Why Students Need To Know Their Speech Goals

I guarantee if you asked most of the students on my caseload 4 years ago what their goals were, you’d get an “I don’t know” or a blank stare. A few years back, I set out to change this because I felt that it was immensely important for my students (at least those in K and above) to know and be able to state what they were working on in speech. We’re not a Common Core state, but teachers still need to have learning targets. I put my spin on it for my speech room.

I do this in a variety of ways. First, I use my Student Speech Goal Display (see below). It’s hanging on my white board and my kids know to come in, write their names on one of the posters, and grab the skill their looking on to velcro to their poster. If they have multiple goals, I tell them what they will be working on that day. It doesn’t take long for this to become routine and I love when the kids remind each other to do it.

At the beginning of this year, I used these address labels to stick onto their shirts. We spent the first session going over goals and putting the stickers on their shirts. It was a great reminder after the summer and a good way to kick off the school year.

I also use these “Why Do I Come to Speech?” Mini-Books. There is an elementary and a middle/high school version.

It’s important for your students to be able to tell you what they’re working on. I’ve made it my mission to make sure that almost all my kids can tell me (sometimes with help) why they come to see me. Sure, we have fun and occasionally play games, but they come to see me for a reason! I look at it this way: if you were told to keep going to the gym, but you were never told why you had to go, what would be the point? We HAVE to give our students the “why,” so they can start taking ownership!

Do you make this a habit in your speech room?