Teaching grammar skills, such as possessive pronouns, in speech therapy can be tough. This is because there are many interconnected concepts a student must understand before they will be able to use grammar structures. That is why it is essential to teach possessive pronouns using a strategic and scaffolded approach.
Why SLPs Should Scaffold Grammar Lessons
When you scaffold, you start with the most straightforward concept and gradually increase in difficulty until your student can complete the desired task. Ideally, we add on so slowly that our students don’t even realize the challenge is increasing.
Drill-Based Flash Cards Will Not Work For Teaching Possessive Pronouns in Speech Therapy
Flash cards have a place in speech therapy, but they should not be used when you begin teaching a new skill. The mental demand is too high for students who do not fully understand what they are learning. Instead of drills, it is crucial to focus on a thorough introduction of the topic and an explanation of the “rules”.
Activities to Introduce Possessive Pronouns In Speech Therapy
When you start teaching possessive pronouns for speech therapy, it is good to start by introducing the words. That means, if you are teaching possessive pronouns, you introduce the words his, hers, theirs, yours, mine, and ours.
It can be really beneficial to introduce them as “sight words”. This will do two great things. First, it will support what they are learning in the classroom. Second, it will serve as a visual/written cue you can refer to when the tasks become more challenging.
You also need to ensure that your student understands the concepts of “boy” and “girl”. They will also need to have an understanding of “one” and “more than one”.
Be sure your student understands these concepts before you begin teaching the possessive pronoun “rules”.
Possessive Pronoun Speech Therapy Activities
After your student has mastered the basics, it is time to teach the “rules” and begin practicing.
Once again, you do not want to defer only to flash cards here. The more ways you can incorporate possessive pronouns, the better. This could be through play-based methods, videos, or worksheets. If you use worksheets, ensure that they offer a variety of formats and difficulty levels. A blend of different activity styles is ideal.
When to Use Possessive Pronoun Flash Cards In Speech Therapy:
Once your student has a solid understanding of the “rules” and has practiced using possessive pronouns in a variety of ways, then it is time to use flash cards and drills. Flash cards and drills are great for collecting data quickly. They are also great for reviewing skills previously learned. This is why you want to make sure you have some possessive pronouns flashcards in your speech therapy toolbox. Just don’t make them your go-to resource!
There you have it! A quick summary for strategically teaching possessive pronouns in speech therapy! Do you also need a strategy for teaching the personal pronouns he/she/they?
