Tips and Tricks for Using Google Slides™ In Teletherapy

I'm not quite sure how I have done 6 years of teletherapy without using Google Slides. But luckily, those Google Slides-less days are gone.

As I recently professed, I have been exploring Google Slides™ this summer and I am here for it. The ability to quickly add pictures and videos to activities. The simplicity of storing resources in my Google Drive without having to download all the things. The capability of moving pieces and fillable text boxes. The versatility is brings. These are a few of my favorite things (about Google Slides).

Ok, musical films aside, I realize that using Google Slides for the purpose of speech therapy isn't exactly intuitive. Especially since we SLPs aren't used to making and giving presentations (and we can all be thankful for that!), which is the primary purpose of Google Slides. So I've made a few (ok, more like a dozen) quick videos to demonstrate how to use the app's features for speech therapy, be it teletherapy or with a computer in a face-to-face session.

Name A Version and Revert to it Later

Saving an original version of the activity will save you so much time and sanity in subsequent uses!

Change the View of the presentation

Most therapy activities require you to keep the presentation in 'Edit' mode (not 'Present' mode) so here's a few ways to adjust the view to make it easier to read and manipulate.

Create and format text boxes

For your students that can read and type text, you'll want to know how to use text boxes.

Undo or Redo Moves

Believe me, you'll want to know how to undo (and maybe redo) actions.

Use Google Slides as a Whiteboard

Ahhhh the world of possibilities when you use Google Slides as a blank slate.

Copy and Paste an Image or Text Box

Quickly copying and pasting elements of the activity comes in super handy!

Insert and Layer Images

The world (of Google Images) is your oyster! Here's how to add images...and make sure they're layered correctly with other movable pieces.

Replace an Image

Some activities may suggest swapping out images for ones on your computer or the web!

Embed a Video in a Presentation

With just a couple of clicks, you can add a video from your computer, a website, or YouTube.... right there on the slide!

Create Folders to Organize Google Drive Files

Well obviously we SLPs want to know how to organize all of this Google amazingness. Have no fear, you CAN (and should) make folders!

Rename and Move a Presentation to a Folder

Now that you have folders (above video), you're going to want to know how to put Google Slides activities in them for quick access!

Create PDF from a Google Slides Presentation

Want to print a Google Slides presentation or email it to your student? Yep, you can do that!

And that's how you can re-purpose a Google app to be a flexible tool for digital speech therapy activities. Your therapy room will be alive with ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶i̶c̶ all the interactivity the app offers (sorry, I couldn't resist).

Want to see more? Learn how to customize your Google Slides activities for your speech therapy students!