Spring Vocabulary for Speech Therapy

Tier 2 Vocabulary Materials for Language Intervention

Spring vocabulary is a natural and motivating way to continue teaching Tier 2 vocabulary in speech therapy. Seasonal themes give students repeated exposure to words they are more likely to hear, see, and use in daily life—while still allowing instruction to stay intentional and research-based.

These no-print spring vocabulary materials are designed to teach Tier 2 words progressively, building depth of word knowledge over time rather than surface-level familiarity.

Keep reading to learn how to teach spring vocabulary effectively and to grab free language materials.

A Quick Review: Vocabulary Tiers

If you’re wondering what exactly Tier 2 vocabulary is, here’s a brief refresher.

Tier 1 Vocabulary

Tier 1 vocabulary includes basic, everyday words that most children learn naturally through exposure.

Examples: baby, ball, sleep, blue

Most children do not require direct instruction for Tier 1 words.

Tier 2 Vocabulary

Tier 2 vocabulary is the “sweet spot” for speech therapy.

These words:

• Are high-frequency
• Appear across subjects and settings
• Support academic and functional language

Examples include words students may hear during spring activities, reading, or classroom routines. Because these words show up repeatedly, students get more carryover from instruction.

Tier 3 Vocabulary

Tier 3 vocabulary consists of domain-specific or technical words tied to a particular subject or topic.

These words are typically taught within specific academic contexts rather than targeted broadly in speech therapy.

Spring Vocabulary Instruction Techniques

I’ve written an in-depth page on vocabulary instruction, but here are the key principles that guide how I teach spring vocabulary in therapy:

• Multiple exposures across contexts are essential for generalization
• Explicit teaching of meaning is necessary—not just incidental exposure
• Relating words together builds depth of vocabulary knowledge

Seasonal vocabulary works best when it’s taught with structure and intention—not just as a theme.

Spring Vocabulary Materials (No-Print)

As part of the Speech Therapy Talk Membership, I created four teletherapy-friendly spring vocabulary card decks designed to follow a progressive teaching sequence.

The sequence includes:

1. Divergent naming tasks
2. Which one doesn’t belong? (categories)
   • With discussion of why it doesn’t belong
3. Matching photos to vocabulary words
4. Defining the vocabulary word

This progression helps students move from basic familiarity to deeper understanding.

The Theory Behind the Spring Vocabulary Materials

Research consistently shows that effective vocabulary instruction requires a combination of approaches:

• Explicit practice for initial learning
• Implicit, literacy-based exposure for generalization
• Spaced review for long-term retention

That’s why spring vocabulary materials are designed to support all three.

Visual Support for Vocabulary Learning

Each spring vocabulary card (beyond naming tasks) includes a real-life visual.

Visuals help students:

• Create stronger definitions
• Relate new words to known concepts
• Recall word meaning outside the therapy room

This is especially important for students with language-based learning differences.

Short, Flexible Practice

Spring vocabulary activities are intentionally brief.

They work well for:

• Quick reviews
• Game-based therapy
• Students who benefit from short, focused bursts of instruction

For many learners, short practice opportunities are far more effective than long, repetitive tasks.

Reinforcing Spring Vocabulary Through Reading

After explicitly teaching or reviewing spring vocabulary, one of the most effective strategies is shared reading.

During reading activities, students can:

• Listen for target vocabulary
• Identify concepts in context
• Reinforce meaning naturally

This provides another meaningful exposure and supports carryover.

Want the spring vocabulary materials already?

For current Speech Therapy Talk members, Please click this link to access materials:

• Tier 2 decks

For those who still need to join, please click the link below. For a small monthly fee, you can have access to all the materials described here, AND you will access to MUCH MORE (Over 4,000 materials - printable worksheets, teletherapy games, and no-print materials).

• Membership Program - Read about it!

Get Free Monthly Speech & Language Materials

If you’d like to try a sample before joining, you can sign up to receive free monthly speech and language materials delivered straight to your inbox.

This is an easy way to explore how spring vocabulary and language materials are structured inside the membership.

Reference: 

•  What Works in Therapy: Further Thoughts on Improving Clinical Practice for Children With Language Disorders
• Retrieval-Based Word Learning in Young Typically Developing Children and Children With Developmental Language Disorder I: The Benefits of Repeated Retrieval