Dot Marker Fun!

November 1, 2015Sarah WuSpeech therapy tips4

You need dot markers, bingo daubers (whatever you call them) in your speech therapy room. I mean it. Don’t have them? Go buy a set. Now. Seriously.

5 Reasons Why You Need Dot Markers in Speech Therapy by Speech Sprouts

I look for activities in speech therapy that motivate kids, yet take very little time in between repetitions or answers.

We want to maximize our time with the kids. Games often take too long. Enter the dot marker. I love dot markers: quick and colorful, no mess, inexpensive, and they last forever. Better yet, kids love them.

So why do you use dot markers? Here are seven ideas to get you started:

1. Language Activities

This activity is from My Five Little Turkeys: Flipbook, Phonological Awareness and Prepositions Pack at Speech Sprouts. Kids find the turkeys and dot them, then tell where they are: between or beside.

7 Reasons Why You Need Dot Markers in Speech Therapy

2. Articulation Activities

Dot the picture and say your word, or dot the letter in the text as in this articulation story freebie by SPEECHtacular.

3. Phonological Activities

Dot the letters of the initial sound you hear as you say each word. This fun freebie is by Deanna Jump.

Dot the number of syllables you hear as you say each word. This fun ocean-themed activity is from my Smiley Shark Speech Therapy Book Companion at Speech Sprouts

4. Independent Center Activities

Get tons of responses with Peachie Speechie’s challenge activities. Kids can practice independently as you work with another student,

5. Motivational Activities

Kids dab or dot for each response or turn. Busy hands and engaged kids! Here’s a cute turkey freebie from Scribble Doodle and Draw.

6. Count Down Activities

Great for learning to wait or count down activities, kids can dot a circle to mark time passing. My Santa Advent Calendar Freebie is terrific for counting down to Christmas. Use it with dot markers, or print the color version and glue on cotton balls.

7. Themed Art Activities

Add an element to a simple drawing. Also great motivational activities, adding dots to a simple drawing lets kids get more creative than structured dot marker activities.

Here are a few ideas for the upcoming seasons:
Draw a tree, have the kids dab yellow, orange, red, brown and green fall leaves.
A spider web is perfect for dabbing some colorful little spiders. Just draw legs when the spots dry.
Dab yellow and orange kernels on an ear of Indian corn.
Have children add Christmas lights to a simple Christmas tree.
Add blue snowflakes to a winter scene with a simple snowman.

I would love to hear your ideas too, just leave a comment. Have fun!