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…
Category: Language Therapy
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…
EP 240: What words should I target in language therapy?
Most of us know that it’s important to work on vocabulary in language and literacy intervention. But how do we know what words to pick? Should we be working on specific words, or should we be focusing on strategies? If we DO work on words, how can we possibly keep up with the pace of…
EP 234: Navigating Language Therapy as the Only SLP in the District
Ever feel overwhelmed being the only SLP in your district without a network of fellow clinicians for support? You’re not alone; many in similar situations face these challenges. In this episode, I’m sharing a case study of an SLP who, despite being the sole clinician in her district, felt the pressure of not having a…