Speech & Language Exercises | Resources
Nicolas Cottin Content Writer @ Sound for Life
10/31/24 | Last modified: 12/23/24
Are you a speech therapist looking to revitalize your exercises library? Or seeking resources for one tricky child? Are you a parent whose child has just started speech therapy and you want to know what you can do to help them at home? Or, maybe you’re a caregiver whose loved one has just suffered a stroke or TBI and you want to know what you can do to support them in recovery.
Sometimes, it can be hard to know where to start. Here, we will cover exercises ideas that can be used in session or at home. Practicing at home is very important for faster progress and maintenance of skills.
1. Auditory Bombardment
List of words for auditory bombardment.
| /s/ | sun, sip, sock, sit, sand, seal, soap, sail, sick, save |
| /z/ | zoo, zap, zipper, zero, zone, zebra, zoom, zapper |
| /sh/ | shoe, ship, shop, shine, shell, shark, shake, sheep, shore, shout |
| /ch/ | chair, cheese, chip, chalk, cherry, chain, chick, chase, check, child |
| /r/ | red, rain, rug, rock, rake, road, rope, rabbit, ring, roof |
| /l/ | lamp, leaf, lake, log, lion, lock, laugh, love, loop, light |
| /k/ | cat, cup, king, kite, comb, car, corn, coat, cave, card |
| /g/ | goat, girl, gum, gold, garden, game, gate, goose, gift, glove |
| /t/ | top, table, toy, turtle, toast, tent, tape, towel, tree, tire |
| /d/ | dog, door, duck, dish, dime, doll, dance, deer, dream, dragon |
| /m/ | moon, milk, map, man, mop, mouse, mug, mask, mountain, mittens |
| /n/ | nut, nose, nest, net, nail, night, name, note, nap, nine |
| /p/ | pig, pan, pie, pin, park, pet, paper, pot, pool, pop |
| /b/ | ball, bat, bag, boat, bird, bear, bell, bone, bike, bed |
| /f/ | fan, fish, fork, feather, fox, face, foot, farm, fence, five |
| /v/ | van, vase, vine, velvet, voice, vest, very, video, visit, view |
| /th/ | thin, thumb, think, thorn, three, thunder, this, that, those, there |
| /h/ | hat, house, horse, hand, hammer, hive, hill, hair, heart, honey |
| /w/ | water, wheel, wind, web, wall, walk, worm, work, wood, wave |
| /y/ | yellow, yarn, yes, yogurt, yawn, yard, yo-yo, yesterday, young, year |
2. Pitch Modulation Challenge example
Example Paragraph:
“The cat sat on the window ledge, watching the birds fly in the sky. The wind blew gently through the trees, and the leaves rustled softly. A dog barked in the distance as a squirrel darted across the yard. The sun began to set, casting an orange glow over the horizon. The world seemed peaceful, and the cat purred contentedly.”
Instructions for the Exercise:
Raise the pitch each time you read a noun:
Nouns: cat, window, birds, sky, wind, trees, leaves, dog, distance, squirrel, yard, sun, horizon, world.
Lower the pitch each time you read a verb:
Verbs: sat, watching, fly, blew, rustled, barked, darted, began, casting, seemed, purred.
Example Paragraph:
“The boy kicked the ball across the field as his friends cheered loudly. The coach watched from the sidelines, smiling with pride. The goalkeeper dove to catch the ball, but it rolled past him into the goal. The team celebrated their victory with high-fives and laughter. The sun was setting, and the game was almost over, but the players were full of energy, ready for more.”
Instructions for the Exercise:
Raise the pitch for each noun:
Nouns: boy, ball, field, friends, coach, sidelines, goalkeeper, goal, team, victory, sun, game, players, energy.
Lower the pitch for each verb:
Verbs: kicked, cheered, watched, smiling, dove, catch, rolled, celebrated, was setting, was, were.
3. Sentence Stress Awareness example
“She didn’t eat the cake.”
Stress on “She”: She didn’t eat the cake (emphasizing that someone else ate it, not her).
Stress on “didn’t”: She didn’t eat the cake (emphasizing the denial—she didn’t eat it).
Stress on “eat”: She didn’t eat the cake (emphasizing that maybe she did something else with the cake, but she didn’t eat it).
Stress on “cake”: She didn’t eat the cake (emphasizing that she ate something else, not the cake).
“I never said he was lying.”
Stress on “I”: I never said he was lying (emphasizing that someone else might have said it, but not me).
Stress on “never”: I never said he was lying (emphasizing that at no point did I say it).
Stress on “said”: I never said he was lying (implying I may have thought or implied it, but I didn’t actually say it).
Stress on “he”: I never said he was lying (emphasizing that someone else might be lying, but not him).
Stress on “lying”: I never said he was lying (emphasizing that I may have suggested something else, but not that he was lying).
“You don’t have to go to school today.”
Stress on “You”: You don’t have to go to school today (emphasizing that someone else might have to, but not you).
Stress on “don’t”: You don’t have to go to school today (emphasizing that it’s not a requirement).
Stress on “have to”: You don’t have to go to school today (suggesting it’s optional, but you could if you wanted to).
Stress on “school”: You don’t have to go to school today (suggesting you might have to go somewhere else, but not school).
Stress on “today”: You don’t have to go to school today (emphasizing that this only applies for today, but maybe tomorrow it’s required).
“She thinks he stole the money.”
Stress on “She”: She thinks he stole the money (implying that someone else might have a different opinion, but she thinks this).
Stress on “thinks”: She thinks he stole the money (implying she’s not sure but has an idea).
Stress on “he”: She thinks he stole the money (emphasizing that it’s him she suspects, not someone else).
Stress on “stole”: She thinks he stole the money (emphasizing the action of stealing, as opposed to something else like borrowing).
Stress on “money”: She thinks he stole the money (implying that it’s the money he stole, not something else).
“We should meet at the café later.”
Stress on “We”: We should meet at the café later (emphasizing that it’s us, not someone else, who should meet).
Stress on “should”: We should meet at the café later (emphasizing the suggestion or recommendation to meet).
Stress on “meet”: We should meet at the café later (emphasizing the action of meeting, as opposed to doing something else).
Stress on “café”: We should meet at the café later (emphasizing the location).
Stress on “later”: We should meet at the café later (emphasizing the time of meeting, suggesting not now, but at a later time).
Instructions:
Have the learner read each sentence aloud multiple times, each time placing stress on a different word.
Discuss how the change in stress alters the meaning or focus of the sentence, enhancing their understanding of intonation and sentence stress in communication.
This exercise helps learners become more aware of how emphasizing different words can change the tone or intent of their speech.
4. Vowel Sounds
Short Vowel Sounds
/a/: cat, bat, mat, hat, fat, sat, rat, pat, chat, flat
/e/: bed, fed, led, red, set, net, pet, jet, bet, wed
/i/: bit, sit, lit, hit, fit, kit, pit, mitt, wit, grit
/o/: cot, hot, not, pot, lot, rot, dot, shot, blot, trot
/u/: cut, hut, nut, cup, bus, rug, bug, tug, mug, gut
Long Vowel Sounds
/ā/ (as in “cake”): make, bake, take, fake, lake, sake, shake, rake, plate, brave
/ē/ (as in “meet”): meet, seat, beat, heat, feat, treat, greet, fleet, neat, cheat
/ī/ (as in “bike”): kite, bite, sight, light, right, fight, might, white, knight, flight
/ō/ (as in “hope”): rope, cone, bone, note, code, home, dome, robe, phone, stone
/ū/ (as in “mule”): cute, flute, mute, suit, fuse, brute, lute, cube, tube, mule
Mixed Vowels for Contrast
Short vs. Long A
cat/cake, bat/bait, mat/mate, sat/sate, tap/tape, fad/fade, man/mane, lad/laid, can/cane, plan/plane
Short vs. Long E
bed/beat, set/seat, pet/peat, men/mean, led/lead, met/meet, bet/beet, red/reed, ten/teen, fed/feat
Short vs. Long I
bit/bite, lit/light, fit/fight, kit/kite, sit/site, rid/ride, hid/hide, lid/lied, sin/sight, pin/pine
Short vs. Long O
cot/coat, not/note, pot/poet, rod/road, hop/hope, top/toe, cop/cope, sod/sew, dot/doze, bot/boat
Short vs. Long U
cut/cute, hut/hoot, fun/fuse, cup/cube, rub/rube, bud/bute, tub/tube, hug/huge, pun/pure, mud/muse
Additional Vowel Combinations
/aw/ and /ow/
law, saw, paw, draw, claw, flaw, straw, thaw
cow, now, how, brow, plow, vow, allow, wow
Diphthongs and Special Vowel Sounds
/oi/: coin, boil, soil, coil, foil, toil, broil, spoil, avoid, noise
/ou/: out, loud, shout, mouth, pout, stout, clout, scout, about, cloud
5. “Blowing air” words
Here’s a list of “blowing air” words focusing on sounds that require a strong release of air, particularly plosive sounds like /p/, /t/, and /k/:
Words with /p/
Pat
Pop
Pump
Pit
Peep
Pick
Puff
Poke
Puddle
Pine
Words with /t/
Top
Tip
Tap
Tuck
Tent
Tool
Taste
Tote
Tilt
Tick
Words with /k/
Cat
Cut
Cup
Kick
Can
Catch
Cape
Clap
Cook
Kite
Words with Combined Plosives (e.g., /p/, /t/, /k/)
Packet
Pickle
Pocket
Ticket
Puppet
Tackle
Pumpkin
Picnic
Kitten
Capture
Practicing these words with exaggerated air release helps improve control over plosive sounds, making articulation clearer and more precise.
6. Tongue twisters example
Level 1 (Easy)
“She sells seashells by the seashore.”
“Red leather, yellow leather.”
“A big black bug bit a big black bear.”
“How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?”
Level 2 (Intermediate)
“Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said the butter’s bitter.”
“Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward.”
“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
“Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair, Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t very fuzzy, was he?”
Level 3 (Advanced)
“The great Greek grape growers grow great Greek grapes.”
“Six sleek swans swam swiftly southwards.”
“The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.”
“How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?”
Instructions for Exercise:
Start by reading the easiest tongue twisters aloud while wearing Forbrain.
Gradually increase the speed while focusing on clarity and accuracy.
As the learner gets more comfortable, progress to the intermediate and advanced levels, encouraging them to maintain precise articulation even as the phrases become more challenging.
After mastering one level, push the learner to increase the speed while maintaining proper pacing and articulation.
This exercise is highly effective for improving speech clarity, pronunciation, and control over pacing. It’s a fun and engaging way for the learner to become more aware of their speech patterns, especially when wearing Forbrain for enhanced auditory feedback.
7. Idiomatic expressions
· Break the ice – To initiate conversation in a social setting, making people feel more comfortable.
· Spill the beans – To reveal a secret or disclose information prematurely.
· Piece of cake – Something that is very easy to do.
· Under the weather – Feeling ill or unwell.
· Let the cat out of the bag – To accidentally reveal a secret.
· Bite the bullet – To endure something difficult or unpleasant with courage.
· Hit the nail on the head – To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
· Burn the midnight oil – To work late into the night.
· Kick the bucket – A euphemism for dying.
· Costs an arm and a leg – Something that is very expensive.
· Once in a blue moon – Something that happens very rarely.
· When pigs fly – Used to describe something that will never happen.
· The ball is in your court – It’s up to you to take the next action or decision.
· Break a leg – A way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
· Blow off steam – To release pent-up energy or emotions, typically through physical activity or venting.
· Cut corners – To do something the easiest or cheapest way, often at the expense of quality.
· Hit the road – To leave or start a journey.
· In the same boat – To be in the same situation as someone else, usually an undesirable one.
· On the ball – To be alert and quick to respond.
· Through thick and thin – To stay by someone’s side through good times and bad.
8. List of Words and Classifications
Apple
Shirt
Dog
Red
Airplane
Banana
Truck
Elephant
Blue
Pants
Grapes
Bicycle
Horse
Orange
Car
Socks
Green
Lion
Salad
Skirt
Purple
Sandwich
Cat
Train
Jacket
Yellow
Pizza
Whale
Scooter
Coat
Classified Categories
Animals
Dog
Elephant
Horse
Lion
Cat
Whale
Colors
Red
Blue
Green
Purple
Yellow
Orange
Food
Apple
Banana
Grapes
Orange
Salad
Sandwich
Pizza
Transportation
Airplane
Truck
Bicycle
Car
Train
Scooter
Clothing
Shirt
Pants
Socks
Skirt
Jacket
Coat
9. Word Substitution List
Happy → Joyful, Content, Pleased, Cheerful
Sad → Unhappy, Downcast, Gloomy, Sorrowful
Big → Large, Huge, Massive, Enormous
Small → Tiny, Little, Petite, Miniature
Fast → Quick, Rapid, Swift, Speedy
Slow → Sluggish, Unhurried, Leisurely, Gradual
Smart → Intelligent, Clever, Bright, Sharp
Brave → Courageous, Bold, Fearless, Daring
Angry → Mad, Furious, Irritated, Annoyed
Quiet → Silent, Hushed, Mute, Calm
Easy → Simple, Effortless, Straightforward, Uncomplicated
Hard → Difficult, Challenging, Tough, Complicated
Hot → Warm, Heated, Boiling, Scorching
Cold → Chilly, Cool, Freezing, Icy
Beautiful → Pretty, Attractive, Lovely, Gorgeous
Ugly → Unattractive, Unpleasant, Unsightly, Hideous
Rich → Wealthy, Affluent, Prosperous, Well-off
Poor → Impoverished, Needy, Penniless, Destitute
Laugh → Giggle, Chuckle, Chortle, Snicker
Cry → Sob, Weep, Whimper, Wail
Walk → Stroll, Stride, Saunter, Amble
Run → Sprint, Dash, Race, Jog
Look → See, Glance, Gaze, Observe
Eat → Devour, Consume, Munch, Snack
Drink → Sip, Gulp, Swallow, Chug
Think → Ponder, Reflect, Consider, Contemplate
Begin → Start, Commence, Launch, Initiate
End → Finish, Conclude, Complete, Terminate
Find → Discover, Locate, Spot, Uncover
Lose → Misplace, Forget, Drop, Surrender
10. Positive character traits by topic
Here is the list of 100 positive character traits, classified by topic:
Personal Development and Growth
Adaptable
Ambitious
Assertive
Balanced
Brave
Confident
Courageous
Decisive
Determined
Disciplined
Dynamic
Energetic
Fearless
Flexible
Forthright
Independent
Motivated
Persistent
Resilient
Tenacious
Emotional Intelligence
Affectionate
Altruistic
Compassionate
Considerate
Empathetic
Forgiving
Generous
Genuine
Grateful
Humble
Kind
Kind-hearted
Loving
Nurturing
Patient
Supportive
Tolerant
Understanding
Interpersonal Skills and Relationships
Amiable
Charismatic
Charming
Cheerful
Cooperative
Courteous
Friendly
Helpful
Honest
Humorous
Just
Loyal
Open-minded
Respectful
Sociable
Trustworthy
Creativity and Innovation
Analytical
Astute
Authentic
Creative
Curious
Eclectic
Imaginative
Innovative
Inquisitive
Inventive
Methodical
Perceptive
Resourceful
Visionary
Work Ethic and Responsibility
Conscientious
Dedicated
Dependable
Diligent
Ethical
Hardworking
Meticulous
Organized
Practical
Punctual
Reliable
Responsible
Positive Outlook and Attitude
Admirable
Appreciative
Enthusiastic
Fair
Graceful
Gracious
Grounded
Hopeful
Joyful
Optimistic
Passionate
Positive
Leadership and Influence
Empowering
Inspiring
Level-headed
Persuasive
Resolute
Strategic
Visionary
Wise
11. Narrative Sequencing Exercise
Morning Routine
Events (Out of Order):
He put on his clothes.
He brushed his teeth.
He woke up.
He ate breakfast.
He washed his face.
Correct Order:
He woke up.
He washed his face.
He brushed his teeth.
He put on his clothes.
He ate breakfast.
Going to the Park
Events (Out of Order):
She rode her bike to the park.
She packed a snack.
She played on the swings.
She put on her shoes.
She went back home.
Correct Order:
She put on her shoes.
She packed a snack.
She rode her bike to the park.
She played on the swings.
She went back home.
Making a Sandwich
Events (Out of Order):
She spread peanut butter on the bread.
She took out a knife.
She put two slices of bread on a plate.
She added jelly.
She put the slices together and cut the sandwich.
Correct Order:
She put two slices of bread on a plate.
She took out a knife.
She spread peanut butter on the bread.
She added jelly.
She put the slices together and cut the sandwich.
Bedtime Routine
Events (Out of Order):
He put on his pajamas.
He turned off the lights.
He brushed his teeth.
He read a book.
He got into bed.
Correct Order:
He brushed his teeth.
He put on his pajamas.
He read a book.
He turned off the lights.
He got into bed.
Grocery Shopping Trip
Events (Out of Order):
They drove to the grocery store.
They put groceries in the cart.
They made a shopping list.
They paid at the cashier.
They unpacked groceries at home.
Correct Order:
They made a shopping list.
They drove to the grocery store.
They put groceries in the cart.
They paid at the cashier.
They unpacked groceries at home.
Planting a Flower
Events (Out of Order):
She dug a hole in the soil.
She put the flower in the hole.
She watered the flower.
She covered the roots with soil.
She picked a spot in the garden.
Correct Order:
She picked a spot in the garden.
She dug a hole in the soil.
She put the flower in the hole.
She covered the roots with soil.
She watered the flower.
Baking Cookies
Events (Out of Order):
She mixed flour, sugar, and butter in a bowl.
She preheated the oven.
She placed dough on a baking sheet.
She put the baking sheet in the oven.
She took the cookies out of the oven.
Correct Order:
She preheated the oven.
She mixed flour, sugar, and butter in a bowl.
She placed dough on a baking sheet.
She put the baking sheet in the oven.
She took the cookies out of the oven.
Going to the Movies
Events (Out of Order):
They found their seats.
They bought popcorn.
They entered the theater.
They watched the movie.
They bought tickets.
Correct Order:
They bought tickets.
They entered the theater.
They bought popcorn.
They found their seats.
They watched the movie.
12. Story Starters
The Lost Treasure
“Jake and Maya were exploring the old forest when they found a small, rusty key buried under a pile of leaves. They looked at each other and wondered what it might open…”
The Mysterious Note
“Emma opened her locker at school and found a folded piece of paper with the words, ‘Meet me at the old oak tree after sunset.’ She had no idea who left it or what it meant…”
The Magic Paintbrush
“Lily found an old paintbrush in her grandmother’s attic. When she started to paint with it, the pictures came to life. She quickly realized this paintbrush had a special power…”
A Visit from the Future
“One night, while sitting in his room, Ben heard a strange noise. He looked up and saw a person who looked exactly like him but much older. The person said, ‘I’m you, from the future, and I need your help…'”
The Secret Door
“While cleaning the basement, Sam noticed a hidden door behind a stack of boxes. It was old and covered in dust, and he had never seen it before. Slowly, he reached for the handle…”
The Floating Island
“As Maria gazed out the airplane window, she spotted an island floating above the clouds. She blinked, but it was still there. No one else seemed to see it, and she wondered if she was dreaming…”
The Mysterious Gift
“On her doorstep, Lucy found a small box wrapped in gold paper with a note that said, ‘For you.’ She didn’t recognize the handwriting, and there was no name on it. Curiously, she opened it…”
The Day Time Stopped
“Tom was on his way to school when he noticed that everyone around him was frozen in place, like statues. The birds had stopped mid-flight, and even the cars were paused in the street…”
The Enchanted Library
“When Clara walked into the old library, she noticed a book glowing softly on a high shelf. As she reached for it, a voice whispered, ‘Once you open this book, your life will change forever…'”
A Trip to Another World
“Max found a pair of old boots in his closet. When he tried them on, he suddenly found himself in a completely different world filled with strange creatures and glowing plants…”
The Talking Animal
“While walking in the park, Sara saw a fox sitting by a tree. To her surprise, it looked straight at her and said, ‘Finally, someone who can understand me!’ Sara was speechless…”
The Forgotten Map
“Inside an old trunk in the attic, Leo found a map with an ‘X’ marked on it. The words at the bottom read, ‘Follow the path to find what was lost.’ He felt a surge of excitement as he wondered what the map could lead to…”
The Unexpected Guest
“As the family sat down for dinner, there was a knock at the door. When they opened it, they found a young girl standing there, saying, ‘I’ve come from a very long way, and I need your help…'”
A Letter from a Stranger
“One day, Rachel received a letter in the mail addressed to her, but it had no return address. Inside, there was only one sentence: ‘You’re closer to the answer than you think.’ Rachel was intrigued and a little worried…”
The Disappearing Shadows
“On a sunny day, Alex noticed that his shadow was slowly fading. By the end of the day, it was completely gone, and he wondered if he’d ever see it again…”
The Magical Garden
“Every plant in Mr. Thompson’s garden grew at an extraordinary rate, producing fruits and vegetables in just a day. But one plant seemed different. Its flowers glowed at night, and nobody knew why…”
The Wandering Star
“Lucy noticed a star moving across the sky in an unusual way, as if it were looking for something. Each night, it appeared in a different part of the sky. She felt that it was trying to send her a message…”
The Secret Talent
“Eli was an ordinary kid until he discovered he could move objects without touching them. At first, he kept it a secret, but soon he realized he’d have to use his new ability to help someone important…”
The Strange Mirror
“At the antique shop, Jason found an old mirror that seemed to show things that weren’t really there. He was about to walk away when he noticed a message written on the glass: ‘Look closer if you dare…'”
The Night of the Full Moon
“During a full moon, every animal in the village gathered in the town square. No one knew why, but this was the one night they seemed to act like people, talking and laughing…”
Word List Exercises for Speech Therapy
Speech therapy word lists are invaluable tools in the field of speech-language pathology. These lists consist of carefully curated words and phrases, each chosen to address specific speech and language goals. Whether used in therapy sessions or for at-home practice, these lists offer a structured approach to improving communication skills.
