It’s like we’re inadvertently sending the message that SLPs shouldn’t be focused on building spelling skills in therapy. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! Here's why: Spelling skills are directly linked to vocabulary acquisition.
Full Answer
Why is spelling important to an SLP?
Because these skills are so intertwined with vocabulary, and because you as the SLP are a language expert, spelling absolutely falls within your scope. Now if you’re thinking, “But wait…I’m not a teacher!
Should SLPs be labeled as teachers?
SLPs are responsible for things like evaluation, diagnosis, and individually tailored intervention. Yet if we’re called “teachers”, as labeling theory would suggest, it’s going to subconsciously place the expectation that we do the same things as teachers. That could in turn impact how we act.
Why does it matter that people “get” what an SLP does?
Why it matters that people “get” what an SLP does. Now of course, you are going to have a MUCH more in-depth understanding about what you do compared to other people. But when they don’t grasp how we fit in to things like language and literacy, it’s a bigger problem than you think.
Why focus on spelling in therapy?
Here's why: Spelling skills are directly linked to vocabulary acquisition. Most SLPs know they should be focusing on vocabulary in therapy…but what gets a little bit fuzzy is what we actually mean when we say “vocabulary”. Often we equate vocabulary with content knowledge and word meanings, which is accurate…but there’s more to it than that.
Does speech affect spelling?
Articulation: Clarity of speech sounds and spoken language. This may impact on spelling as a child might be writing the word as they say it because these are the sounds that they hear (e.g. says a 'w' instead of an 'r' so 'rabbit' becomes 'wabbit').
Why are SLPs concerned about literacy development?
Why should SLPs be concerned about literacy development? How do SLPs fit in? When children have problems acquiring language, they are at high risk for difficulty in learning to read and write, and to listen and speak.
Can SLPs work on spelling?
Because these skills are so intertwined with vocabulary, and because you as the SLP are a language expert, spelling absolutely falls within your scope.
How do you target spelling in speech therapy?
To teach spelling, we should leverage the skills we learn intuitively (e.g., spoken words) to tie meaning to the written symbols. The simplest way to do this is to cue your students to think about sounds first before they think about letters when spelling. Then have them vocalize as they are writing.
Can SLPs work phonics?
An SLP can find the strengths and weaknesses in your child's phonological awareness and reading skills and develop a plan tailored to your child's specific needs.
Do SLP work on reading?
SLPs can play many different roles in facilitating reading in children with and without communication disorders. These roles include prevention, identification, assessment, intervention, monitoring, and follow-up.
Is spelling considered language?
Yes. Spelling is a language skill. Brain and behavioral studies document that good spellers effectively integrate multiple areas of language. The language domains of phonology, orthography and morphology are particularly important.
How does the depth of orthography of a child's language affect their reading development?
The orthographic depth hypothesis predicts that the more transparent the orthography, the faster children will learn to read aloud.
What are language domains?
The 5 domains of language include: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
Do speech therapists help with writing?
Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, can help you learn to read and write. You start to learn language as a baby. You learn how to say sounds and put them together to make words.
Does speech therapy help with writing?
Speech therapists can help children plan their writing by: Using visuals for story grammar components. Make and practice using graphic organizers. Teach the skills of main idea and details.
What are the three types of spelling errors?
In the samples below, the spelling errors from a student's writing are assembled into three broad categories: phonological (phonetically inaccurate), orthographic (phonetically plausible but inaccurate), and morphologic/syntactic.
Why labels matter
As an SLP, you may have heard about “labeling theory” when it comes to diagnosing disabilities and medical disorders.
How the self-fulling prophecy shows up for SLPs
Why does accuracy matter when it comes to calling us “speech teachers” vs “speech-language pathologists”?
Why is phonology important for SLPs?
Knowledge of phonology also helps SLPs tailor lessons for success, as they already know how to reduce stimulus complexity in sound segmentation activities. Beyond phonology, SLPs have knowledge of morphological, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic systems, which also are crucial for reading comprehension and written expression. ...
What are SLPs doing?
Currently, however, many educators and clinicians who are also SLPs are contributing textbooks, edited collections, journal articles, and in-service education programs about how to apply spoken language expertise to problems of written language . It is the contention of the position statement and guidelines that university programs ...
What is SLP literacy?
SLPs have always focused on providing individualized services for clients. The role in literacy is a particularly relevant one , however , not only for students with language-learning disabilities, but also for individuals with other concomitant disabilities, such as mental retardation and severe communication impairments . The committee’s hope is that SLPs and speech, language, and hearing scientists will not be perceived as posing a threat to any other profession’s territory, but will be welcomed as collaborative partners contributing from our own unique perspective on a problem of concern to many.
Why is a speech pathologist reading with a second grader?
A school-based speech-language pathologist is reading with a second grader to help develop her vocabulary. The story ends. The SLP asks the child to read back key words—but she can’t. What should the SLP do?
What is the importance of language and its subsystems?
Knowledge of language and its subsystems—phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics—is highly relevant for prevention, identification, assessment, and intervention for literacy problems. SLPs possess such skills, as well as skill in diagnosing and treating children with phonological disorders.