📌 Episode Summary:
In this special SLP Summit edition of Bright Conversations, host Lisa Kathman sits down with Lauren Kline and Shelby Ford, two standout presenters whose courses sparked powerful conversations during the SLP Summit. Building on their sessions From Sounds to Sentences and S Sound Solutions, Lauren and Shelby share how they translate evidence-based strategies into real-life therapy—whether you’re in the schools or private practice.
Lauren discusses blending speech sound intervention with structured literacy to support students with dyslexia and apraxia, while Shelby breaks down her practical, student-centered approach to tackling tricky /s/ sounds and clusters. This episode is packed with actionable ideas, relatable clinical examples, and encouragement to make therapy more connected, effective, and enjoyable.

👤 Guest Bios:
Lauren Kline, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in integrating speech sound intervention with structured literacy. Her work focuses on supporting students with dyslexia, apraxia, and complex speech-language needs through evidence-based, connected practice.

Shelby Ford, M.S., CCC-SLP is a private practice SLP known for her clear, practical approach to treating speech sound disorders—especially /s/ and /s/ clusters. She helps clinicians simplify complex concepts and tailor intervention to each child’s unique movement patterns and strengths.

🗣️ Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• Bridging speech sound intervention and literacy instruction

• When and how to integrate structured literacy into speech therapy goals

• Practical strategies for targeting /s/ and /s/ clusters

• Managing caseloads that include speech sound disorders and dyslexia

• Tailoring intervention based on student strengths, needs, and response

📚 Learning Objectives: By listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:
✅ Explain how speech and literacy skills intersect in intervention
✅ Identify ways to integrate structured literacy into speech therapy sessions
✅ Apply practical strategies for treating /s/ sounds and clusters
✅ Reflect on how to individualize therapy for diverse learners

💬 Quotes to Remember:

“We can't work on reading in isolation from speech. When we connect the dots, kids make meaningful gains.” — Lauren Kline

“There’s no one-size-fits-all for the /s/. It’s about tuning in to how each child moves and responds.” — Shelby Ford

🔗 Resources & Links:

• SLP Summit: www.bethebrightest.com/slp-summit
• Courses:
• From Sounds to Sentences — Lauren Kline
• S Sound Solutions — Shelby Ford
• Follow Lauren: @laurenkline.slp
• Follow Shelby: @shelbytheslp
• Assessments: Gray Oral Reading Test, Gray Silent Reading Test, CTOPP, PAT-2, Tests of Dyslexia, Gallistel-Ellis

• Prefixes Resources: Words Their Way (includes spelling inventories at the back of the book)
• Multilingualism Book: Multilingualism, Literacy, and Dyslexia 
• Clusters vs Blends? https://www.bjoremspeech.com/blogs/bjorem-speech-blog/clusters-vs-blends?_pos=1&_sid=d6f798c74&_ss=r