Supporting Students who Stutter in the Classroom
Hello, my name is Jake Davis, and I am currently an SLP grad student. I was curious how an SLP can work with teachers to support a student who stutters, especially when the student is afraid of being judged by classmates? Are there ways teachers can make classroom activities like reading aloud or giving presentations less stressful without making the student feel singled out?
Hi Jake-
I think it’s important for the student to be part of this decision-making process. Having a private conversation with the student and simply asking “how can we make reading aloud or giving presentations less stressful for you?” can lead to a lot of insight on the teacher’s and therapist’s part on how to better support the student. These conversations should be had often as sometimes a student can feel a bit more shy and reserved in the beginning of the school year and be more ready for challenges as they grow comfortable in their classroom and with their peers.