In the realm of speech-language therapy, engaging clients in meaningful activities that foster communication skills is paramount. However, maintaining motivation and enthusiasm throughout therapy sessions can sometimes be challenging. By infusing elements of play and competition into therapy activities, gamification not only makes learning more enjoyable but also enhances participation and accelerates progress. 

This is where gamification comes in as a powerful tool, a new term for something that most therapists have been using for decades.  Just about every pediatric therapist uses games like Bingo, “Feed the Monster”, and various board games to help motivate students.  But let’s really delve into how gamification can transform speech-language therapy into a dynamic and effective journey towards improved communication skills.

Goal of the Game

Before diving into gamification strategies, it’s crucial to establish the goal of the game in the therapy session.  Are we wanting to use the games to simply keep the student(s) motivated and engaged during the session, as a reward at the end of the session, or to help them take responsibility for their learning by tracking their correct vs their incorrect answers?  

Motivation and Engagement

For many of our kids, the games are simply a way to keep them motivated and engaged. These may be a range of various board games or free online games like four-in-a-row or snakes and ladders. These can be found at various websites such as calculators.org or coolmathgames.com. abcya.com is a favorite for younger games like making a cookie (following directions or using adjectives) or saving chicks (following/using positional words).

There are some modestly priced subscription sites as well, such as pinkcatgames.com, or ultimateslp.com. These are nice because the speech and language stimulus materials are integrated with the games.  You can make your own Jeopardy style game on Bamboozle for just about any subject (check out my growing collection), or use one of the many pre-made ones.  Educaplay also has many styles of games under the free tier that you can make or search for.  Genially is another platform that has many free game and lesson templates and is FERPA compliant.  Even simple push-button buzzers that kids can use when they know the answer makes question and answer activities more “gamey”.

Self-monitoring or effort

However, some students do really well with a bit more of a “push” in which they are given both positive and negative points (or teacher gets points).  Jeopardy-style, tally score, or scoreboards might be best for these students.  These work amazingly for those kids who are working on self-monitoring skills, or who are not giving thoughtful answers.

Additional Benefits

The beauty of gamification lies in its versatility. You can create a custom folder game based on student interests, if you are working in-person, or you can find free games online easily.  Open-ended games such as snakes and ladders can be used with mixed groups and create friendly competition.

Gamification can also promote collaboration and healthy competition among students. Group activities such as word games, role-playing scenarios, or collaborative storytelling encourage peer interaction and communication exchanges. Additionally, friendly competitions, whether in the form of timed challenges or team-based quizzes, inject an element of excitement and camaraderie into therapy sessions, and great opportunities for practice of social skills.

Gamification holds immense potential to make learning enjoyable, engaging, and effective.

Happy playing!

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So a few years ago I started hearing raves in continuing education about how many targets you could reach from reading a picture book or short story in speech therapy.  And I thought, “yeah, but you’d only  maybe get one or two practices out of each book for most of those language goals.  Drilling is far superior.”  Plus…it would take a whole session to read a book.  You wouldn’t have time for anything else.

I kept on with my drilling.  And my students made progress on their little goal chart.  Good progress.  And sure, sometimes teachers would say, “but they can’t do it in my room,” And I’d say, “well, that’s because I’m working on a discrete skill, to make sure they have the ability.  Now we have to broaden it to a longer text.”

Literacy Units – Language in Context

But I started hearing more and more about using literature as an SLP.  I started taking these continuing ed classes that were talking about using a picture book as the anchor for a month of therapy. And it was like there was an actual lightbulb in my head.  “You mean we can use the SAME book for a whole MONTH?!!”  Now THAT, that seemed workable.  In fact, that seemed downright awesome.

Because – context. While my drills were great, and they reinforced the skill, they were like practicing a sound in isolation, and would only take a student so far.  And honestly…sooooo boring. So going over a fun picture book for a month, that sounded like just the thing.

Pick the “Just Right” Story

But I was in a middle school setting now.  And sure, there are picture books that are higher language that would fit the bill for middle school. But it was October.  And now your head is probably going straight where mine went.  How could I not introduce my middle schoolers to “The Tell-Tale Heart”? (OK, it was a draw between that and “Ichabod Crane” but they rolled their eyes and said they read that every Halloween).

Well, first, let me tell you: success hinges on finding the “just right” version.  The middle-schoolers who you see for language are probably not going to do well with the original version of the story.  But you don’t want a version too watered down either, or you lose so much of the lovely language-teaching opportunities.  Another key: do not have the students read the first time.  It seems like a good idea, but if you are reading for meaning, you want an advanced reader who has read the story at least once to read it aloud for the group.

Decide the Order of Teaching

And then…do you pre-teach every vocabulary word and turn of phrase, or do you do a read-through first, then go back over it?  Or, maybe watch a video that had most of the text first, that gives meaning to words they don’t know?  I did a little of everything that first time, each group a little different.  I think it was best when I gave a little minilesson first, then we watched the video, which I would pause every so often to allow them to predict or make sure they knew the big picture of what was happening.  Then we went back, closely, over the text.  This may differ depending on the text you read, too.

Language Skills Galore!

I didn’t spend a month on “The Tell-Tale Heart.”  We spent two, maybe three 30 minute sessions.  Partially because I still have a hard time reconciling my old drill mindset.  But I also only have two in my groups (don’t hate me – it’s a rule for teletherapy where I am).  I also was winging it in large part.  If I had been thoroughly prepared, I would have had more and better questions. 

I’m writing my questions down and keeping documents so next year, I will be better prepared.  If you are interested, you can find my completed guides in my TPT store, Mrs. Speech.  They contain questions addressing context clues, figurative language, sentence writing, predictions, inferences, story craft, story arcs, prefixes and suffixes and other language and literacy skills.

Appreciation of Literature

But the engagement of the kids!!  They LOVED it!  So much that I went out and hunted down short stories in a number of genres, based on what they requested, and found so many lovely stories! 

They are requesting stories now – and they remember exactly where we were in the story from one week to the next.  They ask for more from the same author (yes, they are asking for stories).  And most of these stories I am using are at least 50 years old, some, like Poe, are in public domain.

And I love that I am fostering a love for literature.  Even though when I ask, they say they wouldn’t read the longer version, LOL, they still are listening and responding to these stories with enthusiasm and asking for more.  Which is far more than my drill cards ever got!

Want to see what stories I’ve been using in my therapy sessions?  Find my FREE list on TPT!

Check out more on short stories in therapy with my other articles:

• Activity Magic: Short Stories for Multi-Goal Mastery in Speech Therapy
• Unlock Student Engagement: The Magic of Short Stories in Middle School Speech Therapy
• Level Up Literacy Teletherapy: Unleash FREE Online Resources to Captivate Students!

Subscribe below for a FREE bookmark to help students generalize articulation while reading!

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The post Why, and How, I Started Using Short Stories in Therapy appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

Ways to Use Pinterest Pictures

Now, we all know the drill with Pinterest – it’s the go-to hub for all things DIY, recipes, and yes, even therapy ideas! But let me tell you how I’ve been using it to spice up my therapy sessions.

Picture this: I’ve got boards filled to the brim with stimuli. They cover everything from articulation practice to critical thinking and social skills. We could get into a 10 minute discussion on whether it is photoshopped or real on some of these. Or discuss what makes it interesting, or brainstorm what you would do if you were walking around and saw it in person.

So MANY speech and language goals can be addressed with these open-ended materials. They are so much more fun than reading a card or doing a worksheet. Your kids may not even realize they are “working.”

Seriously, my Picture Prompts boards are like a treasure trove for your therapy sessions. Once you get used to using them, and the types of questioning you can use, you will find yourself using them more and more. For now, I have them separated into just a younger board and an older board. However, I have so many pins, I am going to have to separate them further. 

You guys have to come take a peek! Just make sure you set a timer because you will seriously get sucked into the rabbit hole – LOL!

Multiple Meaning Words

One thing my kids LOVE is when I open up the Visual Puns board. It’s a great way to work on multiple meanings and figurative or non-literal language. Not to mention the sheer fun of figuring out what makes each pun tick. The engagement and comprehension seems to skyrocket when I address language goals this way. And the best part – it’s so effortless it seems like a free day for both me and my students!

Tech Tips

Here’s the kicker – using Pinterest in therapy takes a bit of tweaking. But once you get the hang of it, it is smooth sailing, I promise. First, make sure your view options are set for Default, not Compact. You can choose this by using the little slider button in the top left of your board, as you can see in this screenshot.

I like to zoom in until only one or two images are visible. This makes those images pop and limits what my kiddos are focusing on. Ctrl and + on Windows, Cmd and + on Mac – you get the drift. Most browsers also have their own zoom controls.

Why Pinterest for Your Speech Sessions?

Now, why go through all this trouble instead of just hitting that good ol’ Save button? Well, for starters, it saves me from diving into the murky waters of copyright laws. Ain’t nobody got time for that! Plus, who wants to spend hours copy, pasting, and formatting when Pinterest does the heavy lifting for you?

And as we all know, adding to our boards is as easy as pie. I’m constantly stumbling upon gems while tumbling down the internet rabbit hole. With a click here and a pin there, my collection keeps growing faster than I can say “therapy time.” So much easier than trying to add to a document or slideshow or however else you try to organize saved images.

So, there you have it – Pinterest in speech-language therapy. Who knew? But hey, when it works like magic, who am I to argue?

Happy pinning, my fellow e-speechies!

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Building Blocks of Language

Pictures can serve as the building blocks for a myriad of language goals. Here are some ideas:

• Vocabulary Development: Use pictures to introduce new words, reinforce meaning, and encourage expressive language.
• Grammar: Target specific grammatical structures through picture-based activities, such as sentence building, verb tense practice, or pronoun usage.
• Narrative Skills: Create engaging stories using picture sequences, prompting students to sequence events, identify characters, and predict outcomes.
• Social Skills: Use pictures to teach social cues, emotions, and appropriate conversational skills.
• Articulation: Target specific speech sounds by selecting pictures containing target sounds.

Interactive Activities with Pictures

• Picture Description: Encourage detailed and descriptive language by asking students to describe pictures in depth.
• Sequencing: Use picture cards to practice sequencing events, telling stories, or following directions.
• Categorization: Sort pictures into categories based on various criteria (e.g., size, shape, color, function).
• Comparisons: Use pairs of pictures to practice comparative language (bigger, smaller, taller, shorter).
• Problem-solving: Present challenging picture scenarios and ask students to come up with solutions.

Technology Integration

• Digital Picture Books: Explore interactive digital picture books for added engagement and accessibility.  Your local library is a great starting point!
• Photo Booth Fun: Take pictures of students engaging in activities to create personalized therapy materials.
• Online Resources: Utilize websites and apps offering free or low-cost picture sets for therapy.
  • Tip: I’ve created many Pinterest boards filled with hundreds of picture ideas and activities to help you implement these strategies in your therapy sessions. Check it out for additional inspiration!
  • See my article: Pinterest in Therapy, No Way!

Conclusion

By incorporating pictures into your speech therapy sessions, you can create a dynamic and engaging learning environment. Remember to adapt activities to meet the specific needs of your students and celebrate their successes! 

Let me know your favorite picture resources in the comments below!

Picturing you perfect,

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Hands down, short stories in speech therapy emerge as a champion tool for those of us working with mixed-skill groups! Forget juggling endless flashcards or hopping between disparate activities. A meticulously planned story can address a multitude of speech and language goals, all within one engaging context. This saves you precious planning time and making therapy sessions flow seamlessly.

And the best part? The skills practiced during a short story unit are often easier to generalize than skills practiced in isolation.

Research-Backed Reasons to Use Short Stories in Speech Therapy:

• Engages Multiple Brain Areas: Stories activate more parts of the brain than simple facts or lectures, including areas involved in language processing, sensory experiences, and even motor functions if the story describes actions. This creates a richer, more holistic learning experience.
• Emotional Connection: Narratives evoke emotions, and emotions are strongly linked to memory and engagement. When we feel something, we’re more likely to remember it.
• Context and Meaning: Stories provide context for information, making it more meaningful and easier to connect new concepts to existing knowledge. Facts presented in isolation are harder to retain.
• Empathy and Perspective-Taking: Stories allow us to step into the shoes of characters, fostering empathy and understanding different perspectives, which can deepen learning about complex social or emotional concepts.
• Relatability: We naturally relate to characters and their struggles, making the learning feel more personal and relevant.
• Simplicity in Complexity: Stories can simplify complex ideas by presenting them through relatable scenarios and character experiences.
• Sequencing and Causality: Narratives inherently involve sequence and cause-and-effect relationships, which helps in organizing information and understanding how things work.

Plus, once you’ve created or chosen a great story unit, you can use the same material across multiple groups and years, adapting it to diverse needs.

Consider grabbing ready-made short story lesson guides to jumpstart your planning! You can find a comprehensive bundle of my guides on Teachers Pay Teachers for 30% off the individual prices!  ➡️Find my FREE list of favorite short stories on TPT! 

Short Stories are Pure Magic for Mixed Groups

Short stories provide a natural, rich environment for practicing a wide range of speech and language skills. Here’s why they’re so effective:

Core Language & Literacy Skills

Short stories lay a strong foundation by naturally targeting essential skills:

• Context Clues: Students inherently practice deciphering unfamiliar vocabulary by using surrounding words and sentences.
• Vocabulary Development: Encountering new words in an authentic narrative context makes learning fun and helps solidify understanding far better than rote memorization.
• Comprehension & Retelling: Following the story arc, identifying key events, and summarizing what happened are direct, functional language goals.
• Sequencing: Stories provide a natural framework for ordering events. Students can practice identifying the beginning, middle, and end; using transition words; and retelling events in logical order.

Higher-Level Language & Critical Thinking

For students ready for deeper engagement, short stories offer rich opportunities for analytical and inferential skills:

• Inferences: Reading “between the lines” to understand unstated meanings, character motivations, or future events becomes a natural part of following the plot.
• Perspective-Taking & Emotion Identification: Characters’ actions and reactions offer perfect opportunities to discuss feelings, motivations, and social problem-solving.
• Word Choice & Writer’s Craft: Students can analyze how authors use specific words and literary techniques (like humor, suspense, or vivid descriptions) to create meaning, mood, or character. This enhances expressive language by encouraging more precise and creative word use.
• Syntax, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing: Students can create their own sentences using conjunctions or practice putting the paragraph in their own words, as well as summarizing key events in the story.
• Literary Analysis: For older students, stories are perfect for diving into more advanced elements like point of view (including unreliable narrators!), figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification), tone, mood, and plot structure.

Speech Production & Fluency

Beyond language and comprehension, short stories provide a natural context for speech goals:

• Speech Sounds and Fluency: From just finding target words with a specific sound to practicing smooth, connected speech during read-alouds and discussions, students with articulation and fluency goals can participate easily and meaningfully within a short story lesson. The natural context makes practice more engaging and less isolated.

Practical Strategies for Multi-Goal Mastery

You’ve got the perfect short story for your speech therapy, but how do you use it? Once you have your story selected, here are some ways to weave in goal work:

“What Is It?” (Defining and Describing Game)

Pause at key moments. Select a noun (character, setting detail, object) or even an action. Have students describe it using multiple attributes (category, function, appearance, parts, location, what it’s made of). This hits defining, describing, vocabulary, and expressive language (and plugs in to comprehensive vocabulary learning). You can even draw or pantomime what you see!

“The Five Questions” (Another Approach to Defining and Describing/Comprehension)

After reading a paragraph or section, challenge students to answer five key questions about it: Who? What? Where? When? Why? (or How?). This reinforces comprehension, summarization, and expressive language.

Modified Text for Audio/Read-Aloud

For students who benefit from visual support, provide a written text with simpler synonyms written above or next to challenging vocabulary words. They can follow along while listening to the original audio or your read-aloud, bridging the gap to complex text.

Prefix/Suffix Hunt

Have students identify words with common prefixes or suffixes and predict their meaning, then check the context. This works great for our grammar kiddos too!

Check out my article for more vocabulary ideas: Comprehensive Vocabulary Instruction for Teachers & SLPs

Character Emotions & Motivations: At various points, stop and ask, “How do you think [character] is feeling right now? What makes you say that?” Then, “Why do you think [character] did [action]? What was their motivation?” This supports emotional vocabulary and inferencing.

Plot Predictions: Regularly pause and ask, “What do you predict will happen next? What clues make you think that?” This builds prediction and inferencing skills.

Figurative Language Detective: After introducing similes, metaphors, or personification, have students identify examples as you read and discuss what they mean and why the author used them.

Tips & Tricks for Reading in Speech Therapy

Don’t forget to model your own thinking!

This is an excellent way to teach “in-the-moment”! “I was curious…” or “I was remembering…” are great instruction tools. Showing them your thought process help students understand how to slow down and pay attention to their thoughts!

It’s Okay to Take Your Time! (Multi-Session Approach)

Don’t feel pressured to rush through an entire short story in one session. Breaking it down over several sessions allows for deeper comprehension, more intensive skill practice, and repeated exposure to vocabulary and concepts. This flexible approach makes short stories highly adaptable to your schedule and student needs (and makes planning so much easier!).

Boost Engagement with Student Choice

Student buy-in is gold! When students are interested in the story, their motivation skyrockets, leading to more meaningful participation and better generalization of skills. Get to know your students’ genre favs. Try offering your students a selection of 2-3 short story options to choose from for their next unit. These simple actions can dramatically increase engagement and ownership of their learning.

Ready to Take On Reading in your Speech Therapy sessions?

I’m excited to support you in making short stories in your speech therapy a cornerstone activity. See these strategies in action and explore a wealth of ready-to-use materials!

➡️Find my Ultimate Short Story Comprehensive Lesson Guides Bundle on TPT, with 30% off individual pricing!  All of these stories have been vetted by my own middle school students.

➡️ Download my free short story lesson guide sample! This 20 page comprehensive sample from “The Night the Ghost Got In” is waiting in my Subscriber Exclusive Freebie Library!

Join Here to Visit Our Full Freebie Library! 

What are your go-to short stories for speech therapy? Share your experiences and recommendations in the comments below!

Want to know more about using literature in therapy? Check out my other articles!

• Level Up Literacy Teletherapy: Unleash FREE Online Resources to Captivate Students!
• Unlock Student Engagement: The Magic of Short Stories in Middle School Speech Therapy
• Why, and How, I Started Using Short Stories in Therapy

Happy Reading & Therapizing!

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The post Activity Magic: Short Stories for Multi-Goal Mastery in Speech Therapy appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.