Does this sound familiar? This WAS a lot of you a Does this sound familiar?

This WAS a lot of you at the start of the year...

Your kids were not making fast enough progress with Cycles, or you were really focused on following the traditional articulation hierarchy.

If this sounds like you, and you still only have two approaches under your belt, or you kinda know about minimal pairs but have a zillion questions, the Minimal Pairs Handbook will support you from planning, implementing, to generalizing!

Why do a therapy approach incorrectly, when you can do it the right way from the start??

#minimalpairshandbook #slpsontpt #speechpathologist #minimalpairstherapy #speechtherapy #ebpslp #preschoolslp #schoolslp #slp2b
I remember the days when I used to spend 20 minute I remember the days when I used to spend 20 minutes planning one session 😳

Gosh, while it taught me discipline and a good structure, these days my planning time is honestly 0-5 minutes.

I KNOW my goals, and I’m really focused on what I want to get out of the session... but otherwise I’m not too hung up on the actual activity.

I have come up with some of the most engaging and motivating activities when I didn’t have time to sit and plan, but let therapy happen.

#adventuresinspeechpathology #speechtherapist #slpeeps #privatepracticeslp #slp2b #slpbloggers #slpsofinstagram
Telehealth tip for minimal pairs: Within my sessi Telehealth tip for minimal pairs:

Within my sessions, I love choosing ONE PAIR and having the activity be meaningful!

So I’m playing the shark game (the one that always makes me scream!), but we have to STICK the fish in to play the game.

SPIN is another great word that works well, because there are a lot of games that have a spinner!

Hope this brings some fun, meaningful activity ideas into your session!

#minimalpairs #speechtherapy #slpeeps #slp #slpsofinstagram #speechpathologist #speechies #adventuresinspeechpathology
There’s a reason I’ve been MIA 🌞 Today was There’s a reason I’ve been MIA 🌞

Today was our last day of summer, and I can’t remember ever having a summer that was so mild and wet, but that sun was glorious!

Also... how MAGICAL is this new swimming spot I found today? A secret little sliver protected by rocks.

#cavesbeach #aussiesummer #slplife #adventuresinspeechpathology
This crocodile ONLY EATS fish when he hears those This crocodile ONLY EATS fish when he hears those back ‘k’ sounds 🐊 

Feeding games + minimal pairs therapy are always a hit with the preschoolers.

#adventuresinspeechpathology #slplife #preschoolslp #speechtherapy #slpsontpt #slpsofinstagram #speechdelay
PLEASE DON’T IGNORE VOWELS! I’m sharing on my PLEASE DON’T IGNORE VOWELS!

I’m sharing on my stories how I saw two kids this week who could only say their sounds correctly using high, front vowels.

It took my half the session to figure out this pattern, but NO JOKE, I grabbed this poster (it’s a freebie, and also available in General North American English) and figured it out!

The accuracy in our practice trials significantly increased once I stuck to words with those high front vowels 👏

Have you ever come across this?

#adventuresinspeechpathology #slpeeps #slp #speechdelay #speechdevelopment #slpsofinstagram #slpsontpt #slpfreebies #speechpathology #speechpathologist
I wanted to share this video to show you how you c I wanted to share this video to show you how you can break up minimal pairs therapy with a meaningful and fun activity!

We are working on /s/ cluster reduction, and took a break from “the cards” to work on nap vs. snap using an iPad game (we also practiced no vs. snow).

We pretended our hands were the machine and said “snap” and then the reinforcer is to tap the screen and pick up (or “snap”) the snow.

I find that kids really respond to these meaningful tasks as it emphasises how our words have meaning, and you can get a lot of organic practice trials in 💪🏻

BTW... I just ❤️ my kids!!!

#speechtherapy #speechpathology #slp #slpeeps #minimalpairs #speechdevelopment #privatepracticeslp #preschoolslp
I am just LOVING this prosody cues deck! I’ve g I am just LOVING this prosody cues deck!

I’ve got three on my caseload at the moment who respond so well to the emotion visuals, and it’s so lovely to hear some change in their voice vs. a monotone, robot-like voice!!

CARDS: @bjoremspeech @iowaspeechie @bjoremspeechpublications

#apraxiaofspeech #slpeeps #childhoodapraxiaofspeech #speechtherapy
Binding. It’s a simple little joy that makes my Binding.

It’s a simple little joy that makes my SLP life easier.

And no, I don’t have a binding machine... I take it to my local office shop and it costs me around $5 to do!!!

Any other binding fans out there???

#binding #slpsofinstagram #slplife #slpeeps #slpsontpt #speechies #slporganization
Just because you are contrasting /t/ vs. /k/ words Just because you are contrasting /t/ vs. /k/ words using minimal pairs, DOESN’T mean that you are forbidden from using any other cues!

Many times, my kids need some additional types of cues, whether it be gestures (point to the throat), a mirror (to see the tongue go back), metaphors (front vs. back sounds), or placement cues (move your tongue back) to help them be accurate so that they aren’t frustrated.

Many times those cues get dropped pretty quickly... but I still use a pragmatic cue where I question what the child means (did you mean tea or key?).

And yes, I used fronting as my example because GOSH IT’S A STUBBORN PATTERN sometimes. And I need aaaaaalllll the cues 🤣 do you agree??

#adventuresinspeechpathology #speechpathology #slpsofinstagram #slpeeps #slp #speechtherapy #speechdelay #preschoolslp
Does this sound familiar? This WAS a lot of you a Does this sound familiar?

This WAS a lot of you at the start of the year...

Your kids were not making fast enough progress with Cycles, or you were really focused on following the traditional articulation hierarchy.

If this sounds like you, and you still only have two approaches under your belt, or you kinda know about minimal pairs but have a zillion questions, the Minimal Pairs Handbook will support you from planning, implementing, to generalizing!

Why do a therapy approach incorrectly, when you can do it the right way from the start??

#minimalpairshandbook #slpsontpt #speechpathologist #minimalpairstherapy #speechtherapy #ebpslp #preschoolslp #schoolslp #slp2b
I remember the days when I used to spend 20 minute I remember the days when I used to spend 20 minutes planning one session 😳

Gosh, while it taught me discipline and a good structure, these days my planning time is honestly 0-5 minutes.

I KNOW my goals, and I’m really focused on what I want to get out of the session... but otherwise I’m not too hung up on the actual activity.

I have come up with some of the most engaging and motivating activities when I didn’t have time to sit and plan, but let therapy happen.

#adventuresinspeechpathology #speechtherapist #slpeeps #privatepracticeslp #slp2b #slpbloggers #slpsofinstagram
Telehealth tip for minimal pairs: Within my sessi Telehealth tip for minimal pairs:

Within my sessions, I love choosing ONE PAIR and having the activity be meaningful!

So I’m playing the shark game (the one that always makes me scream!), but we have to STICK the fish in to play the game.

SPIN is another great word that works well, because there are a lot of games that have a spinner!

Hope this brings some fun, meaningful activity ideas into your session!

#minimalpairs #speechtherapy #slpeeps #slp #slpsofinstagram #speechpathologist #speechies #adventuresinspeechpathology
There’s a reason I’ve been MIA 🌞 Today was There’s a reason I’ve been MIA 🌞

Today was our last day of summer, and I can’t remember ever having a summer that was so mild and wet, but that sun was glorious!

Also... how MAGICAL is this new swimming spot I found today? A secret little sliver protected by rocks.

#cavesbeach #aussiesummer #slplife #adventuresinspeechpathology
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Adventures in Speech Pathology

Feel confident treating speech sound disorders

Therapy Activities · April 17, 2018

How I Get More Drilling in my Apraxia Therapy

How I get more drilling in my apraxia therapy

This is the post that’s going to get me in trouble with crafters everywhere.

But I JUST have to speak to my mind about therapy for Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

I’m going to preface this by saying that I get that therapy can be slow going and boring. I get that kids get sick of drills. I see these kids too. But that repetition and drilling is essential. It’s what’s needed.

When you have that child in your room for 30 minutes, please, PLEASE don’t waste 9 minutes precious minutes cutting, coloring and pasting.

Those 9 minutes are critical. They make such a difference.

Copy and pasted straight from the ASHA website is this statement:

“Motor speech disorders require repetitive planning, programming, and production practice; therefore, intensive and individualized treatment of childhood apraxia is often necessary.”

So if you’re sitting there ready this thinking oopsy daisy, I need to get more  intensive in my speech room, then here are some tips on what you can do:

Break up activities into short 5 minute hits. It’s less boring if you have 5-6 short activities planned and then kids don’t have time to moan and groan as they are moving on to the next thing. I remember back in my school SLP days doing 5 minute therapy with kids and it was just high intensity, hit them hard and move them on and kids actually went with it because they don’t have time to get disinterested.

If you are going the craft route – which I DO use by the way – manage how you can still craft with time efficiency. I always enlist my parents to cut or I might cut while the kid is packing up one activity or drilling along. We might do 10 drills then we color one picture. Or we take turns to color because let’s face it, we’re waaaay faster. Sometimes I save the coloring for home practice and we stick with black and white in the therapy room. Roll that play dough while they’re pointing and then do your smash mats. You glue and they stick it on the paper. Basically, still do the things you’re doing, but multi-task so that there is more talking going on.

Pacing Boards for Apraxia

Choose resources that encourage multiple repetitions. This way you can’t help BUT get those repetitions and drill practice in. Pacing boards have been my hero therapy item lately because it’s easy to tap your finger along or use dabbers and still get repetitions in. What’s more, I use them interspersed throughout my therapy “Quick, let’s choose another 2 boards to do” and it’s over in 30 seconds but we got our practice in.

When I look at some apraxia resources and see that there are 10 different images on a page – I immediately cross my fingers and HOPE that the SLP doesn’t just practice 10 different ‘b’ words in CVC and think that they’ve “done” apraxia therapy. I’m hoping that they use that page as a springboard to get 5 – no – 10 repetitions per word on that page! This 100 Hole Punches resource from Bluebird Speech gets those repetitions plus the kids are doing something with their hands. I made these Mini Apraxia Cards for the purpose of ensuring that drills are happening. It’s your basic picture repeated 10 times – but you can add your SLP magic into making it fun, I just want you to drill!!!

Get 100 Trials for Speech

Adapt therapy ideas from articulation. I love this post from The Dabbling Speechie about to get high repetitions, totally great for this caseload. I actually went out to buy this rainbow colored delight abacus from IKEA after reading the post. And yes, you see 10 beads and 10 colors, the SLP’s dream of getting 100 reps! The Peachie Speechie and Ashley Rossi have tons of 100 trials for Articulation that I use for CAS – just broken down into sets of 10 – so don’t get hung up on the name of the resource and think that you can’t apply it to apraxia.

Get hands on. I know kids get bored. So bring our those dabbers, the poms poms, Lego and blocks to put on top of cards. Smash play-doh, use dry-erase markers and pick up magic counters. Start collecting mini toys like Jenna Rayburn suggests. Just use them WITH resources that will get you the high number of drills needed to do this therapy right.

I also wrote a post about stealing your OT’s toys for speech because you will find lots of great 5 minute activities adaptable for the speech room. And finally, as a huge fan of ‘feeding’ games, you have to check out Ms Gardenia’s Speech Room series because get this… she has some editable versions and others targeting early sounds and syllable structures. What a great way to customize and choose target words and phrases. Totally Feeding Games for Speechlove!

Okay SLPs, if you need any Pinterest inspo about apraxia, then click to follow my Apraxia board. It’s a mixture of blog posts, YouTube clips and resources to change things up a bit.

And just promise me that you’ll try to get more talking and less sticking in your session. That you will maximize time as best as you can, and that you will really think about how you can change things up to add that intensity to your activities.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beata says

    April 27, 2018 at 10:26 am

    I agree that crafts can waste a lot of precious therapy time. In addition to helping with coloring and cutting I’ve found that using tape instead of glue can really cut down on time. I roll the tape, stick it on the back, and the kids can pick where they want to adhere it.

    I love your pacing boards, btw!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Reinking says

      April 28, 2018 at 1:44 pm

      Why hadn’t I thought of the sticky tape idea?? Thanks for making me even more time efficient 🙂

      Reply
  2. Billie says

    February 4, 2020 at 5:35 am

    I use glue dots rather than glue- so much faster and it’s good for their fine motor movements with their fingers! All my kids enjoy picking the glue dot off the piece of tape and putting it on the item they are glueing!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Reinking says

      February 7, 2020 at 10:25 am

      I have never heard of glue dots. Must investigate. Thank you for sharing 🙂

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Rebecca.
I encourage SLPs to feel more confident treating speech sound disorders, and make faster progress with their students.

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