Initial L Minimal Pairs: Free Speech Therapy Articulation Picture Cards

Description

This articulation card set is designed to be an extension of my single-syllable cards sets. The words are all CVC in syllable shape and include no blends or vocalic /r/ sounds. This is a set of minimal pairs focusing on contrasting the initial /l/ sound with four other initial consonants. Each different CVC /l/ word features a different vowel to maximize coarticulation variation. The target audience for these cards are children with severe speech delays who need exposure to a minimal pair technique to emphasize that they need to differentiate production of two different words. (Scroll down to preview set.)

Key Features

• This set includes 15 therapy cards. Three CVC /l/ words are contrasted with four other minimal pairs.
• The words are all CVC in syllable shape.
• The words are simple and are easily understood by or easily taught to young children.

Permissions

I give permission to copy, print, or distribute this card set provided that:

1. Each copy makes clear that I am the document's author.
2. No copies are altered without my express consent.
3. No one makes a profit from these copies.
4. Electronic copies contain a live link back to my original and print copies not for merely personal use contain the URL of my original.

Looking for Feedback

I would love to hear back from anyone who uses this card set. Let me know if you find errors or there is anything you would change. Comment on this page, or send me an email at testyyettrying(at)gmail(dot)com.

Where can I find more?

More sets are on my Free Speech Therapy Articulation Cards page.

Card Sets

To download click on the image to open it full size. Then right click on the image, choose "save as" and save the page to your computer.

I recommend you print on cardstock and laminate for durability.

Organizing Speech Articulation Practice

This is hardly rocket science in the speech therapy world, but it was time for something new around here so we're switching to speech binders instead of using the articulation cards in deck style.

Name is on the front. I just printed out the pages of cards leaving off the backs and punched holes in them. Michael is working on /f/ and /s/ so his binder has those two sections. As soon as the children have adjusted to the new format I'll add a section for the s-blends to Michael's folder.

I plan to pretty much drill the children. I'll cross off any of the cards I don't want them using. Michael can do all of the cards, but for Ava I'll cross off any word that includes non-targeted phonemes that aren't in her inventory yet (so, any word with /k/, /g/, /ch/, etc.). Every time they say the word the requested number of times (3 times in a row) or in the requested way (in a phrase/short sentence), they get to mark the card. Marking options include a stamp, sticker, check mark or dot with a crayon or paint marker, dot paint, etc. If you switch the marking options each time interest should be higher and they'll collect a wide variety of "marks" on each card. They have a visual representation of all the work they've put in over time.

The other advantage to the binder format is documentation and notes. I can jot down the date on the blank opposite page and take notes about % accuracy, the level I'm working on that day (imitation, single words, x3, phrases, etc.), and any words that were particularly difficult. Over time, I can analyze those difficult words for patterns. I might notice that Michael has an easy time with /s/ on all the front vowels, but struggles with /s/ paired with back vowels and adjust therapy accordingly. This is an advantage over randomly shuffling a card deck. When we practice that way it is more difficult to document properly.

In a school setting using this format for therapy would make it easier to work with children on different phonemes during a single session. Do one row with child A from their folder and then switch and do one row with child B from their folder...

If you're working in a setting where you can send the binder home to a parent, you can make a homework section of words that are ready for parent led practice. Having a parent work in this way will let you see visually exactly how much practice happened at home because you can look for the marks on the cards. Parents could also easily jot down questions or comments for you to read and respond to on the blank backs of the pages in their section. You could check for parent comments in just a couple of minutes at the beginning or end of each session. You could possibly also use this format if you had a teacher, teacher aide, volunteer, or even super responsible classmate who could do speech work with your student in the classroom for 5 min/day.

Making Yarn Dolls

Pinterest is dangerous. I was browsing pinterest to find something quick to do with the children yesterday and came across a link to a page with a tutorial on how to make a yarn doll. I thought to myself, we have yarn. I bet the kids would like this activity.

Then I was sucked into a two-hour time warp where the first one turned out all right and was well received, but I knew the next one could be even better (and then both children could have one). After the second was complete I was so much better at it that I wanted to try a second girl doll.

So, here they are. The first attempt is a girl doll. The second attempt was a boy doll for Michael. I tried adding a smile. I have to admit, the end result was a little creepy. The third is another girl doll and my personal favorite. She was bigger than the first and so we called her the mama doll.

The children adore the dolls and I had fun making them so I consider the activity a success.