A set of articulation cards are a staple in most speech therapy rooms. And an SLP's ability to incorporate those cards into nearly any game or activity to work on any given target sound really is quite impressive.
But what's not so magical is the wear and tear that articulation cards experience. All it takes is one fold, spill, or tear and that articulation card is never the same.
And don't even get me started on the storage of articulation card decks. If you move between buildings or classrooms, you know how cumbersome it can be to pack up and lug around all the decks you might need... only to have half of the card sets scattered throughout your bag (or the floor 😩) by the time you reach your destination.
Many SLPs are realizing that buying (or printing) and using physical articulation cards is a losing battle. One that they don't have time to fight (or money to fund) anymore.
Enter🥁.... digital articulation cards.
Never damaged. Never misplaced. Never reordered. Never reprinted. And most importantly, never laminated. 🙌
What are Digital Articulation Cards?
Digital articulation cards are just the digital (no print!) version of the articulation flashcards you've always known, loved, and depended on for a quick speech drill session. At a minimum, each card includes a target word and a picture. And of course, they include sounds in all word positions.
Digital speech sound cards can be found within PDFs, websites, apps, PowerPoints, or Google Slides presentations. They can be used on whatever device you have– a computer, smartboard, iPad, or any other mobile device.
How to use Digital Articulation Cards in Speech Therapy
From drilling specific speech sounds (and clusters) to playing articulation games, digital articulation cards are the next best thing to happen to your speech therapy room (or teletherapy platform).
Web-based cards or digital downloads provide all your target words, right on one device (which can often be transported as needed). As you might guess, digital articulation cards are a go-to resource for teletherapy SLPs.
Just as with tangible articulation cards, digital versions can be used to practice sounds at the word level or in phrases or sentences.
Speech therapists can use digital articulation cards to...
Probe information about a student's speech sound disorders.
Get baseline or progress data.
Get students warm-up at the beginning of a session.
Provide focused drill work in therapy or RTI/MTSS.
Practice specific sound targets during a game or other reinforcement activity.
Assign articulation homework.
Types of Digital Articulation Cards
Just as there are many ways to use digital articulation cards in speech therapy, there are many formats to consider.
PDFs
PDF digital downloads are especially handy for SLPs who don't have consistent internet access in their speech therapy rooms, because once it's downloaded to the device, it can be opened and used without Wi-Fi.
PDF reader apps and software (such as Adobe Reader) are free or fairly cheap. Downloaded PDFs can also be opened on nearly any digital device, including laptop or desktop computers, tablets, or smartphones.
This articulation PDF has over 600 pages. Each page has a target word, a colorful illustration, and 10 clickable checkboxes that serve as a visual cue for multiple trials.
Additionally, to help increase students' awareness of their target sounds, they can see where their sound is in each word. For example, yellow letters at the beginning of the word indicate the sound is in the initial position.
Boom Cards
Boom Cards are a great articulation card option for teletherapists or speech therapists with an internet-connected device using the website or app. Boom Cards are web-based and have several interactive capabilities that make them engaging for students.
This complete bundle includes 26 decks, each focusing on a speech sound or consonant cluster (get the bundle here on TpT).
Each card includes the target word and a clear visual for the word, and there's also the option to play an audio recording for the student to listen to a model. Green checkmark and red X buttons may be used for the student to self-monitor their productions or for the SLP to take data.
Apps
There are several speech therapy apps that offer digital articulation cards, such as Smarty Ears and Articulation Station Hive. While most of them require a monthly or yearly subscription, apps are an additional option option to consider.
Slides Presentations
Adding pictures and text to a slides presentation (such as in PowerPoint or Google Slides) is another option to consider, especially in teletherapy or when you have older tech-savvy students that can help you!
These Google Slides articulation "card" templates are all set up and ready to be turned into a personalized set of target words that can be added onto. Students just choose their own targets and add their own pictures from the internet or a device.
Free Digital Articulation Cards
Don't toss your paper articulation cards just yet! Try these free digital articulation cards to see how they work for you and your students.
/k/ Initial PDF Cards
This download-and-go PDF includes 10 /k/ initial full-color cards with the clickable checkboxes and navigation buttons. This freebie is a great way to test the features of an interactive PDF.
Initial /r/ Boom Cards
In this articulation Boom Card set (get it here on TpT), you'll get 30 /r/ initial cards with clear visuals. There are buttons to play an audio recording of the target word as well as for self-monitoring or taking data.
So, if you’re tired of battling torn, coffee-stained, or mysteriously vanishing articulation cards, the digital option is your new best friend. No more replacing cards or fumbling through cases or decks– just smooth, shiny, and never-laminated digital cards that stay where they belong on whatever device you choose. Digital articulation cards: the hassle-free, spill-proof solution every SLP needs and deserves!
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