Since I’ve switched to the school setting, I’ve had moments where I desperately wished I had an articulation activity so I could see grouped students 1:1, even just for a short time or for certain days (e.g., days I want to do progress monitoring, formal data collection, etc.). I felt like a bad SLP on these days: I pulled one student aside to work 1:1, and ended up giving the rest of the group busy work. Ugh. Nobody wants to have to do that!

Right after doing that one session, I walked into a classroom and saw students working independently at centers and had an aha moment! Why don’t I make centers for my larger articulation groups? Then, I could see each student for 1:1 time for ~5 minutes and DRILL. For the rest of the time, they could work independently on their speech and language skills! What a dream, right?!

I’ve now been doing centers in my speech room for several months and it’s been amazing. I don’t use centers for every group, or every day, but when I do my students know exactly what to do and get right to work! They are demonstrating great independence and problem solving, and I personally think they are making faster progress. Doing this in the speech room allows my students to independently practice their speech skills in the classroom AND at home as well! Great, great, great.

So read on to learn more specifics about how I set it up, how I teach it, and the stations I use. Currently I do only use this for my articulation groups, but plan to expand this to my language groups as well once I get a system I’m excited about (so stay tuned!!).

{HOW I SET IT UP}

I use this packet in order to set up my centers. I print and laminate every page and purchased quite a few extra dry erase markers. I keep everything in a binder. I meant to hang removable hooks on the walls like these:

But forgot them so ended up using Aleene’s Tack-It. I stuck some onto the back of the posters and they stayed on my walls/tables/cabinets/wherever I put them perfectly!

I cut out all of the cards and put them all on rings so it was easy to find the ones I wanted to use.

Then, I was ready for teaching!

{HOW I TEACH IT}

The most important part of getting centers to work for you is the teaching you put into it! Take your time with this step, it will pay off big time! Make sure your students are able to answer the following questions before having them use the centers independently:

-What do I do if I finish early?

-What if I get stuck?

-What if the technology doesn’t work?

-Where can I find all of the materials?

-How do I clean up?

-How do I know when to switch? How do I know what center to go to next?

-Do I turn in my work?

This might sound like a lot of questions and slightly complicated, but I strongly believe that when students are able to answer these questions, it increases their ability to practice these same skills at home and in the classroom.

When starting this with my articulation groups, I spend an entire session teaching the protocols for each center. I set out all 6 centers around the room. I take the entire group around to each center and give direct instruction using the worksheets and/or cards. Then, for the last 10 minutes, I do “rapid fire practice”. I set a timer that beeps every 2 minutes so each student can see and practice each center. I walk around during this time to make sure they understand each center (I don’t have them practice the 1:1 station).

{THE CENTERS}

Some of the centers I do include working 1:1 with me (trying to get 100 trials in), doing an articulation activity app on the iPad, sorting articulation cards, looking for their sounds in picture books, having a movement break, doing a craft, or prepping a worksheet/carryover activity.

Below are some images from my Speech and Language Therapy Centers for Articulation product.

I always aim for 100 trials during the drill portion of centers, where each student sits and works with me. I use this handy laminated visual with dry erase markers:

Look for your sound in picture books:

Sort articulation cards by a variety of factors:

Have a movement break!! My students focus so much better with these built into their day.

If you’re interested in checking out my centers product, click here to check it out in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Do you do centers in your speech room? Or try another fun articulation activity? What’s worked or hasn’t worked for you? I’d love to hear!

{thanks for reading}