SLP Coffee Talk

Hallie discusses giving your students a say in what they do in speech therapy.

On this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie Sherman explores the importance of giving older speech students a SAY in their sessions. Sharing personal insights and strategies from her career, Hallie explains how empowering students can lead to a more engaging and motivating learning environment. From offering flexible seating and allowing students to choose their learning tools to discussing individualized goals, she provides practical tips that make a real difference. Tune in to learn how small changes can foster student collaboration and trust, creating a more positive experience for both students and SLPs. 

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• Benefits of Giving Students a Say
• Practical Ways to Empower Students  
• Encouraging Ownership of Learning 
• Creating a Comfortable and Collaborative Environment 
• Long-Term Impact 

Here’s what we learned:

• Small autonomy boosts student confidence and willingness to participate.
• Empowering students makes sessions feel less like “work” and more collaborative. 
• Customizing session reminders helps students take ownership of attendance.
• Offering choice reinforces respect for students’ preferences and independence.
• Simple adjustments can reduce classroom resistance and build rapport.

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

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

Hallie is joined by Ashley Cubberly and Eddie Brown from Brown Cub Speech to discuss how to navigate conversations in stuttering therapy.

On this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie interviews Ashley and Eddie from Brown Cub Speech, a dynamic speech-language pathology team focused on stuttering therapy. Ashley, a pediatric SLP based in Kentucky, discusses her journey in working with children who stutter and her efforts in leading support groups and providing professional education. Eddie, a PhD candidate in speech pathology at the University of Tennessee, shares his unique perspective as both a clinician and a person who stutters. Together, they emphasize the importance of building trust, community engagement and the need for a bottom-up therapeutic approach, which prioritizes clients’ emotional experiences. They also discuss their upcoming professional development retreat, where they’ll share practical tools for SLPs to support clients more effectively. 

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• Introduction to Brown Cub Speech  
• Ashley's Pediatric Practice 
• Eddie’s Dual Perspective 
• Bottom-Up Approach 
• Community and Connection  
• Therapeutic Tools and Trust-Building
• Upcoming Retreat 

Here’s what we learned:

• Eddie’s life as a person who stutters gives him insight into clients’ needs beyond typical fluency goals. 
• Engaging with stuttering communities enriches therapy by exposing clients to real-world challenges and shared experiences. 
• Therapy benefits from addressing emotions and self-perception, not just fluency skills. 
• Balancing goals between clients, families, and educators is key to creating meaningful progress.  
• Integrating counseling into therapy helps clients open up, address deep-seated fears, and build resilience. 

Learn more about Ashley Cubberly and Eddie Brown | Brown Cub Speech

Instagram: @brown.cub.speech

Teachers Pay Teacher

Freebie

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

Hallie and her guest Alexia Bassin discuss AAC and high school students

In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Alexia Bassin, a seasoned speech-language pathologist with 15 years of experience in the NYC Public Schools! With a passion for empowering fellow SLPs, Alexia shares her journey working in special education and her expertise in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). From her role as an assistive technology evaluator to creating 'AAC Corner,' a series of bite-sized videos to help SLPs master AAC, Alexia’s dedication shines through. Tune in for practical tips, collaboration advice, and real-world strategies that will help you elevate your AAC game in the classroom. Let’s dive into all things AAC!

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Age-Respectful Communication
• Expanding AAC Beyond Requests
• Resources and Support
• Adapting to Technology Changes
• Advice for Newcomers to AAC

Here’s what we learned:

• Evolution of AAC technology from clunky devices to apps like Proloquo2Go.
• Importance of choosing a flexible AAC system that grows with the student.
• Leveraging Instagram and online communities to stay updated on AAC strategies and tools.
• Balancing student interests (e.g., Disney Cars) with age-appropriate content.
• Encouraging exploration of new, age-respectful topics through AAC.
• Collaboration with teachers and other related service providers to implement successful strategies.

Learn more about Alexia Bassin:

Instagram: alexia_slp_chronicles

TikTok: lex_slp_chronicles

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

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Dr. Angelyn Franks, an experienced speech-language pathologist (SLP) and recent clinical doctorate graduate, joins Hallie Sherman to discuss overcoming burnout in the SLP profession. With 14 years in the field, Dr. Angelyn has made it her mission to help SLPs prevent burnout and achieve a sustainable work-life balance. Dr. Angelyn also shares her personal journey, including her own experience with burnout and how adopting mindfulness helped her regain her passion for the field. She introduces “The Thrive Method,” her coaching framework designed to move SLPs from survival mode to thriving in their careers. Dive deep into the importance of setting healthy boundaries, prioritizing self-care without guilt and recognizing the signs of burnout before it becomes overwhelming.

Gain practical strategies for stress management, tips on how to protect their mental well-being and advice for sustaining a fulfilling career in speech-language pathology. 

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• SLPs overcome burnout, set healthy boundaries, & prioritize self-care without guilt, enabling them to reclaim their passion for their work and achieve a sustainable, fulfilling career.
• I am happy to share my own burnout experience and what lead me to my Capstone topic (The Effect of a Mindfulness App on Perceived Stress in SLPs).
• I help burned-out SLPs recover from burnout, prevent future burnout, and create a sustainable, fulfilling career with work-life balance and without sacrificing their well-being.
• Three-component definition of burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. What to look for, the different phases of burnout. For SLPs burnout/risk of burnout can look like:  
  • Feel drained, overwhelmed, and discouraged by their work
  • Dreads going to work (especially on Mondays)
  • Struggles with setting boundaries and practicing self-care due to guilt, perfectionism, and difficulty asking for help 
  • Experiencing anxiety, stress, and exhaustion despite loving aspects of their job
  • Exhausted and doom-scrolling/on autopilot when they get home from work
  • Difficulty focusing at work
• Identification of primary burnout factors. 6 known areas of mismatch: Workload, Control, Reward, Community, Fairness, Values
• The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model provides a framework for work-life balance. Distinguishes between job demands—such as high caseload/workload, intense work pressure, and the emotional or physical demands of a job—and job resources, which include support from leaders or colleagues, performance feedback, and autonomy.
• My approach to work-life balance is to assess areas of stress/mismatches and build a robust, flexible toolkit of resources. (This includes mindfulness- my area of research).
• I would also be happy to discuss anything I shared about during my hour inside your group— including the deconstruction framework which is one of the primary tools in my toolkit!

Here’s what we learned:

• Burnout often stems from chronic stress.
• Incorporating mindfulness into daily routine can significantly help reduce stress. 
• The importance of setting and upholding boundaries to protect mental health. 
• Prioritizing self-care is essential for maintaining long-term career satisfaction. 
• Implementing small, consistent changes— whether in stress management, boundary-setting or daily habits— can create lasting improvements.  

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

Hallie is joined by Mindy Hudon & Rachelle Mauer from Achieve Speech & Language Services, LLC. They are changing the way SLPs service speech sound disorders in the schools.

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie Sherman welcomes Mindy Hudon and Rachelle Mauer, co-owners of Achieve Speech and Language Services and the creators of Snappy Speech. This research-based speech sound intervention program is designed to help school-based SLPs work more efficiently by reducing high caseloads, allowing them to focus on what matters most — working at the top of their license. With over 30 years of combined school-based experience, Mindy and Rachelle developed a groundbreaking strategy to alleviate the pressures faced by SLPs in schools. 

Mindy is an award-winning author of the graphic novel Kodi’s Adventures: How I Learned to Defeat the Time Snatcher and creator of the Bee A Time Keeper® Clock, a tool designed to help young children develop time management skills. Rachelle, a national trainer and accomplished author-presenter, is known for her expertise in developing and applying cognitive and executive function skills, making her a leader in her field. 

Tune in to learn more about their innovative approach to speech sound intervention and how they are changing the landscape for school-based SLPs.

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• The pandemic has increased the need for speech services in schools
• Caseload sizes continue to increase and Shortage of SLPs due to overwhelm
• Students with mild to moderate speech sounds disorders are lingering on IEP's year after year, as well as challenges supporting RTI students.
• High-frequency intervention is the gold standard, but how do busy SLPs manage the time needed to implement this method? - This is the problem we solve.
• Snappy Speech®: use of evidence-based methods and why it works.
• Utilizing extenders to support SLP's and common mistakes
• How can SLP's practice at the top of their license and get back to their passion for the profession!

Here’s what we learned:

• Mindy and Rachelle’s combined 30 years of school-based experience inspired the creation of Snappy Speech.
• Their program focuses on high-frequency speech drills, proven to accelerate student progress.
• Snappy Speech helps reduce large SLP caseloads, addressing common issues like burnout and stress.
• Mindy is also known for her work in time management for children through the Bee A Time Keeper® Clock.
• Rachelle has expertise in cognitive and executive function skills, providing a holistic approach to speech and language therapy.
• Their intervention model emphasizes working at the top of the SLP license, allowing SLPs to focus on more complex cases. 
• Snappy Speech has been piloted in schools with significant results, including reduced caseloads and improved student outcomes.
• The program uses trained extenders to assist SLPs, increasing the frequency of student drills and reducing time out of class.

Social Media Links

Check out their website: Achieve Speech & Language Services

Instagram: @achievect_SLP

Facebook: Achieve Speech & Language Services

Snappy Speech®

Freebie Links: Snappy Speech®

Learn more about Hallie

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

In this episode, Hallie shares creative and fun strategies to engage older students (grades 4-12) in articulation therapy. These students have been through years of speech therapy, and it's time to shake things up! From podcast creation to role-playing games, Hallie breaks down five easy-to-implement activities that will keep students motivated and make articulation practice exciting again. Tune in to discover how to make speech therapy both relevant and enjoyable!

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• Podcast Creation
• Role-Playing Games
• YouTube Video Reviews
• Speech Competitions
• Tailored Interests
• 
  

Here’s what we learned:

• Students can script, record, and self-assess their articulation through dynamic podcast projects.
• Use games like Dungeons and Dragons to weave articulation targets into fun, interactive scenarios.
• Encourage students to articulate clearly while reviewing their favorite videos or topics.
• Create speech challenges and debates to build confidence and practice articulation in a fun, competitive setting.
• Incorporate students' hobbies like gaming, sports, or social media into speech activities for maximum engagement.

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

Meet Michelle, Risa, and Stephanie—the dynamic trio behind NYC Speechies! These passionate SLPs saw a gap in the market for middle and high school speech and language resources on TPT and decided to fill it. What started as a plan to create enough materials for just one school year has grown into an impressive collection of over 400 resources by 2024. NYC Speechies love nothing more than connecting with fellow SLPs and educators, helping them navigate the world of speech and language for older students. They've expanded their reach even further with workshops and their coaching business, Speechies Connect, where they empower and support other SLPs. Join us as we dive into their incredible journey!

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• ice breakers and the importance of establishing rapport with therapist and group members at the beginning of the year
• creating a group atmosphere where they want to come back, feel accepted, and heard
• engaging mixed groups

Here’s what we learned:

• Strategies for building connections with high school students in speech therapy.
• Challenges and rewards of working with older students in therapy settings.
• Importance of establishing trust and rapport with students.
• Incorporating students' personal goals and interests into therapy sessions.
• Utilizing icebreakers and interactive activities to foster a positive environment.
• Discussing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) with students to empower them.
• The significance of collaboration with educators and school staff.
• Flexibility and patience in adapting to students' emotional needs and challenges.
• Building a supportive community among speech-language pathologists for professional growth.

Learn more about NYC Speechies: 

Check out the NYC Speechies’ Website

Follow them on Instagram @nycspeechies or Facebook

Check them out on Pinterest

Visit their TPT store

Freebie Links

A FREEBIE from the NYC Speechies!

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

Get ready for another exciting brew of SLP Coffee Talk! This week, Hallie sits down with Marsha Pinto, a proud introverted SLP, who’s here to prove that being a quiet professional is nothing short of a superpower. Marsha, a speech therapist with the San Jose Unified School District in Northern California, primarily works with autistic students, as well as those with selective mutism and apraxia. She’s a familiar face on local news stations, where she shares her expertise on pediatric speech and language development, and she’s also a seasoned conference speaker, advocating for introverted students. As the founder of the non-profit "Softest Voices," Marsha is dedicated to promoting greater acceptance of introverts.

Marsha opens up about her career journey, discussing how she finds balance as an introvert in a typically extroverted field. She shares insights on how embracing quiet time can be your secret weapon in therapy. If you’ve ever thought that being an introvert might hold you back, think again—Marsha is here to show you that it’s actually your greatest strength!

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• Navigating a very extroverted demanding field as an introverted SLP
• Burn-Out as an introverted SLP
• Discouragement faced by introverted grad and college students wanting to be SLPs
• Effectiveness of "Quiet time" during therapy
• How to network as an introvert SLP student
• Benefits of being an introverted SLP

Here’s what we learned:

• How Marsha turned introversion into her SLP superpower.
• Why starting sessions with silence can boost focus and progress.
• Marsha’s strategy for managing energy to avoid burnout.
• How introverts can ace interviews and connect without the anxiety.
• How Marsha went from doubting herself to presenting at major conferences like ASHA!

Learn more about Marsha Pinto: 

Website: https://www.softestvoices.com/

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

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

Hallie talks about one of her favorite topics: The Scarborough Reading Rope and SLPs. We aren't reading teachers but language is the foundation for reading.

In this exciting episode of SLP Coffee Talk, we dive into the magic of helping older students become strong readers. Hallie breaks down how SLPs can use the Scarborough Reading Rope to untangle language comprehension and decoding challenges. Get ready for practical tips on boosting background knowledge, expanding vocabulary, and decoding tricky grammar—plus, a touch of Hallie's signature humor to keep it fun!

Bullet Points to Discuss:

- Tackling comprehension goals with older students.

- Explaining decoding and comprehension.

- Making reading and language lessons engaging.

Here’s what we learned:

• How SLPs can address comprehension goals with older students.
• Scarborough's Reading Rope: A breakdown of decoding and comprehension strands.
• Tips on building background knowledge, vocabulary, and verbal reasoning.
• Strategies for making reading and language lessons engaging for students.
• How to show your role in reading success to colleagues and in IEP meetings.

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