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
Have you ever felt like you don’t know what you Have you ever felt like you don’t know what you NEED to know when implementing a new therapy approach?

I made this Minimal Pairs Therapy plan to help make sure you have thought of, and planned, the elements to implement the approach.

This means choosing the approach, picking the patterns and sounds that will make the most impact, completing generalization probes, and REALLY thinking about your treatment intensity.

So many times I have people say the child isn’t generalizing, and I wonder if they have planned for all of these elements?

Is it really the child, or has the SLP not planned the therapy correctly????

TAKEN FROM: the Minimal Pairs Handbook

#Adventuresinspeechpathology #minimalpairshandbook #phonology #slp2b #slpgradstudent #speechdelay #slpeeps #preschoolslp #ebpslp #speechtherapy #speechpathologist
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You don’t need fancy toys to do minimal pair tasks!

I upload minimal pair resources to my iPad so I can bring them up when I’m on my school visits.

We literally put animal figurines in the sections, and then after we “earned” them all, we picked them up and tried to throw them back in the container.

Also.... love how this little one correctly said “go” after we had that communication breakdown. The POWER of minimal pairs therapy 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

#minimalpairs #speechdelay #speechpathology #speechtherapy #preschoolslp #schoolslp #privatepracticeslp #adventuresinspeechpathology
I pulled out this shopping game (again) today for I pulled out this shopping game (again) today for minimal pairs!

We practice our pairs, then flip a picture over to see what the item is, and who’s list it belongs to.

Simple, but very motivating for Miss 4 today!!!

#minimalpairs #speechtherapy #slp #speechdelay #speechpathologist #Adventuresinspeechpathology #preschoolslp
Here are some truths: 1. I always wanted to be a p Here are some truths:
1. I always wanted to be a psychologist
2. I never wanted to work with kids

Then I changed degrees and
3. I thought I’d be a medical SLP

Then I realised I didn’t like dysphagia and brain stuff as much as I thought so
4. I thought I’d enjoy working with complex communication needs

Then I really found a love for:
5. Social communication ❤️ I still enjoy everything I learned, and gosh did I do a lot of PD. But I felt like my kids never moved off my caseload.

Then I realised
6. I get A LOT of joy assessing and figuring out speech patterns and seeing kids make fast progress week-to-week targeting their speech sounds.

So here I am!

It’s definitely NOT the place I thought I’d be, but sometimes you have to try different things to know what’s right for you!

#adventuresinspeechpathology #slplife #slpsofinstagram
Nothing gets me up at 5:45am on a Saturday morning Nothing gets me up at 5:45am on a Saturday morning like the excitement of a new resource.

Seriously.

I’m a morning bird and do my best work when the whole house is asleep.

I don’t even have a coffee 😲😲😲

Sooooo..... I’m still taking requests for my next set of minimal pair toolkit resources. Drop them below 👇🏻

#adventuresinspeechpathology #minimalpairs #speechtherapy #slpeeps #slpsontpt #slpsofinstagram #preschoolslp
I have been hearing this phrase OVER and OVER agai I have been hearing this phrase OVER and OVER again lately!!

Many of you have been trying minimal pairs therapy either for the 1st time, or you’re implementing it differently...

... and the amount of times that I read a DM or feedback on TpT saying that things literally just “clicked” in a session was high enough that it warrants its own IG post 😂

See, THIS is why I love treating SSD, and I love the minimal pairs approach. Your child can make HUGE LEAPS within one session.

It’s amazing! It’s encouraging. And gosh it makes your job satisfaction high!

Do you know what I’m taking about? Have you ever seen things “click” with a child?
Tell me how 👇🏻

#speechtherapy #speechdelay #slpeeps #slp #slp2b #speechpathology #slpsofinstagram #phonology #ebpslp #schoolslp #privatepracticeslp
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
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Adventures in Speech Pathology

Feel confident treating speech sound disorders

Phonology · August 31, 2016

Making Minimal Pairs Therapy Fun: S-Blends

Making Minimal Pairs Fun

When your caseload consists of a lot of excitable 4 year old  boys who groan at the sight of minimal pair cards you don’t really have a lot of choices. Sure, you can persist and drill ‘pin-spin’ while you’re under the table (because ultimately, that’s where your kid will be) OR you can engage them with things they like to do… like playing games.

Now you might not have these exact games. You may have a variation or it might give you some more ideas with things that you do own. But the one thing that you have to do for this to be successful is to explain what you want them to say and why.  This is how we tap into their motivation!

HOW TO USE MINIMAL PAIRS IN GAMES

Now I still DO use minimal pair cards, because the error word – the one that they are probably still saying – that is the one that I want to slide over the table to them when they reduce that ‘s’ blend. I want them to find that card boring so that they will be even more motivated to use that cluster.

Here’s an example of how to use these in play situations:

  • WORD LEVEL: ‘spin’
  • PHRASE LEVEL: ‘I want to spin’/’My spin’/’Your spin’/’Can I spin?’
  • SENTENCE LEVEL: ‘Can I please have a spin’/’It’s your turn to spin Rebecca’/’I hope I spin the legs’.

SP BLENDS: Target words ‘pin-spin’. This one should be easy as all you need are games that have a spinner so you can target the word ‘spin’. I always have a pin in my office, so this works well using a real object. If they reduce the cluster then I act all surprised ‘Pin! Why do you want that for? I thought you wanted to spin? I’m going spin though. Spin. Spin. Spin’…. and then I give them the pin and I’ll spin. Pretty quickly they learn that if they want to have fun and play, they have to say the word.

SL BLENDS: Target words ‘lice-slice’. This is great for hands-on play and super flexible. Most therapy rooms have play dough and so we might roll a long ‘snake’ and the child can slice it… which can get a ton of repetitions the longer you slice it! I regularly use wooden food that stick together so that you can slice it. Or, a personal favorite (especially for those older kids) is the free app called Fruit Ninja. You slice fruit with your finger and so I might build up a few repetitions and then play the game.

cluster reduction can be fun

SK BLENDS: Target words ‘can-scan’. Everyone has a little shopping kit in their therapy room, right? It’s like a staple for early intervention. Play shop and letting the child scan items if they say it correctly or (much more fun than giving them a can) OR use a phone/iPad to scan things like QR codes.

ST BLENDS: Target words ‘tick-stick’. Look for games with sticks (Kerplunk, magnets with sticks) or games where you can stick things in (lots of reinforcer games such as Pop up Pirate). I usually have either a picture of a tick or a plastic bug that I call a tick to give my kids if they make an error.

cluster reduction games for carryover

SW BLENDS: Target words ‘wing-swing’. The game Tumblin’ Monkeys or even Barrel of Monkeys is great for ‘swing’ practice. We might also practice physical activities swinging things such as hula hoop (swing the hoop around), ring toss (swing the ring with your arm). I personally love the physical side and getting up for my phono therapy and it really works for those wiggly kids!

IF YOU NEED some bright and bold minimal pair cards for ‘s’ cluster reduction then I have a set as part of my Teach Phonology: Cluster Reduction series.

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  1. Baylen says

    October 24, 2018 at 12:36 am

    Hi Rebecca,

    You have great ideas! Just wanted to let you know that the font you have chosen for your website is very difficult to read because it is presenting VERY light. If I was publishing a website, I would want someone to tell me 🙂

    Reply
    • Rebecca Reinking says

      October 26, 2018 at 12:30 pm

      Oh thanks for that! On my end it comes up dark, but it must be the theme my web designer chose. I’ll contact her and see what we can do.

      Reply

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

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