SLP Coffee Talk

Latest Episodes:

Connections Make Anything Possible With Middle & High Schoolers Apr 26, 2024

Show notes

Why connecting with middle and high school students increases motivation and participation?
Hey there, fellow SLPs! In this episode, Hallie chats with speech-language pathologists Matt and Margarita to share their innovative strategies for engaging teen learners. Hear about innovative ways to weave student interests into therapy sessions, from comic books to current tech articles, and how personal stories of our own goals can normalize the growth process. Plus, we're tackling the common fears of stepping into a new age group and how forming meaningful connections can lead to a rewarding journey for both you and your students!
Matt has been the Supervisor of Speech/Language Improvement for District 75 since December 2013 at New York City Public Schools.

Margaryta is a bilingual pediatric speech-language pathologist and child educator who specializes in feeding and swallowing disorders, as well as augmentative and alternative communication. With over 10 years of experience, she has serviced hundreds of mild to severely delayed and medically complex children. Margaryta is also the author of a children’s book titled ‘Baby Zoo’ and has contributed to various publications. She has received multiple awards throughout her career.

Here’s what we learned:

Strategies to integrate curriculum goals with real-world interests and personal storytelling to make sessions relevant.
Technology's role in bridging connections across schools and tailoring education for students with IEPs.
Using interests like comic books and technology to support literacy-based activities.
Incorporating reading buddy programs and vocational activities into therapy sessions.

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP:

Follow Matt on Instagram

Follow Margaryta on Instagram

📝 Speech Time Fun

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🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here!

Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets

Using Tar Heel Reader With Older Speech Students Apr 22, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie Sherman shares a powerful tool for improving therapy practices: Tar Heel Reader. Get ready to unlock a world of free, accessible books that will enhance literacy, comprehension, articulation, expressive language, and social skills. Learn how to make learning fun, increase vocabulary, and captivate your kids with custom stories. You won't want to miss this episode, which is jam-packed with new therapeutic advice and real-life examples!

Here’s what we learned:

How students can use Tar Heel Reader to become authors, empowering them to craft and publish their own stories.
Practical tips for integrating Tar Heel Reader into speech therapy sessions such as creating dynamic classroom activities.
Utilizing character interactions in Tar Heel to improve articulation, expand vocabulary, and foster social skills.

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP:

📝Tarheel Reader

📝 Speech Time Fun

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🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here!

Games with a Twist Apr 15, 2024

Show notes

In the latest episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie Sherman serves up a steamy brew of fresh ideas to rejuvenate your speech-language therapy sessions. Saying goodbye to the yawns and hello to sessions that are as enjoyable as they are educational. Hallie provides practical examples of how to adapt popular board games to meet various speech and language goals. From "Twisted Scrabble" to "Modified Monopoly," and from "Guess Who?" with a twist to an adapted "Operation," each game is a doorway to learning that feels less like therapy and more like play!
Here’s what we learned:

How to repurpose classic board games as dynamic tools to target various speech and language goals.
Creative methods to transform traditional board games into engaging speech therapy tools.
Practical tips for SLPs to simplify planning, accommodate mixed groups, and manage time efficiently.
Understanding students' backgrounds and struggles allows therapists to craft compassionate and effective sessions, to maintain students' interest.

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP:

📝 Speech Time Fun

📝Shop Speech Time Fun

🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here!

AAC as a Busy School SLP with Cici Fritts and Candace Hayden Apr 08, 2024

Show notes

Do you find AAC overwhelming? You aren’t alone!

No need to worry though, because in this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, I sat down with Cici Fritts and Candace Hayden. They are experts in all things technology and AAC for our speech students and they are here to help you understand how to best help your students with their communication through AAC.

Topics covered in this episode include:

How Cici and Candace help educate others on AAC use in speech
How to embrace AAC if there are no AAC experts on your team
Ways to work with parents who just want their kids to talk
How to partner with teachers to provide more AAC support in the classroom
The best question to ask teachers and parents to help them get more comfortable with AAC
The best tools and resources for data and evaluations with AAC
The difference between robust language and simplified language devices

AAC devices are so important and understanding them can be so beneficial to our students. Don’t miss this episode!

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/219

Resources Mentioned:

Follow Cici on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaconthefritts

Follow Candace on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candace-hayden-32031811b

Follow Candace on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candace_hayden_aac/

Visit the Leander ISD website: https://www.leanderisd.org/assistivetechnology/
Where We Can Connect:

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

Helping Parents with IEPs with Wendy Taylor Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

Do you struggle sometimes talking to parents and navigating the whole IEP process with parents?

If so, you are going to love today’s guest on SLP Coffee Talk! I sat down with Wendy Taylor to talk all about how you can better help parents when it comes to IEPs.

Topics covered in this episode include:

The biggest challenges parents face in the IEP process
How to present information to parents so that they actually understand
Communication tips and tricks to help make the IEP process go smoother
The best way to present your findings to parents and how to handle disagreements
Resources for parents to better understand IEP meetings

Wendy has tons of tips for how to help parents in IEP meetings. Check them out now!
Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/218

Resources Mentioned:

Visit the Learning Essentials website: https://learningessentialsedu.com/
Follow Learning Essentials on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningessentials/?hl=en
Listen to the Special Ed Strategist podcast: https://learningessentialsedu.com/podcast/

Where We Can Connect:

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

Trauma-Informed Care for SLPs with Rachel Archambault Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

Are you familiar with trauma-informed care?

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, I sat down with Rachel Archambault, the PTSD SLP, to talk all about trauma-informed care for our speech students. You don’t have to be a trauma detective to support your students who have experienced trauma, you just have to offer them a safe space, and Rachel is telling us exactly how to do it.

Topics covered in this episode include:

What trauma-informed care is and why it’s important
How we can help our students who have gone through trauma
Ways to make your students feel safe in speech therapy
Coping strategies for students who struggle with trauma
Why trauma-informed care training is so important

This is such an important episode and you don’t want to miss it. Check it out now!

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/217

Resources Mentioned:

Visit Rachel’s website: https://www.ptsdslp.com/
Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd.slp

Where We Can Connect:

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

Using Videos To Work On Vocabulary Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

Let’s talk about one of my favorite tools to use in my speech room- videos!

Videos are motivating, require zero prep, and can easily adapt to any goal. In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, I’m sharing how you can use this versatile resource to target vocabulary goals.

Topics covered in this episode include:

My favorite videos and resources to work on vocabulary with speech students
How to use these videos effectively in your speech sessions
Why I love using wordless videos to work on vocabulary
Why modeling is so important for helping students grasp their tier 2 words

Tune in to hear all of my best tips and strategies for using videos to help your students soar past their goals!
Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/216

Resources Mentioned:

Join SLP Elevate: Slpelevate.com

Get your free Boom Cards: https://bit.ly/STF-contextcluesboomfreebie

Check out the sample Edpuzzle: bit.ly/STF-edpuzzletier2

Check out Simon’s Cat on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH6vXjt-BA7QHl0KnfL-7RQ
Check out the research mentioned in the episode:

Research stresses the importance of students mastering a significant amount of Tier 2 words to be academically successful.

(Blachowicz, Fisher, Ogle, & Taffe, 2013; Marzano, 2004)

Words should not be taught as “lists”, but rather how the words relate to the content and to each other because instruction without context has usually been found to be ineffective

(Roseberry-McKibbin, 2013)

“. . .targeting vocabulary in secondary-aged children with vocabulary difficulties could potentially help their access to the curriculum and, hence, their future academic attainment, employment prospects and mental health.”

– Wright et al., 2017

Where We Can Connect:

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

Virtual Reality for Any SLP with Gareth Walkom Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

Do your students love technology like mine do?

If so, you’re going to love today’s guest on SLP Coffee Talk! I sat down with Gareth Walkom from withVR. He’s here to share what he does with VR and how it can benefit our speech therapy students!

Topics covered in this episode include:

The real-life challenges that this tool can help your students overcome
How VR can help your students get valuable practice in a safe space
How you can customize this VR tool to suit your students’ needs
Real-life stories of students who benefited from using VR in speech
Other ways you can utilize this technology if you don’t have access to the VR tools

VR can be a game changer with our speech students! Tune in to learn how to use it in your speech room today!

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/215

Resources Mentioned:

Visit the WithVR website: https://withvr.app

Follow WithVR on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withvrapp

Follow Gareth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garethwalkom

Follow WithVR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/withVR

Follow Gareth on Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/company/withvr

Follow WithVR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/withvrapp

Where We Can Connect:

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

Interest-Based Therapy Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

Looking for ways to get your students more involved, more engaged, and seeing more results? You have to try interest-based therapy!

Many of us struggle with keeping our students engaged and motivated- especially our older ones. So instead of fighting the fight and trying to get them to engage in the activities you choose, how about we flip the script and focus more on their interests? I’m sharing how you can do it in this episode of SLP Coffee Talk!

Topics covered in this episode include:

What interest-based therapy is and why it works- particularly with older students
How you can implement interest-based therapy into your lessons
Activity ideas you can do based on your student's interests
How to intrinsically motivate your older students
Why building rapport and checking in with your students is essential
Some free resources to use with interest-based therapy

By using interest-based therapy, therapy is going to be more enjoyable and it's going to significantly impact the overall success and progress of your students. Tune in to learn how!

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/214

Resources Mentioned:

Check out all the websites mentioned in the episode:

Where We Can Connect:

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

Diagnostic Assessment of Students Speaking South Asian Languages with Puja & Prabhu Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

Looking for tips on doing diagnostic assessments on students who speak different languages?

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, I sat down with Puja and Prabhu to talk about diagnostic assessments of students speaking South Asian languages. They’re sharing tools and tips for us to better serve our students who speak these languages.

Topics covered in this episode include:

The challenges SLPs face when diagnosing students who speak these languages
How to properly test these students
Why interpreters are so important during assessments
Some different helpful tools for conducting these assessments

When we know more, we can do better for our students. The tools and tips shared by Puja and Prabhu are so helpful. Make sure to tune in to hear what they are!

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/213

Resources Mentioned:

Follow the South Asian Caucus of ASHA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063674136258&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Visit the South Asian Caucus of ASHA website: https://www.sac-asha.org/

Where We Can Connect:

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/