Speech Card Set Activity: Old Maid - Speech Articulation Version

The kids love Speech Switcheroo. They enjoyed Speech Fours. Next I decided to try to adapt the classic Old Maid card game (follow the link if you don't know the rules).

This is the first card game I've tried with the kids where you really do need to keep your cards hidden from the other players. At three and four, that is a little too difficult for them to manage without assistance. I used an idea I found for using a recycled egg carton for a simple homemade hands-free card holder. I used a carton for 18 eggs which was perfect because once cut in half it let each child have a set of 9 cards at once which was just enough. Other ideas for homemade hands-free card holders are using a pool noodle, using two CDs, and using an old shoe box.

I just printed two sets of some of my free articulation cards and an Old Maid card to add to the deck (get Old Maid cards below). That gives you a set of articulation cards with the Old Maid card necessary to play Old Maid with your kids.

To be honest, the game didn't work well for us. The children were distracted using the card holders for the first time. Also, Ava (at only three years old) didn't really get the concept of taking someone else's cards as part of the game play. She pitched a mini-fit every time someone pulled a card from her hand. Old Maid would probably work better with slightly older children.

If you liked this card set activity you might also like:

• 10 Card Set Game and Activity Ideas
• Simple Speech Card Puzzles
• Speech Card Stories
• Speech Card Caterpillar
• Speech Card Game: What's Hiding?
• Speech Card Game: Speech Switcheroo (An Uno-Style Game)
• Speech Card Game: Speech Fours

Initial /fl/ Homework Booklet: Free Speech Therapy Articulation Picture Book

Initial/fl/ Homework Booklet

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 for durability.

Description

This articulation homework booklet is designed to be an extension of my single-syllable card sets. The target words are all one syllable words that include no blends other than the initial /fl/ blend and no vocalic /r/ sounds. This booklet is designed to be read by a parent (or therapist, older sibling, classmate, teacher...) and child together. The helper reads the typewritten words pausing for the child to "read" the picture words. Each time the book is read, the helper can put a sticker/stamp/checkmark in one of the boxes on the front of the book. This will encourage multiple practice readings. The child's fluency should increase with each repeated reading. The words on the back page can be used for either auditory bombardment before reading the book together or for drill after finishing reading the book (or both). The target audience for these cards are children with speech delays who are ready to practice initial /fl/ sounds in a more natural context. Move to these exercises to add complexity and increase generalization after the child has achieved good accuracy with single words, single word repetitions, and simple alternating single words with the initial /fl/ sound.

Key Features

• This booklet features 12 initial /fl/ words incorporated into a simple story to be read by a helper and child together.
• The target words are one syllable words that do not contain vocalic /r/ sounds or any blends other than the targeted /fl/ blend.
• The words are easily understood by or easily taught to young children.

Permissions

I give permission to copy, print, or distribute this booklet 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 booklet. 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 card sets and related printables are on my Free Speech Therapy Articulation Cards page.

Here is a picture of a homework booklet (the /l/ booklet) printed on cardstock and folded into the booklet. It slides nicely in between board books to be pulled out and read during bedtime story time.

Other Speech Practice Booklets Available:

• Initial /s/ Homework Booklet
• Initial /l/ Homework Booklet
• Initial /sh/ Homework Booklet
• Medial /f/ Homework Booklet

What have we learned exactly?

Michael has chronic nasal congestion. To be honest, we didn't prioritize it until recently. At first he had just started preschool and seemed to be sick all the time. Then it was winter and he still seemed to be sick all the time. However, this spring, we simply had to acknowledge something more was going on.

We took him to the pediatrician (paying our co-pay) and she referred us to an allergist and to an ENT. We went to the allergist (paying another, more expensive co-pay) who did skin testing. Many things showed up positive on that skin test but somehow I was still left with no clear answers. Then we went to the pediatric ENT (paying a third co-pay) who said that everything looked fairly normal. Come back in 3 months if pursuing the allergy hypothesis doesn't clear things up and he'll scope him to get a good look at his adenoids at that time.

So, following three different doctor visits, one allergy skin test, and two new medications we're left with some improvement in the nasal congestion and no concrete answers. I hate ambiguity.


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A year ago I did a post on therapy techniques for helping children move from one-word to two-word utterances.