As all SLPs know, progressing from producing a target phoneme in isolation to the word, sentence, and conversational levels is the ultimate goal. While there are a plethora of materials available for targeting speech production at the word, phrase, sentence, and reading levels, it can be challenging to find effective ways to target speech production in conversation. These are five useful tips to help fellow SLPs target speech production and track data during this final stage of generalization.

1.Tx Accuracy App: Step #1 is to download this app for FREE! It is a GOLDEN, invaluable tool when targeting conversational level goals. You simply touch the red or green buttons in real time to track correct and incorrect productions and the number of trials. It can also be motivational for students to watch their accuracy increase.

2.How To Activities: In order to get your speech student talking, prompt them with an age-appropriate “how to” to track accuracy for the target sounds as they give directions and sequence activities. Some of my go-to prompts are:

“How Do You Make a Peanut Butter Sandwich?”

“How Do You Brush Your Teeth?”

“How Do You Get Ready for School?”

“How Do You Get Ready for Bed?”

“How Do You Feed & Water Your Pet?”

3.Fun Conversational Prompts: Providing a thought-provoking prompt can provide a little structure to conversation as well as an opportunity for the student to slow down their rate of speech. Some examples are:

“What would you do if you won a million dollars?”

“What is your favorite season and why?”

“Tell me what a perfect day would be for you.”

“Who is your favorite superhero/princess and why?

"If you could have a superpower, what would you want and why?"

4.Language-Rich Games: Choose a game to play that is rich with imagery. Before each turn, ask the student to describe what they see on the board/cards or use their imagination to create a story around the main character (i.e. Greedy Granny.) Some examples of image-rich games are: Don’t Wake Daddy, Disney “I Spy” Cards, Operation, and Candy Land.

5.Play Diner & Ice Cream Shoppe: Using pretend food to play “restaurant” has been an all-time favorite therapy activity that even older elementary students have enjoyed. Role-playing customer and server and/or chef is an easy way to get them talking while you track speech sound production giving cues as needed.

As all SLPs know, progressing from producing a target phoneme in isolation to the word, sentence, and conversational levels is the ultimate goal. While there are a plethora of materials available for targeting speech production at the word, phrase, sentence, and reading levels, it can be challenging to find effective ways to target speech production in conversation. These are five useful tips to help fellow SLPs target speech production and track data during this final stage of generalization.

1.Tx Accuracy App: Step #1 is to download this app for FREE! It is a GOLDEN, invaluable tool when targeting conversational level goals. You simply touch the red or green buttons in real time to track correct and incorrect productions and the number of trials. It can also be motivational for students to watch their accuracy increase.

2.How To Activities: In order to get your speech student talking, prompt them with an age-appropriate “how to” to track accuracy for the target sounds as they give directions and sequence activities. Some of my go-to prompts are:

“How Do You Make a Peanut Butter Sandwich?”

“How Do You Brush Your Teeth?”

“How Do You Get Ready for School?”

“How Do You Get Ready for Bed?”

“How Do You Feed & Water Your Pet?”

3.Fun Conversational Prompts: Providing a thought-provoking prompt can provide a little structure to conversation as well as an opportunity for the student to slow down their rate of speech. Some examples are:

“What would you do if you won a million dollars?”

“What is your favorite season and why?”

“Tell me what a perfect day would be for you.”

“Who is your favorite superhero/princess and why?

"If you could have a superpower, what would you want and why?"

4.Language-Rich Games: Choose a game to play that is rich with imagery. Before each turn, ask the student to describe what they see on the board/cards or use their imagination to create a story around the main character (i.e. Greedy Granny.) Some examples of image-rich games are: Don’t Wake Daddy, Disney “I Spy” Cards, Operation, and Candy Land.

5.Play Diner & Ice Cream Shoppe: Using pretend food to play “restaurant” has been an all-time favorite therapy activity that even older elementary students have enjoyed. Role-playing customer and server and/or chef is an easy way to get them talking while you track speech sound production giving cues as needed.