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!

Social Media Icons: designed by rawpixel.com – Freepik.com

The post Pinterest in Therapy, No Way! appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.

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,

Social Media Icons: designed by rawpixel.com – Freepik.com

The post Picture Perfect: Using Pictures in Speech Therapy appeared first on Mrs. Speech Online.