What Are Some of the Activities Performed by a Speech Pathologist With Pre-K Students?

Cat, Cow, King

• The Cat, Cow, King games use pictures that are divided in half. The speech/language pathologist lines up the picture cards with one pile of the cards facing up and the other pile facing down. The pathologist then points to the first card and models the sound of the object the child sees. The child repeats the sounds and then flips over the card facing down which is a "K" sound and completes the word. For example, the pathologist might pick up a card with a picture of a cat. The child repeats the word "cat." Then he picks up another card that is face down and also containing a "K" sound word, and he has to say that word himself.

Hidden Treasures

• Children naturally like to look for hidden treasures, and this game focuses in on that activity. This games works for articulation therapy as well as phonetics and language. The speech/language pathologist hides cards around the therapy room and the child has to find them. When she finds a card, she has to tell what she found in the form of a sentence: "I found a..." or "Look, there is a..." This game reinforces using all the sounds in the word, especially the beginning and ending sounds, and putting words together to make a sentence.

Video Recording

• Recording the speech pathologist's face and voice making sounds properly is a great way to give kids extra practice at home. The speech/language pathologist records herself saying words and making funny facial expressions, doing mouth exercises like sticking out her tongue and singing songs. Use the video for extra practice at home by having the child watch and repeat what he sees and hears. Moms and dads can get involved by making more videos with favorite toys, stories about the child and songs.

Familiar Songs

• This activity uses familiar songs like "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" to practice letter sounds. Simply replace the words to the song with the sounds the child needs to practice. For example, if the child is working on the sound a T makes, simply sing the T sound as "tuh, tuh, tuh, tuh-tuh, tuh, tuh, tuh, tuh, tuh." Parents can use this technique at home with their child for extra practice.