Here is a quick list of school-age stuttering therapy activities that you can adapt for use in a variety of settings, including:
- asynchronous delivery
- home resource/assignment packets
- telepractice
- In-person
These are already written in terms that you can use with your students! Of course, YOU are the best judge of what your students are ready for and how much pre-briefing and debriefing will need to take place for these activities. Adapt and enjoy!
1. Create a stuttering notebook and decorate it to your style. If you have not yet done this with your students who stutter, now is the time! Check out our FREE Practical Tips Handout on Creating a Stuttering Notebook on this and jump in! You will be so glad you did! It is a great source of accountability, tracking and data collection that goes beyond the bounces of plusses and minuses.
2. Make a list of speech techniques you can remember. Make draft notes on what you remember about the technique and we will find what is missing and what will make the technique more effective for you! (For guidance about introducing speech handling strategies, see our FREE Practical Tips Video Series on Speech Handling Techniques)
3. Review the 3 most common types of stuttering behavior (part-word repetitions, prolongations, and blocks) and demonstrate/teach them to someone at home. (Optional expansion opportunity: video-record what you will show the person and send it to me).
4. List 3 challenges of stuttering and 2 “cool things” about stuttering. Share your ideas with me and we will discuss them.
5. Remember: It is OKAY TO STUTTER! Today (or this week), focus on “just talking” and put the avoidances and tricks and techniques away! Give 'em a rest! How does it feel to communicate freely? Write down some thoughts for discussion.
6. Find (or review) 3 factoids and 3 myth-oids about stuttering and share them with me ("check ‘em out") before you share them with 2 people of your choice at home.
7. Watch a video about (your choice of) technique from our FREE Practical Tips Video Series about Speech Handling Techniques. Make a list of 3 interesting things you noticed when the presenter was describing/demonstrating the technique.
8. Draft a “listener letter” by listing the following:
- Three key facts about stuttering
- Two things that listeners need to know in order to be good listening partners for people who stutter
9. Find at least one article about a successful person who stutters and share with me and with your family. What is their message? What resonated with you about their story?
10. Look up Notes to Listeners from the National Stuttering Association (https://www.WeStutter.org) and choose your 3 favorite ideas.
11. Make a list! (choose one)
- My favorite topics to talk about are…
- My favorite people to talk to are…
- When I am older, I want to…
We will use your list to work to practice your communication goals in therapy.
12. Practice the technique that you feel you know best at the level you are most successful (word, phrase, or sentence) on your choice of topic. Do this 10 times and send me the video of your practice.
13. Find 3 motivational quotes by people who stutter and share them with me and with your parents. Why did you choose those quotes?
14. Make a list! “Sometimes my parents try to help my speech by saying/doing…”
15. GOAL TIME: Create at least 2 communication goals that you would like to achieve in the next year. “My communication goals for 2020-21 are…”
