How to use ONE BOOK to make speech fun and functional

Tired of planning a million lessons a day?  Now you can use one book all day!

(Disclaimer: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links)

You know the feeling.  You plan and plan and plan.  Why not take one book or one activity and use it for various groups?  This is also golden if you have mixed groups (like me!).  I love using wordless picture books in my speech room.  Why?  They are motivating, fun, and perfect for all ages!  Hey, I used this snowman book with some 5th graders today and they absolutely loved it!  Want to learn more about my love for wordless picture books?  Click HERE to read my blog post all about it!

Ok, so I particularly love using this Snowman's Story during the wintertime.  This book elicits so much language and can be used to target so many goals.  While I “read” or turn the page, I have students tell me what they see.  We describe, answering WH questions, and use prepositions.  I also prompt students to predict what will happen next and defend their answers.  I used my inferencing visuals on a stick (that can be grabbed here) to have students interact with each other and listen to each others' answers.  They had to agree or disagree with the predictions.

What other goals can you address?  Like I said, you can describe!  Why not pull out your EET and have students describe the objects in the story!  I like to write right on the therapy table with a dry erase marker as students verbally respond with their answers.  You can even use the EET and descriptions mentioned to compare the animals or items in the story!  Go through each bead, which is the same and different?

What else can you do with this book?  You can work on syntax and verb tenses!  You can have students identify verbs as you “read” the story.  You can create a graphic organizer for students to work together to complete.  Can they use the verb tenses appropriately?  When should they use each?  When they are recalling the events from the story, they should use ____.

What else can you do?!  You can work on summarizing!  This book is perfect for recalling events, describing what happened at the beginning, middle, and end, and you can also use my favorite strategy – somebody, wanted, but, so, then!  Not familiar with this strategy?  Check out my free video on TpT by clicking HERE (it comes with the free download shown below!)

What else can you do?  Locate words with articulation sounds, talk about problem/solution, cause/effect, synonyms/antonyms, and so much more!  The sky is the limit!  I honestly used this book with all groups in a day!  What can be better than that?!

Want to grab this book for yourself?  You can do so by clicking the link below!

View my entire video on the topic below: