High Interest Themes: Thinking About the Students First

Engaging older students during speech and language therapy can be a challenging yet rewarding task. To make your sessions effective, it’s crucial to incorporate high-interest themes that resonate with your students’ experiences, aspirations, and interests. Read on for our favorite engaging themes that will captivate older students and make speech and language therapy both enjoyable and productive.

Current Events and Pop Culture

Our students are often deeply immersed in what’s happening around the world and in the entertainment industry. Discussing trending topics, recent news, or popular TV shows and movies can spark lively conversations and debates, providing ample opportunities to practice speech and language skills in a relevant context. By relating therapy sessions to their daily lives and interests, we can motivate students to participate more enthusiastically and meaningfully.

Personal Goals and Future Aspirations

Encouraging students to talk about their dreams, career plans, and personal interests not only makes the therapy sessions more relevant but also helps build their confidence and articulation skills. For instance, a student interested in becoming a veterinarian can be prompted to practice vocabulary and topics related to animals and healthcare. Discussing life skills such as job interviews, college applications, and public speaking can provide practical benefits, preparing our students for real-world challenges.

Incorporating Interactive and Multimedia Elements

Utilizing podcasts, YouTube videos, and social media platforms can create a dynamic and interactive environment. For example, analyzing a popular TED Talk or creating a vlog can be both educational and entertaining. These modern tools not only cater to the students’ tech-savvy nature but also offer diverse ways to target goals related to comprehension, oral language, and critical thinking.

By integrating these high-interest themes in your speech and language sessions, your therapy can transform from a routine task into an exciting and meaningful experience for older students. Whether it’s through discussing the latest trends, exploring personal goals, or leveraging multimedia resources, the key lies in connecting with their world and making the therapy relevant and enjoyable.