Making Auditory Memory Fun: How Interactive Sentences Can Boost Skills

Hey there, fellow SLPs! 👋🏼

Let’s talk about something that can sometimes feel a little… repetitive in therapy: auditory memory practice. You know the drill—repeating lists of words, recalling short phrases, and hoping your client doesn’t check out halfway through.

But what if we could make it more engaging, more functional, and way more fun? That’s where interactive sentences come in 🙌🏼

What Are Interactive Sentences?

Interactive sentences are short, engaging phrases or sentences designed to capture a client’s attention while giving them a meaningful way to practice listening and recall. They might involve silly scenarios, mini-stories, or even a touch of humor.

Instead of saying:

“The cat is sleeping.”

You might say:

“The cat is sleeping in a cowboy hat while riding a skateboard.”

Now you’ve got their attention and you’re encouraging them to actively listen, visualize, and recall details.

Why They Work So Well for Auditory Memory

Here’s the thing—auditory memory work can be tricky. Without an engaging element, kids (and even adults) can zone out. Interactive sentences pull them back in because:

🎯 They’re Interesting
Kids are far more likely to remember something that makes them laugh or sounds a little unusual. Quirky details stick in their brains better than generic phrases.

🧩 They’re Structured but Flexible
You can control the length, complexity, and vocabulary to match your client’s current goals. Start with short, simple sentences, then gradually add more descriptive or complex elements.

📊 They’re Easy to Track
You can collect data on sentence length, number of details recalled, and level of prompting needed. This helps you adjust difficulty in real time while keeping therapy individualized.

How to Use Interactive Sentences in Therapy

1. Start Simple, Build Up

If your client is working on recalling two-step directions, begin with very short sentences. As they improve, increase length and complexity.

Example progression:

• “The dog is barking.”

• “The big dog is barking loudly at the red car.”

• “The big, fluffy dog is barking loudly at the red car parked next to the ice cream shop.”

2. Make It Visual in Their Mind

Encourage your clients to picture the scene in their heads. This visualization helps with memory retention and makes the recall process easier.

3. Add an Action Element

After recalling the sentence, ask your client to act it out with toys, draw it, or use gestures. Multi-modal input = stronger memory connections.

4. Incorporate Storytelling

Link sentences together into a mini-story. Not only does this add fun, but it also challenges memory in a more functional, real-world way.

Example:

• “The boy found a green balloon.”

• “The green balloon floated over a tall fence.”

• “A squirrel tried to catch the green balloon, but it popped!”

The Real-World Benefits

When we strengthen auditory memory through interactive sentences, we’re not just helping our clients recall therapy tasks—they’re building skills they’ll use every single day.

• In the classroom: Following multi-step directions, remembering verbal instructions, and participating in discussions.

• At home: Understanding routines, recalling details from conversations, and following family directions.

• Socially: Tracking conversations, remembering what friends say, and responding appropriately.

These aren’t just therapy goals—they’re life skills.

My Favorite Way to Implement This

I love keeping a bank of pre-made interactive sentences on hand (and adding to it as my kids come up with funny ideas). I’ll mix in themes—like animals, food, or holidays—so therapy stays fresh.

Some of my go-to silly examples:

• “The giraffe wore roller skates to the grocery store.”

• “A penguin baked cookies in a pink oven.”

• “The frog sang happy birthday to a donut.”

Every time I use them, my students are more engaged, we get way more practice, and they leave smiling.

Check out my Sentence Recall Pages for Auditory Memory to make practicing this easy! 

Final Thoughts

Interactive sentences are such a simple addition to therapy, but they can make a huge difference. They keep sessions fun, provide a clear structure for tracking progress, and most importantly—they work.

If you’ve been feeling stuck with your auditory memory activities, give interactive sentences a try. You might be surprised how much your students (and you!) enjoy them.

💬 Tell me in the comments: What’s the silliest sentence your client has ever come up with in therapy? I’m always looking for new ideas to add to my list!