The Power of “Yet” During Speech and Language Therapy Sessions

The word “yet” is a word I encourage my speech and language students to use! Let's talk about the power of “yet” in speech therapy.

Do your students say “I can't” or “I don't know?”

If so…then they can benefit from using the word “yet” at the end of that statement!  I like to encourage my students to never give up no matter how difficult a task may be.  I like to teach them that there are strategies out there to help them and teachers that can help them too.

Instead of saying “I can't do this math problem,” they can start saying “I can't do this math problem yet, will you help me learn how to complete it?”  Or instead of “I don't know what this word means” they can say “I don't know what this word means yet but I am going to use my context clues to try and figure it out.” See how just adding that word yet changes the tone and encourages students to keep trying and find a solution to their problem?

Why is “yet” so powerful?

It will help build students' confidence!  They can do it!  They can do hard things!  They can learn and grow! If you use the “growth mindset” concept in your speech room, it is all about teaching students that the more they learn they can build different road maps in their brains and things will get easier over time.  The word “yet” is kind of like that concept.  By always trying and finding a way to achieve it, they will learn and the task won't be so difficult the next time!

How can you get students to start using the word “yet?”

Model!  Whenever a student says “I can't” or “I don't know,” restate their response back to them and add the word yet.  Teach them to use it.  Practice and do role playing activities!  This way when you restate their responses back with yet they will understand what you mean by it!

Don't forget!

Get the classroom teachers on board too!  Let them know that you are encouraging their students to use the word “yet.”  Let them know how powerful it can be and how it will help their students learn and not give up.  By getting the teachers on board, carryover will be greater and easier!

How will you use this strategy?

Share with me in the comments how you plan to use this strategy!  What strategies do you use that work similarly?  Feel free to share this blog post with your colleagues so they can see the benefit too!

 

Check out my Facebook Live video on the topic: