Using Real Pictures in Speech Therapy
Use real photos as a low prep resource to target a variety of goals with all age groups.
When I’m short on planning time (which is often), I turn to no/low prep therapy ideas to structure my sessions. Using real photos is one of my favorite therapy resources that can be easily adapted for almost all of the students on my caseload (and I currently work with students from kindergarten through high school!).
When I use the term ‘real photos,’ I’m talking about pictures with real people in realistic scenarios. This includes photos found through a Google search or pictures from my recent vacation that are stored on my iPhone. I found that real pictures spark great conversations between me and my students and can be used to target a variety of IEP goals.
Goals You Can Target
Articulation
While looking at a real photo, have students look for items, actions, and feelings depicted in the picture that contain their target sound.
Give your students their target words or phrases. Ask them to come up with a sentence or short story using the real photo as inspiration.
AAC/Core Words
Model core words within phrases such as “I see…” and “I like …” based on the photo.
Prompt students to use carrier phrases such as “He/She is…” and “They are…” to practice commenting and using verbs.
Expressive language/Written Language
Have students pick items or actions from the real photos. Use a visual to help expand their ability to describe words using attributes, functions, and associations. Make it a game by “guessing” which object or action they are describing.
Give students a target conjunction word or vocabulary word. Have them formulate oral or written sentences about the photos using their target words.
Using a story grammar visual, have students create an oral or written story about the real photo.
Fluency
Have students use their fluency-shaping and/or stuttering-modification techniques while describing what they see in the photos, asking questions about the photos, or making up a story about the photos.
Receptive language
Use the real photos to ask your students a variety of WH questions.
Describe objects in the photos and have your students identify the correct object.
Make a list of all of the objects in the photo. Have your students sort the objects by category.
Pragmatic Language/ Life Skills
Have you or your students create a “problem” that could happen based on the photo. Ask students to develop multiple solutions to the problem.
Have students make inferences and predictions based on the people and objects in the photo. Look for clues based on the setting and people’s facial expressions and body language.
If you are using your own real photos, have students ask you questions and make comments to practice showing interest in others.
Have students pretend they are the people in the photos. Discuss what the people may be thinking or talking about. Brainstorm dialogue and role-play the situation.
Where to Find Real Photos
Google Search
A quick Google search will give you instant access to tons of great photos. I like searching for photos based on a theme or time of year. For example, if we’re entering Spring, I search for photos such as “family going on a hike,” “friends at a picnic,” or “a boy gardening.”
Teachers Pay Teachers
The search for photos has already been done for you! If you work with middle schoolers or high schoolers, I already made a product that includes 50 real photos! Each task card includes a problem scenario along with questions about the size of the problem and possible solutions. I also included a visual to help students make inferences based on the photos. Check out “Inferencing and Problem-Solving for Older Students” here! PDF & digital version are included :)
Personal Photos
Students often love getting a glimpse of our lives outside of school. Pull up pictures from your child’s most recent birthday party or your dog getting picked up from doggy daycare. This is also a great way to build a stronger connection with your students.
Bubble Talk
Bubble Talk is a fan-favorite game with some of my older students. I know many SLPs already have this on their game shelf. Even if your students are too young to play, you can still use the photos to target the above goal areas. My students love these photos because they are odd/funny pictures that often include cute animals!
I hope this gives you some ideas on how to incorporate real photos into your therapy sessions! Let me know in the comments if you have any other ways to target speech and language goals while using pictures - I’m always looking for new ideas!
