Smarty Ears

I am always looking for ways to make articulation practice fun. Picture cards and worksheets work but if I get bored then I know the kids are too.  I found that using hidden pictures is a way to work on targeted sounds with a fun twist. Now this app from Smarty Ears brings this twist to my iPad along with more options to spice up articulation therapy. This is how I use this app in a traditional articulation session with a few twists included.

1. Find the hidden items:

*      Touch each word and find it in the scene *      Touch a picture and say the word or make up a sentence *      TWIST: set a timer and see how many items you can find AND say correctly

1. Tap and say it:

*      Touch each word and record your voice *      Touch each word and record a sentence *      TWIST: Create a silly sentence by using 2 or more pictures in the scene

1. The Movie Theater:

*      Listen to the story and read the script and record it *      Create your own story and record it *      TWIST: Select create your own story and record it BUT don’t let anyone hear you…yet!  When you are finished have others listen and see how many items in the picture they heard in your story.

1. The Production Room:

*      This area allows for generalization of correct sounds. *      Create and record your story or use the provided scripts. *      TWIST: Record your story but leave out the target sound words and have the others guess what word fits the best from the scene. Example for R blends scene:  One day I rode on a blank to the beach (train).  I sat in my chair and ate blank (grapes).  My blank (friends) played in the sand.  Suddenly a blank (dragon) flew over us and we ran to the castle.  (You could say blank or toot a horn, bell etc.) Now I always use apps in as many ways as possible and this app is no exception. I can use this in my language and fluency sessions too. Here are some more “twisted” ideas to try. Fluency: *      Use the scenes to practice easy speech in words *      Practice easy speech in sentences and stories *      Recording helps the student to identify stuttering and easy speech patterns Language: *      Use the scenes to work on syntax- he, she, they, is, are, etc. *      Give clues describing an item in the scene and have others guess- I spy… *      Work on positional concepts and find items between, next to, on, etc. *      Use scenes to work on creating questions: Where is the ball? Who is walking?  What is purple? *      Work on sequencing by creating a story for a scene with a beginning, middle and ending Oh and don’t forget the homework documents!  You can send them home as traditional practice sheets for words or “twist” it up and put directions for creating stories or other ideas that I have listed above.

 

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