Therapy Straight off the Hook

 Have you noticed that this time of year our students start falling into a mid-year rut?  The semester is in full swing, spring break is still a week away, and the interests of the students on our caseload are slowly dissipating.  If you can relate, it may just be time to spice up therapy.  And what better way to do that than by adding a little...flare.  Enter...

In all seriousness, slang and figurative language is an important piece of language use, as it is embedded within music, movies, TV shows, etc.  Even many animated films (think Ice Age) contain figurative language.  Many individuals with language impairments struggle to interpret such language.  Understanding and using slang is equally important for students with social cognitive deficits who have difficulty interacting with their peers and making friends.

So, what can we do with these silly cards you ask?  Well, one idea is to use a card or two as a warm-up activity to gain attention, elicit discussion, and add some fun to the therapy session.  Although some of the slang included in these cards is quite common, you'd be surprised how many students are not familiar with the terminology or expressions.  And the best part is, not only is the slang age-appropriate (used by much of their peer group), it is also hilarious (thanks to the fine illustrations).

Here are a few "fly" ideas for incorporating the cards into therapy:
 - use the context to determine the meaning of the word or phrase
 - locating/discussing part of speech, synonyms, multiple definitions
 - formal vs. informal language...how would you say this to a more mature audience (e.g.,   
    grandmother)
 - create a "slang-of-the-week" board as a conversational piece
 - slang vocabulary worksheet

You can find these cards on KnockKnockStuff.com or even Amazon.com.  They are around $10 and well worth it, based on the hilarity of these cards alone.

Be sure to flip through the card deck and separate any cards that may not be appropriate for your students before using, and enjoy!