Keeping Middle Schoolers Engaged in Speech-Language Teletherapy

Middle schoolers. They're a tricky age group, right? Caught between childhood and adolescence, these students are navigating a world full of changes—and when it comes to speech-language teletherapy, keeping them focused and engaged can feel like a feat. But with the right approach and the use of creative resources, you can turn your teletherapy sessions into something they look forward to. Let’s dive into how you can achieve just that.

Understanding the Middle School Mindset

Middle schoolers are in a unique developmental stage. They crave independence but still need a healthy dose of guidance. This makes engagement a balancing act. Speech-language therapy for this age group requires activities that give them autonomy while providing enough structure to keep them focused. The key is offering them choices, challenges, and a sense of achievement—factors that stimulate their maturing minds while addressing their speech and language goals.

Leveraging Technology for Motivation

Technology is often the answer when it comes to grabbing (and holding) the attention of middle schoolers. They’re digital natives, after all, growing up with smartphones, apps, and virtual worlds. Incorporating tech tools not only plays into their comfort zone but also allows for the kind of interactive, hands-on learning that keeps them engaged. The trick is to introduce tools that feel more like games or interactive challenges than therapy sessions.

"Would You Rather" for Engaging Conversations

For a fun and highly interactive way to engage middle schoolers in teletherapy, try using the free "Would You Rather" resource, available by subscribing to my newsletter. This activity encourages students to think critically, make choices, and articulate their reasoning—all key components of language development. Whether you're working on expressive language, fluency, articulation, or social-pragmatic skills, these open-ended questions are perfect for sparking meaningful discussions. Students love the game-like format, and it provides countless opportunities to target vocabulary, sentence structure, and conversational turn-taking. Plus, the imaginative scenarios in "Would You Rather" questions can keep even the most reluctant middle schooler engaged and chatting.

Using Baamboozle for Interactive Learning

Baamboozle is a gem when it comes to turning learning into play. This platform allows you to create or use existing interactive games to reinforce speech-language goals. Want to work on vocabulary? Create a quiz where students compete to answer questions while practicing their articulation. Grammar practice can be camouflaged as a race to earn points. Middle schoolers love the competitive edge, and Baamboozle delivers with visual appeal and simplicity. By tailoring the games to your specific objectives, you make speech therapy something they can’t wait to win at.

SLP Now for Literacy-Based Learning

SLP Now is a godsend for speech-language pathologists, offering an organized bank of resources designed to meet various therapy needs. What makes it stand out for middle schoolers is its vast range of age-appropriate materials, especially for language. You can pull activities that align with each student's goals, ensuring they’re not only engaged but also working on what matters most. The clean design and easy accessibility also make it student-friendly, allowing them to learn based on their interests.

EdPuzzle: Video-Based Learning

EdPuzzle takes video watching to a new level. With this tool, you can use YouTube videos and embed questions directly into the content, turning passive watching into active learning. For speech-language teletherapy, this means students can engage with materials that challenge their listening comprehension, narrative skills, and even articulation, depending on the content you select. By pausing at key moments to ask questions or seek clarifications, you encourage deeper engagement and reflection, key to language development at the middle school level.

Jeopardy Labs: Gamified Therapy Sessions

Who doesn’t love a good game of Jeopardy? With Jeopardy Labs, you can create custom quizzes that align with speech-language goals, from sentence formulation to social skills. The familiar competitive structure of the game appeals to middle schoolers' desire for both fun and challenge. And because they get to ‘choose’ their questions, it feeds into their need for autonomy. Plus, the points system adds a layer of motivation, making them eager to rack up wins while reinforcing their language skills.

Boom Cards: Instant Feedback, Max Engagement

Boom Cards are digital flashcards that provide immediate feedback, which is key for keeping middle schoolers engaged. These interactive cards cover a wide range of speech-language goals—whether it's articulation practice, vocabulary building, or grammar refinement. The immediate correction feature helps students stay on track, while the interactive nature of the cards ensures they’re actively involved in their learning. The best part? They can work through these cards at their own pace, fostering independence while still meeting their goals.

Epic: The Power of Reading in Speech Therapy

Epic is an expansive digital library with thousands of books, making it perfect for teletherapy. Reading is a critical part of language development, and Epic allows you to curate reading material that matches the student’s interests and reading level. Whether you’re focusing on fluency, comprehension, or expanding vocabulary, you can use Epic’s library to foster a love of reading while working toward your speech-language goals. And because middle schoolers often enjoy picking their own books, you can offer them a choice, boosting both motivation and engagement.

ReadWorks: From Audiobooks and Articles

ReadWorks is another fantastic resource that can elevate your teletherapy sessions with middle schoolers. This platform offers a wide variety of articles and reading passages, along with accompanying questions to boost comprehension. Some texts are available in audio format, which allows students to listen while following along with the text—perfect for reinforcing listening comprehension. By blending both reading and listening tasks, ReadWorks helps students engage with content in multiple ways, supporting their overall language development. Plus, the diverse range of topics ensures that you can find something to capture every student's interest. And sometimes, students just don’t want to hear their teacher read aloud, so having the audio option is always a plus!

Tailoring Technology to Individual Goals

No two middle schoolers are the same, and their speech-language therapy should reflect that. The beauty of using tools like those mentioned is that they’re flexible enough to tailor to individual student needs. By personalizing each tool—whether focusing on articulation, comprehension, or social skills—you ensure that each session is meaningful. Plus, by varying the tools used across sessions, you keep things fresh and exciting, which is essential for maintaining long-term engagement.

So, in conclusion…

Keeping middle schoolers engaged in speech-language teletherapy may seem like a tall order, but with the right tools, it’s entirely achievable. By leveraging platforms like Baamboozle, EdPuzzle, Boom Cards, and others, you can turn therapy into something fun, challenging, and effective. These tech resources not only meet students where they are but also offer the interactivity, autonomy, and engagement that middle schoolers crave. With the right approach, you can transform teletherapy into a dynamic, motivating experience that supports their speech and language development in ways that stick.