Speech Time Fun: Speech and Language Activities

Sharing the fun from one speech room to another!

Using Nonsense Words To Teach Context Clues in Speech Therapy

Leave a Comment

Students struggling to grasp using clues to figure out the meanings of unknown words?  Try using nonsense words!

Using Nonsense Words To Teach Context Clues in Speech Therapy

What are nonsense words?  They are made up words!  I like to use made up words and replace them with Tier 1 vocabulary (common vocabulary our students are familiar with like pencil, dog, chair) to show them how to use clues to figure out word meanings. 

Using Nonsense Words to Teach Context Clues in Speech Therapy

It is a great way to start and having your students express “how do you know” to showcase how they generated their responses.  Model for your students.  Show them how you think about it and think out loud for them to hear.   For example, “oh BLAH means pencil because I see the words write, sharpen, student, and yellow.”

Using Nonsense Words To Teach Context Clues in Speech Therapy

Do you have to make up your own words?!  No!  I like to use the word BLAH.  It is my go to.  My students actually start recognizing it and know what is expected of them!  But you can also just white out/cover up words too!   You can do this in articles or even song lyrics!  Can they figure out what is covered up?!

Using Nonsense Words To Teach Context Clues in Speech Therapy

How else can you use this strategy?  You can just take pieces or paper or index cards and make your own sentences with nonsense words.  Doesn’t have to be fancy!

Using Nonsense Words To Teach Context Clues in Speech Therapy

Don’t want to make up your own sentences?  I do have a resource in my store that has a level with nonsense words.  I did the work so you don’t have to! CLICK HERE to check it out!

Using Nonsense Words To Teach Context Clues in Speech Therapy

Want a fun book to use this strategy?  Baloney is a fun book with an alien language.  Students can use the clues to figure out what he is describing!   You can grab this book on Amazon!  It is super fun!

Using Nonsense Words To Teach Context Clues in Speech Therapy
Using Nonsense Words To Teach Context Clues in Speech Therapy

I know your students will benefit from practicing this strategy.  It will help them use what the sentence is about and the clues within it to figure out meanings of the unknown words.  It will make them more aware of context clues.  Want even more ways to practice using this strategy?!  I have a FREEBIE for you!  Click the button below to grab this free context clues game that has a level with nonsense words!

Context Clues Scoot Freebie

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
signature

Latest on Pinterest

  • Speech Time Fun: Cause & Effect Games! 3 games in one! visual aids and review worksheets included!
  • Technology Expressive Language Fun: work on combining sentences, asking questions, describing, compare/contrast, and cause/effect in speech therapy
  • Speech Time Fun: Cut, Sort, and Glue! Activities for the entire year!! Have fun working on expressing utterance length and categorization with this fun thematic pack!
  • In speech therapy, it is important to teach the difference between relevant and irrelevant evidence. It helps with comprehension of learning materials and is an important skill all students should have. As an SLP I've created several different visuals to help you teach relevant vs irrelevant evidence in your classroom, so click through to my blog to learn more and download tools to help you teach this skill today!
  • Speech Time Fun: Preposition Picture Scenes! Whole year of themes!
  • Break down the common prefixes to help build vocabulary! Teaching prefixes is a great strategy to help students learn to determine meanings of unknown vocabulary and build reading comprehension!
  • Speech Time Fun: Potato Peeps Language Games!! Work on synonyms, antonyms, multiple meaning words, adjectives, and WH questions!! 5 games in one!!
  • Free SLP Checklists to get you through the end of the school year! Perfect for staying organized!
  • Do you want interactive activities that are easy to prep and tons of fun? File folder activities are the answer! Check out my favorites for speech and language therapy!!
Follow Me on Pinterest