My Boom Cards Story
It was March 2020. The COVID19 pandemic was all over the news and our school announced it would be shutting down for the remainder of the school year. As a result, I spent my spring break researching teletherapy and trying to figure out how we were going to continue providing speech therapy services to all of our speech and language students. My mind was spinning as I was trying to learn how to use Zoom, green screens and subscription websites.
I quickly discovered Boom Learning and I appreciated the simplicity of the platform. Not only did I like using Boom Cards, I found that my students LOVED them. In fact, I wrote a PTO grant right away in order to purchase Boom Cards for our students. When that money was gone, I started creating my own Boom Cards and never looked back! Since then, Boom Cards have become a staple in my speech therapy room and they are also a go-to resource for many SLPs across the world!
What are Boom Cards?
Boom Cards are interactive digital task cards that are housed on an online platform called Boom Learning. You can access the app on tablets, computers, laptops, interactive whiteboards, and even phones! Whether you are a teletherapist or a speech language pathologist working with students in-person, I believe Boom Cards can have a permanent place in your toolbox.
After working as an SLP for more than 25 years in a variety of settings (About me), I have a very large collection of speech and language materials (card decks, worksheets, games, etc). I am finally starting to let go of some of my materials because I am realizing that many of my physical materials can be replaced with digital Boom Cards. It is so freeing to have less STUFF cluttering up my space and mind. When I have my ipad with me, I literally have hundreds of activities at my fingertips. As a result, this makes my planning and organizing so much easier.
A Few Reasons
Here are a few reasons that I believe Boom Cards are here to stay:
- Versatile: Boom cards can be used virtually or in person. They are easy to pair with any activity just like traditional cards.
- Portable: You can stay organized by having all of your activities in one place to use wherever you go.
- No Prep: No more copying, laminating, and cutting all the time!
- Motivating: The interactive features (Drag and Drop, clickable elements, audio, and new drawing features) make them very motivating for students
- Differentiated: Boom cards can be differentiated depending on the needs of your students. You can add audio, multiple choice, alt text, scanning capabilities, etc.
- Home practice: Boom Cards provide immediate feedback and this makes them a great option for homework and independent practice. Fast pins are easy to use and students don’t even need to log in to an account.
- Accessible: Boom Cards can be accessed on computers, tablets, and even cell phones. Students can practice at home or in the classroom. In addition, many of the Boom Card activities are accessible for people who are differently-abled (visual, auditory and motor).
- Cost-Effective: Most decks in the Pinwheel Speech Boom Learning store are under $4. Where else can you purchase a game or interactive activity for less than a latte?
Don't Get me Wrong
Don’t get me wrong, I still think it is important for young children to have hands-on opportunities to interact with each other, play with toys and develop communication skills. In fact, I will ALWAYS prioritize face to face interactions and encourage social skills. You will continue to hear me recommending old school toys that don’t require batteries like baby dolls, manipulatives, pretend play kits, bubbles, and balls, etc. In addition, I will always remind parents to get outside and explore the outdoors with their children. Finally, I will encourage teachers to include purposeful play in their daily schedule and take regular breaks from worksheets and technology. With all this being said, I do think that there is still a place for Boom Cards in our field. I think of them as one of the many tools that I can use to engage my students.
Try Them Out!
I would love for you to try Boom Cards if you have not already done so! If you are new to Boom, you will be offered a free trial. If you are ready to sign up for a paid subscription, you can sign up for a new account here and receive 10% off a new membership. (I may earn a referral prize when you use this discount code)
If you are already familiar with Boom Learning, I would love for you to check out the Pinwheel Speech Boom Learning store. You will find over 400 digital card decks and games in the store. Here are a few of my favorite Boom Learning Resources:
What’s Missing? Language Activity
Sequencing Real Photos Language Activity
Seek and Find Articulation Riddles (pictured below)
Thank you!
To thank you for stopping by, I have included a FREE Boom Card Activity for you to try below! I would love to know what you think! Simply comment below!
