In this episode you’ll hear about an easy snowball related lesson, a few book recommendations, and how labeling your 3 default feelings can help you recognize your most common emotions and what to do about it.
Read moreEpisode 88: Ambiguous Loss & 5 Tips to Be a Better Listener
Families Learning about an Autism School Eligibility or Medical Diagnosis during Coronavirus
Sarie describes how explaining the difference between a medical diagnosis of Autism and an educational eligibility under the category of Autism. Two scenarios where this has been important:
1) When a student has a medical diagnosis of ASD but doesn’t meet criteria in the schools for eligibility
2) When an Autistic student is exited from services because there is no longer an educational impact
Sarah shares a bit on Ambiguous Loss and recommends the interview with Pauline Boss on the On Being podcast.
Read moreEpisode 87: Do This Before You Work on the /R/ Sound
This episode was brought to you by:
Here are a few units I recommend for students who are already at the sentence level or above (these include vocabulary and comprehension questions and are perfect for groups):
/r/ readings with a landforms theme targeting science standards
r readings bloodsuckers bundle
Tips discussed in this episode:
by completing a thorough speech sample, we learn more about how and when (and if!) a student is using the /r/ sound
completing a /r/ probe before we work on production will also make /r/ articulation speech therapy sessions be a lot less frustrating and more productive
use consistent terms with your students when describing the /r/ sound (“lip sound” “tongue sound” and a “strong /r/” are some of my favorites)
get your students lips out of the way by asking them to smile or by using some of the tips above
practice discrimination and see if your student can discriminate your productions as well as their own productions, either as old way /r/ sounds or strong /r/ sounds
Working on the /r/ sound is one of the trickiest sounds to work on in speech therapy. Remember to give it time. If it’s taking time, chances are - you are doing it right, it’s just going to take longer than you think it will.
Episode 86: Your Private Practice Questions Answered w/ Guest Host Martha Speech
Are you considering opening a private practice? Is opening your own clinic something you’ve thought about - or are you more serious about starting a practice this year?
In this episode, guest host Martha Speech interviews Sarah, and the following questions (and more!) are answered?
How do you get started with marketing?
How did you get your first clients?
Should I start with accepting insurance or private pay only?
Should you buy assessments right away?
How do I deal with no shows or canceled appointments? Should I charge for them?
What should I do while I’m still in my “day job” to prepare to open my clinic?
….and more
Connect with Martha Speech: Clinic Website, Instagram, Teachers Pay Teachers
Want occasional updates from us and the freebies that go with selected episodes? www.slphappyhour.com/newsletter
Would you consider reviewing the podcast on Apple Podcasts? https://apple.co/2PuZc8c
This episode was sponsored by SLP Happy Hour’s landforms /R/ reading unit, which you can find at: https://www.slphappyhour.com/shop/landforms
Time Stamps
2:40 Martha describes her private practice
4:00 Lightning Round
8:20 Martha asks - Why did you start a private practice?
8:48 What challenges did you face in your private practice that you didn’t see coming?
11:38 What do you recommend for marketing and what do you not recommend doing?
17:46 How did you get your first client?
24:30 I’ve heard horror stories about billing insurance - what was your experience?
(FYI I talked about filling out the application and being in network, I failed to mention it usually takes 3-4 months for insurance to process that paperwork packet to become in network.)
27:00 What is a prior authorization and how do you go through that process with clients?
30:10 How do you handle no shows and cancellations?
36:10 Do you do evaluations? And when did you purchase assessment materials?
41:26 How do you know when you need to hire administrative help?
43:50 How to find Martha Speech Online marthaspeech.com or Martha Speech on IG or TPT
44:57 Martha shares a self care challenge - use no shows and cancels to your advantage
“The regrets I do have about communication is not being direct...be direct and be compassionate.”
Sarah
“You do have to take a certain amount of calculated financial risk to start a clinic...that’s why not everyone does it.”
Sarah
Episode 85: A Framework for Making Small Changes that Lead to Big Results w/Robyn Downs
In this episode, Robyn Conley Downs shares her framework for making small changes add up to big results.
In this interview with Sarah, Robyn shares:
Her work history (including working with plenty of SLPs and children with Autism as a Behavioral Specialist) and why she decided to make some career changes
How self compassion for the days we don’t achieve our goals can help us keep going
A framework for making small changes the lead to big results
….and more
Episode 84: Lessons Learned in 2020 & Hopes for The Coming Year
Are you winding down from this year and still figuring out what you’ve learned and how to approach the next year? In this episode, the cohosts share lessons they’ve learned this year and hopes for the year ahead, in hopes that it can help process your year.
Read moreEpisode 83: When Work isn’t the Most Important Thing
In this episode, the cohosts each share four changes they’ve made this year to prioritize their home lives over their work lives, and what they are still struggling with.
Book Spotlight by a Black Author An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Sarah and Sarie each share four tips for prioritizing your home life including: making sure your to-do list includes both home and work items, scheduling out your day in 30-minute increments with work and home priorities, having an after work wind down routine, protecting and defending boundaries (including work emails, phone calls, and texts on non-work days or after work hours), having a buddy who keeps you accountable leave work on time, cultivating a mental brain space where you don’t think about work when you aren’t there (which takes time and practice), and creating a to-do list that includes both work and home items.
The cohosts share two easy lessons on this episode. Sarah shares how reading about unusual animals has been motivating for her older language and articulation students and recommends reading more about the Sea Lamprey. Sarie shares a Google Form where you can do a Harry Potter escape room.
This episode is sponsored by the (TPT Link, Boom Link) R Pets Boom Cards Unit, where you can get done-for-you /R/ readings with comprehension questions, perfect for groups or students with language and articulation goals.
Want occasional updates from us and the freebies that go with selected episodes? www.slphappyhour.com/newsletter
Would you consider reviewing the podcast on Apple Podcasts? https://apple.co/2PuZc8c
Episode 82: 5 Essential Factors To Consider Before You Leave Your Job
Are you unhappy in your job this year? Feeling a bit more stressed than usual? Considering making a change in the future? In this episode, the cohosts share 5 factors to consider first, which will get you more clarity and more motion - whatever you decide to do next.
Also in this episode, Sarie shares about GoGo Speech and their green screen activities.
Sarah asks - is your check engine light on? And references this podcast episode.
5 Things To Consider Before You Leave Your Job
Read moreEpisode 81: Stepping Away From My Job Midyear with Jenn Alcorn
Have you thought about leaving your job this year?
According to our informal poll, 70% of you don’t know if you’ll be finishing out your work contract this year or have had moments where you’ve considered quitting.
With rising demands on SLPs and increased rules and regulations and less support around Coronavirus, many SLPs have reported feeling unhappy with their current work situation. But is it time to leave? How do you know when it’s time to leave? How can a job change be a part of your self care plan? And how to do make a graceful exit when you can’t leave midyear, but know you won’t be going back?
These questions are answered by Jenn Alcorn who runs the popular Crazy Speech World Blog.
Read moreEpisode 80: 3 Self Care Non Negotiables For Difficult Times
In this episode, the cohosts share easy lessons for your speech room, therapy tips and what they are doing to get self care back to the basics.
Read more