A speech and language podcast to motivate and inspire school-based SLPs. Get the tips, strategies, and low-prep therapy ideas you need to confidently walk into your therapy room and plan with ease. Learn and hear stories from an SLP in the trenches just like you!
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Principles of Motor Learning in Articulation Intervention
Monday, September 28, 2026 • Duration 25:07
Tired of reaching for the same generic drills no matter what speech sound error walks through your door? In this episode, Hallie chats with Laura Rinella, MA, CCC-SLP, creator of Laura Teaches Speech and a pediatric specialist in speech sound disorders. Laura breaks down how she builds targeted, individualized treatment plans that move the needle on intelligibility, offers her take on telling articulation and phonological disorders apart in real sessions, and explains why she sees every kid's progress as a step toward letting their voice come through.
Bullet Points to Discuss:
- Why principles of motor learning belong in articulation therapy
- how manipulating practice & feedback results in independence
- When more isn't always better - high trials aren't enough
- The performance trap - why success during practice doesn't equal learning
- The power of mistakes - update & refine the motor plan
- Variation - the secret sauce/game changer/the closer
Here’s what we learned:
Motor learning principles matter for every kid with a speech sound error, not just those with residual/lingering errors
Mastering a sound in the therapy room isn't the same as mastering it in real life — that's the performance trap
Variation in rate, intonation, and loudness is what drives carryover to real conversation
Speech motor chaining builds from syllables to self-generated sentences, leveling up as accuracy improves
Buy-in matters as much as biomechanics — kids need to believe change is possible before the movement work sticks
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
Documenting Strengths-Based Therapy in a Goal-Driven System
Episode 346
Monday, September 21, 2026 • Duration 25:34
Struggling to know what "good" data collection actually looks like, especially with older students on your caseload? In this episode, Hallie sits down with Kayla Obenour, an SLP with over a decade of experience across schools, outpatient, home health, and private practice, to chat all about what real, useful data collection can look like. Kayla shares why she's always aimed to "practice what she preaches" as a clinician, how she helps new clinicians cut through the overwhelm of tracking everything at once, and why qualitative data deserves just as much credit as a percentage on a page.
Bullet Points to Discuss:
Why data collection creates such heavy cognitive load for new clinicians
Probe data versus continuous data, and what makes data reliable and valid
Rethinking the 80% accuracy standard and other ways to measure meaningful progress
The role parents, teachers, and work samples play in painting a fuller picture
Breaking annual goals into smaller, more achievable objectives
Why starting from a student's strengths builds buy-in and confidence
Here’s what we learned:
Ten solid probe data points can be just as valid as tracking data throughout an entire session.
Qualitative data, like the type and amount of support a student needed, is still meaningful data.
Percent accuracy alone doesn't reveal whether a skill functions for a student outside of therapy.
Parents and teachers often notice things in other settings that never show up in session data.
Starting with a student's smallest achievable step builds momentum faster than jumping straight to the end goal.
Using One Activity With As Many Groups As Possible
Monday, September 14, 2026 • Duration 16:07
In this solo episode, Hallie breaks down how to stop drowning in back-to-back groups with completely different goals. She covers why you don't need a separate activity for every student, how one resource — a video, book, article, or even a game — can hit multiple goals at once, and why mixed-goal groups can actually work in your favor instead of against you. If planning has been eating into time you don't have and you're tired of scrambling between sessions, this episode is for you.
Bullet Points to Discuss:
Why "one activity per student" is a planning trap, not a requirement
The case for letting mixed-goal groups work side by side
Keeping students in the loop on their own goals and why it matters
Turning any YouTube video into a multi-goal lesson with Edpuzzle
Wordless picture books: the ultimate no-prep, any-goal resource
Squeezing more mileage out of articles, storybooks, and games than "intended"
Making one resource stretch across grade levels without extra work
Here’s what we learned:
You don't need a new activity for every student — one resource can carry the whole group.
Mixed-goal groups pick up extra language just from hearing each other get prompted.
Edpuzzle lets you drop goal-specific questions right into any video.
Nobody's handing out a trophy for asking the exact question printed on the card.
The same resource can flex across grade levels — just adjust the difficulty, not the material.
Feeling stuck when it comes to that pesky vocalic R? In this episode, Hallie sits down with Karen Krogg of The Pedi Speechie, a school-based SLP with a serious R obsession, to talk through everything from tongue shape to carryover. Karen breaks down her hand gesture analogies, favorite tools, and how she keeps kids motivated through the long haul of R therapy.
Bullet Points to Discuss:
Determining when R work is warranted for older students in schools
Retroflex R vs. bunched R, and how to tell the difference
Hand gesture analogies and tools like the typodont and Sketchfab
Making practice fun without turning it into straight drilling
Carryover strategies that actually get used at home
Advice for SLPs and CFs new to treating vocalic R
Here’s what we learned:
Progress often comes down to problem-solving, not repetition — no single method works for every student
The quicker a student masters R in isolation, the more predictable the rest of therapy tends to go
A baseline screener at the start of the year makes progress easier to track
Patience is part of the clinical skill set — R therapy can take well over a year
New SLPs don’t need to have it all figured out — CEU courses and online resources help fill the gaps
Feeling like data collection is eating up all your therapy time? In this episode, Hallie sits down with Michele Rothstein of SLP Madness, a 26-year elementary school-based SLP, to talk all about how to make data collection clean, efficient, and legally defensible. Michele shares her 3:1 treatment-to-probe ratio, how she handles Medicaid billing without sacrificing real therapy time, and why she believes data is her favorite four-letter word.
Bullet Points to Discuss:
The difference between therapy charting and true data collection
Why testing your students every session isn't the same as teaching them
Using a 3:1 ratio: three weeks of treatment, one week of progress monitoring
How to report Medicaid billing data on non-probe weeks
Building and organizing probes so they're ready for IEP season
Handling inherited IEP goals you don't agree with or understand
Here’s what we learned:
Data collection and therapy charting are not the same thing
Consistent stimuli each time you probe is what makes data legally defensible
An IEP is a blueprint, not a complete list of everything you're targeting
Honesty about inherited goals builds trust with families and teams
Starting small with one student or goal is the key to sticking with a new system
Struggling with how to support a student who stutters without falling into the “fix it” trap? In this episode, Hallie sits down with Wendy Dietz, an SLP and clinic owner in Colorado who specializes in stuttering therapy, to chat all about what an acceptance-based approach really looks like. Wendy shares how a moving college essay first sparked her interest in stuttering, how the CARE model she learned at UT Austin completely shifted her perspective, and how she helps parents let go of all-or-nothing thinking about their child’s speech.
Bullet Points to Discuss:
Why fluency-focused early intervention isn’t backed by research and can cause harm
Helping parents move past “fixed” vs. “held back” thinking about their child’s stuttering
A student’s journey from a fluency-focused approach to self-advocacy and confidence
Why observable severity often doesn’t match a student’s internal experience of stuttering
What stuttering assessment looks like beyond disfluency counts
Resources for SLPs building skills and confidence in this niche
Here’s what we learned:
The goal is confident communication, not reducing or curing stuttering
A third path exists for parents beyond “fixed” or “struggling forever”
A student’s own attitude toward stuttering matters as much as how it sounds
Early education protects students from internalizing negative experiences later
Confidence in this niche comes from community involvement, not just coursework
A Human Approach to Stuttering and Neurodiversity – Ana Hernandez Episode:
Why Word Webs Work: An Easy Vocabulary Strategy for Older Students
Episode 341
Monday, August 17, 2026 • Duration 15:56
In this solo episode, Hallie unpacks one of her go-to therapy strategies for grades 4-12: word webs. She covers why this simple visual tool does so much heavy lifting in mixed therapy groups, how it hits multiple goals at once, and why it beats another boring vocabulary worksheet every time. If you've been looking for a way to teach vocabulary that actually sticks (and doesn't require a Pinterest-worthy setup), this episode is for you.
Bullet Points to Discuss:
What word webs are and how they help students connect meaning to a word instead of just memorizing a definition
Why word webs support deeper processing and long-term carryover for vocabulary retention
Which students benefit most from this visual, low-prep approach
Ways to adapt word webs to feel age-appropriate for older, "too cool for therapy" students
Using word webs to build emotional vocabulary beyond happy, sad, and mad
How to introduce and scaffold the skill so it doesn't overwhelm students early on
Here’s what we learned:
Word webs give repeated, meaningful exposure to a word, which is what makes vocabulary stick.
No fancy prep needed. A whiteboard or sticky notes will do.
One word web can hit different goals for different students in the same group.
Start small and build complexity gradually to avoid overwhelming students.
Making it relevant to their world (sports, social media, career goals) is what keeps older students engaged.
Feeling unsure about AAC? You're not alone. In this episode, Hallie sits down with Cassidy, a speech therapist and owner of Around the Spectrum Therapy in Pennsylvania, to talk through what makes AAC feel so overwhelming and how to move past the "getting it right" mentality. Cassidy shares her journey from knowing next to nothing about AAC to building a robust vocabulary approach with clients from as young as 17 months, plus practical ways to coach parents and teachers who feel stuck.
Bullet Points to Discuss:
Why AAC feels overwhelming for so many SLPs, from tech overload to inconsistent caseload exposure
The mindset shift from "perfect system" to just diving in and learning alongside the child
Robust vocabulary vs. simple grids, and reframing AAC as language input, not just output
How to structure sessions around a child's actual interests, including working with action words and motor-driven kids
Coaching parents and professionals to focus on small, sustainable wins instead of all-or-nothing use
Here’s what we learned:
AAC should be treated as another tool in the therapy toolbox, not a separate, high-pressure system
Starting with robust vocabulary access early, even with very young or emerging communicators, can pay off long-term
Small, specific wins (one word, one moment) build more momentum than pushing for constant device use
Finding genuine joy and connection with the child matters more than following a rigid AAC plan
Meeting parents and teachers where they are is just as important as meeting the student where they are
The Role of SLPs in 5th-Year Transition Programming
Monday, August 3, 2026 • Duration 28:48
In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie's back with returning guest Shelby Davis, a school-based SLP at Community High School in Teaneck, NJ, and a doctoral candidate at Monmouth University. Shelby's diving into the 5th-year transition program she's helping build for students on the spectrum and others with complex learning needs — designed to bridge the gap between high school and real independence. From vocational skill-building to community partnerships, Shelby walks through how the program came together, what SLPs can offer beyond the classroom, and how any SLP can bring these strategies into their own practice, transition program or not.
Bullet Points to Discuss:
Why four years isn't always enough — and what a 5th-year transition program looks like in practice
Moving beyond classroom goals to communication students actually need at work, in the community, and at home
The skill areas worth targeting: self-advocacy, executive functioning, vocational communication, problem-solving
Real-world practice — job shadowing, budgeting trips, even a visit to the post office
Why repetition and hands-on practice outside the classroom matters most for autistic and other diverse learners
Getting SLPs, OTs, teachers, counselors, and families all working from the same playbook
The resources behind the program — Speech Time Fun, a monthly themed curriculum, and the NYT Learning Network
Here’s what we learned:
There's almost no existing research on 5th-year transition programs — which is part of why Shelby's building her doctoral work around it
Real-world self-advocacy starts small: affirmation flashcards students can lean on when asking for help at a register or counter
Admin buy-in came down to a clear proposal — mock curriculum, funding, staff certifications, not just an idea
Parents said yes faster than expected — once they saw the goal was independence, not delay
Bottom line for older students: treat them like people, not projects — connect to their interests first
Motivation in Secondary-Age Students with Speech Sound Disorders
Episode 338
Monday, July 27, 2026 • Duration 27:23
In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with researchers Klaire Brumbaugh and Katy Cabbage, who are part of a team building a nationwide study around something secondary SLPs know all too well: the older student still working on that R who has zero interest in being in the speech room. They're developing tools to actually measure student motivation—so SLPs have real data behind decisions like when to keep kids on, when to discharge, and how to catch that window when a student is finally ready to do the work.
Bullet Points to Discuss:
What one SLP noticed in her high school speech room that kicked off this whole research project
Why motivation is already being used as a dismissal criteria—but no one's actually measuring it
What the research is finding so far—and where the big gaps still are
What a nationwide study looks like and how SLPs can get involved
Here’s what we learned:
When a student is intrinsically motivated, progress can happen in weeks—not years.
Low motivation is already being used to dismiss kids from therapy, but there's no real way to measure or track it.
Parents, teachers, and students often see the same speech sound disorder in completely different ways—and that gap can affect every decision you make.
The best research ideas are already happening in school speech rooms. This whole study started because one SLP spoke up at a conference.
Discover shows related to SLP Coffee Talk, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
