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The Primary School Child
1. Our new book is an invaluable source of
information.
2. Some of the tips for the younger child are also right for this
age group, too - talking sensitively to the parents, referring to
a speech and language therapist or contacting the therapist if the
child has one.
3. Talk to the child; if it is clear that they are aware of the problem,
then it will be appropriate (with parents' permission) to take them
to one side and talk to them about it. Find out whether there are
things the child wants to do more of, but needs a bit of support,
or whether there are things that are really worrying them - e.g. taking
messages to another teacher or circle time.
4. Try to be flexible with oral tasks. Routines like answering the
register can be a daily nightmare to the child who stammers - is there
another way? Everyone putting their hands up instead? This is a good
topic to discuss in your 1:1 session.
5. Paired reading can be really good practice and often results in
the child reading more fluently too.
6. Anticipating a turn in reading aloud can be especialy difficult.
There is time for real anxiety to build up when there is a fixed routine
for this (for example row-by-row or in alphabetical order). Choosing
at random or having an early turn can be helpful - again checking
with the child is a good policy.
7. Raise awareness amongst all staff (secretaries, assistants, dinner
ladies, etc.).
8. Don't advise the child to take a deep breath or to slow down. It
probably won't help for more than a few moments.
9. Don't finish the child's sentences for them - it may increase anxiety
and tension.
10. Reduce any time pressures to speak quickly.
11. Deal with bullying and teasing immediately - these make stammering
much worse.
12. Deal with unkind behaviour - e.g. mimicking or sniggering.
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Rees
(10) only stammered at school and only in some lessons. It made a
real difference to him when we arranged an informal meeting for him,
his teacher and his parents.
He came up with some sensible ideas to help his teacher deal with
those difficult moments.
How You Can Help |
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