Crazy Speech World

Creative Speech Therapy for Your Crazy Speech World

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Using Crafts in Speech

Last week I got a comment on my Bug Jar Craft, or more of a request for an explanation…how do I make this work and get in the repetitions I need to ensure my students make adequate progress?  Which got me thinking about how well trained my students are with this and how I am sure it can seem like there is so much going on that no is actually doing speech…but we are!  So I will explain exactly how it works, using this weeks craft…sea turtles!
First, I always have all of the supplies ready to go.  This turtle is a pattern I found and I just copied it to green construction paper.  I always have a stash of random construction paper shapes, so I grabbed all the squares and put them in a baggy.  I keep these in a basket right next to my table for easy access.  I also have a red caddy with scissors, glue, and pencils that students can grab what they need at the table.
I usually either use the Artic Buckets or Jumbo Artic pages already printed from my data binders to use as stimulus.  We also sometimes have brainstorming sessions about words that go with the theme…but not always.  I find myself doing that with students who also have language goals and need the vocabulary exposure.  I always have instructions ready to go.  My kids know the drill…they come in, listen to instructions about the activity and get started.  While they are working on the activity, I do round robin drilling.  I go around the table and each students says 5 words/phrases/sentences.  They know that when it is their turn with me, all materials are down and they are focused on me and what they are saying.  For this activity, they wrote their speech words on the squares and then glued them on the turtle’s shell.
Another important thing is that I always have an example for them to look at.  This way, they are not asking me questions when I am working with other students.  Once they get all their words on the activity, then they are allowed to color, cut, or decorate their project.  If they happen to finish early, they grab whisper phones and practice their words.

I hope that answers some of the questions about how this works in my room!  It is a well oiled machine at this point, but I have been doing therapy this way for a couple of years now.  If you have more questions, please feel free to ask and I will answer 🙂

I also hope you like our sea turtles!  They turned out really colorful and the kids had fun with them 🙂

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Filed Under: Articulation, Crafts

Comments

  1. whitney says

    at

    Do you typically do these crafts with language kids too? If so what are some of your suggestions for words? I’ve often done adjectives (I used your bug jar idea last week and we thought of words that describe spring), but I’m struggling to think of other things language kiddos could write on their squares, etc.

    • SLP Gone Wild says

      at

      Yes! Usually if it matches the story we read that week, we can use different parts of speech from the story (i.e. all the past tense verbs or adjectives, etc) but I have also targeted synonyms, antonyms, categories, and multiple meanings. So for example, if we were targeting expressive categories, they would generate different category labels and write those down. Then when they take it home for homework, they are practicing naming items belonging to that category. Or if we did a specific part of speech like past tense, they write it in present tense on the craft, then their homework is to name the past tense form or use it in a sentence in past tense form. Does that make sense? I think you can pretty much target anything.

    • whitney says

      at

      Yes, I love those ideas, I never thought to have them write down a category label or present tense! We did synonyms last week, I said a word and they had to write a synonym on that bug, but your ideas are very helpful, THANK YOU! Do you always read a book that goes along with your craft for that week?

    • SLP Gone Wild says

      at

      Yes, I use a book each week!

    • Val says

      at

      Do you have a list of go-to or favorite books? I am wanting to start using books more in therapy but the thought overwhelms me when I start to think of what books to pick. Also, do you read a book and do re-tell the 1st day then a craft for their 2nd day of therapy that week(if they come twice). Hope that made sense. Thanks!

    • SLP Gone Wild says

      at

      I am actually working on a post about my absolute fave books to use! Stay tuned!

  2. Leah says

    at

    Thank you for posting this, I love the idea of adding more crafts into therapy! How many minutes are your typical sessions?

    • SLP Gone Wild says

      at

      You’re welcome! My sessions are 30 minutes long 🙂

  3. Anonymous says

    at

    I love all your crafts. Thank you for explaining how you incorporate them into your articulation and language groups. I usually only do crafts with my artic groups. I am looking forward to using these crafts with my language kids too. I can’t wait to make the sea turtles next week.

My goal is simple. I want to provide you with helpful resources to engage your students in quality & creative therapy sessions

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  • Using open ended activities and games in speech therapy can make planning sessions so much easier! Here are a few suggestions that worked well for me. Do you remember the first time you were faced with a mixed group and were realllllllllly unsure about what to do? I do… picture it, St. Augustine 2007 😅 I was […]
  • Using open ended activities and games in speech therapy can make planning sessions so much easier! Here are a few suggestions that worked well for me. Do you remember the first time you were faced with a mixed group and were realllllllllly unsure about what to do? I do… picture it, St. Augustine 2007 😅 I was […]
  • Using open ended activities and games in speech therapy can make planning sessions so much easier! Here are a few suggestions that worked well for me. Do you remember the first time you were faced with a mixed group and were realllllllllly unsure about what to do? I do… picture it, St. Augustine 2007 😅 I was […]
  • Using open ended activities and games in speech therapy can make planning sessions so much easier! Here are a few suggestions that worked well for me. Do you remember the first time you were faced with a mixed group and were realllllllllly unsure about what to do? I do… picture it, St. Augustine 2007 😅 I was […]
  • Using open ended activities and games in speech therapy can make planning sessions so much easier! Here are a few suggestions that worked well for me. Do you remember the first time you were faced with a mixed group and were realllllllllly unsure about what to do? I do… picture it, St. Augustine 2007 😅 I was […]
  • Using open ended activities and games in speech therapy can make planning sessions so much easier! Here are a few suggestions that worked well for me. Do you remember the first time you were faced with a mixed group and were realllllllllly unsure about what to do? I do… picture it, St. Augustine 2007 😅 I was […]
  • Using open ended activities and games in speech therapy can make planning sessions so much easier! Here are a few suggestions that worked well for me. Do you remember the first time you were faced with a mixed group and were realllllllllly unsure about what to do? I do… picture it, St. Augustine 2007 😅 I was […]
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Meet Blob (NOT Bob)… and I’m here to tell you Meet Blob (NOT Bob)… and I’m here to tell you that you need this one in your therapy sessions.
Blob is a creature that can morph into anything and he does!  But someone keeps calling him Bob instead of by his name, which is frustrating for him. Finally he decides to just be himself, and he also stands up for himself to be called the correct name.
This one has all kinds of important lessons, and I think the name piece is super important for kids. Every child deserves to be called by their name and correctly. It’s a perfect beginning of the year book!
This book would also be great for: 
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What Will You Be? by Yamile Saied Medez and Kate A What Will You Be? by Yamile Saied Medez and Kate Alizadeh is such a wonderful story about a young girl and her abuela, dreaming about what she will be when she grows up.... Perfect for Grandparents Day 🫶🏻

Here's what I love about it for therapy:
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I have the perfect new book for your speech therap I have the perfect new book for your speech therapy sessions::: Meet Floof 🐱 

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Signed a tired clinical supervisor who pours her heart and soul into her grad students 🩷
For 13 years I worked as an SLP in the schools. I For 13 years I worked as an SLP in the schools. I was so happy there, I never thought I would leave… I imagined having a whole happy career in an elementary school and retiring and that would be that. 

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We are so lucky to work in a field filled with possibilities. I tell my grad students all the time, you don’t have to pick a path and walk it forever. What works now, may not work for you in 5 years. Hell, it may not work next year. 

Stop putting pressure on yourselves and each other to be something specific. Med SLP, school SLP, peds, adults… we can do it ALL.

We grow, we change, we keep going. THAT Is where the beauty is 🩵 create the life you love and screw what you’re “supposed” to do.
Unbelievable. That’s all I got. Unbelievable. That’s all I got.
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Meet Blob (NOT Bob)… and I’m here to tell you that you need this one in your therapy sessions.Blob is a creature that can morph into anything and he does! But someone keeps calling him Bob instead of by his name, which is frustrating for him. Finally he decides to just be himself, and he also stands up for himself to be called the correct name.This one has all kinds of important lessons, and I think the name piece is super important for kids. Every child deserves to be called by their name and correctly. It’s a perfect beginning of the year book!This book would also be great for: ⚪️perspective taking⚪️Targeting /b/ or /l/ clusters⚪️Describing the different things Blob turns into⚪️Compare and contrast⚪️Discussing children’s interests and what they can be⚪️Making decisionsAmazon Affiliate link: amzn.to/3LbZDi7 ... See MoreSee Less

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