How to Teach 'Wh' Questions to Preschool Children in Speech Therapy

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"Wh" questions--who, what, where, when and how--are something all students need to learn. Preschool children in speech therapy need to learn how to say and understand "wh" questions. Speech therapists can encourage their students with these ideas.

Preschoolers listening to teacher
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Introduce "wh" questions without giving your students any meaning or background. Start a discussion with your preschool students about WHAT they are doing, WHERE they are, WHO they are, WHY they are here and HOW they got here.

Preschool environment
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Instruct your students to mimic you by asking you each "wh" question after you ask them a "wh" question and get an answer. This gives students practice saying "wh" questions before they even learn what they are about.

Ask your children if they know there are five very important "wh" questions they have to learn and that they probably already know them. Ask this in an excited tone so students get excited about already knowing something.

Preschool teacher with children
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Repeat each of the "wh" questions one by one. Have students answer the question, and then have them come up with another question that uses the same "wh" sound.

Teacher reading to classroom
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Explain to your preschool students that HOW is a backwards "wh" question, because although it has a W and an H in it, they are backwards and you use a different sound to say the word.

Write the 'wh" words for your preschool students. Those with early literacy skills can practice copying the words onto note cards.

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