4th grade vocabulary words speech therapy

Literacy Based Therapy

Speech Sounds

The Bookshelf

Resource library, smart goal bank: elementary.

Goal writing can be tricky sometimes, especially when we are trying to figure just how we want to tackle a skill deficit.  Luckily, for some nerdy reason ?, goal writing is my JAM!  I always write following a S.M.A.R.T goal format Also SMART Goal Bank.  Below you will find examples of Objectives/Short Term (ST) goals.

Please feel free to use any of these as a base to create goals for your students but be sure to align the goals to your student’s timeline and ability ??

Helpful posts to check out before you read:   Prompts and Cues…yes, they are different  

I have several resources geared to goal writing and data collection. If you feel shaky on goals you may want to check out this mini-course .  You can follow my TpT store to make sure you don’t miss any new additions as well as Instagram and Facebook where I frequently share lots of data and goal tips.

TIP: When writing goals for lists ( vocab, categories, labeling, etc ) explicitly state the targeted words you are going to work on in the notes section of the IEP!  This will make your data collection a breeze since you will know what to target.  If the students masters the list, high five! Create a new list, discuss it will parents ( and IEP team if necessary), complete an amendment to the IEP and keep on rolling.

Expressive Language: SMART Goal Bank

• When presented with a targeted picture, STUDENT will accurately label the picture with no more than two verbal or visual prompt/cues with 80% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• When presented with a visual field of 4 pictures, STUDENT will accurately label the picture stated by the clinician with no additional prompts or cues and 70% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• After being shown a picture scene, STUDENT will state the locations of various objects by correctly using spatial basic concepts terms with no more than two verbal or visual prompts/cues and 70% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• When presented with a picture of a targeted object, STUDENT will accurately state the function of the object with no more than one verbal/visual prompt or cue with 60% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• When verbally told a list of 3 items, STUDENT will state the accurate category that the items belong to with no more than two verbal or visual prompts/cues and  70% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• When told given a targeted category, STUDENT will state at least different items that would be included in the category with no additional prompts or cues and 80% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• After being told a targeted word, STUDENT will state a correct synonym for the word with no more than two verbal or visual prompts/cues and 60% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• After being told a targeted word, STUDENT will state a correct antonym for the word with no more than two verbal or visual prompts/cues and 60% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• After being presented with pictures of two items, STUDENT will accurately state at least one way the items are similar with no more than one verbal or visual prompt/cue and 80% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• After being presented with pictures of two items, STUDENT will accurately state at least one way the items are different with no more than one verbal or visual prompt/cue and 80% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• After being shown a picture of an object, STUDENT will describe the object by stating at least three different characteristics with no more than one verbal or visual prompt/cue and 80% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• When discussing a picture scene or event in the past tense, STUDENT will accurately utilize past tense verbs in sentences with no more than verbal or visual prompt/cue and 60% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.

RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE: SMART Goal Bank

• STUDENT will accurately complete two-step directions with no more than one verbal or visual prompt/cue with 80% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.
• After being read or reading academically appropriate information, STUDENT will identify the correct answer from 3  multiple choice options with no additional prompts/cues with 80% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.

SEMANTICS: SMART Goal Bank

-STUDENT will utilize context clue strategies to determine the meaning of unknown words in sentences with no additional prompts/cues and 80% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.

-When given a targeted vocabulary word, STUDENT will correctly state the meaning of the word with no additional prompts/cues with 75% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.

– When given a multiple-meaning word, STUDENT will state at least two different meanings of the word with no more than one verbal or visual prompt/cues with 80% accuracy or better over three consecutive sessions.

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List of Multisyllabic Words for Speech Therapy

Multisyllabic words are simply words that contain more than one syllable (or vowel sound). Multisyllabic words are often used in speech therapy for a variety of purposes. Commonly, in speech therapy, multisyllabic words are used to target articulation skills, but are occasionally used for word decoding or phonological awareness skills as well. This resource provides a comprehensive list of multisyllabic words, both broken down by syllable and by word type. We hope this resource will be helpful for parents and speech therapists alike who are working on multisyllabic words with their children.

What Are Multisyllabic Words?

Multisyllabic words are longer words containing at least 2 syllables. Multisyllabic words in speech therapy are very important and often a goal therapists will set for children. There are many reasons a speech therapist may work on multisyllabic words in speech therapy, such as:

• Deleting weak syllables in words (“Nana” for “Banana”)
• Deleting consonants in words (“Able” for “Table” or “Buh-er” for “Butter”)
• Articulation errors
• Difficulty with phonological processing or phonological awareness

Understanding how to correctly pronounce, combine, or decode multisyllabic words is very important. Multiple syllable words are important for speech development, word decoding, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and overall effective communication.

Why Do We Target Multisyllabic Words?

Many children have difficulty producing all the sounds and syllables in multiple syllable words. For some children, this is because of a phonological process called “weak syllable deletion”. In weak syllable deletion, a “weak” syllable in a word is omitted, for example, saying “batty” instead of “battery” or “ah-gator” for “alligator”. Other children may have difficulty producing multiple syllable words because of specific speech sounds in the words. For example, a child who says /t/ for /k/ may have difficulty producing the word “crocodile” in a way that others can understand. For many children, both of these may apply. 

List of 100+ Multisyllabic Words

The following is a comprehensive multisyllabic word list, separated by category. When working on multisyllabic words in speech therapy, it is important to remember to use words that are common and meaningful to your child. The more meaningful or common the word, the more likely the child is to generalize it to their conversational speech. This list gives many suggestions of words, but is not a complete list of all words that can be targeted for this goal.

Multisyllabic Word Lists by Word Structure

Multisyllabic words are found in all parts of speech. Depending on the age or language ability of the child, certain word forms may be more appropriate to target with your child. For example, younger children such as preschoolers do not use as many adjectives or adverbs, so it may be better to work on multisyllabic words that are nouns or verbs so targets are more meaningful. Below, you can find a list of multisyllabic words broken down by word form:

Pronouncing Multisyllabic Words

Because multisyllabic words are more complex, they can be more challenging for children with moderate to severe articulation or phonological disorders, or apraxia of speech. However, there are several techniques that are effective for helping children learn to pronounce multisyllabic words.

Touch cues can be a great way to help children identify all the syllables they hear (or should hear) in the word, and a great way for adults to give feedback on how many syllables the child is saying. Touch cues can be things like a tap on the hand, arm, or table. Sometimes, pairing touch cues with a visual cue as well, like a dot or circle to represent each syllable, can further help children with their pronunciation. 

Mouth cues can be a little trickier than touch cues, and it is beneficial to have support from a speech-language pathologist to incorporate this one into home practice. That being said, mouth cues can be very simple, such as a point to the mouth, or more complex, such as different hand signs to represent different sounds. Typically, the more complex hand cues are more beneficial for children working on multisyllabic words. This is because the different cues help children understand the different sounds they are hearing so they can reproduce them more easily. 

Word Segmentation

Word segmentation is a great strategy when you are working on words that contain prefixes or suffixes. For this, you would take the base word that the child can say more easily and then pair it with the prefix or suffix with a slight delay. For example, if you were practicing the word ‘Unhappy” you would say “Un…happy” to give the additional syllable some extra emphasis. This strategy can often be paired with others as well.

Visual Aids

Visual aids can take many forms! A visual aid could simply be the word written down, dots or other images to represent syllables, or visuals for the specific speech sound the child is practicing. Visual aids are best used in conjunction with other strategies, but can be very helpful for children. 

Knowing Where to Start

When working on multisyllabic words, we typically don’t recommend starting with the most complex words. Instead, we usually start with 2 syllable words, then 3 syllable, and continue working up as children master each level. Starting at the correct level is important for your child. If it is too hard for them at the start, they may lose the motivation to continue practicing. 

Games & Activities for Multisyllabic Words

If you are working on multisyllabic words in speech therapy, as a parent or SLP, some of the games and activities below may be useful for you. Engaging activities for multisyllabic words are very important to help keep childrens’ attention and make faster progress.

Coloring is an engaging activity for children of all ages. To use coloring as a multisyllabic words activity, simply choose 10-15 words appropriate for your child and either draw them or print them out. As your child colors the pictures, have them practice saying each word using all the syllables and their best speech sounds.

Drumming Syllables

Kids love to drum! On the table, on the wall, or on an actual drum (if you have one). This activity is great for building awareness of how many syllables are in words, and there are so many ways to practice it! You can say the word while drumming out the syllables and the child can imitate, you say the word and they drum the syllables, show the child a picture and have them drum the syllables, or even make up songs using the words they have been practicing.

Silly Sentences

This activity is targeted more for children who have been practicing for a while, but are having trouble using the longer words in conversation. For this game, pick 2 words from our word list and take turns making up silly sentences using both of the words. For example, if you chose the words “flamingo” and “alphabet” your sentence could be “The flamingo sang the alphabet.” You can also write them down for later practice.

Discrimination Activities

Discrimination activities are helpful for children who are just starting out, or who are moving up to words with more syllables. One way to practice this is to gather a large group of items together. The child can then sort the items based on how many syllables are in its name. So, if you got together scissors, tissue, tablet, pencil, a stuffed kangaroo, a lollipop, and a telephone, the child could sort them into 2-syllable and 3-syllable words. This can also be done without physical items using pictures or just telling the words to the child.

Reading with your child is a great activity, no matter what speech therapy goal they have. To work on multisyllabic words while reading, first identify which level your child is at (2, 3, 4, or 5 syllables). While you are reading, stop each time you come to a word at their level and practice it together. If they are older or are working on carryover, they can try and practice using it in the whole sentence.

Using Forbrain For a Better Sound Practice

Forbrain is an auditory stimulation headset that uses bone conduction, allowing your voice to reach your brain at a much faster speech. It also makes your voice more vibrant by highlighting high frequencies and attenuating low frequencies.  

Forbrain is an excellent choice for working on multisyllabic words in speech therapy because it allows immediate feedback of the word produced, including the speech sounds and number of syllables. This immediate feedback will help children learn to self-monitor, and can help them to correct their pronunciation or responses without additional prompting. Forbrain can lead to improved progress on learning to produce all sounds and syllables in multisyllabic words

For more information regarding Forbrain’s use in speech therapy, see this ASHA article.  

Final Word s

Many children have difficulty correctly producing multisyllabic words. They may have difficulty using all the syllables, pronouncing specific sounds, or both. Being able to correctly pronounce multisyllabic words is very important for children to be able to effectively communicate with others. If you have concerns about your child’s ability to pronounce words with multiple syllables, please consult with a licensed speech-language pathologist to see if speech therapy may be right for you. You can search for a speech-language pathologist in your area using this tool if you need a place to start. In the meantime, some of the resources, games, and activities mentioned in this article may be helpful for you as you work with your child at home.

Natalie Fitzgerald

More Activities

2,000+ Core Tier 2 Vocabulary Words + PDF List

What are tier 2 vocabulary words.

Have you found yourself asking, “What is a tier 2 vocabulary word?” If so, then I’ve got you covered in this blog post because we’ll be discussing tier 2 vocabulary words as well as tier 1 words and tier 3 words.

Tier 2 words are words that are high-frequency words that are frequently seen in an academic setting across multiple different subjects. 

They are words that are used by native speakers but are more difficult words which makes them words that need to be explicitly taught and learned. 

Tier 2 words aren’t used in spoken language as frequently as tier 1 words and therefore can be more challenging to learn for students. 

Examples of Tier 2 Words

For example, the words benefit, annual, and afford are all tier 2 words.

What are Tier 1 Vocabulary Words?

On the other hand tier 1 words are extremely common words, such as nouns and verbs that require minimal or no explicit teaching of their meanings. 

These basic words are words that most native speakers can acquire simply through their daily experiences, such as reading or an everyday conversation with others. 

These high-frequency words are typically root words with no prefix or suffix making their meanings very basic. 

Examples of Tier 1 Words

For example, the words red, help, and look are all tier 1 words. 

What are Tier 3 Vocabulary Words?

Lastly, tier 3 words are low-frequency words that are used in specific domains. 

A specific domain or subject-specific area includes subjects in school, occupations, hobbies, etc.

Tier 3 words are central to a specific subject and should be taught within the context of that subject or domain. 

Examples of Tier 3 Words

For example, the words algorithm and absolute value are all in the math content areas for tier 3 words. 

Vocabulary Instruction

When thinking about vocabulary development and what academic vocabulary words to teach your students focusing on tier 2 words is a great place to start. 

With tier 1 words being common sight words that are frequently learned through daily experiences and with tier 3 words being low-frequency words that are domain specific it would be best to focus on tier 2 words. 

Since tier 2 words are still considered high-frequency words unlike tier 3 words and need explicit instruction unlike tier 1 words it makes them the perfect set of academic words to focus on when thinking about which vocabulary words to teach this school year.

Focusing on tier 2 words is also a great idea for English language learners since these words are frequently used across multiple school subjects and different contexts. 

SEE ALSO: 430+ Free Multisyllabic Words List Activity Bundle

Grade Level: List of Tier 2 Vocabulary Words

Here is a list of words by grade level for working on tier 2 vocabulary words. With a high frequency of use tier 2 words make a great academic word list to work through.

Kindergarten: Early Grades

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words First Graders

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words Second Grade

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words Third Grade

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words Fourth Grade

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words Fifth Grade

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words Sixth Grade

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words Seventh Grade

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words Eighth Grade

Older Students: Tier 2 Vocabulary Words

Tier 2 vocabulary words 9th grade.

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words 10th Grade

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words 11th Grade

Tier 2 Vocabulary Words 12th Grade

Lesson Plans

Again when it comes to vocabulary direct instruction it’s important to focus on the notion of tiers. 

The different tiers of words help you decide which type of words to focus on. 

There a lot of opportunities to learn tier 1 words simply through conversation and daily life making them less important to focus on and with tier 3 words for more mature language users and used in a specific field of study they are low-frequency words and less important to focus on as well.

That leaves us with tier 2 words as our key words to be focusing on to get our biggest bang for our buck. 

SEE ALSO: 179+ Free Speech Therapy Wh Questions Printable

Instruction of Tier 2 Words

I’ve spent the last year creating something very special for my community! 

And I’m excited to announce in the month of August 2022 I’ll be releasing my newest tier 2 vocabulary resource.

Here is a sneak peek of what’s coming!

Are you in need of a year group vocabulary lesson plan? Each grade level bundle comes with 100 words giving you 2 pages per week for a 25-week school year lesson plan.

Practice using the vocabulary words in various contexts.

• Say the vocabulary word aloud.
• Write or typ e the vocabulary word.
• Read the word used in a sentence .
• Identify a synonym and/or antonym .
• Select the correct definition .
• Fill in the blank using your vocabulary word.
• Use the word in a sentence using the given real-life photos .
• Highligh t the context clu e.
• Select the correct definition based on the context clues given.
• Answering question s about your new vocabulary word.

The best part is practicing the vocabulary words in various ways from saying the word aloud, to selecting the correct answer, to creating your own definitions, to selecting the correct definition based on the context clues.

Tier 2 Vocabulary List PDF

Fill out the form below to grab your copy of tier 2 academic vocabulary words for grades Kindergarten through 6th grade. Looking for another fun idea? Create a grade-level word wall with your new words!

Grab your Free Tier 2 Vocabulary Lists!

Frequently Asked Questions: Tier 2 Vocabulary Words

How do you know if a word is tier 2.

Tier 2 words are words that are of high frequency that are used across a variety of contexts and are not domain or topic specific. 

What is the Difference Between Tier 2 and Tier 3 Words?

Tier 2 words are high-frequency words that can be used across multiple different subjects or topics while tier 3 words are low-frequency words and are domain specific. For example, infer and form are both tier 2 words while lava and DNA are both tier 3 words. 

SEE ALSO: 193+ Multiple Meaning Words Grouped by Grade + Free Worksheets

How Do you Teach Tier Two Words?

Practice using the vocabulary words in various contexts .

Is Rainbow a Tier 2 Word?

Even though the word rainbow is a common word frequently used in conversation and might be thought to be a tier 1 word it is also a domain-specific word and used to understand and describe a specific topic, therefore, it is considered a tier 3 word.

What is a Tier 3 Vocabulary Word?

Tier 3 words are those low-frequency words that are used in a specific domain or subject-specific area including subjects in school, occupations, hobbies, etc.

They are specialized words that are used in a specific domain and only have one meaning.

For example, the words algorithm and absolute value are all math-specific tier 3 words. 

Fill out the Form Below to Get Your Free Copy!

Want even more language skills resources.

• 17 Best Vocabulary Goals + Free PDF Activities
• 430+ Free Multisyllabic Words List Activity Bundle
• 179+ Free Speech Therapy WH Questions Printable
• 133+ Categories List for Speech Therapy
• 33 Most Common Irregular Plurals Flashcards [Freebie]

Want the Best of the Bests?

Be sure to check out our most popular posts below!

• 21 Best Reinforcement Games for Speech Therapy / Teletherapy
• Best IEP Resources
• 71+ Free Social Problem-Solving Scenarios
• 432+ Free Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives Bank
• 279+ Free Speech Therapy Digital Materials
• 179+ Free Speech Therapy Wh-Questions Printable

Friday 10th of February 2023

Request grade levels 6 thru 12

Melissa Berg

Monday 13th of February 2023

Hi Gail, Thanks so much for reaching out! This post does include grades 6th-12th. I'm wondering if you're asking about my paid vocabulary product. Currently, my paid product includes grades K-6th. Wishing you all my best, Melissa

Ashley Dawkins

Tuesday 8th of November 2022

Do you have a complete PDF for each Core Vocabulary Tier?

Wednesday 9th of November 2022

Hi Ashley, I don't have a PDF for the individual Tiers. However, at the end of this post, I have a PDF of the Tier 2 words. Wishing you all my best, Melissa

Tuesday 4th of October 2022

Hi! This resource is great. I was wondering where you got these tier 2 vocabulary from. Thank you.

Wednesday 5th of October 2022

Hi Victoria, Great question! I wish there was one perfect source out there to give you, but the list was largely made from a combination of curriculum vocabulary words I got from working in the schools, which I then cross-referenced with grade-level standards and the below list of resources. Of course, the number of words I could have listed is quite large (especially for the later grades). So when created my product of 100 words per grade there was some degree of personal choice in the list where I chose words that I felt were most applicable to the academic setting. In other words, tier 2 words the students would most frequently use in an academic setting.

Here are a list of sources I used: The Academic Word List (AWL) was developed by Averil Coxhead at the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. The list contains 570 word families which were selected because they appear with great frequency in a broad range of academic texts. The list does not include words that are in the most frequent 2000 words of English (the General Service List), thus making it specific to academic contexts. The AWL was primarily made so that it could be used by teachers as part of a programme preparing learners for tertiary level study or used by students working alone to learn the words most needed to study at colleges and universities. The 570 words are divided into 10 sublists. The sublists are ordered such that the words in the first sublist are the most frequent words and those in the last sublist are the least frequent. Beck, Isabel L., McKeown, Margaret G., and Kucan, Linda. (2002). Bringing words to life. New York, NY: The Guilford Press Coxhead, Averil and Nation, Paul (2001) 'The Specialised Vocabulary of English for Academic Purposes'. In Flowerdew, J. and Peacock, M. Research Perspectives on English for Academic Purposes. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge Coxhead, Averil (2000) A New Academic Word List. TESOL Quarterly, 34(2): 213-238. Marzano, R. J. (2010). Teaching basic and advanced vocabulary: A framework for direct instruction.  Boston: Heinle-Cengage. Marzano, R. J. & Pickering, D. J. (2005). Building Academic Vocabulary (Teacher’s Manual). ASCD Montgomery, Judy K. (2008). MAVA-Montgomery assessment of vocabulary acquisition. Greenville, South Carolina: Super Duper Publications, Inc. Montgomery, Judy K. (2007). Vocabulary Intervention for RTI: Tiers 1, 2, 3 Retrieved October 28, 2008, VOCABULARY INTERVENTIONS FOR RTI: TIERS 1, 2, 3 https://www.marzanoresources.com/reproducibles/vocab-common-core/ Select: Source List for Terms (must sign in to access list)

All my best, Melissa

Wednesday 21st of September 2022

Hi. Is there a way to obtain a complete PDF list of your 2000 + Core Tier 2 Vocabulary Words, complete from level K through 12?

Thursday 22nd of September 2022

Hi Monica, Yes, there is a PDF with a list of all the words. At the end of this post, there is a form for your name and email address. Simply fill in that form so the freebie can be emailed directly to your inbox. All my best, Melissa

Tier 2 Vocabulary Curriculum - 4th Grade

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TAKE THERAPY PLANNING OFF YOUR TO DO LIST WITH THESE NO-PREP, SHORT AND SIMPLE VOCABULARY 4th GRADE MATERIALS!

Image saving yourself hours of prep time every week and freeing up your time and energy to do more of what you love - being an SLP!

The bundle includes 4th grade tier 2 vocabulary words and is differentiated at two different levels.

WHAT SKILLS ARE INCLUDED...

• Language: Say the vocabulary word aloud , write or type the vocabulary word, read the word in a sentence , identify a synonym and/or antonym , select the correct definition , fill in the blank sentence , use the word in a sentence using the two given real-life photos , highlight the context clue , select the correct definition based on the context clues given, answer questions using the new vocabulary word.
• Materials that will work with both in-person or tele-therapy . All materials are interactive PDFs and can be used digitally making them perfect for tele-therapy . That means no more time spent printing, prepping, and laminating materials.
• Materials that work with a wide age range and are differentiated at 2 different skill levels .
• Age-appropriate for any aged elementary students with real-life photos instead of using materials with childish-looking graphics.
• Activities that can target a wide variety of goals instead of using materials that only focus on one goal at a time. Perfect for mixed therapy groups .
• This bundle is a done-for-you curriculum that is a no-prep ready to implement solution. 

WHAT YOU'LL RECEIVE...

• 100 Vocabulary Words: A total of 100 tier 2 words per grade .
• Tier Two Vocabulary Words: All words are tier 2 words. 
• Data Tracking: Data tracking forms for each vocabulary word to help make progress notes a breeze this year.
• Pre-Test & Post-Tests: For every 10 words for a total of 10 pre & post-tests . Plus each pre-test and post-test also comes differentiated at 2 different levels .
• Vocabulary Lists + Definitions: Use the vocabulary lists and definitions to share quickly with parents and teachers so they know what words their student is working on.
• Interactive PDF: Simply open the interactive PDF in Adobe Reader or Kami and start using the interactive features.

Please Note: This grade is included inside the Tier 2 Vocabulary Curriculum K-6th! If you're looking for a comprehensive tier 2 vocabulary curriculum for your K-6th grade students, this bundle is for you!

See the full sales page (and payment plan option) for the Tier 2 Vocabulary Curriculum here.

This is a digital product. Nothing physical will ship.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

➡️ How to make the pdf interactive?

Simply open the interactive PDF in Adobe Reader or Kami and start using the interactive features (such as, checkboxes and textboxes). Here is a video on how to annotate with Kami .

➡️ How to split a pdf?

Here is a helpful video on how to split a pdf into a smaller pdf.

➡️ Copyright rules?

Copyright © 2020 Speech Therapy Store, LLC.

All rights reserved by author. Permission to copy for single classroom use only. Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only. Not for public display.

ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS

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BEST Books for Speech Therapy: 4th and 5th Grade

What are the BEST books for speech therapy to use with your upper elementary students? In this blog post, I’m sharing my favorite speech therapy book ideas for 4th and 5th graders. You don’t have to just use books in speech therapy with younger students. They’re wonderful to use with 4th and 5th grade as well!

There are a lot of benefits to using books in speech therapy. I’ll explain exactly how you can use books to work on speech therapy goals .

And don’t forget to grab your FREE “Book Boost” pages . These handy reference sheets will make your SLP life way easier during your therapy sessions!

This post contains affiliate links, which means we could receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended.

How to Use Books in Speech Therapy

There are several ways that you can use books in speech therapy. There are, however, some strategies that are more effective than others, and I’m going to share them with you today!

First, I’ll explain a little bit about dialogic reading .

Next, I’ll share some effective intervention strategies for vocabulary development .

After that, I’ll share some ideas for making the book “come to life” for your students. It’s so important to actually have fun in therapy!

These strategies are important because we want therapy to be meaningful and effective. Unfortunately, most SLPs have huge caseloads and limited time to see students. That means that we need to make sure the little time spent with our students packs a big punch.

Dialogic Reading

In this section, I’m going to explain dialogic reading. It’s okay if this is a new term! The great news is that you’re likely using many of these strategies already. You can effectively use books in speech therapy with a strategic plan and evidence-based strategies. One such strategy is dialogic reading . A lot of the examples provided in this video may be more geared towards younger students. You can absolutely use dialogic reading as a strategy for upper elementary students, however.

Dialogic reading allows you and your student to have a conversation about the book you’re reading. It is not simply passive listening on the student’s part. Basically, it is a shared and structured language interaction. Research shows that shared book reading has a positive effect on word learning .

It allows you to teach new vocabulary, and relate experiences from the story to the student’s own life.

You can ask questions during dialogic reading, including c ompletion,  r ecall,  o pen-ended, “ w h” questions, and  d istancing .

Don’t forget- literal and inferential questions are super important to target in therapy.

If you are interested in learning more about how to effectively implement dialogic reading, then you might be interested in checking out this video.

You might be thinking…

These strategies are great … for picture books!

However, I can promise you will find these strategies useful for older students as well.

Also, graphic novels are wonderful for speech therapy!

They are engaging and provide pictures that can help struggling readers.

Vocabulary Strategies for SLPs

SLPs know that students of all ages benefit from explicit vocabulary instruction . It is important to literacy and language. Without word knowledge, comprehension would be very difficult. SLPs can offer unique support in this area.

It is important to remember that vocabulary commonly heard in conversation will not always match vocabulary encountered in text.

Books provide exposure to more complex vocabulary.

Some vocabulary intervention strategies SLPs may use could include

• targeting tier 2 vocabulary words
• helping students recognize if a word is unknown to them
• providing multiple exposures to the vocabulary word
• defining words using kid-friendly language
• having student finish your sentence using the target vocabulary word
• increasing vocabulary depth (how much does the child know about the word)
• instruction in morphological awareness
• semantic mapping (aka semantic feature analysis )
• learning how to correctly pronounce the word (phonological representation)
• learning how to spell the word (orthographic representation)
• identifying what part of speech a word is (syntax)
• relating the word to a student’s own experiences
• making it fun and engaging!

Reference : A Review of Middle School Vocabulary Interventions: Five Research-Based Recommendations for Practice- Amy M. Elleman, Eric L. Oslund, Natalie M. Griffin, and Katie E. Myersa

Reference : Morphological Intervention for Students With Limited Vocabulary Knowledge: Short- and Long-Term Transfer Effects, Anna S. Gellert, Elisabeth Arnbak, Signe Wischmann, Carston Elbro

Reference : Morphology and Literacy: Getting Our Heads in the Game, by Laura Green

Reference: Beck, Isabel L. Bringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction . 2nd ed., The Guilford Press, 2013.

More Fun Ideas for Using Books in Speech Therapy

It’s fine to grab a book to use during your session, and it’s important to remember what specific targets you’re trying to teach. Above all, however, it’s important to have fun! Try pairing interactive and memorable activities with the books you read to bring some flair to your sessions!

One easy way to bring a book to life is through video . Here’s an example. After reading The Moon Over Star (Dianna Hutts Aston), you could show an actual video of Neil Armstrong landing on the moon.

Giant Tic Tac Toe

Practice using targeted vocabulary words with “starter” sentences . Even better, make those sentences part of a giant tic tac toe board . A few examples using the tier 2 vocabulary word “required” could be “The alien was required to show the astronaut his spaceship because…” Another sentence might be “We’re required to walk in the hallways since…”

Bean Bag Toss

Try pairing a bean bag toss with tier 2 vocabulary in sentence fill-in tasks. Your student could choose a tier 2 word from the story that would best finish your sentence. Alternatively, you could target a variety of language skills with a bean bag game (such as comprehension questions). One time, I was reading Turkey Trouble (Wendi Silvano) with my students. I created a GIANT laminated slice of pepperoni pizza and paired it with a bean bag. I wrote whatever targets I wanted to on the pepperoni pieces. In fact, it often changed depending on the group and the speech goals I was targeting. The kids had a blast throwing a bean bag onto the pizza! It was a fun- and easy- way to work on speech and language objectives.

Fun Story Retell Ideas

Don’t just “retell” the story. Re-enact the story ! This works great in a small group. For example, after reviewing the story elements , your students could choose a character and put on a quick play.

Another idea could be “walking” out the story. Put visuals or icons representing each story part and make “steps” on the floor that your students can walk to while they retell the story.

As you might have noticed from my earlier suggestion, movement is great for learning! Therefore, I also pair story retell with yoga .

My Favorite Books for Speech Therapy- 4th and 5th Graders

The books listed are not all a specific reading comprehension level. First, I wanted to ensure that the books chosen were motivating to this age group.

Next, I considered different variables. Some books are quick reads and could be used in a single session. Other books could be read across several sessions. This would make for easy therapy planning!

Finally, I made sure to still include books with pictures. You will see several graphic novel book options on this list. My students are very motivated by graphic novels. Illustrations are engaging for students. They provide opportunities to ask literal and inferential comprehension questions. Illustrations can also assist with comprehension and give students more confidence.

The Best Books for Upper Elementary Speech Therapy Students

• The Name Jar (by Yangsook Choi)
• Island of the Blue Dolphins (by Scott O’Dell)
• Goosebumps Books (R.L. Stine)
• Pig the Pug (Aaron Blabey)
• Thelma the Unicorn (Aaron Blabey)
• Twins: A Graphic Novel (Varian Johnson)
• Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (Judy Blume)
• Rumpelstiltskin (Paul O. Zelinsky)
• Turkey Trouble (Wendi Silvano)
• The Hardy Boys (Franklin W. Dixon)
• I Survived Series (Lauren Tarshis)
• Dog Man book set (Dav Pilkey)
• She Was the First! The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm (Katheryn Russell-Brown)
• Captain Underpants (Dav Pilkey)
• Who Was…? Book Set
• Where Is the Great Barrier Reef? (Nico Medina)
• Who Would Win? Ultimate Reptile Rumble (Jerry Pallotta)
• Listening with My Heart (Gabi Garcia)
• Bubble Gum Brain (Julia Cook)
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – Illustrated Edition (J.K. Rowling)
• The Moon Over Star (Dianna Hutts Aston)

Story Champs: A Program for Story Grammar and Vocabulary

Sometimes, it’s nice to have ready-to-go game plans for therapy. One program SLPs could consider looking into is called Story Champs (by Language Dynamics Group). This is a research-based program. The stories are included, along with detailed lesson plans. It’s a super easy- and effective- way to target a variety of language objectives in speech therapy.

The Story Champs Kit is really perfect for SLPs. For one thing, you can use it in individual sessions or small groups. Additionally, there are 3 different levels provided- making it perfect for a caseload with varied needs. There are storytelling icons that can be used to help retell the story. I also liked to grab a few sticky notes in order to write transitional words and place them on the cards. I wrote reminders of transitional words to assist my students with the task of story retell.

More Speech Therapy Ideas for 4th and 5th Grade

I hope this blog post gave you several book ideas for speech therapy!

Working with 4th and 5th graders in speech therapy can be super rewarding. I know at times it can feel like upper elementary students have been in speech therapy for awhile, but that doesn’t mean that therapy can’t be fun, engaging, and effective!

As a matter of fact, this age group was one of my favorites to work with at the elementary level!

To dive deep into the world of upper elementary speech therapy, be sure to read about my favorite games and suggested speech therapy goals .

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Speech Therapy Articulation Activities - R, S, L, SH, CH, TH, Clusters & more

• PDF Frequently assigned in Easel

What educators are saying

Description.

Grab these one-page articulation ADVANCED activities for speech therapy sessions or homework. All sounds included (R, S, L, TH, clusters, blends, and more). These print-and-go worksheets have 10 words per page in picture and word level - allowing practicing 30+ times per page!

Similar sound targets in the Advanced One Page Articulation Activities

These articulation activities are perfect for mixed group therapy, individual sessions, or to send for speech therapy homework.

⭐️ ACTIVITIES INCLUDED ON EACH PAGE:

- dot the word

- word search

- word unscramble

- prepositional phrase building

⭐️ ARTICULATION SOUNDS INCLUDED:

S - INITIAL/MEDIAL/FINAL

L - INITIAL/MEDIAL/FINAL

SH - INITIAL/MEDIAL/FINAL

TH - INITIAL/MEDIAL/FINAL

CH - INITIAL/MEDIAL/FINAL

J - INITIAL/FINAL

K - INITIAL/FINAL

G - INITIAL/FINAL

F - INITIAL/FINAL

T - INITIAL/FINAL

D - INITIAL/FINAL

B - INITIAL/FINAL

P - INITIAL/FINAL

M - INITIAL/FINAL

N - INITIAL/FINAL

⭐️ Download a free page in the preview.

What SLPs are saying…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This is the PERFECT articulation activity to do in the speech room or send home for homework. I love how it incorporates language concepts as well has different learning styles. Thank you for this activity!!"

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "I saw this resource on my home screen and knew it would be perfect for my upper elementary articulation friends! It's comprehensive , engaging, and can be sent home for homework or carryover. It doesn't get any better than that! Thank you!"

Email me with any questions: [email protected]

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