The Stuttering Foundation every year reminds educators that they may have a child with the speaking issue in their classroom and that they should be prepared.

“Kids aren’t the only ones who are apprehensive on the first day of school,” the Foundation’s press release says. “Teachers are, too. If a student stutters, should you call on him in class or will that make it worse? Do you talk with him about his stuttering, or ignore it hoping it goes away? Does it help to tell the student to relax or slow down?”

In order to help teachers with the issue, the Stuttering Foundation has created a list of tips for teachers that can be downloaded from www.stutteringhelp.org or www.tartamudez.org or by calling the Foundation at 800-992-9392.

Here are the tips:

1. Don’t tell the child to ‘slow down’ or ‘just relax.’

2. Don’t complete words for the child or talk for him or her.

3. Help all members of the class learn to take turns talking and listening.

4. Expect the same quality and quantity of work from the student who stutters as the one who doesn’t.

5. Speak with the student in an unhurried way, pausing frequently.

6. Convey that you are listening to the content of the message, not how it is said.

7. Have a one-on-one conversation with the student who stutters about needed accommodations in the classroom.

8. Don’t make stuttering something to be ashamed of.