Caffeine & Caseloads: The SLP Life with The Pedi Speechie

In this episode of The Pedi Speechie Podcast , we’re continuing our R sound journey! Last week, we explored how to teach the retroflex R using the “pirate hook” visual. Today, we’re focusing on the bunched R —how it differs, why it’s equally valid, and the exact steps I use to help students find success. You’ll learn: Why we always start with vocalic er in isolation—and why this foundational skill...

In this episode of The Pedi Speechie , Karen breaks down how to elicit the retroflex R sound step-by-step. You’ll learn the difference between bunched and retroflex R, discover why starting with vocalic “ER” builds a strong foundation, and explore high-success strategies like the stretch-and-fade method, the slide or tap back technique, and the fun pirate hook visual. Karen also shares how she com...

Not every preschool student is ready to sit through a long storybook—and that’s okay! In today’s episode of Caffeine & Caseloads: The SLP Life with The Pedi Speechie , I’m sharing my favorite quick, interactive books that are perfect for building prelinguistic and early linguistic communication skills. These books encourage imitation of sounds, actions, and exclamations, while keeping even you...

In this episode of The Pedi Speechie , we’re breaking down the difference between phonological awareness and phonemic awareness —because yes, they’re not the same thing. If you’ve ever found yourself second-guessing which is which, this one’s for you. We’ll walk through the hierarchy of phonological awareness skills , from sentences to syllables to individual sounds, and share practical, no-prep s...

Need a speech session yesterday ? This episode is your emergency toolkit. Karen from The Pedi Speechie Podcast is sharing 10 of her favorite low-prep, high-impact activities that can be done in tiny spaces with minimal materials—perfect for school SLPs on the go. From bean bag balancing and sticky note circuits to sound effect games and silly sentence building, you’ll walk away with fresh ideas th...

Do your speech therapy vocabulary sessions feel a little... sleepy? In this episode of The Pedi Speechie , we’re diving into what Tier II vocabulary really is—and how to teach it in a way that keeps your students engaged (and you sane). Whether you’re a school-based speech-language pathologist working with preschoolers or upper elementary students, this episode is packed with actionable strategies...

Struggling to figure out how to start treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech after making the diagnosis? This episode is your guide to Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) —the motor-based treatment approach developed by Dr. Edythe Strand for kids with moderate to severe CAS. We’ll break down: ✅ What DTTC is and who it’s designed for ✅ The step-by-step hierarchy you’ll use in sessions ✅ Pra...

What if your students don’t need another worksheet… they just need to move ? In this episode, I dive into a fascinating research study comparing visual and movement-based grammar interventions for students with developmental language disorder (DLD). Spoiler: movement-based cues weren’t just effective—they were more successful for one student with attention challenges. You’ll learn: The two simple...

Ready to make your next speech therapy whole group push-in session actually work? In this episode of The Pedi Speechie Podcast , we’re heading to the farm for a fully planned, engaging, and inclusive speech therapy session that school-based SLPs can use right away. Whether you're a speech-language pathologist supporting students in a resource room or looking for creative ways to target multiple sp...

If you’ve ever evaluated a student in speech therapy and thought, “This isn’t a typical phonological delay… but what now?”—this episode is for you. In this episode of The Pedi Speechie , we’re breaking down the Dynamic Evaluation of Motor Speech Skills (DEMSS) —what it is, when to use it, and how to actually administer it without overwhelm. Whether you’re a school-based speech-language pathologist...

In this episode of The Pedi Speechie Podcast, we’re diving into beginner-friendly ChatGPT tips for school-based speech-language pathologists. Whether you're deep in special education paperwork or looking for a faster way to write IEPs and evaluations, this episode will show you exactly how ChatGPT can support your speech therapy workflow. You’ll learn how to use ChatGPT to write SMART IEP goals, g...

If you’re a school SLP who's spent months targeting "ER" in speech therapy and your student finally gets it—this one’s for you. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the highs, lows, and hilariously relatable moments of articulation therapy , especially when it comes to treating vocalic R . You’ll learn why ER is the foundation of all other R-controlled vowels, how to use lingual-mandibular diff...