Speech therapy focuses on naming objects and learning vocabulary. What better than to use Google Images in speech therapy, which is readily available with an indexed photo vocabulary list miles long!
Whenever a vocabulary term comes up during speech therapy, it’s easy to put it into Google and find multiple image options to help describe and define a word. Speech paths have photo card decks displaying images of common objects, but if we need photos of fringe vocabulary words, Google Images is great. For example, I needed to show some students the differences between “lions” and “tigers.” Google Images found multiple images that made it easy for students to compare and contrast the two animals.
However, make sure you have “SafeSearch” enabled. To enable it, look to the right of the screen on the toolbar and click “SafeSearch.” This feature will help you filter out inappropriate images.
For example, once I needed to show students what “overalls” were and the search engine also returned some more risqué farmer images. Luckily, I never share my screen with students until I’ve previewed all images in advance. Be sure to preview all images, even when you have SafeSearch enabled, prior to sharing them with students because sometimes there are inappropriate images for seemingly innocuous search terms.
If you are able to prepare in advance, you can search out images and save them in a Word document for a future therapy session.
Carrying photo cards around in not always feasible when you travel to multiple schools. Also many of us have iPads and laptops available, making it easy to quickly get an image.
If you have any questions about Google Images, feel free to comment below!
Hi, I use google images a lot for communication boards. Example: picture of skittles or My Little Pony. My question is how can I change the images size before printing them?
Hmm, let me think about that. Are you able to scale the picture at all? Also you can edit the photo by right-clicking and choosing “formatting” I believe. Good luck! And thanks for commenting 🙂
Yeah its a superb idea, I use it often. Yesterday I had to give my daughter the idea of word “melt” and I found many images related to the word. Thanks for nice post