SLP Coffee Talk – Details, episodes & analysis

Hallie chats about how to help students and teachers understand our role as SLPs.

In this bonus episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie shares the moment that completely changed how she saw her role as a secondary SLP—when one simple question, “Why am I here?” sparked a major aha. She dives into how uncovering the why behind language struggles inspired Chapter 2 of her new book, The Secondary SLP Roadmap, and reshaped her approach to therapy. If you’ve ever wondered how to explain your impact or define your value as an SLP, this one’s for you.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• The question that changed how Hallie saw her role as an SLP. 
• Root cause vs. symptom—what students really need support with. 
• Why SLPs bring unique value beyond the classroom. 
• How to confidently explain your impact as a secondary SLP. 
• A sneak peek into Chapter 2 of The Secondary SLP Roadmap.

Here’s what we learned: 

• Knowing your why turns confusion into confidence. 
• You’re not just fixing sounds—you’re unlocking language. 
• Clarity about your role helps everyone see your impact. 
• Dig deeper, not wider, to make real progress. 
• You’re the expert who helps students—and teachers—connect the dots.

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 

🎉☕ Celebrate with Hallie at the Virtual Launch Party! Save your spot here: https://www.speechtimefun.com/launchparty 

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 bonus episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie’s keeping it real with the story that changed everything—how one tough fifth grader inspired her “Quick Wins” strategy and reshaped her whole approach to therapy. If you’ve ever struggled to reach a resistant student, this one’s for you. Hallie shares how understanding, creativity, and compassion can turn frustration into progress—and why helping students feel seen and successful matters more than any worksheet ever could.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• The real story behind how “Quick Wins” was born. 
• What one tough student taught Hallie about confidence and trust. 
• Why meeting students where they are changes everything. 
• How to give students early, authentic wins in speech. 
• A peek into Hallie’s new book, Secondary SLP Roadmap.

Here’s what we learned: 

• Small wins build big confidence—for your students and for you. 
• Meeting students where they are creates trust and real progress. 
• Success starts when students feel seen, capable, and safe. 
• Every tough session is a chance to rethink, adapt, and grow. 
• Helping students believe they can is the most powerful therapy of all.

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 

🎉☕ Celebrate with Hallie at the Virtual Launch Party! Save your spot here: https://www.speechtimefun.com/launchparty 

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 Angelina Loia about vocational initiatives for students with special needs and complex needs and the use of AAC in collaborative platforms.

This week on the pod, we’re joined by Angelina Loia, MA, CCC-SLP, TSSLD — a NYC-based SLP with 20+ years of experience in District 75! 🌟 From AAC to behavior support, Angelina shares how she helps students with complex communication needs find their voice. Plus, as a Certified Canva Educator, she brings creativity to the classroom by designing adapted materials and accessible systems that actually work. 💬✨

Get ready for an inspiring conversation about inclusion, collaboration, and the power of communication tools in action!

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• Building Vocational Initiatives in Special Education: How to design and implement meaningful, school-based vocational programs (like Snack Shop and BJ’s field trips) that build job readiness and communication opportunities for students with complex needs.
• Collaborative Therapy in Vocational Contexts: Practical strategies for teaming up with occupational therapists, paraprofessionals, and other providers to embed fine motor, executive functioning, and communication goals into shared activities.
• Using Get Ready–Do–Done to Structure Tasks: How this visual framework supports AAC users in understanding routines, staying organized, and knowing when a task is complete — making vocational tasks more predictable and successful.
• Real-World Readiness: Soft Skills & Hard Skills: Teaching not just job tasks, but essential soft skills like turn-taking, requesting help, problem-solving, and responsibility — all within meaningful school routines.
• Making AAC Functional & Flexible: Tips for integrating AAC into daily tasks using tools like CoughDrop, customizing boards for job-specific vocabulary, and modeling communication in real-time.
• Creating a Culture of Shared Ownership: Encouraging buy-in from school staff by designing collaborative planning systems in Google Docs, visual templates in Canva, and clear routines that support teamwork.

Key Talking Points:

• Build meaningful school-based vocational programs that foster job readiness and communication.
• Team up with OTs, paras, and providers to embed goals into shared activities.
• Use the Get Ready–Do–Done framework to make vocational tasks clear and predictable.
• Teach both hard skills and soft skills like problem-solving and responsibility.
• Make AAC functional with customized boards, real-time modeling, and flexible tools.
• Create a culture of teamwork with shared planning systems and visual support.

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

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

One of my absolute favorite resources to use in speech is YouTube videos! 

There is so much to love because there are so many options, it’s free, it’s motivating, and you can work on any possible goal! In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, I’m sharing my favorite holiday video that you can use this season with all of your speech groups. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Why this video is perfect to use in speech during this time of year
• The types of vocabulary and other goals you can work on with this video
• How this video and activity can be used in different groups
• My holiday gift to you

I challenge you to take this video and use it with all of your students! Tune in to learn how!

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/203

Resources Mentioned: 

Check out the video: https://youtu.be/O1C9zOQpKG4?si=ZG0CuGsxN00kheOK

Check out my Edpuzzle: https://edpuzzle.com/media/64de7c6d2f5a5941f16d77f1

Check out the follow-up activity mentioned:

https://youtu.be/haMi5SBtSX8?si=0A6cH6uIOFk6S-PV

https://youtu.be/e1gfzZUsQrM?si=4zwf0ZvKAoFKJMCb

Where We Can Connect: 

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

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

Can you believe it’s the holiday season already? 

To celebrate, in this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, I’m sharing low-prep therapy ideas that you can use in the upcoming days so that you can survive until Christmas break. These therapy ideas are all free holiday activities that are perfect for your older speech students!

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The easiest holiday activities to use during this time of year
• Where to find these free holiday-themed resources online
• How to use these simple resources and activities in a variety of ways

There are a bunch of ideas that you can use to plan for the holidays with ease and confidence. Tune in to hear what they are!

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/202

Resources Mentioned: 

Check out Wonderopolis: https://wonderopolis.org/

Check out the Holiday Traditions YouTube video: https://youtu.be/WGC9D68KScQ?si=NQh89MOQsW2zAsvK

Check out the Simon’s Cat Christmas Collection: https://youtu.be/ZNfGVE-_rms?si=sRGpOKljDGtb7gm4

Check out the How To Draw a Gingerbread House video: https://youtu.be/xEROfbsXEOY?si=xtduORwUifnjRX-_

Check out Blooket: blooket.com

Check out Baamboozle: https://www.baamboozle.com/game/793519

Where We Can Connect: 

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

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

Wondering how you can better support the Gestalt language processors on your caseload?

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, I have Farwa Husain who is one of our March 2024 Speech Retreat speakers on the show. She specializes in Gestalt Language Processors and she’s here to share some of her expertise and teach us how we can better support their language development in speech. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• What Gestalt Language Processing is and why it’s not as scary as it seems
• The impact you can make when you let your students be themselves
• The power in letting students honor themselves and their sensory systems
• How to target complex goals with GLPs 
• Activities to use with your GLPs so that they can get to their goals 

Farwa is passionate about what she does and I am so excited to share this conversation with you all in this episode. Make sure to tune in! 

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/201

Resources Mentioned: 

Visit Farwa’s website: https://www.oneononespeechtherapy.com/

Follow Farwa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/one.on.one.speechtherapy/

Follow Farwa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083213656418

Where We Can Connect: 

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

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

Are you in search of career-life balance?  Or maybe struggling with burnout? This episode is for you! 

Many SLPs struggle with this, and so in this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, I sat down with Ish Samarakoon to talk about how we can find more balance in our lives as busy SLPs. She also shares some valuable tips for developing a growth mindset and overcoming burnout.  

Topics covered in this episode include:

• What SLPs need to understand about imposter syndrome and how to overcome it
• The symptoms of burnout and when it’s time to get help
• Practical tips for managing stress and an overwhelming workload

Don’t let burnout stop you from enjoying your career as an SLP! Tune in to get some valuable tips to stop burnout in its tracks and love what you do again! 

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/200

Resources Mentioned: 

Get Ish’s free ebook Let’s Talk About Burnout: https://thespeechielife.activehosted.com/f/13

Learn more about Ish: https://linktr.ee/thespeechielife

Follow Ish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespeechielife_/

Check out her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWZSFxQQcyk_jlEheLKzmaA

Where We Can Connect: 

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

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

Wondering how you can help your families that have recently gotten an autism diagnosis? 

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, I sat down with Hat Richardson to talk about how she got diagnosed with autism and ADHD as an adult and how it has changed the way she approaches supporting her families and students with autism. She’s here to share some of her top tips for SLPs so that we can better support our autistic students and their families. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How Hat helps people who have recently gotten an autism diagnosis
• Why autism diagnoses are worth celebrating 
• Strength-based approaches to working with autistic students
• Using AAC for semi-speaking people

Hat has so many amazing insights into what it’s like to have autism and I’m so excited to share this conversation with you so don’t miss it! 

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/199

Resources Mentioned: 

Visit Hat’s website: https://hattalks.uk/

Follow Hat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hat.talks.uk/

Check out her Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HatTalks?ref=search_shop_redirect

Get a copy of the Autistic Masking book: https://a.co/d/g5UXaq8

Where We Can Connect: 

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

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

Wondering how you can get parents more involved when it comes to screen time for their child?

You’re not alone! In fact, a lot of SLPs struggle with that. So in this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, I’m chatting with Jeanelle Canelo who is here to share some tips to get parents more involved with their children during screen time. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Common parent concerns with screen time and what you can do
• Ways parents can engage when co-viewing
• How incorporating research can help get parents engaged

Not all screen time is bad! Jeanelle is here to help us teach parents how to make screen time educational and healthy for their children by getting involved. Tune in to learn more! 

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/198

Resources Mentioned: 

Visit Jeanelle’s website: https://hearforher.com/home

Follow Hear for Her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearforher/?hl=en

Follow Shift We Said on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shiftwesaid/?hl=en

Follow Jeanelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanellecanelo/

Where We Can Connect: 

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

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

Want a fresh and fun activity that you can use in hundreds of ways in speech?! 

I have you covered in this episode of SLP Coffee Talk! I’m sharing one of my favorite free websites that you can use to make custom receipts for your speech therapy sessions. You can work on so many goals with this and I am sharing all about it in this episode! 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The types of goals you can work on with receipts
• Ways to use receipts to make speech fun 
• Where to make your own custom receipts

The possibilities are endless with this activity! Tune in to learn how to use it in your speech sessions today! 

Full show notes available at www.speechtimefun.com/197

Resources Mentioned: 

Check out the Custom Receipt Maker website: http://www.customreceipt.com/

Where We Can Connect: 

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slp-coffee-talk/id1497341007

Follow Hallie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechtimefun

Follow Hallie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeechTimeFun/

Follow Hallie on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/missspeechie/

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