6 Speech Therapy Visuals I Always Have Ready for Back to School
Hey, speech friend! 👋🏼
If you walked into my speech room, you would probably notice one thing pretty quickly.
I LOVE a good visual.
Not because I want my walls covered from floor to ceiling with posters.
And definitely not because I enjoy spending my weekend laminating. I do not.
I love visuals because they make my job easier.
A good visual can reduce the number of times I repeat a direction, support student independence, and give me something I can quickly point to when a student needs a cue.
And during back-to-school season?
That kind of support is GOLD.
Here are six speech therapy visuals I always want ready when therapy starts.
1. First/Then Visuals
Let's start with a classic.
First/then visuals are one of the simplest tools you can keep in your speech room.
- "First speech sounds, then game."
- "First story, then movement break."
- "First questions, then colors."
A first/then visual helps make the session predictable.
Instead of repeating the plan over and over, I can point to the visual and remind the student what is coming next. I especially love these for students who benefit from clear routines or have difficulty transitioning between activities.
Simple. Effective. Easy to use.
2. Speech Sound Placement Visuals
If you work on articulation, you know how many times you can say:
- "Lift your tongue."
- "Watch my mouth."
- "Keep your tongue back."
- "Try it again."
Speech sound visuals give students another way to understand what you're asking them to do.
I like having placement visuals nearby so I can quickly show students where their tongue, lips, or jaw should be.
The goal is not to overwhelm students with information.
It's to give them a clear cue they can understand and eventually use more independently.
3. Sentence Structure Visuals
Sentence formulation goals can show up in SO many different groups.
Having a simple sentence visual ready makes it much easier to support students during:
- Picture description
- Story retell
- Conversation
- Writing activities
- WH questions
Depending on the student, you might use a simple "who + doing + what" visual or a more detailed sentence structure cue.
I love visuals that can grow with the student.
Start simple and add more information as needed.
4. WH Question Visuals
Who.
What.
Where.
When.
Why.
How.
These tiny words can cause BIG confusion for some of our students.
WH question visuals are one of my most-used language supports because I can use them with books, picture scenes, conversations, and structured activities.
If a student hears "where" and starts telling me "who," I can point to the visual and remind them that "where" is asking about a place.
It provides support without immediately giving away the answer.
And that makes it easier to fade cues over time.
5. Story Grammar Visuals
If narrative language is part of your caseload, story grammar visuals are a must.
I like visuals that help students identify:
- Character
- Setting
- Problem
- Feelings
- Actions
- Solution
You can use the same visual with picture books, short stories, personal narratives, and videos.
That's what I love about versatile therapy tools.
I do not want a resource that works once.
I want something I can use on Monday with a second grader and adapt on Wednesday for a fifth grader.
Story grammar visuals absolutely fit that category.
6. Conversation and Social Language Visuals
Conversation skills can feel incredibly abstract.
"Stay on topic."
"Ask a question."
"Make a comment."
Those directions might make sense to us, but some students need to SEE what a conversation looks like.
Simple visuals can help students remember to:
- Ask a question
- Make a related comment
- Wait for a turn
- Look for signs the other person wants to speak
- Stay connected to the topic
I especially love using these visuals during natural conversations instead of only during structured social skills activities.
That's where students start connecting the strategy to real communication.
You Don't Need Every Visual on Day One
Here's your reminder before you start printing and laminating everything you own:
You do not need 500 visuals ready before the first day of therapy.
Start with the ones you know you'll use. Think about your caseload. What goals appear most often? Where do students typically need the most support?
Choose visuals that solve those problems.
The best therapy tools are not necessarily the cutest or the most complicated. They're the tools you actually reach for during real sessions. For me, visuals will always be near the top of that list.
They help my students understand what I'm asking, support independence, and make mixed-group therapy feel much more manageable.
And anything that makes back-to-school season a little easier?
I'm here for it.
GRAB MY PREPPED-FOR-YOU VISUAL DRILL CARDS NOW AVAILABLE AND READY TO SHIP! ✈️
