Page 15 - Literacy Based Speech Language Therapy Activities Digital Version

The Research Behind Why Literacy-Based Intervention Works

In addition to promoting growth in oral language development, shared reading experiences also
provide an important link to literacy development. Reading to students promotes a greater eagerness

to read, exposes students to printed materials they are not yet able to read independently, and
provides them with positive reading role models. Reading also promotes a greater eagerness to read.
This is important because students are already learning-to-read in Pre-K. By 4 grade they are
th
reading-to-learn. Shared-reading contributes greatly to this shift.

Where Speech Therapy and Literacy Meet

In our jobs, it is the expectation that our work enables academic growth. That is what
special education is for right?

We spend a lot of time looking for ways beyond our therapy to further support our students. When
it comes to literacy, I would like to make the case that speech therapy and literacy goals already

overlap and we are already doing a good job at supporting both. However, we probably aren't doing
a good job letting people know just how well we are supporting them.

Take a look at this chart. Any of these words look familiar to you? Many speech therapy and literacy

goals are often one-and-the-same.

According to current research, children with speech and language difficulties often present with co-
occurring reading difficulties, so speech-language pathologists working in all settings, can support

students’ reading acquisition and comprehension through their intervention. Additionally, children

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