SLP Coffee Talk

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Renee Brown—school-based SLP, mom of two teenagers, and the voice behind @TheBusySpeechMom on Instagram—about a topic every SLP needs to hear: how to advocate for yourself so you don't burn out. Renee shares her unexpected journey from elementary education teacher to medical SLP to school-based clinician, and gets real about what it actually takes to push back on impossible caseloads, have hard conversations with admin, and still show up for your kids every single day. From framing service delivery in terms admin actually care about to building a session routine so smooth your kindergartners run it themselves, this episode is full of practical wisdom, refreshing honesty, and a much-needed reminder that advocating for yourself is the same thing as advocating for your students.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• How Renee's background in elementary education and medical SLP shaped the way she approaches school-based practice 
• Why the interview is your first—and most important—opportunity to advocate for yourself 
• How to talk to admin about caseload size in a way that actually lands 
• The real connection between early intensive intervention and long-term district savings 
• Setting boundaries around contracted hours without guilt 
• Simple group session strategies that keep kids engaged and sessions running like clockwork

Here’s what we learned: 

• There's a shortage—they need us more than we need them. Walk into every interview owning that.
• Admin isn't the enemy. They don't know what they don't know, and it's on us to fill in the gaps. 
• Lead with dollars. Early intensive intervention now means fewer students needing services in middle and high school.
• Don't bring a problem without a solution. Admin loves when you've already done the thinking for them. 
• When contract time is up, your time is up.
• Revising an IEP isn't a big deal—it's just good clinical practice. 
• A consistent session format means your students eventually run the whole thing themselves.

Learn more about Renee Brown: 

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

Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/the-busy-speech-mom 

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

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

📘✨ 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

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie is serving up some real talk about IEP goal writing—and it might just change the way you look at your entire caseload. If you’ve ever stared at a goal and thought, wait, why am I even working on this? This one’s for you. Hallie introduces the “so what?” test—the one question you should be asking before you write any goal—and breaks down what functional actually means for different students. She’s covering how to write curriculum-linked goals without crossing into ELA territory, how to squeeze more mileage out of every session, and why our role as SLPs is way more powerful than we sometimes give ourselves credit for.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• Why not every language skill on an assessment is worth targeting in therapy.
• The “so what?” test: the one question that should guide every goal you write.
• How to define “functional” based on the individual student in front of you.
• Writing curriculum-linked goals the SLP way—without becoming the ELA teacher.
• How to use one resource across a mixed group and hit every student’s goal at once.

Here’s what we learned: 

• If you can’t answer “so what?” clearly and confidently, that goal might be more fluff than function.
• Functional isn’t one-size-fits-all—a college-bound student needs self-advocacy; a life-skills student needs to know how to tell the bus driver where they’re going.
• Overlapping with academics is fine—just do it through a language lens, not a reteaching one.
• One good goal can target syntax, vocabulary, comprehension, and organization all at once. Therapy charcuterie board—one activity, all the skills, everyone eats.
• We’re not tutors and we’re not ELA teachers—we’re the language experts. Writing functional goals is how we step into that power.

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

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

📘✨ 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

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Karin Hartunian Koukeyan—a speech-language pathologist with 28 years of experience and founder of SpeechFit—about a topic that might surprise you: public speaking. Karin shares her winding SLP journey from bilingual child interpreter to telepractice pioneer to private practice owner, and dives into why SLPs are uniquely equipped to help clients (and colleagues!) overcome public speaking anxiety. From IEP meetings to parent nights to real estate presentations, this conversation is packed with practical strategies, an eye-opening look at communication coaching as a service offering, and a reminder that it's never too late to color outside the lines in your career.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• How Karin's multilingual upbringing led her to SLP and eventually public speaking coaching 
• Why SLPs are uniquely qualified to address public speaking anxiety 
• Practical strategies for managing nerves and communicating more effectively 
• How public speaking coaching translates to working with middle and high schoolers 
• Building a communication coaching side hustle or private practice offering

Here’s what we learned: 

• Public speaking anxiety affects up to 90% of people—and SLPs are uniquely equipped to help. 
• The pause is your most powerful tool. Say something, let it land, and resist the urge to fill the silence. 
• Frameworks and scripting train the brain to communicate more confidently—whether it's an IEP meeting or a big presentation. 
• Breath work, visualization, and role-playing are go-to strategies for taming nerves before and during a talk. 
• Adding dialogue to a story instantly makes it more engaging—try it with your middle and high schoolers too. 
• Communication coaching is a real and viable private practice offering for clients who need support but don't qualify for traditional services.

Learn more about Karin Hartunian Koukeyan: 

Website: https://www.speechfitslp.com/ 

Website: https://karin-hartunian-koukeyan.mykajabi.com/sign-up-for-speechfit-slp-courses-8884c4d7-381e-49b9-8f2c-0d41b49592dc 

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-hartunian-koukeyan/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-hartunian-koukeyan/

Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/speechfit-slp 

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

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

📘✨ 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

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie is serving up some real talk about data collection—and it might just change the way you run your sessions. If you've ever felt more like a clipboard than a clinician, or wondered why your students seem disengaged halfway through therapy, this one's your permission slip to breathe. Hallie breaks down why constant data collection can actually block progress, how to collect better data (not just more of it), and why teaching always needs to come before testing. She's sharing practical strategies for mixed groups, explaining why one quality data point is enough, and reminding us all that connection matters more than tally marks.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• Why constant data collection turns therapy into testing instead of teaching. 
• The power of anecdotal data over endless tally marks and percentages. 
• How to break down annual goals into smaller, achievable milestones. 
• Teaching first, data second: a framework for more effective sessions. 
• Managing data collection in mixed groups with limited time.

Here’s what we learned: 

• Students don't grow from being measured—they grow from being supported. 
• One quality data point per session is still meaningful data. 
• Anecdotal notes tell the story that numbers alone can't capture. 
• You don't need to target the annual goal every single session—pit stops and detours are part of the journey. 
• Connection over data collection leads to real, meaningful progress and student engagement.

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

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

📘✨ 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

Hallie chats with Maddie Burrington about having fun in your work and remembering your “why”!

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Maddie Burrington—an elementary school SLP in Dallas and social media creator—about making speech the coolest club in school, setting boundaries to avoid burnout, and remembering your why. Maddie shares her journey from private practice burnout to falling in love with elementary schools, how she creates themed sessions that have kids begging for their turn, and why leaving work at work changed everything. You'll also hear about gratitude journaling, hobbies outside of speech, and building community through relatable content. Whether you're a new CF or a veteran SLP, this conversation is packed with practical tips, real talk, and reminders that you can't pour from an empty cup.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• Maddie's SLP journey—from grad school through her CF year 
• Making the leap from private practice to elementary schools 
• Jumping into SLP social media and building community 
• Setting boundaries, work-life balance, and hobbies that keep you sane 
• Remembering your why and using gratitude journaling to avoid burnout

Here’s what we learned: 

• Themed sessions keep kids engaged—they're working on goals without even realizing it. 
• Setting boundaries early prevents burnout—leave your laptop at work, there are no speech emergencies. 
• Making speech fun creates buy-in—kids should feel like they're in an exclusive cool club. 
• Gratitude journaling helps you reflect and grow—both personally and professionally. 
• Finding community matters—sharing relatable content connects SLPs who understand what you're going through.

Learn more about Maddie Burrington: 

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missmaddieslp

Hoo.be: https://hoo.be/missmaddie 

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

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

📘✨ 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

 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/

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

📘✨ 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

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie is tackling something we’ve ALL felt—the Sunday Scaries. You know that pit in your stomach when the weekend winds down and suddenly you’re spiraling about therapy plans, data collection, that one impossible group, and your inbox? Hallie shares the story of Jay, an SLP Elevate member who has every material she could ever need at her fingertips but still messaged saying, “I have everything, why do I still get the Sunday scaries?” If you’ve ever felt this way (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t?), this episode is your reminder that feeling anxious doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you care. Hallie’s breaking down why the scaries show up, how to give yourself permission to keep it simple, and why your students don’t need you to be perfect on Monday morning—they just need you to show up with a smile and be present.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• Why the Sunday scaries mean you give a damn (and maybe had too much cold brew).
• The magic formula: log in, pick ONE thing, print it, and close the laptop.
• The key ingredients to successful sessions: compassion, understanding, creativity, and adaptability.
• Why using one resource across your whole caseload isn’t lazy—it’s smart and saves your sanity.

Here’s what we learned: 

• The Sunday Scaries are normal—even with all the best resources.
• Just pick something and let that be enough—because it IS enough.
• Your students feel it too, so use that shared Monday struggle to build connection.
• You don’t have to be 100% to do a good job—presence beats perfection every time.
• Leave Sundays for YOU and protect your weekends like your sanity depends on it.

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

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

📘✨ 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

Hallie chats about using videos for speech goals.

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie is warming up the speech room with one of her favorite low-prep tools: winter-themed YouTube videos. If you’re looking for ways to engage older students with activities that are motivating, free, and take the reading piece out of the equation, this one’s for you. She’s sharing five specific video recommendations—from the science of shivering to a heartwarming fiction story—that make targeting main idea, inferencing, and vocabulary feel like a breeze. Hallie also shares how to maximize one video across your entire caseload with five practical tips for managing mixed groups, because who has time to prep a million different things? It’s all about working smarter, not harder, and building a speech room culture where students feel successful and safe taking risks.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• Five winter video picks to keep therapy seasonally fun.
  • Why does it get cold in winter- - Mystery Science
  • Why Do We Shiver When it’s Cold? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS
  • https://www.commarts.com/project/24066/lily-the-snowman 
  • The science of snowflakes - Maruša Bradač
  • Does Being Cold Make You Sick?
• Addressing main idea, summarizing, and W-H questions through visual storytelling.
• Utilizing tier 2 words and target sounds found directly in the videos.
• Five tips to differentiate one activity for a variety of goals. 
• Using routines and comfort contracts to encourage student risk-taking. 
• Avoiding burnout by planning one high-quality activity for your whole caseload.

Here’s what we learned: 

• Engagement beats boredom—themed activities keep students motivated and excited to participate. 
• One video can do it all—differentiate on the fly to meet the needs of every student in a mixed group. 
• Strategic pausing is key—don't be afraid to stop or rewatch to check for understanding. 
• Peer learning is valuable—students benefit from hearing each other work on different skills. 
• Efficiency prevents burnout—relying on free, short videos lets you focus on your students instead of endless prep.

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

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

📘✨ 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

Hallie and Tricia Detig chat about high school speech therapy.

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Tricia Detig — creator of Thoughtful Talk and a high school SLP working with resource and life skills students. Tricia shares her journey from middle school to high school, getting real about the differences. She talks about building rapport with older students, ditching lectures for hands-on activities, and making therapy meaningful through real-world experiences like running a coffee cart and back-to-back drawing challenges. Plus, she dives into push-in services, student buy-in, and why working with secondary students is a "hidden gem." If you're in the high school world or thinking about it, this one's packed with practical tips and real talk.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• The vibe shift from middle to high school (and cracking that "too cool" shell) 
• Building rapport and getting buy-in with older students 
• Push-in vs. pull-out—how it's decided 
• Why hands-on beats lectures (coffee carts > worksheets) 
• Bringing job readiness into everyday therapy 
• Getting students involved in their own IEP meetings 
• Why secondary is a "hidden gem" worth exploring

Here’s what we learned: 

• High schoolers aren't hard—they just need you to meet them where they are. 
• Hands-on beats worksheets every time (especially for carryover). 
• Functional skills like coffee carts teach more than homework help ever will. 
• Progress looks different with older students—focus on life skills, not just data.
• Students in their IEP meetings changes everything (even if they just listen). 
• Secondary isn't scary—it's a hidden gem once you adjust. 
• Ask questions and lean on your team—secondary SLPs stay forever for a reason.

Learn more about Tricia Detig: 

Website: https://www.thoughtfultalk.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtful.talk/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thoughtfultalk.llc 

Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thoughtful-talk-llc-formerly-detig-dialect 

Speech Therapy Goal Bank for Middle School [grades 6-8]

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

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

📘✨ 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

Hallie chats with Malka Arnstein about making AAC more accessible for communication partners.

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Malka Arnstein — SLP, private practice owner, and AAC specialist on a mission to make AAC less intimidating and way more accessible. Malka gets real about the judgment that can creep into AAC work, why reframing it as just another communication tool changes everything, and how modeling for adults (not just kids) is where the magic happens. She talks about working with dysregulated students, pushing into classrooms instead of pulling out, and why showing up with fun and connection beats perfect data every time. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by AAC or like you're just winging it, this episode is packed with practical tips and plenty of "just do it and you'll be great" vibes.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• Why AAC is just a communication tool — and reframing it that way makes all the difference 
• How to make AAC accessible for SLPs, teachers, paras, and parents (not just users) 
• The power of modeling for adults, not just kids — show, don't tell 
• What it looks like to work with dysregulated students and build trust from a distance 
• Why pushing into classrooms instead of pulling out changes everything 
• How to ditch the data obsession for a minute and focus on fun and connection 
• What "modeling without expectations" actually means in practice

Here’s what we learned: 

• AAC isn't scary—it's just a tool, and reframing it that way changes everything. 
• Accessibility isn't just for users; teachers, paras, and parents need it to be usable too. 
• Model for the adults, not just the kids—show them how it's done in real time. 
• Push into classrooms instead of pulling out—let the team see AAC in action. 
• With dysregulated students, start from a distance and let trust build slowly. 
• Ditch the data sheets for a minute—fun and connection come first. 
• If it's not joyful, take a step back and adjust your approach.

Learn more about Malka Arnstein: 

Website: http://www.speakingaac.com 

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/973643611365308

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Speaking-AAC/61568405591784/

Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/speakingaac-llc

AAC Information Card

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

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

📘✨ 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