costly and not covered by insurance
Costs
Individual Speech Buddy tools range from $99-$124 in price with a complete kit costing close to three hundred dollars. Unless your child needs help with all the above-mentioned targets, you do not need to purchase a kit. I would suspect that if he does require help with several sounds, then your speech pathologist may need to work on improving jaw stability first.
I aimed to educate on tactile feedback for articulation delays and suggest Speech Buddy tools. A formal evaluation before any home program is necessary. These evaluations are crucial in identifying other medical reasons like hearing issues or tongue ties that impede therapy progress. As frustrating as it is to wait for testing, it is well worth the time.
Speech therapy early intervention services are designed for children from birth until they turn three. This service delivery model is rooted in parent training and coaching to work on developmental goals from speech to physical motor skills during everyday play routines. My experience has taught me that the more practice a child has of any target, the quicker you will witness developmental gains and progress. What better way to work on developmental skills than to incorporate engaging activities for preschoolers?
Mother and daughter Engaging in Crafts
This post contains examples of the best speech therapy early intervention activities with complete details of materials, speech and language targets, and play sequence suggestions for each of the following themes:
WATER PLAY: SPEECH THERAPY EARLY INTERVENTION ACTIVITIES
Water play activities for preschoolers are always a splash in my coaching sessions. You will need a bucket or bin filled with a little water or you could set up your online therapy room near a kitchen or bathroom sink. No need to purchase fancy bath toys, but if you have some at home then you can use them. These everyday items will lend to some language enrichment just as well:
Small disposable or plastic cup
Funnel
Dish soap
Sponge
Empty bottles (hand soap, dish soap, shampoo)
Baby doll or dishware for pretend play
Child’s watering can
Wash cloth
Grow towels from the Dollar Store
Following Directions with Water
I ask parents to bag up a few things and keep it handy for the session. There is no need to fill the bucket, bin, or sink before the therapy session. Why take the fun of it at the start, right? Instead, your child can use bottles, cups, faucets to fill the container and squirt in a few pumps of soap. This is a great way to work on following directions such as:
Get bin.
Fill bottle with water.
Turn the water on/off.
Pour in cold/warm water.
Squirt 3 pumps of soap
You can even practice 2-step directions by combining the above or creating your own. When the water bin is filled, it is time to break out the objects for play. Your speech pathologist should give you a reminder about the goal you are targeting in this activity just before you open the bag/ container of objects. However, once the action gets going, you should not hear much instruction to allow for the natural flow of communication. Below are some examples of goals that you can target in this water play activity:
Imitating actions/ sounds/ words
Using objects/ pictures/ signs/ gestures/ words/ phrases to make requests
Following simple directions
Using two objects together in play
Expanding play sequences (i.e., put toy cars in the water, scrub them with a brush, dry them)
Bubble Bin
You could always transform this water play bin into a homemade bubble one! I stumbled upon this little gem years ago one overcast, summer day and my neighbor and I decided to try it out with our kids aged four through seven years old. They all LOVED it; big kids included! You can follow this bubble link to a site that tells you how to make the solution and use your finger wands. Plus, there are some activities included in the post that enhance speech and language.
After 15-20 minutes you can give your child a movement break or have him help clean up objects while you listen to specific feedback from your speech pathologist, review homework for enhancing communication during functional routines, and discuss the next week’s coaching session.
ARTS AND CRAFTS: SPEECH THERAPY EARLY INTERVENTION ACTIVITIES
Arts and crafts activities for preschoolers require just a few materials: paper, crayons/markers, and/or a Magna Doddle. You can tell that I like to keep things simple! Here are some goals you can address in at home speech therapy arts and crafts activities:
Imitation:
Draw 2 horizontal lines while saying “ZOOM” leaving a few inches between them.
Now make vertical lines while saying “ZAP”.
Enjoy your train track for pretend play!
Early Speech Sound targets:
Trace hands while singing any tune that the child enjoys.
Model/ demonstrate me, mine, my, you, big, tiny, hi, and bye while coloring the hands together.
Following directions (varies according to ability):
1 Step: Identify objects in fields of 2-3 choices (Get paper, Give crayon)
2 Step: First get the paper, then give me the crayon/marker.
Novel: Put the paper on your head.
Descriptive: Give me the blue crayon/marker.
Pragmatic skills (Using gestures, pictures, sounds, words, or phrases):
Greeting and Departures: Practicing “hi” and “bye” during the activity.
Requesting objects: Giving choices or placing objects within reach for selection.
Responding to questions
Protesting
Turn taking with the same colored crayon/marker.
Commenting: Labeling hand sizes (big/tiny).
Language Skills:
What color is this crayon/marker?
What do we do with crayons/markers?
Where should we hang this picture?
Which hand is big/tiny?
Did you like this?
If you want to add a sensory experience to this early intervention activity for preschoolers, then you could use scented crayons/markers and talk about the things you smell. Another option would be to color the hand drawings with some glue and then sprinkle Jell-O powder or a fragrant spice. Most importantly, encourage FUN because that is what will bring out the most communicative interaction!
PLAY DOUGH: SPEECH THERAPY EARLY INTERVENTION ACTIVITIES
I have yet to meet a child who will not sit for a good period to create with playdough. While there are some fun playdough products on the market, you can use just about anything with dough such as:
Seasonal cookie cutters like spring flowers, shamrocks, or an umbrella
Sturdy plastic cups for making circles and/ or rolling dough
Plastic knife for cutting
Mixing bowl to store tools and supplies
In the event that you do not have some play dough on hand, then you can make your own ahead of your session with this recipe. I might suggest adding some green food coloring to transform the play dough into grass and decorate it with flowers using plastic gems, pipe cleaners, seashells, feathers, or outside objects like mini rocks or pine cones.
Now, what can we address with play dough? A better question might be: what CAN’T you target with play dough? Here are some of my personal favorites:
Create “fossil” imprints with outdoor items retrieved on a scavenger hunt. Use a cell phone to take pictures of the treasures in your yard and then go on a hunt for those objects. Target concepts such as same and different while matching objects to impressions.
Work on imitating actions to roll, press, smash play dough using familiar tunes to sing a song.
Address following directions at the simple or complex levels.
Use the play dough to cover puzzle pieces in a bin. Your child then searches for a piece to complete a puzzle. Pieces shaped like an object can be used to make impressions in the play dough for a conversation piece.
Make a pretty flower with your child. I suggest sorting whatever objects you have on hand into bins or an appetizer tray, so the decorative items are within sight but out of reach to prompt requesting.
Foster pretend play by making small “hats” for Lego figures/ mini objects/ baby dolls. This also lends for a nice opportunity to work on a simple lexicon: hat, on, off, hat on/off. Another option would be to make “food” like thin spaghetti, pizza, or hot dogs and then model feeding a baby doll these delicious creations.
SENSORY BINS: SPEECH THERAPY EARLY INTERVENTION ACTIVITIES
Last, but certainly not least, my favorite early intervention activity for preschoolers is a sensory bin. For this activity, you will need a bin, preferably one with a cover to foster having your child make requests/ ask as opposed to reaching into an open bin and taking desired items. Also, you need something to use as a fill. Here is where you can get creative and use some nearly expired dry goods that you were about to toss. Some of my favorite, sensory bin fills are:
Assorted, dry pasta
Decorative straw typically used in gift bags
Dried beans
Cotton balls
Sand
Play dough
Note that I did not include rice as a preferred fill. It makes too much of a hot mess for my liking and is a pain to clean up later. If the intent is to pull together a fun activity with easy clean-up, then I would advise reserving rice for meals only.
Enhance Play with Toy Integration
Sensory bins are a F A N T A S T I C way to liven just about any play task, such as puzzles, mini objects, Mr. Potato Heads, blocks, pretend play, and flashcards. Below is a breakdown on the speech and language targets you can address using sensory bins:
Matching object to picture with puzzles: There’s just something exciting about searching for puzzle pieces hidden in a sensory bin rather than just dumping the parts onto a table.
Answering basic questions with mini objects: Mini objects are everywhere at home! You could use doll house figures; Fisher Price play set items; wind-up toys; or a variety of matchbox/ pull back vehicles. In this sensory bin, I would suggest partially hiding items to allow for visible answer choices and coaching parents to ask: “Where is the car?” or “What can we drive?”
Mr. Potato Head: Target identifying or expressing body parts with this classic toy. Again, partially hide objects for visible, answer choices.
Blocks: Duplo, Legos, or wooden blocks will work fine in a sensory bin. Address color recognition/ naming; early prepositions like “up”, “on”, “off”, or following directions.
Pretend play: I have used beans and mini work trucks to create a construction truck bin or garden for planting fake flowers into mini pots. You and your speech pathologist could brainstorm something based on your child’s likes and interests.
Flashcards: I prefer using flashcards from sensory bins over traditional drill practices for expressive vocabulary and speech sound targets. Flashcards can be homemade or bought online.
At the end of the day, fostering an emotionally charged, fun play experience will support retention of communicative skills. All this planning ahead of sessions takes time, but the rewards are certainly worth the efforts!
Unlocking a child’s linguistic potential is crucial in school assessments, especially for evaluating receptive and expressive language skills. In this post, we explore the best practices and methods used by school speech pathologists to assess these essential components of communication. From standardized tests to observational techniques, educators and speech-language professionals use various strategies to thoroughly understand a student’s language abilities.
A language delay refers to a temporary lag or slower-than-typical development in a child’s ability to understand and/or use spoken language. My intent in writing this post on language delays was to provide some parent education on diagnostics. If your child has been found eligible for speech and language services because he or she has a language delay, then this finding was likely based on several factors.
Standardized Evaluations: Assessing Receptive and Expressive Language Skills in Children
One essential tool in determining eligibility for language services is a standardized evaluation, which would yield standard scores to assist in comparing your child’s results to his or her peer population. When a child is initially referred for language assessment, speech pathologists should conduct a comprehensive evaluation that includes all aspects of communication (medical history intake, hearing, vocabulary usage and comprehension, speech articulation, fluency, voicing, and expressive and receptive language.)
Receptive Language
Testing receptive language in school-aged children helps us understand how well they comprehend spoken language. Receptive language is about how children understand words, sentences, and instructions. During testing, a speech-language pathologist might ask the child to follow directions, answer questions about a story, or point to pictures that represent specific words or actions. These activities help assess how well the child understands vocabulary, grammar, and overall meaning. Identifying difficulties in receptive language is crucial because it can affect a child’s ability to follow classroom instructions, understand lessons, and engage in conversations. Early identification and intervention can support the child’s language development, enhancing their ability to learn and interact effectively with others.
Expressive Language
Testing expressive language in school-aged children is an important part of understanding their communication abilities. Expressive language refers to how children use words and sentences to express their thoughts, needs, and feelings. During testing, a speech-language pathologist will evaluate various aspects of the child’s speech, such as vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and the ability to convey ideas clearly. This might involve asking the child to name objects, describe pictures, tell stories, or answer questions.
The goal is to identify any difficulties the child may have in forming sentences or finding the right words, which can impact their academic performance and social interactions. Early identification of expressive language issues allows for timely intervention, helping children improve their communication skills and succeed in school and daily life.
Enhancing Expressive Language in Children: Understanding Content, Form, and Use
Understanding the different aspects of language development in children is crucial for identifying and addressing any challenges they may face. In speech therapy, we focus on three main areas: content, form, and use. Content involves the meanings of words and how we use semantics to create phrases and sentences that make sense. Form refers to the structure of sentences, including word order and length, ensuring that children can construct grammatically correct sentences.
Use encompasses the various communicative intents, such as naming objects, making requests, and greeting others. Each of these components plays a vital role in effective communication, and our clinical sessions aim to enhance these skills through targeted strategies and tools. Let’s delve into each of these areas to better understand how they contribute to a child’s language development.
CONTENT:
Content refers to word meaning, otherwise known as semantics. We use semantics to construct phrases and sentences that make sense to others. This requires an ability to comprehend vocabulary terms and concepts such as multiple meanings, synonyms, and antonyms. Some children have difficulty learning vocabulary and using terms appropriately; therefore, clinical sessions would focus on teaching strategies such as categorization, associations, and graphic organizing (visual diagram that maps definitions, associative words, pictures and more) to improve both comprehension and word retrieval.
FORM:
Form is the process of attaching a symbol, such as a word, picture, or sign to the content/meaning. It also refers to word ordering (syntax) in sentences and length (number of words) in sentences. Some children are challenged by constructing syntactically correct sentences that use an appropriate pattern such as, noun-verb-noun, or noun-verb-adjective-noun. These sessions would focus on practicing a variety of patterns appropriate for the child’s age and ability levels given visual supports (pictures) and/or verbal prompting. We may do this through worksheets, games, and computer programs.
There are a variety of applications for phones and tablets that we can recommend for home practice too. For example, Rainbow Sentences by Mobile Education Store is an app that works in levels and visual supports to teach putting words in order to construct sound sentences. During clinical sessions, we may also work on increasing the number of words in a production to include terms like adjectives or adverbs.
USE:
Finally, use refers to the many communicative intents:
Common Standardized Evaluations for Assessing Expressive and Receptive Language
Preschool:
Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Preschool- third edition (CELF Preschool-3)
Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Test-third edition (REEL-3)
Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale
Preschool Language Assessment Instrument- second edition (PLAI-2)
Preschool Language Scale- fifth edition (PLS-5)
Structured Photographic Expressive Language Test-Preschool- second edition (SPELT-P 2)
Test of Early Language Development- fourth edition (TELD-4)
School-aged:
Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals- fifth edition (CELF-5)
Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language- second edition (CASL-2)
Fullerton Language Test for Adolescents- second edition
Functional Communication Profile (FCP-R)
Oral-Written Language Scale-2 (OWLS-2)
Test of Adolescent and Adult Language- fourth edition (TOAL-4)
Test of Language Development-Primary: fifth edition (TOLD-P:5)
Test of Language Development-Intermediate: fourth edition (TOLD-I:4)
When speech pathologists assess language skills, we also test expressive (use) and receptive (understanding) of vocabulary. Vocabulary delays can significantly impact language structure and use. Therefore, we need to evaluate vocabulary in determining if formal treatment goals are indicated. Here are some examples specific to vocabulary assessment:
Assessing Semantic Skills through Everyday Themes (ASSET)
Comprehensive Receptive and Expressive Vocabulary Test-third edition (CREVT-3)
Informal Observations of Receptive and Expressive Language
Other factors that help determine eligibility are informal observations. Speech pathologists may note how a child converses during less structured situations and transitions from one setting to another. An informal observation often includes a language sample analysis. Since language sampling is not a standardized test, it can be completed several times over the course of therapy to document progress.
Speech pathologists use language sampling to analyze a child’s conversational, open-ended speech. We strive to write down fifty sentences or utterances that your child produces during free play and then we calculate the mean length of utterance (MLU) or average number of words and structures used per sentence. During this sample, we refrain from asking questions; rather, we set up items within your child’s reach or ask them to discuss a few topics with minimal prompting. We also use language sampling to assess a child’s language form, content, and use.
Parent Report
Finally, the last component in determining eligibility is parent report. This unit of information is key since caregivers know their children best while examiners are only getting a brief snapshot of a child in a new setting. Caregivers can provide information pertaining to social skills development, self-care skills, and communication ability in a variety of settings.
Using formal assessment, informal observations, and a caregiver report, speech pathologists strive to develop a plan of care to address language deficits. These goals should be measurable and achievable within a year’s time. After a year, your child may continue to need support services, therapy frequency may need to be increased or reduced, or a discharge plan may be indicated.
Closing Thoughts
To maintain test validity, we cannot repeat the same test battery with a child sooner than one year. While assessments are ongoing using logs and data charting at sessions, it is best practice to formally review goals with caregivers after one year of therapy. Schools require speech pathologists to rate progress on each goal on a quarterly or semester basis, while these reviews may happen more frequently with children receiving private services.
I hope that this post helped provide some information about how speech pathologists assess and design treatment plans for children with language delays. Caregivers are one of the most vital members of their child’s special education team; therefore, it is essential that you are just as knowledgeable about your child’s needs and treatment strategies as any other team member. Your comprehension and support fuels and sustains your child’s progress.
There are six effective vocabulary strategies to improve development. Explore our comprehensive guide to discover practical techniques and activities tailored to enhance vocabulary skills in speech therapy sessions. Caregivers can help improve their child’s vocabulary by practicing categorization, association, using themed-units, identifying attributes, and understanding context clues together.
The title: speech pathologist is rather misleading as it implies that we only work on speech. Whether we work in private practice, hospitals, or school settings, speech pathologists address language delays just as much as speech and articulation disorders. One aim of this post is to enhance expressive and receptive vocabulary skills, considering comprehension’s significance for meaningful language use. Some children excel expressively but require receptive skill development. Others need more focus on expression. Still, others can show a delay in both areas. After formal evaluation, a therapy plan is designed to best meet your child’s needs.
There are a few strategies that we can use to help improve vocabulary skills. The essence of this work is to teach children how to store vocabulary concepts like a filing system. Categorization activities may involve asking the child to name or identify members of a target group. For example, three items that belong in a zoo group include: lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!) On the flip side, we can also ask the child to provide or find the category name for a group of its members. We address categorization skills every day in our functional routines when we put away groceries, laundry, and toys.
I had the good fortune to work with some exceptional Speech-Language Pathologists early on in my career. During one of my observations, I watched students play a lively, category game using just brown paper lunch bags and small sheets of paper. This game can easily be adapted for children in 1st through 5th grade. If your child is younger and has a hard time reading, then you can always put pictures on the bags in place of words.
Before you begin, get at least 10 paper bags, and write the names of various category groups on each one. Then, make a list, using a small piece of paper or half of an index card, of 4-5 group members. For pictures on bags, create and attach them. Make groups like Colors challenging by listing specific members, not just primary colors.
This is how you play:
Have your child set up bags with category titles. Then, read category members aloud for your child to listen. Then, have your child take the paper and place it in the correct bag. At the end, I always go back and take a paper out of the bag and practice recalling category members. You can make it into a game by giving a point for every correct placement for the word list and a point for each member he or she can recall from the list.
Word associations are another example of teaching a “filing” system for word retrieval. These word pairs express a relationship that comes in many forms such as:
Themed based units typically follow seasonal events, activities, and familiar sights throughout the year. You can even build categorization and association strategies using themed units. This approach can be effective because you teach what the child is exposed to in his or her everyday life, which can make these terms become more functional as the child can apply therapeutic learning naturally in other settings.
Another strategy for improving vocabulary is teaching attributes for target words. Here, we incorporate games, worksheets, and homework lessons that focus on describing items according to their function or use, color, shape, and size. We can also use other senses like taste and touch to define words. In this way, we have taken one vocabulary word and taught up to six more while formulating definitions.
HOME ACTIVITY:
Here’s an association activity based on seasonal themes and incorporating attributes that you can do for each season of the year with your child.
SUMMER: First, make a yellow circle and write in the middle, “Things that make me think of summer.” Then, cut up to 10-15 strips of paper to make the rays for the sun. Finally, brainstorm associations together and write down answers on rays. Some associative words my son helped me come up with for this task included: pool, beach, lake, water, hot, heat, ice cream, sunscreen, vacation, and swim.
FALL: Create a tree with different colored leaves for association words: colors, windy, apples, pumpkins, football, leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving, hayrides, and scarecrow.
WINTER: Use snowflakes for association words and form these into a giant snowball. Some suggested terms: cold, ice, snow, coats, hot chocolate, holidays, snowman, sledding, ice skating, and boots.
SPRING: Create a giant center to a flower and write these words on petals and stems: warm, crisp, rainy, bloom, flowers, green, jackets, growth, new, and muddy.
Vocabulary Strategies: Context Clues/ Word Parts (Prefixes, Suffixes)
Utilizing curriculum vocabulary with older children poses challenges in language goals due to progress assessment difficulties in my experience. However, we can measure improvement in a child’s ability to interpret vocabulary meaning in context or demonstrate knowledge of word parts. One of my most treasured purchase from Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) is product called: Context Clues Packet using Tier Vocabulary by Nicole Allison. It is engaging and comprehensive for both elementary and middle school students. I especially like having answer choices for determining vocabulary meaning in context because it teaches another strategy of eliminating less obvious selections.
As support staff, we are challenged with helping foster independence with our students. We will not be there during their classroom instruction or testing to provide cues and probes to increase comprehension, so we need to teach strategies for unaided success. Incorporating the above mentioned techniques into daily activities at home can significantly boost your child’s vocabulary development. Remember, even just reading together is a great way to expand language skills!
