Hallie chats with Tamara Anderson about language and literacy connection and more!

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Tamara Anderson—a speech-language pathologist, education specialist, and passionate literacy advocate—about the powerful connection between language and literacy in our therapy rooms. Tamara shares her journey into literacy specialization, breaks down the difference between what we do as SLPs versus what teachers do, and offers practical tips for assessments, engaging reluctant readers, and supporting multilingual learners. You'll also learn how to make literacy therapy fun with books, games, and culturally responsive practices that honor the whole child. Whether you're wondering if you're "doing it right" with literacy or looking for fresh ideas to bring into your sessions, this conversation is full of insight, real talk, and reminders that connection always comes before data collection.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• The SLP's unique role in literacy
• Assessment tools and DIY informal probes you can create today 
• Making literacy fun for students who hate books 
• Multicultural considerations and ethical assessment practices 
• Building holistic services that see the whole child

Here’s what we learned: 

• SLPs use a therapeutic language lens—targeting morphology, semantics, and syntax, not curriculum standards. 
• Create your own informal probes for vocabulary, directions, inferences, and verbal reasoning. 
• Engagement is everything—use themed books, games, and enthusiasm to hook reluctant readers. 
• Ethical assessment requires case histories and bilingual resources for multilingual learners. 
• Connection over data collection—know your students as whole people, not just IEP goals.

Learn more about Tamara Anderson: 

Website: http://buildingsuccessfullives.com 

Website: http://andersonmulticulturalbooks.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingsuccessfullives/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BSLSpeechLanguage 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKUwYkbSnH987kX5qxmBkrQ 

Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/presenters/tamara-anderson

Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/tamara-anderson

Freebie: WH Questions: The Three Snow Bears

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

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📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book

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