Smart Strategies for SLPs
Students with speech and language disorders may face unique challenges in the classroom, but with the right support, they can thrive. As a school-based speech-language pathologist (SLP), your role is crucial to helping students unlock their full communication potential.
Whether you’re working directly with students, consulting with teachers, or developing individualized education plans (IEPs), having an effective toolkit of teaching strategies can make all the difference. In this Soliant guide, SLPs break down some of the most impactful strategies for supporting students with speech and language disorders in the classroom.
5 Key Strategies for Supporting Speech Disorders in Classrooms
1. Simplify and Repeat Instructions
Some students have a hard time understanding complex directions, especially those with receptive language difficulties. To help them out, try breaking instructions into small, easy-to-follow steps while keeping your language clear and simple, repeating yourself if needed.
2. Use Visual Supports
Visuals can make a big difference for students with speech and language challenges, and by utilizing tools like picture schedules, graphic organizers, and illustrated instructions, you can help students stay on track and feel less overwhelmed.
3. Incorporate Multi-Sensory Learning
Multi-sensory teaching strategies, which combine sight, sound, touch, and movement, can help make learning stick by engaging different parts of the brain. For example, this could look like tracing letters in sand while saying the sound out loud or using hand motions to go along with new vocabulary.
4. Support Social Communication
Many students with language disorders find it tough to pick up on social cues, such as taking turns in conversation, starting a chat with a classmate, or figuring out jokes. You can help them build these skills by using real-world practice, like role-playing different scenarios, pairing them with peer buddies, or reading social stories that walk through common situations they might face.
5. Celebrate Progress, Not Just Perfection
Progress in speech and language doesn’t always follow a straight line. That’s why it’s so important to celebrate the little victories, like a student trying out a new word or starting a conversation on their own. These small wins build confidence, and that confidence builds momentum.
Learn More About Speech & Language in the Classroom
As an SLP, your ability to personalize support, stay flexible, and partner with other educators can make all the difference in a child’s school experience. If you want a career dedicated to empowering students to connect, express themselves, and succeed, we encourage you to browse Soliant’s wide range of job opportunities in education. Find roles in schools across the country in speech-language pathology, general education, special education, teletherapy, and more.
Looking for more insights on school speech-language pathology? Explore Soliant’s education career resources here, including guides for SLPs on resumes, salary negotiation, job descriptions, and more!
