The SLP Now Podcast

Show Notes: slpnow.com/256Ever finish writing a goal and then realize you have no clear way to measure it at progress report time? You're not alone, and this episode has a fix.I'm walking you through the Digital Probe Binder (nearly 2,300 pages of goal-aligned probes) and showing you exactly how I pair it with goal cards to collect solid data for every student in a group in under five minutes. This combo keeps sessions moving, tells you exactly where each student is at, and makes progress reporting way less stressful.Resources mentioned:- Digital Probe Binder — available inside SLP Now- Data Collection Course — access it free at slpnow.com/pod (complete the course and the binder is automatically sent to you)

Show Notes: slpnow.com/254The vast majority of school-based SLPs don’t have perfectly matched groups, and that doesn’t mean therapy has to be less effective. With the right structure and planning strategy, mixed groups can actually become a powerful way to target multiple goals, support peer learning, and simplify your workload. In this episode, we walk through a practical framework for running structured, efficient therapy sessions, even when your groups include different grade levels and goals.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to segment your caseload so you can plan therapy more efficientlyWhy language-rich thematic units help you target multiple goals at onceA simple way to let students build on each other’s responses in mixed groupsHow the "Check in → Assess → Teach → Practice → Wrap up" structure reduces cognitive loadThree small strategies you can implement immediately to make sessions easierIf you'd like help setting this up for your own caseload, you can explore the tools and units inside a free trial at slpnow.com/pod.

Show Notes: slpnow.com/252School-based SLPs don’t struggle with planning because they’re disorganized; they struggle because their workload is overflowing. And when something has to give, therapy planning is often the first thing sacrificed. But thoughtful, structured planning is what actually makes therapy more efficient and effective.In this episode, you’ll learn:A simple 5-step session structure to reduce cognitive loadHow to use goal-aligned materials to plan in minutes (not hours)Why thematic units dramatically cut decision fatigueA 30-second habit that makes future planning easierHow structure improves student progress and behaviorIf you’re ready to make therapy planning sustainable, start your free trial at slpnow.com/pod and put these systems into action.

Show Notes: slpnow.com/250Paperwork doesn’t have to be the reason this job feels unsustainable. In this final episode of our paperwork series, we zoom out and look at why burnout is often a systems problem (not a passion problem), and what actually helps school-based SLPs get paperwork done more efficiently. You’ll hear practical ways to reduce cognitive load, create repeatable workflows, and make steady progress without adding more stress to your plate.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:Identify your biggest paperwork stressors and prioritize what matters mostUse a “buffet” approach to implement systems without overwhelmPlan IEPs and evaluations in a way that supports working aheadCreate reliable workflows that make paperwork feel manageable and sustainableIf you’re ready to make paperwork feel lighter, pick one strategy from this episode and try it this week.

A simple paperwork system can save you hours and protect your focus during the school week. In this episode, I’m sharing an easy way to organize pending IEPs and evaluations so your desk stays clear, you always know what to work on next, and nothing slips through the cracks. You’ll hear my go-to folder + checklist setup, plus flexible options for SLPs who prefer printable systems or digital workflows.In this episode, you’ll learn:A “one-folder-per-student” system to keep paperwork containedHow to prioritize paperwork by due date automaticallyWhy checklists reduce errors and last-minute scramblingPrintable vs. digital ways to stay consistent and organizedHow SLP Now can streamline forms, progress monitoring, and remindersReady to make paperwork easier? Start your free trial of SLP Now at slpnow.com/pod.

Show Notes: slpnow.com/245Narrative graphic organizers are a simple tool that can unlock stronger storytelling, richer language samples, and better generalization across therapy sessions. In this episode, I’m sharing four practical ways to use a narrative graphic organizer with students across grade levels—whether you’re targeting personal narratives, story retells, or literacy-based therapy goals. These strategies are easy to implement, highly flexible, and designed to reduce overwhelm while supporting clear narrative structure.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:Use graphic organizers to scaffold personal narrativesBuild pre-story knowledge before reading a book or articleSupport accurate and meaningful story retellsCreate parallel stories to promote generalizationIf you want to see these strategies in action and grab free graphic organizers, check out my on-demand SLP Summit course for a deeper dive.

Sequencing goals are common in IEPs, but do they actually lead to meaningful outcomes? In this episode, I share why I no longer write traditional sequencing goals and what I do instead to support generalization, comprehension, and real-world language use. We’ll look at how isolated sequencing tasks fall short and how embedding sequencing within narrative-based therapy can better support students’ communication skills.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why decontextualized sequencing tasks often don’t generalizeHow narrative-based frameworks support sequencing, memory, and comprehensionExamples of functional, measurable alternatives to traditional sequencing goalsPractical ways to scaffold sequencing within real stories and experiencesListen in to rethink how you target sequencing and walk away with ideas you can apply in therapy right away.

Show Notes: slpnow.com/242Want to access the free materials mentioned in the podcast? Go to slpnow.com/pod!In this episode, we break down six evidence-based strategies you can use to teach summarizing with clarity and confidence. From explicit instruction to picture-supported scaffolds, you’ll get practical tools you can use in your very next session.In this episode, you’ll learn: ✏️ How to explicitly define summaries, main ideas, and key details ✏️ Ways to use visuals and graphic organizers to boost comprehensio ✏️ Why modeling metalinguistic thinking accelerates learning ✏️ How sentence frames and text structures support generalization

Show Notes: slpnow.com/240Did you know that nearly half of English words have more than one meaning? In this episode, we break down simple, evidence-backed strategies to help students infer meaning, build vocabulary, and strengthen comprehension—all without adding more prep to your plate.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to introduce the concept of multiple meaning words with concrete, student-friendly examplesWays to teach students to use context clues and imagery to determine meaningMetalinguistic prompts that support flexible thinkingHow to use graphic organizers and parts-of-speech frames to deepen understandingIf you want ready-to-use activities for these strategies, start a free SLP Now trial (slpnow.com/pod) and explore the Multiple Meaning Words Skill Pack.

Show Notes: slpnow.com/238In this episode, I’m sharing five simple, research-backed strategies you can use to target basic concepts in a way that really sticks. You’ll learn how to keep instruction focused, embed concepts in meaningful contexts, and use gestures and visuals to boost understanding. I’ll also walk you through how to put it all together with one of my favorite books, Zoe Gets Ready, using a literacy-based therapy framework.Tune in to discover practical ways to target basic concepts while keeping therapy fun, functional, and evidence-aligned.Go to slpnow.com/trial to download the skill pack and therapy plans! It's free!

Show Notes: slpnow.com/236Even our youngest students use complex syntax, but what happens when they don’t? In this episode, Marisha breaks down why syntax matters (even for kindergartners!) and shares practical strategies to assess and target structures like passive voice, relative clauses, and adverbial clauses. You’ll learn evidence-based techniques such as focused stimulation, sentence combining, and sentence decomposition — plus how to easily embed these skills into your literacy-based therapy sessions using SLP Now resources.

Full Show Notes: slpnow.com/234In this episode, Marisha shares six practical, evidence-based strategies to target following directions. From pinpointing the right foundational skills to collaborating with teachers and planning for generalization, you’ll walk away with clear, actionable ideas you can use in your sessions right away.✨ What You’ll Learn:How to assess and identify the root causes of direction-following difficultiesThe power of recasting and corrective feedbackWhy incorporating movement boosts comprehensionHow to explicitly teach and model strategies like rehearsing and visualizingWays to partner with teachers for greater carryoverHow to plan for generalization from the start🎧 Tune in for practical tips you can apply this week!