An Ocean of Creativity From Picture Books and Play-doh

Funded Mar 31, 2024

When introducing new texts during speech therapy sessions, students are exposed to a variety of important language skills that help improve their communication abilities. These books often help build vocabulary, sentence structure, and conversational skills. Through guided reading, students practice asking and answering questions, making inferences, and summarizing information, all of which are crucial for developing expressive and receptive language. The books also serve as a springboard for discussions on social communication, allowing students to practice turn-taking, perspective-taking, and using context to understand emotions or motivations.

In therapy sessions, reading can look different depending on the students' needs. Some might engage in one-on-one reading with the therapist, where they can practice articulation and fluency, while others may participate in small group activities where they take turns reading aloud or discussing the text. Interactive read-alouds are also common, where the therapist pauses to ask questions, prompting students to engage with the material and express their thoughts. This process helps build their confidence in using language in a structured, supportive setting.

Certain students have responded particularly well to these new books. For example, those working on social skills have enjoyed stories with clear examples of dialogue and character interactions, allowing them to observe and practice conversational exchanges. Others, especially those focusing on articulation or fluency, have been excited by texts that allow them to repeat or practice specific sounds in a fun, engaging way. These new books have brought a sense of excitement and accomplishment to their learning!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Kewei