Speech-language pathology is a profession of lifelong learning, and sometimes that lifelong learning involves scrambling for resources when a student with an unfamiliar diagnosis lands on our caseloads! Speed Learning about Selective Mutism This happened to me when I began working with a student who had a diagnosis of situational mutism (sometimes called selective mutism—more on this later) for the first time. Like many of us, I had gotten a quick overview in graduate school, but I wasn’t exactly sure how to approach treatment. So I read the (limited!) articles that were available, talked to o ..read more

This post contains affiliate links for which we may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. Click here to read our full affiliate policy. April showers bring new video recommendations! This month’s set is an eclectic mix of art, science, sign language, and unicorns.  Just a quick reminder: I watched all of these videos and found them to be worthwhile, but everyone’s needs are different, so please preview any video before sharing it with students. Let’s press play! Sesame Street: Grover Talks About Plants Length: 3 minutes Ages: Preschool–3rd grade With spring in full ..read more

This post contains affiliate links for which we may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. Click here to read our full affiliate policy. SLPs are a brave bunch, but there are two words that strike fear into our hearts: mixed groups. When scheduling constraints and huge caseloads cause us to see students with different types of goals (e.g. articulation + language) in the same session, we often feel overwhelmed and ineffective. It doesn’t have to be this way! Mixed groups will never be ideal, but they don’t need to make us miserable. Over the years, I’ve learned four ways t ..read more

Let’s celebrate spring! This month’s video suggestions honor the changing seasons, the natural world, and the power of a dance break.  Just a quick reminder: I watched all of these videos and found them to be worthwhile, but everyone’s needs are different, so please preview any video before sharing it with students. On with the recommendations!  TreeTop Barbie and the Last Biotic Frontier Length: 8 minutes Ages: 6th–12th grade In addition to spring, March brings us Women’s History Month and Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month. It’s a great time to learn about b ..read more

It’s gloomy outside, but this month’s videos are full of life and color! There’s something here for just about every age group and goal area, so I hope these recommendations make your February speech therapy planning easier. Just a quick reminder: I watched all these videos and found them to be worthwhile, but everyone’s needs are different, so please preview any video before sharing it with students. Let’s jump in! Groundhogs for Kids Length: 6 minutes Ages: 2nd grade–6th grade Socratica Kids is a versatile YouTube channel covering a range of topics, including science, math, literacy, and eve ..read more

The world changed forever in November 2022, when the artificial intelligence research lab OpenAI released ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot. The technology wasn’t exactly new, but it was the first time it was available to the public in a user-friendly format—and the reception was enthusiastic, with more than a million users in less than a week! These users started posting on social media and sharing examples of the many things ChatGPT could do, including planning meals, creating computer programs, and writing blog posts. So, how would ChatGPT and the SLP fit together in this new era of technology ..read more

Happy New Year! I’m excited to kick off a brand new monthly blog series focusing on videos to use in speech therapy sessions. Here are five videos to use in speech therapy in January. Why videos? There are many reasons! Perhaps the most important one is that students usually love them—and when students are interested in a resource, it enhances their learning. Videos are also accessible, easy to share with caregivers and teachers, and great for mixed groups, and they can be used for teletherapy as well as in-person sessions. This blog series will highlight seasonally relevant videos for a varie ..read more

This post contains affiliate links for which we may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. Click here to read our full affiliate policy. Winter is almost here! As the temperatures freeze, our creativity sometimes freezes too—after all, we’re writing progress reports and squeezing in holiday prep, while battling the tiredness that comes from short, gloomy days. It’s a lot, and it doesn’t leave much energy for planning fun sessions with our students and clients. That’s where this blog post comes in! I’m excited to share a blizzard of fun, easy, creative ideas for winter spe ..read more

This Epic book post is bittersweet, because it’s the final one! I have loved bringing you these recommendations each month, and I hope you’ll revisit them whenever you need some inspiration. In 2024, I’ll be starting a new monthly blog series focusing on videos to use in speech therapy sessions. I’m looking forward to that, but for now, let’s dive into one last set of book suggestions! When Rosa Parks Went Fishing December 1st is Rosa Parks Day, commemorating her landmark refusal to move to the back of a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This action (and Rosa’s subsequent arrest) ignited ..read more

This post contains affiliate links for which we may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. Click here to read our full affiliate policy. With decreasing daylight and increasing stress, November doesn’t always feel like the right time to focus on gratitude, but maybe that’s exactly why we should—or at least try! Our November Epic Book Recommendations roundup is full of titles designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and yes, thankfulness. Enjoy!  My Heart Fills With Happiness The research is clear: gratitude is good, and it’s not just for grownups! A 2019 study found ..read more