About this activity
Two rounds of memory pairs built from common target words: cat, dog, fish, sun, moon and star in the first; bus, rain, bird, frog, rose and cake in the second. Memory games are worth using in articulation work for a mechanical reason rather than a motivational one — every card flipped is a production, and a game that turns up the same card four times has given you four repetitions of that word.
How to use it in a session
Require the word on every flip, including the wrong ones. That single rule is what converts a memory game into practice, and without it a student can play a whole round in silence. Ask for a phrase on matched pairs — I found the frog — so the successful moments are also the harder productions. Twelve minutes gets through both rounds with the phrase level included.
What to listen for
The repeated flips are the useful data. When a student turns cat over four times in one game, you get to hear whether accuracy holds across repetitions or drifts as attention goes to the game. Watch for the sound holding up while the student is thinking about where the match is — that divided attention is much closer to conversation than a quiet drill is.
Carrying it home
Any pack of cards can carry the same rule at home: say the word every time you turn one over. The rule is the intervention, not the deck — and it works with a memory game the family already owns, which is usually a better bet than a set sent home in a folder.
Questions
- Which sounds does it cover?
- A mix — cat, sun, fish, bus, rain and rose spread across several common targets rather than concentrating on one. For single-sound work, use one of the position-specific decks instead.
- Do I need to sign up?
- No, both rounds play free with no account.
- What ages is it for?
- Kindergarten through fourth grade, and it works for younger students because the pictures carry the words.