Hallie discusses why you should get rid of the prize bin and how to motivate your students.

On this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie Sherman discusses her shift from using reward systems to fostering intrinsic motivation among her students. She shares early experiences with gumball machines and speech dollars, which led to unintended issues like competition and even stealing. Realizing the limitations of extrinsic rewards, Hallie emphasizes the value of helping students find personal meaning in speech sessions. She offers practical strategies for connecting lessons to students’ lives, encouraging SLPs to focus on rapport-building over traditional prize-based motivation.

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• Early Experiences with Reward Systems   
• Limitations of Extrinsic Motivation 
• Shifting to Intrinsic Motivation 
• Strategies for Building Intrinsic Motivation 
• Encouragement for SLPs  

Here’s what we learned:

• Reward systems can backfire, leading to competition and behavior issues. 
• Intrinsic motivation creates longer-lasting engagement in students. 
• Tailoring sessions to students’ interests increases relevance and impact. 
• Storytelling and real-life connections help students see the value of speech goals.  
• Building rapport is more effective than relying on material incentives. 

Learn more about Hallie Sherman  and SLP:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup

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