Collaboration Between School Speech Therapists and General Education Teachers

Collaboration between school speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and general education teachers is crucial for the success of students with communication disorders. By working together, SLPs and teachers can create a more supportive learning environment and help students reach their full potential.

General education teachers' and SLPs' skill sets are complementary and can make the most significant difference in a child's education. Since both SLPs and teachers share the end goal, collaboration must occur on both sides.

As SLPs, there are different methods of in-school treatment. For a more detailed look at service delivery methods, please see the article SLP Service Delivery Methods: Pull Out Vs. Push-In

Collaborating Outside of the Classroom

The benefits of collaboration between SLPs and general education teachers are numerous. For example, when SLPs and teachers work together, they can better identify and support students with communication disorders. Teachers can provide valuable insights into a student's academic and social behaviors, while SLPs can offer specialized knowledge and expertise in communication disorders. Together, they can develop effective strategies to help students succeed.

Collaborating In The Classroom

When push-in methods can be used, there are more opportunities to generalize what is taught outside the classroom. The class setting is the most natural for a child to be able to apply and generalize the skills being taught in speech therapy. Additionally, other children who may not qualify for in-school services may benefit from some of the adaptations the speech therapist recommends.

Building Collaboration with General Education Teachers

To start building communication with general education teachers, SLPs can begin by contacting and introducing themselves. Then, they can offer professional development on communication disorders and strategies to support students with these disorders. Although, instead of providing training, it may be more effective to offer to partner with the general education teachers. SLPs can also contribute by observing teachers in their classrooms and providing feedback on better supporting students with communication disorders. By working together, SLPs and teachers can ensure that each student with a communication disorder receives the support they need to succeed.

In Conclusion….

Collaboration between SLPs and general education teachers is essential for creating a supportive learning environment for students with communication disorders. By working together, they can identify and support students with communication disorders, develop effective strategies, and ensure that each student receives the support they need to succeed.

• Source

  Archibald, Lisa. “SLP-educator classroom collaboration: A review to inform reason-based practice,” Autism & Developmental Language Impairments. Vol 2 (2017): 1-17).