Sublime Speech

Speech therapy with a twist!

Multiple Choice Articulation from Erik X. Raj {App Review & Giveaway}

To say that artic therapy can get bland quickly would be an understatement!  I am constantly wracking my brain trying to find a new and fun way to target sentence and conversation levels.  Particularly for my oh-so-cool 3rd and 4th graders!
So, when I was offered the opportunity to try out Erik X. Raj’s Multiple Choice Articulation app, I was very excited to check it out!  (maybe even giddy… I like apps & they like me)  Erik is a fellow Speech-Language Pathologist who offers some great documents, tips, tricks, and information over at his website.  The app (for iPad/iPad mini/iPhone/iPod touch) has over 500 silly and thought-provoking multiple choice questions targeting S, Z, R, L, S/R/L Blends, SH, CH, and TH. 
Overall, we had a blast checking out this app in my speech room!  Here are some specifics:
When you open up the app, you are presented with this screen.  Included in the app are these 7 phonemes.  Selecting the “i” will take you to more information and directions, contact information, etc. Just select the phoneme you will be working on during your session.  You may only choose 1 at a time.
The phonemes are then broken down by position (including blends when appropriate).  Again, you may choose just one at a time but this is a fairly quick step and I switch between phonemes and/or positions a few times during sessions if necessary.

 Each question is presented with bolded words indicating where the chosen sound will be found.  For my readers, I have them take turns reading the question for extra practice.  I prompt them to respond in a complete sentence.  There is also an option to have Mr. Raj read the question to the child or give an example of an answer to the question.  This can be great for station work and for at-home practice for families.  Warning: This app will incite interesting, and often hilarious, responses from your kiddos.
(2nd grade students working on the /r/ section of the app)
So, is this self-proclaimed straightforward app right for your iTherapy?  Only you can decide that, of course.  But, here are my pros and cons could-be-betters about the Multiple Choice Articulation App:
Pros:
  • Super easy to use.  Children can even use it independently.
  • For readers and non-readers
  • Includes 7 phonemes with all positions for sounds that are often still seen in error in children.
  • Insanely fun.  I might laugh more when using this app than my students!  May also cause laugh-snorts!
  • Perfect for practice at the conversational level – students forget that they are practicing their sounds in this unscripted Q&A format which allows for accurate information regarding carry-over abilities.
  • Also targets various language skills associated with answering questions and naming reasons behind a decision.
  • Plenty of questions to allow for multiple uses of the app without repetition of questions.
  • Road-tested with 4th and 5th graders: They enjoyed it as it wasn’t a “baby”ish app.
Could-Be-Betters:
  • I’m a sucker for in-app tracking but I’m not sure how much that would really add to the app…
  • It would be great to be able to add students and assign phonemes to them to practice.  In a group with multiple students, each student would have personalized phonemes and positions on their turn.
  • Some of the questions may be a little gag-inducing – but to be fair we loved those gross ones so maybe that’s more of a pro… 
  • You must be okay with being silly in therapy with your students when using this app… absolutely no stick-in-the-muds allowed!

To learn a little more about the app, a video demonstration and more information can be found here.
The app is currently listed for $9.99 and is available in the App Store.
However, the amazing Erik X. Raj and I would love to offer you the opportunity to win a fantastic prize pack!  Simply enter via Rafflecopter below for these prizes:
1st Prize:
$25 iTunes Gift Card
“What Do You Know About Artic” from Sublime Speech
2nd Prize:
$10 iTunes Gift Card
Your choice of What Do You Know About /r/, /s/, or /l/ from Sublime Speech

3rd Prize:
Your choice of What Do You Know About /r/, /s/, or /l/ from Sublime Speech
Best of luck to you!  The contest ends on April 7th at midnight and winners will be notified on April 8th!

Lovely comments

  2. 3

    I have a few artic kids and I can see great possibilities of this with them. I also like the /r/ work – I have one student I’m seeing for /r/ problems, but we’ve made a great deal of progress.

    Reply
  15. 21

    Conversational use of target sounds seems to be the biggest challenge for my kiddos. They get so excited about what we’re talking about that they forget to use their “new sound”. It seems like this would be a ggreat tool to really practice that skill. Thank you so much for the generous giveaway!!

    Reply
  16. 23

    This looks like a great app for older students – would love to try it with my 5th graders (who are pretty difficulty to motivate, especially this time of the year)!

    Reply
  29. 40

    This app is on the recommended app list that I gave out to the SLP’s in my district yesterday. I work with 4th to 8th graders and most are working on carryover for the same phonemes that this app addresses. We are all getting bored and need something new. In addition, there are a few students in for language mixed in with the articulation groups. I would LOVE to have this app for them!

    Reply
  32. 44

    I would use this with one of my 4th graders, who is still mostly unintelligible even after years of therapy, and who can be very challenging behaviorally. I am always looking for motivators for him!

    Reply
  34. 46

    I’d use these with my older elementary aged students as was as those younger ones who are nearing dismissal as this would be great for carryover!

    Reply
  38. 50

    I’m always looking for something fun for my older elementary kids. They are hard to keep motivated and are tired of the old “standbys.”

    Reply
  39. 51

    I would love to give my kiddos who have been in speech for a while some variety. This looks like lots of fun! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
    Gail Lindstrom

    Reply
  47. 59

    This sounds like the perfect app for me and my kiddos! Speech therapy should NEVER be boring – learning ANYTHING can be FUN! I’m all in!! Whether I win it or have to buy it, I must have it! Thanks for the great review, Danielle! (and thanks for the giveaway, Erik 🙂
    -Mia @puttingwordsinyourmouth

    Reply

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