Using jokes in speech therapy, my secret weapon.
Are you using Jokes in Speech Therapy?
As my student entered his speech session, he slumped into the chair in slow motion and let out a tiny sigh. My shoulders tightened thinking this was going to feel like a long session. But reaching into my bag of tricks, I dusted off a favorite tool. One that can turn the cloudiest session around. By the end of speech, we giggled so loudly I worried the teacher next door would shush us. Let me share the secret weapon that brings fun back into any session.
My students love jokes. They are a great way to get reluctant kids more engaged while targeting speech and language goals at the same time.
Sharing humor can also build rapport and give kids a break who are having a hard day.
Jokes can be used for a wide range of ages and speech therapy goals. Read on to find out how to use jokes in speech therapy and how to get some free speech therapy jokes.
Using Jokes to Target Articulation Carryover
The most obvious way to use jokes in speech therapy is for articulation carryover. This is a great way to target speech sounds in a conversation. Use jokes that contain multiple occurrences of the targeted sound.
Knock-knock jokes are a great way to start with targeting articulation in conversation because they have a predictable, repetitive structure.
Below is an example of a knock-knock joke that targets the /r/ sound.
Here are some more samples of jokes that work well for articulation carryover.
J Sound Knock Knock Jokes
K Sound Knock Knock Jokes
S Sound Knock Knock Jokes
Using Jokes for Language Therapy
Jokes can also be used to target language goals. Many of our students may struggle with humor because humor requires more complex language skills. Some of our students don’t get why the joke is funny.
The humor in a joke can be based on:
- multiple meaning words
- figurative language
- spelling differences
- differences in which syllable is stressed
- punctuation that changes the meaning
- a play on words
- nonliteral meanings
- inflection changes in delivery of the joke (prosody)
Check out my blog post about using idiom jokes here.
Using jokes in language therapy is a fun way to approach many speech and language targets.
Possible targets include
- articulation carryover
- turn-taking
- social skills
- multiple meanings of words
- phonemic awareness
- vocabulary
- figurative language (idiom)
- grammar
- prosody
- inferencing
- wh questions
- story recall
- sequencing
- fluency
- perspective taking
Jokes can be a fun icebreaker activity and a great motivator for a student. They are perfect for holidays too. Try out some dad jokes. Even a terrible joke can be terribly funny.
Take the Activity out of the Speech Room
Jokes are great to use for homework. Have them take a joke or two home with them to reinforce therapy goals with family and friends.
- Send their favorite joke home with them.
- Have them tell the jokes to their friends and family.
- Ask them to use their good speech as they tell the joke.
- Can they think of a joke that contains their speech sound?
Want Some Free Jokes?
Check out your local library for kid’s joke books. I have also found inexpensive joke books at Half-Price Books. An internet search will yield tons of jokes. Just be sure to review the jokes ahead of time. No one wants an unpleasant surprise.
If you want the work of searching for appropriate jokes done for you, I have many sets of jokes in my TpT store both printable PDFs and in Boom Card decks.
Check out this free digital school-themed joke deck in my Boom Learning Store here to get started.
Freebie Library
I also have a deck of free F Sound Articulation Jokes in my freebie library. Sign up below to get access to my entire freebie library.
Try adding a little humor to your speech room. We can all benefit from some laughter, it makes it more fun to get things done.
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