Heading back to school is an exciting time, but it can also be a time of anxiety for children who stutter. Teachers play an essential role in assisting students who stutter in the classroom. Here is a list of helpful tips for teachers of those who stutter:
Model Good Communication
Students tend to follow their teacher’s example. Lead them by maintaining eye contact with your students when speaking to them and do not finish their sentences for them. Use a controlled rate of speech when speaking or reading to the class. Do not ask students to “slow down” or “think about what you are going to say before you say it.”
Model Wait Time
Wait a few seconds before answering a student’s question, and encourage students to do the same. It can be a very brief pause, about two seconds, but it will reduce time pressure and allow for easier speech.
No Interruptions
Discourage interruptions in your classroom by making it a rule to take turns when speaking.
Handle Teasing
Keep an eye out for teasing that may be targeted at a student who stutters. Talk to the classroom about how teasing makes others feel, as well as lessons on accepting each other’s differences.
Make Accommodations
Give the student who stutters ample time to practice a presentation before conducting it in front of the class. Try to call on the student when they raise their hand, as this is voluntary communication. Successful attempts at communication will boost their confidence.
Offer Support
Let students who stutter know that they can come to you for support or to talk about anything that is worrying them. Provide words of encouragement and support them in private when they are having a hard day speaking.
Equal Expectations
Do not treat students who stutter differently than those who do not. Set equal expectations for everyone. Allowing children who stutter not to participate in oral tasks encourages avoidance behavior. However, it is okay to help prepare them for certain tasks.
SpeechEasy
To learn more about stuttering and how to cope with it, visit our website. Our team of licensed Speech-Language Pathologists can help you understand the stutter, and how to live with it. Interested in one of our Speech Easy devices? Learn more on our website and call today for an appointment!
