How to analyze research graphs – a primer for SLPs
In the past, I used the abstracts of research papers to determine what the research was about and the results of the study. I naively assumed that abstracts would not be biased; they would not overexaggerate results or make claims that were not fully supported. I didn’t come to these quick conclusions based on ill-intent… Read more
Conversational Scripts
Do you serve students with limited language skills who are unsure of how to interact within a situation? Here is a great example. I give my student five cards and keep five for myself and explain that we are going to play “Go Fish”. I could name multiple students right now that would either repeat… Read more
Becoming an exceptional supervisor – an introduction for SLPs
What is one of the number one components to a successful career in speech-language pathology or other education/health related fields? Powerful, exceptional, and amazing mentors and supervisors. I still remember my graduate school supervisors with fondness and my clinical fellowship mentors with revere. Conversely, what is one of the number one ways to deter someone… Read more
Literacy Interventions in Speech Therapy
Speech pathologists have an important role to play in literacy instruciton. Unfortunately, my graduate program never taught me what that role was or what to do about it. So…I have spent at least a decade scoffing at presenters who tell me that I need to take on yet ANOTHER responsibility. Isn’t the SLP’s scope of… Read more
Shared Reading as Evidence-Based Practice
Did you know that shared storybook reading is an evidence-based practice for increasing expressive language skills? Not only does research support shared reading, but it is one of the most natural and universally known adult/child bonding interactions! Single subject case studies have found that shared storybook reading can result in significant expressive language increases for… Read more
Should I work in a school?
As a graduate student supervisor, I frequently find myself selling the school-setting to speech-language pathology students. Many graduate programs inadvertently spread the idea that working in the schools is somehow “lesser” or not prestigious. As someone who has worked in schools, clinics, private practice, and hospitals, I find this viewpoint misleading and unfair to the… Read more
Best Practice for Articulation
I don’t know about your speech pathology program, but I really wish I had taken a good evidence-based course in speech sound disorder treatment. When I accidentally fell into the role of school-based SLP, I had no background on how to do articulation therapy. So I looked to my right and my left and started… Read more