Why should you begin incorporating literature in your speech program? Do you do this already? If so, you’re on the right track. 

We know that literature based sessions are really the best way to meet the needs in our often “mixed groups” with students who have a mix of goals, skills and sometimes age. Introducing books that you can get for free at the library or use a read aloud from YouTube like this read aloud of Big Al, and then a book companion from TPT like >>>>>> and you are set not just for one session but for multiple sessions. In fact, staying ‘in’ the same book for at least two weeks (honestly I’m often in a book for a month), deepens the students’ understanding of the story arc, making story retell a breeze, as well as increasing their understanding of the Level II vocabulary that these books are often rich in. 

The real world application of the vocabulary used in books provides authentic language models, helping students transfer skills to everyday conversations. Additionally, stories encourage emotions and curiosity, making learning more enjoyable and memorable. When we have an emotional experience we are more likely to remember and recall what we have learned. 

Literature based speech therapy expands vocabulary and exposes students to vocabulary words, sentence structure, narrative and social skills. 

Literature is motivating! It captures the imagination and helps the students turn the words into pictures in their minds which increases comprehension. It is good for the students and good for the therapist as books can be used with all ages and is cost effective if you use your library or the free YouTube read-alouds. 

By incorporating literature into speech therapy, you can create engaging and effective sessions that promote holistic language development and foster a love of reading!