If you’re an SLP who’s wondering how you can effectively address complex skills relating to both language and executive functioning in the school systems… The primary challenge is that BOTH language and executive functioning are incredibly complicated. Even just focusing on one or the other can be overwhelming. Layer on the challenges with the way…
Category: Language Therapy
EP 258: Three Practices That Turn Language Therapy Into a Scalable System
Clinicians who are confidently delivering language and literacy interventions haven’t found the perfect “therapy curriculum”. They’ve learned how to build their own using three practices. In this episode, I share what those practices are, plus additional information on a free training I released that explains these concepts further. I cover: You can listen to the…
EP 255: Five “clinical containers” to design your language therapy system
In episode 255 of De Facto Leaders, I elaborate on the concept of using vocabulary as a large “container”, so you can design sessions efficiently without sacrificing quality. I talk about why more experienced clinicians often struggle to make their interventions scalable, and why this gets in the way of carryover. I also share the…
EP 254: Three Pieces of Unconventional Advice I Give SLPs
Many experienced SLPs think they just need to plan better. Tweak the activity. Adjust the visuals. Try a new printable or protocol. But what if none of that is the real problem? What if your sessions are already so skillful that no one else can reinforce what you’re doing? 🧠 What if the very clinical…
EP 248: So…can you recommend an app to build my child’s language skills?
In this episode, I’m sharing my top resources for clinicians to explain why we do what we do in language therapy, and how parents and colleagues can support skills outside of sessions. I share: Plus I share an opportunity for therapists who want to learn the “Essential 5” framework and who are also interested in…
EP 247: Narrative Intervention: Beyond “Cute” Stories and Lesson Plans (with Jane Gebers)
When you’re teaching storytelling with students, do your lessons feel kind of…random? I used to feel like this a lot when I was a school SLP, so if you’ve ever had a “throw spaghetti at the wall” therapy session that felt all over the place, I get it. The truth is, repetition and drill is…
EP 246: What’s the point of teaching storytelling? (with Jane Gebers)
Why are we so obsessed with “storytelling”? In education, we talk about it when we’re working on language and reading comprehension. It’s also referred to in sales and copy writing as a tool for generating more leads and customers. And of course, people writing books or films think about it all the time. We all…
EP 244: Part 3: What’s the Point of a Language Evaluation? Breaking Down Diagnostic Accuracy, Standards, and Scores (with Destiny Johnson and Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz)
Where did arbitrary cut scores for norm-referenced language assessments come from, and why do they feel “safer” than relying on clinical judgement? I discuss this question and more in this third part of a three-part series, bilingual SLPs Destiny Johnson and Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz join me to continue our conversation about advocating for effective language evaluation…
EP 243: Part 2: What’s the Point of a Language Evaluation? Breaking Down Diagnostic Accuracy, Standards, and Scores (with Destiny Johnson and Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz)
When we choose evaluation tools for language, are we clear on WHY we’re assessing? Most people think of diagnosis, but that’s not the only reason we assess students. I discuss this question and more in this second part of a three-part series, bilingual SLPs Destiny Johnson and Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz join me to continue our conversation…
EP 242: Part 1: What’s the Point of a Language Evaluation? Breaking Down Diagnostic Accuracy, Standards, and Scores (with Destiny Johnson and Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz)
Language assessments shape who gets services, how goals are written, and how progress is measured, but there are many misconceptions about how to follow best-practices when doing an evaluation. In this three-part series, bilingual SLPs Destiny Johnson and Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz join me to dig into the science, the myths, and the policies that shape evaluation…