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It’s time to get into focused skill activities! So far, this Literacy-Based Therapy Bootcamp podcast series has covered choosing a book, pre-story knowledge/reading, and post-story comprehension. Today we’re getting into the fourth step of the framework, and start getting that focused practice in. In the episode, Marisha talks about: Increasing goal awareness, connecting with students, and getting their buy-inUsing visuals to break the skills down and make them easier to learnTargeting multiple goals at once and using fewer materialsHow language-rich activities can help you target almost any goal There are so many ways you can get creative and combine focused skill activities. You’ll get more done with less prep and less stress — so you can make the most of the time you have with your students. SHOW NOTES Finf the full show notes and links to resources mentioned at slpnow.com/177

In today’s episode of the podcast, Marisha shares three different strategies she uses to embed comprehension activities into her literacy-based units. She talks about her approach to assessments — plus examples of scaffolding support based on the data collected — so that you know exactly how to put this information to work in your practice. 💪 In the episode, we cover: Starting the session with a probe.This helps Marisha collect data that informs the course of treatment and the type of support to offer.Using your clinical judgment as an SLP.Combining internal and external evidence with clinical experiences helps you make an informed choice.Examples of scaffolding support.Marisha shares a few ideas of how she would scale support during the session depending on probe data. Check it out to get all the details — and work smarter with the therapy plans Marisha talks about (”Just a Duck”) when you sign up for a free trial membership of SLP Now! >> https://app.slpnow.com/account/register

We’re in the middle of Literacy-Based Therapy Bootcamp here on the SLP Now podcast. 💪 Last week we discussed choosing a text (go back if you haven’t listened yet!) and in this episode, Marisha dives into steps one and two of Dr. Ukrainetz’ literacy-based therapy framework — pre-story knowledge activation and reading the text. In the episode, Marisha covers: The value of doing a book walkUsing a KWL chart for pre-story activationThe skepticism about the efficacy of these activitiesThe importance of background knowledgeHow these steps set the stage for drill-based activitiesUsing a story grammar organizerKeeping students engaged in the activity This episode is short, sweet, and jam-packed with practical insights and strategies that set the foundation for literacy-based therapy, fostering engagement, and language development. Happy listening! 🎙️✨ SHOW NOTES Full show notes at slpnow.com/175

As an SLP, our job is to focus on the language underpinnings: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. That's what we do best, and it’s how we help our students build the skills and strategies that they need to be successful beyond the classroom. Literacy-based therapy offers a great framework to support the development of language underpinnings, and at SLP Now, we like to talk about one that was developed by Dr. Ukrainetz. Her framework for literacy-based therapy includes five steps: pre-story knowledge activation, reading the book, post-story comprehension, focused skill activities, and creating a parallel story. Using this framework, you can target almost any goal — but it’s really important to be strategic when you’re selecting a text, especially if you want to create a whole month of therapy plans using just one book! That’s why today’s episode is about how to choose the right book for literacy-based therapy. In the episode, Marisha talks about: Criteria to select texts that can be used in a functional and therapeutic wayThe best length of book to useWhat happened when she didn’t follow these criteriaTargeting multiple goals with one bookWhen to use an expository text versus narrative structureWhat to do if the text you’ve selected doesn’t have appropriate targetsAligning texts with the curriculum SHOW NOTES Full show notes at slpnow.com/174

It’s time to talk about February therapy plans! 💕 In this episode, Marisha walks you through the exact process she uses to plan an entire month of therapy. She takes you through plans that span preschool through sixth grade, tying in the strategies and tips she shared in recent episodes. From segmenting your caseload to using quick probes and grab-and-go visuals, this episode will help you prepare a month of therapy that targets all your students’ goals using books like "Little Blue Truck" and "The Day It Rained Hearts" — plus a lava lamp science experiment that you can do with older students! This episode offers practical, time-efficient, and simple strategies for monthly therapy planning no matter the size or diversity of your caseload. Marisha’s systematic approach will help you facilitate smooth sessions, provide consistency and structure for your students, and make the most of your cognitive capacity so that you can focus on what matters most. SHOW NOTES Full show notes at slpnow.com/173

Ready to supercharge your speech therapy sessions with 3 simple planning strategies? Then this is the episode for you! When problems feel really big, it’s easy to think we need big strategies to solve them. But often, the simplest thing does the trick! In this episode, Marisha shares 3 practices that have taken her SLP game to the next level: Segmenting your caseload for stress-free planningHarnessing the power of pre-made therapy plansGathering your must-have materials in advance Put these strategies to work right away — even if you have minimal prep time — and take your therapy planning from “uh-oh” to "I got this." SHOW NOTES Full show notes at slpnow.com/163

Having a routine to rely on in therapy sessions can be an invaluable support for SLPs at every stage of their career and caseloads. But some folks can be a tad hesitant when it comes to the idea of more structure. Marisha wants to assure you that using a framework isn't about creating a checklist and following it mindlessly; it's about having a framework for your therapy sessions so that your work (and life!) feels easier. And of course, there is tons of research to support the benefits of incorporating routines into therapy. Implementing a routine frees up cognitive resources that would be spent trying to figure out what's next in the session — and this applies to students and SLPs. Just think about what you could do with that freed up brain power! In the episode, Marisha shares the five step framework she uses to structure her therapy sessions: Check in Assess Teach Practice Wrap up Marisha gives details about why each step matters, offers examples of the framework in practice, and illustrates ways that clinical experience + judgment inform the application.

Returning to the speech room after a break (of the start of a new year!) can be equal parts exciting and anxiety-inducing as an SLP. 🥵 It’s great to have a little reprieve from routine and a few days that don’t require an alarm clock, but that return to normalcy can also be a little daunting after that PJ life. That’s why our first podcast episode of this new year is super simple and actionable: Three Tips for SLPs Starting a New Semester. In this episode, Marisha shares some of the practices she relies on to get herself (and her students!) back into the swing of things at the beginning of a new term, or when she returns to work after a much-needed break. 💪 This episode is full of tips to help you start the semester off right! We cover: The value of doing a check-in with your studentsThe importance of reviewing students’ goalsThe power of collecting data …and more! 🔗 Check out the full show notes and get links to the resources mentioned at slpnow.com/170

In this episode of the SLP Now podcast, Marisha dives into the power of working with mixed groups — and her top five tips to foster a supportive group learning environment. From the top, she stresses the importance of adjusting your mindset and embracing the positive aspects of mixed groups in speech therapy. She acknowledges the real challenges associated with mixed groups but also underscores the substantial benefits. While one-on-one therapy is sometimes the best option, there are situations where grouping students becomes a necessity. In Marisha's experience, working in schools with extensive caseloads required her to provide services to multiple students simultaneously. In such settings, there's simply not enough time in the day to accommodate one-on-one therapy for all students. For Marisha, this experience highlighted the value of focusing on the positive aspects of mixed groups, and she found herself incorporating them into her sessions more and more. Marisha highlights that mixed groups can serve as a platform for students to act as valuable role models, enhancing the generalization of skills. Students can scaffold and support each other, creating a dynamic and positive learning environment that's just not possible in one-on-one sessions. In the episode, Marisha covers: How to embrace and lean into the positive aspects of mixed groupsSetting up a strong data collection systemThe importance of preparing your visualsCreating a routine for your sessionsWhy planning ahead will prevent you from scrambling If a lack of confidence is getting in the way of you making speech therapy magic happen with mixed groups, then this podcast episode is exactly what you need! We hope these tips will help you see the benefits of mixed groups and how they can foster a positive learning experience for your students — so that you can show up and do your best SLP work by working smarter, not harder. Make sure to check out the episode and full show notes — because that’s where you’ll find links to all the resources and tools mentioned. 👇 SHOW NOTES Full show notes at slpnow.com/169

Welcome to another episode of The SLP Now Podcast, where we explore practical strategies and tactics for SLPs to enhance their skills and level up in their career. Today, we're diving into a topic near and dear to our hearts: Making the most of your next SLP conference If you’ve been a podcast listener for a while, you may already know that Marisha is passionate about learning and staying up-to-date with the latest in the world of speech pathology. Whether it's new research, innovative interventions, or creative caseload management techniques, she's always eager to learn more. One of Marisha’s favorite ways to learn and connect with fellow SLPs is by attending conferences. She loves how conferences offer a perfect blend of learning opportunities and the chance to connect with incredible SLPs like you! But even with all her experience attending conferences, Marisha knows that the amount of options and information can sometimes be overwhelming. Should I learn something new, or should I focus on perfecting what I already know? Questions like this can cause some serious stress. That’s why Marisha started developing systems to make the most of these fantastic (albeit sometimes overwhelming and expensive 😅) learning opportunities. In today's episode of the SLP Now podcast, Marisha shares her top three tips to help you make the most of your next SLP conference. In the episode, we cover: Selecting courses that align with your caseloadSetting up a smart note-taking systemManaging your CEUs like a pro Marisha also shares exactly how she uses tools like Google sheets, Notability, and SLP Now’s caseload-at-a-glance sheet to get the most value out of the SLP conferences she attends. We hope you learn a thing or two (or three!) to help you do the same! SHOW NOTES Find the full show notes and resources mentioned at slpnow.com/168

Are you ready for round two of Marisha’s favorite apps for speech therapy? Last week we talked about using Notability, Cookie Doodle, and Toca Tea Party. This week we’re following up with part two, sharing more apps that can be absolute game changers for speech therapy. The apps Marisha talks about in this episode are: 1. Cough Drop 2. Articulation Station 3. SLP Now! From AAC to speech sound disorders to therapy planning and data collection, we’ve got you covered when it comes to apps that will make your SLP life easier. Head to slpnow.com/167 for this week’s episode, show notes, and links to resources mentioned — and then come say hi on Instagram and let us know your favorite speech therapy apps! SHOW NOTES Full show notes at slpnow.com/167

Technology can be a bit of a double-edged sword for SLPs, right? In the years Marisha has been an SLP, she’s watched a ton of apps come in and out of vogue. But there are a few (aside from SLP Now!) that have stood the test of time, and are a regular part of her speech session rotation — which is what we’re talking about on the latest episode of the podcast! From increasing student engagement to sharing PDFs to repetitive practice, these three apps can make your life as an SLP so much easier: NotabilityCookie DoodleToca Tea Party This episode gets into the nitty gritty of how you can make these apps work for you! Listen in, then come say hi on Instagram (@SLPNow) to share your favorite apps with us. We can’t wait to hear what you’re using! SHOW NOTES Full show notes at slpnow.com/166