The Preschool SLP

If you work with children who have developmental language delay (DLD) , this is an episode you can’t miss. In this week’s episode, I share my #1 most effective intervention strategy for improving oral narratives in children with DLD — and why narrative growth is key to strengthening verbal working memory , a hallmark weakness in these children. Here’s what you’ll learn:  ✅ Why grammar accuracy at...

If you work with preschoolers or school-aged children with developmental language delay , you won’t want to miss this episode. Too often, clinicians focus on grammatical morphemes at age three — but research shows that’s unreliable. Instead, the hallmark feature of developmental language delay is poor verbal working memory . In this episode, you’ll learn:  ✅ Why grammatical accuracy is not a vali...

Should you assess grammatical morphemes at age 3? The combination of a lack of normative data, great variability, and unreliable assessments suggests grammatical morpheme assessment of three-year-olds is simply not an evidence-based practice. Let's take a closer look at this common practice.  Interested in learning more? Check out my book "Speech Sound Disorders: Comprehensive Evaluation...

If you’ve ever been told to “withhold until they ask” when working with children with autism, this episode will challenge that approach. Twenty years ago, I did it too—and I saw how it backfired. Today, I’m sharing what I’ve learned, researched, and field-tested: 5 proven strategies that actually stimulate speech development in autism. You’ll learn why withholding speech opportunities triggers sur...

Headed to ASHA? Don’t miss my posters in the gallery under Kelly Vess ! In this episode, we’re tackling one of the most overlooked areas in speech therapy— speech perception —and why it’s directly tied to literacy outcomes. You’ll learn my 5-step process for evaluating speech perception using error productions from a single-word test. Then we dive deeper into 12 additional risk factors —from genet...

If you work with children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), you can’t afford to miss this conversation. In today’s episode, I break down five critical areas of literacy that children with CAS are more likely to struggle with—phonological awareness, phonological processing, speech perception, print, and narrative skills. You’ll hear why pairing print with phonological awareness tasks improves...

As SLPs, our work is far too important to rely on emotionally based practice—doing something simply because it “sounds good” or because it’s trending on social media. Every detail of your practice matters. In this episode, I share six emotionally based practice myths I’ve been challenged on—and the evidence that proves otherwise. From speech sound disorder targets to narrative development, AAC set...

AAC is one of the most powerful—and most challenging—tools we have as speech-language pathologists. But let’s be honest: it’s not easy. Devices change, philosophies clash, and too often our students leave preschool without fluently expressing their thoughts through AAC.  In this episode, I share the three biggest mistakes I’ve made in AAC—and the lessons they taught me. From symbol placement to mu...

If I could go back 20 years and give myself just one piece of advice as a brand-new speech-language pathologist, it would be this: research your practice. In this episode, I unpack what it truly means to research your own intervention, why simple A/B testing can make you a more powerful therapist, and how to identify the “active ingredients” that change children’s lives. From split-testing cluster...

If you work with preschoolers on the autism spectrum, this episode is a must-listen. Today, we dive into the latest research on emergent literacy skills in children with autism and uncover which print concepts are strengths and which are areas of challenge. You’ll learn five powerful, evidence-based strategies to build foundational phonological awareness, decoding, and print comprehension before k...

📍 Are you still hearing that SLPs should use principles of motor learning to treat speech disorders? It’s time to set the record straight. In this episode, I dive into the research (and the myths) behind non-speech motor learning — like applying a golfer’s swing to a preschooler’s speech therapy. We’ll break down why this approach fails our youngest learners and what actually works . You’ll learn...

Struggling with the elusive /r/? In this episode, I share practical, evidence-based strategies that make producing the R sound easier for your students. You’ll learn: Which vowels make R easier (and harder) to produce Clusters that facilitate correct R production Techniques for addressing postvocalic /r/ Whether you’re establishing or generalizing R, you’ll walk away with ready-to-use tricks you c...

Mirror, mirror on the wall… which S-Blend creates the greatest change of them all? In this episode, we break down four evidence-based principles for selecting the right S-Blends in speech therapy. Discover why some blends are “duds” while others create cascading progress across multiple sounds. We’ll explore: ✔️ Why later-developing blends like SKR accelerate growth ✔️ How maximally distinct clust...

Restrictive, repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in autism impact far more than play—they affect communication, social interaction, motor skills, executive function, and even brain development. Left unaddressed, these patterns can lock children into cycles of stress and poor outcomes. In today’s episode, Kelly Vess breaks down the research on RRBs, exposing both the visible impacts (social, language, inde...

This school year doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In this episode, I’m breaking down 5 proven strategies that will save you time, reduce stress, and maximize learning outcomes for every child on your caseload. From using a sound of the week, to re-purposing activities across settings, to adding brain-boosting movement breaks—these strategies will let you get your evenings and weekends back without...

Are you using Google Slides in your speech therapy sessions yet? If not, it’s time to start. In this episode, I share three powerful ways Google Slides enhance attention, engagement, and participation —whether you’re working in the classroom, in teletherapy, or supporting families at home. You’ll learn: How to structure lessons like “interval training” to maximize focus Why Google Slides give chil...

Technology isn’t going anywhere—it’s here to stay. The question is: how can SLPs use it wisely to improve speech, language, and literacy outcomes? In today’s episode, I dive into what the latest research says about technology paired with adult-child interaction and how this powerful combination can: Improve language comprehension and story grammar Strengthen higher-level reasoning skills through “...

The cerebellum is more than balance—it’s at the center of speech, attention, and learning. The latest research shows neurological differences in the cerebellum for children with ADHD, childhood apraxia of speech, and autism spectrum disorder. So the question is: how do we target it early, when brain plasticity is at its peak? In this episode, I explain how task-oriented movement activities directl...

What if the most powerful way to boost attention, working memory, and flexible thinking isn’t at a table—but in motion? In today’s episode, I share why task-oriented movement activities are game-changers for speech-language therapy. We’ll break down how these purposeful, multi-step activities directly strengthen the three core executive function skills : Inhibitory control – helping children atten...

Movement isn’t optional in speech therapy—it’s essential. Research shows that children with speech and language impairments are far more likely to also have motor delays. When a child can’t join in multi-step play, it’s not always about words—it’s often about the body. In this episode, I’m joined by Joe Evans, a passionate pediatric occupational therapist , who reveals his best-kept secrets for bu...

Children with communication disorders are more likely to develop an external locus of control —believing they have no say in whether they succeed or fail. Research shows this mindset increases their risk of dropping out of school or even entering the juvenile justice system. In this must-listen episode, I’m joined by Denise Stratton, SLP and host of The Speech Umbrella Podcast , to explore how met...

You have 30 school days to complete an initial evaluation—how do you also build trust with parents in that short time? In this episode, I sit down with Melanie Evans, CCC-SLP , to unpack the unique challenges SLPs face: dual-working families, limited time, cultural mistrust, and the weight of labels like “special education.” Melanie shares her expertise in multicultural competence —practical ways...

What if your brain fog, fatigue, or focus issues were tied to blood sugar regulation? In this episode, I share the exact hacks that changed my life and my family’s—from supplements and beverages to food swaps that help flatten glucose spikes. This is not medical advice—it’s what works for me as someone with ADHD and extreme sugar sensitivity. Learn how to keep energy steady, focus sharp, and moods...

What does a balanced vegan diet for kids really look like? In this episode, we welcome a guest expert who shares practical, research-backed strategies for fueling children’s brains and bodies with whole foods. From what to serve at breakfast, lunch, and dinner to the do’s and don’ts of vegan snacks and supplements, this conversation is packed with ideas families can use right away. Discover how sm...

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and early childhood education expert, Dr. Julia Smith , to explore how ball play develops communication, connection, and executive functioning skills. We cover four fundamental ball skills—rolling, kicking, throwing, and catching—and show you how to make them meaningful in both small group therapy and large group classroom settings. Learn how mov...