The movie character that best represents your SLP confidence is…
CHER HOROWITZ From “Clueless”
You’re irresistibly lovable in your metaphorical yellow skirt suit — feeling put together on the outside, but finding your way towards deeper connection with your students on the inside.
You don’t let much get you down, do ya? Even if you’d failed your driver’s test a couple of times, nothing would get in your way of getting back into your Jeep Wrangler (and possibly picking up a couple of parking tickets along the way).
At your core, you simply want to help others do better, which is why you LOVE being an SLP!
You’ll drive in platforms if you have to. Nothing gets in your way of putting your student’s best interests first.
Paired with your sunny attitude on life, your students are truly lucky to have such a kind and compassionate human supporting them every step of the way.
You show up each and every day for them, even if you’ve spent hours the night before crawling through Pinterest and TPT to find the *best* lessons possible. All that scrolling doesn’t leave you any time to give dusty lesson plans a makeover — and you’re dying to glam them up!
You have an inner confidence that most would envy, although you occasionally tend to let impostor syndrome get the best of you.
Let’s take a moment to dig into what makes you so…
Thoughtful
Fun-Loving
Caring
Charismatic
What part of your Cher personality traits are major SLP strengths?
The matchmaking skills Cher naturally has are in parallel to YOUR inner knowing of what each student *really* needs to thrive.
Your intuition and confidence have gotten you really close to where you want to be, and you sense that feeling like you TOTALLY know what you’re doing is only a few steps away. But right now, it might not always feel like you know what you’re doing.
The best part? You feel ready, capable, and focused to step into greater learning because you want to deliver the absolute best material for your students.
So, what’s standing in the way of *feeling* 100% confident as an SLP?
Even Cher would have to learn how to prep for debate class properly…
Despite your best efforts to pull together beautifully crafted rooms and exquisite lesson plans, deep down…
You aren’t totally sure if your students are making real progress or if you’re *really* reaching them properly.
(And it’s really hard to tell, because they seem to have so much FUN when they’re around you!)
Feeling unsure around data collection, regular goal-setting, and even WHY you’re doing certain activities leaves you totally buggin’. You want to deliver the best… but aren’t sure where to start!
And it’s totally normal for all SLP’s! (If you’ve been using the same boring worksheets or materials for the last years in a row, you’re not alone.) I see it all the time — but we can absolutely grow as SLPs and improve efficiency if we shift our focus.
With a refreshed approach that shows you where to begin monitoring progress productively (without giving up the fun), it’s totally possible to take your confidence from 80 to 100.
(Don’t say “ugh, as if!” just yet…)
Want more strategic (and fun) ideas to plan engaging and effective lessons with total confidence?
1. QUICK WIN: OVERCOME YOUR FEARS OF GOAL-SETTING
You’re not the only SLP that struggles with goal-setting! But to know that you’re really reaching your students — it’s a skill we have to integrate to serve them better. I have some easy-to-implement tips and tricks to help you set goals confidently. I also share the best ways to overcome your fear of setting them in the first place! If you want to make the best decisions for your students by creating intentional goals…
2. JOIN SLP ELEVATE TO MASTER PLANNING WITH EASE & CONFIDENCE
You have stand-out style and 100% know you can be a star SLP. You’re just not quite confident enough about your skills yet, and could use some consistent monthly support (and accountability!) to boost your professional growth.
If you want to *seriously* step up to the plate and banish imposter syndrome, SLP Elevate delivers...
- A monthly bundle of awesome resources for older students
- Coaching on HOW to use resources and WHY they’re relevant for different goals
- Everything you need to quickly plan the majority of your monthly lessons (including a “how-to-plan” video!) as you develop your understanding of deeper SLP concepts.
- An active community of SLPs for encouragement and questions, monthly trainings and support from me, and more bonuses!
No more feeling unsure of your skills or spending hours giving lame lessons a makeover. Take some time back for yourself as you watch your students laugh and learn!
MEET HALLIE
Lover of all things purple, Starbucks coffee addict, author of Ella Bella Just Can’t Tell Ya, Bravo binge-watcher and full-time in the trenches with you as an M.S. CCC-SLP in New York.
Since 2007, I’ve worked with children from preschool to high school, in both schools and home-based agencies. I’ve been at my current New York public school district for almost a decade, handling a caseload of 65+ fifth and sixth graders every year.
What I’ve found is that both new and veteran SLPs are struggling.
Our caseloads are staggering, our resources are thin, and we can’t find enough ways to reach our students. On top of that, we have to juggle everything else: bus duty, paperwork, progress meetings, PD, activities prep, and our own personal lives.
Ever see a GIF of a hamster that gets flattened on their wheel from running so fast and out of control?
That’s us!
Makes me want to just curl up with my Cabernet, Hershey’s chocolate and binge watch Real Housewives all night. Why work so hard for so little results?
Like me, I know that YOU are incredibly passionate about what we do. Helping “our kids” reach their goals is beyond fulfilling! I knew that there had to be a better way than that hamster wheel…
But how can we plan for what each student needs in the moment without spending hours on individualized prep?
Back in 2012, I realized that online resources were practically non-existent, especially for those of us with older students. You might be able to find a few cute activities here and there on Pinterest, but nowhere could I find low-prep, engaging activities – and more importantly, info on how to use them!
So I started putting together fun, engaging lessons that I simply modified through my questioning as needed. Many times, I was able to use one lesson, with one prep, for an entire day.
Boom. Game changer.
Before I knew it, I was creating resources that give SLPs exactly what they need: low prep, effective, engaging activities that work with all students, even mixed groups.
And that’s how I became an accidental entrepreneur!
As Speech Time Fun grew, I saw the impact I could make on SLPs like you.
I’ve discovered how to make it simple yet effective by creating low-prep activities that truly work with older speech students, and now I’m devoted to helping other SLPs succeed through low prep, engaging therapy options that keep your students motivated and that keep you sane.
Here’s to helping you reclaim your time, increase your confidence and banish overwhelm!
Hallie
