You may have heard of cycles, an evidenced-based type of therapy for unintelligible children. You wanted to implement it, but it’s confusing, hard to organize, and even harder to maintain. I felt the same way and came up with a way to implement the cycles approach efficiently and effectively!
This printable and digital cycles toolkit targets the following phonological processes and sounds:
- Syllable Reduction (2, 3, and 4 syllables)
- Syllable Structure (CV, VC, CVC, CVCV)
- Fronting (initial /g/ and /k/)
- Backing (initial /t/ and /d/)
- Final Consonant Deletion (final /p/, /t/, /k/, /m/)
- Stopping (initial /s/, /f/, /v/, /z/, and “sh”, final /s/ and /f/)
- Cluster Reduction (initial /sm/, /sp/, /st/, /sk/, /sn/, and /sl/, final /ks/, /ps/, and /ts/)
- Gliding (initial /l/ and /r/)
There are ~5-15 targets for each sound. For example, there are 5 targets for 4-syllable words, 10 targets for initial /sm/, and 15 targets for initial /l/. The number varies on how many appropriate target words I found for each sound!
In addition, I’ve included a DIGITAL toolkit. It is a separate file in the download. To use it, you can click on the drawer you want (just like the real toolbox!) and page through the flashcards one at a time. This is a great option for use in teletherapy!
Included in this packet is:
- Example phonology goals
- Developmental norms handout
- Informal phonology screener
- Informal phonology assessment
- Progress monitoring forms
- FAQs for implementing cycles
- Session schedule
- Parent letters
- Summary pages for each process (of the targeted words on the flashcards)
- Flashcards in both color and black & white for the processes named above
- Watercolor card deck covers
- Watercolor toolbox labels
- A digital toolbox (clickable PDF version of the flashcards)
To see/purchase the toolbox used in this product, click here to check it out on Amazon. Or, here are a few other ways SLPs have organized their toolkits!
Click here to read a blog post about this product and see pictures and a video of it! Or click here to skip right to the video.
If you’re looking for just the assessment forms and organizational tools (NO flashcards), check out my Cycles for Phonology Assessment Forms and Organizational Tools.
Note: I added 14 pages of simpler target word flashcards (in color only!) at the end of the packet so you had way more options for targets! The word list for this section was compiled by Brianna Nickell, MA CCC-SLP.
Feel free to email the Speechy Musings team at hello@speechymusings.com with any questions!
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Tracy S. –
This is one of those resources you buy and actually use over and over again. I’ve gone through it with multiple students now targeting everything from syllable reduction to gliding and it never gets old. The activities are varied enough to keep things fresh each cycle.
Jean E. –
Terrific resource for cycles therapy.
Rebecca G. –
Using this daily with my phono kids.
Speechie Nicole –
A must have for phonology therapy!
Barbara Sanders –
Been looking for something like this for a long time. The cycles approach can be confusing to implement but this toolkit makes it straightforward. I especially like the data collection forms that let you track multiple processes at once.
Jasmine Q. –
I run a small private practice and see a lot of preschoolers with phonological disorders. This toolkit has been my most used resource this year. The parents appreciate that I can show them exactly where we are in the cycles and what we’re targeting next.
Patricia Y. –
Thorough and well designed.
Kate O. –
Such a time saver for phonology!
Joy E. –
Purchased this for ESY and it was perfect. Had a student targeting fronting with initial /k/ and /g/ and the activities were engaging enough to keep a kindergartener focused during summer sessions. Will be pulling this out again in the fall!
Darlene W. –
Nice toolkit overall. The organization is really good and I like how each phonological process has its own section. I took off a star because the formatting was a little tricky to print on my school printer, but the content itself is excellent.
Ashley K. –
This has been GREAT for my students.
Cheryl E. –
Comprehensive and easy to follow!
Patricia U. –
I’ve been an SLP for over 20 years and have always been a bit intimidated by cycles. I stuck with traditional articulation therapy for most of my career but decided to finally give cycles a try with this toolkit. I’m so glad I did. The way it breaks everything down process by process with clear targets and data tracking made it approachable. My student who was basically unintelligible at the start of the year has made incredible progress. The syllable reduction and final consonant deletion sections were especially useful for her. I plan to use this with every phonology student going forward.
The Fluency Coach –
I bought this to expand my phonology materials since I primarily work with fluency but have a few students with phonological processes on my caseload. The toolkit is well organized and the cycles approach is clearly explained. I do wish the digital component had a few more interactive features for teletherapy, but the printable version is great. The stopping and fronting sections are particularly thorough. I would have also loved a quick reference guide or cheat sheet for the cycles approach itself to keep handy during sessions.
Melissa U. –
Works perfectly for my PreK groups!
Bright Ideas SLP –
As a creator myself I appreciate the thought behind this toolkit. It covers every major phonological process and the evidence-based framework is solid. I reccommend this to every SLP who wants to try cycles.
Maureen –
Solid resource for the cycles approach.
Amanda W. –
I teach a self-contained SPED classroom and several of my students have significant phonological delays. This toolkit helped me work with our SLP to understand the cycles approach and support the kids’ speech goals in the classroom too.
Renee C. –
Just what I needed for phonology!
Gina K. –
Picked this up specifically for the cluster reduction section and ended up using the whole thing. The /sm/, /sp/, and /st/ targets are perfect for my 2nd graders. Minimal prep which is always a win for a busy SLP.
Carla Foster –
Five stars! Works great for my kiddos.
Janice W. –
The way this toolkit is set up makes cycling through phonological processes feel manageable instead of chaotic. I’ve been using it with three different students targeting different processes and it keeps me organized across all of them.
Natalie S. –
Incredible phonology toolkit.
Margaret I. –
Good resource, wish it had more visuals.
Gina –
Easy to prep, kids love it.
Deanna M. –
I’ve tried other cycles resources before but this one is by far the most comprehensive. It targets all the major processes and the activities keep my preschoolers engaged which is not easy to do!
Speech Room Solutions –
As a fellow TPT seller I have to say this is a really well put together resource. The amount of detail that went into covering each phonological process is impressive. I bought this for my own caseload and it’s become a staple in my speech room.
Valerie Q. –
We adopted cycles at our school this year and this toolkit was the perfect companion. It made training our SLP assistants on the approach so much smoother and everything is laid out in a way that’s easy to follow.
Kim A. –
In my private practice I see a lot of kids with multiple phonological processes and this toolkit is the best way I’ve found to keep track of everything. The organization alone saves me so much time and the materials are really engaging for young learners.
Bridget O. –
I use this with my early elementary caseload and it’s been fantastic. The data tracking sheets make it simple to document which cycle we’re on and when to move to the next process. My supervisor loves how organized my notes are now!
Susan K. –
Quick prep and effective. Love it!
Jean Sanders –
Wonderful cycles resource. Thank you!
Sue –
This has completely changed how I run my phonology sessions. I used to spend so much time making my own materials for each process and now it’s all right here. The backing and fronting sections are particularly well done.
Megan I. –
Tried cycles for the first time using this toolkit and honestly it made the whole process feel doable. I’m in my CF year and the step by step layout was exactly what I needed to feel confident implementing it.
SLP Corner –
Fellow SLP creator here. This is quality work!
Deanna A. –
Great resource! Very thorough.
Colleen Miller –
This is now my go-to for any student on my caseload with phonological processes. The way it breaks down each process with specific sound targets is really helpful for writing IEP goals and tracking progress over time.
Susan O. –
Bought this to use with my 1st graders who are still showing phonological processes. The minimal pair style activities are engaging and the kids don’t even realize they’re working on sounds. Love the data collection piece too.
Jana W. –
I have a large caseload with lots of phonology kids and this has streamlined my planning so much. The printable format is easy to prep and I appreciate having both digital and printable options.
Colleen G. –
I pulled this out for a student working on cluster reduction with initial /sp/ and /st/ blends. He responded really well to the activites and I saw progress within the first few weeks of cycling through.
Janet A. –
Highly functional and organized!
Diane C. –
Used this for my mixed phonology group and it worked perfectly. The stopping targets for /s/ and /f/ were exactly what two of my students needed and the third was working on fronting. Easy to use all at once.
Teresa Lee –
After 15 years as an SLP I thought I had tried everything for phonological disorders. This toolkit organizes cycles better than anything else I’ve used. The data sheets alone are worth it and I love that it covers everything from syllable reduction to cluster reduction.
Shannon I. –
Everything I need for cycles in one place.
Brooke A. –
This is SO good for phonology!
Jill U. –
Print and go. Can’t beat that!
Dawn M. –
Saved me hours of planning time!
Marilyn O. –
Fantastic for targeting multiple processes.
Samantha Anderson –
As a CF, I was so nervous about implementing cycles because grad school barely covered it. This toolkit walks you through everything step by step and the organization makes it so much less overwhelming. I feel way more confident now running my phonology groups.
SLP Adventures –
Wonderful toolkit. Beautifully designed!
Tina S. –
Really appreciate how this breaks down the cycles approach into manageable steps. The phonological process targets are comprehensive. I just wish there were a few more options for the gliding section since I have several students working on /r/ and /l/ right now.
Andrea G. –
Really well made. My kids enjoy it.
Caitlin K. –
The syllable structure activities are fantastic!
Pam Reed –
Used this with a student working on final consonant deletion and stopping. It made planning so quick and the activities kept him engaged. Will definately be using this again next year with my new kiddos.
Kristin K. –
Best phonology resource I’ve found.
Maureen M. –
Easy to use and well thought out!
Erin C. –
I’ve been using the cycles approach for years but always struggled with organization. This toolkit lays everything out so clearly. The data collection sheets are especially helpful for tracking which processes we’ve targeted.
Caroline Robinson –
This has been a lifesaver for my caseload.
Emma I. –
Awesome resource for cluster reduction!
Nicole –
Makes cycles so much easier to implement.
Vicki I. –
LOVE this for my phonology groups!
Andrea –
Super helpful for organizing cycles therapy.
Valerie G. –
Exactly what I needed for fronting and backing targets.
Victoria A. –
Finally a cycles resource that makes sense!
Emma K. –
My students love the target words!
Kari I. –
Great toolkit for phonological processes!
Leslie –
So well organized for cycling through targets.
Tammy S. –
Love this cycles resource!
Linda C. –
Perfect for my phono kiddos!