Things I Wouldn’t Change About Being a School-Based SLP

Today I’m bringing you a guest post from Sparklle SLP!

I am beyond thrilled to be guest posting here at Teach Speech 365.  Thank you for this opportunity. I’m Sparklle SLP from SPeaking About Remarkable Kids Learning Language Everyday. I am a proud school-based speech-language pathologist.  Today, I am focusing on the the things I wouldn’t change about my position.

The end of the school year is less than two weeks away and I’m racing to the finish, along with many other educators. When exhaustion sets in, workload demands are at a height, and it seems that there aren’t enough hours left to fit it all in, I’m choosing to focus on the positive.  I’m hoping it will propel us all into the summer where the pace of life slows and regeneration occurs.

I’ve polled some of my SLP blogger friends to discover the things they wouldn’t change about being a school-based SLP.

Schedule

The opportunity to have a career and raise a family by following a school schedule is what my sweet friend Laura from All Y’All Need wouldn’t change. She had the opportunity to be part-time when her children were young. Something she appreciates to this day. Having three young children myself, I am always giving myself a pat on the back for choosing to be a school-based SLP. Nine months are intense, but sharing breaks with my children and being only a mom ALL summer is beyond what many others have when also juggling a career.

Expertise

Whatever your preference or aversion in the referenced title for a school-based SLP (Speech Teacher, Speech Therapist, or Speech-Language Pathologist) my brilliant friend Annie of Doyle Speech Works wouldn’t change the training an SLP receives that goes beyond the field of education. Having the knowledge and skills earned by the achieving the title of speech-language pathologist allows us to work in a variety of settings. Working as a school-based SLP allows us to use our wide scope of practice and  knowledge of healthcare while linking to educational practices. My students affectionately call me the speech teacher. I’m proud to be referred to as a teacher and included within the education environment as such.  I will say though, I’m pretty sure we are advocating for our profession and wide scope of practice every time we open our mouths (and that is quite frequent). We meticulously speak about pragmatics, syntax, phonological processes, semantics, expressive and receptive language, articulation, voice, and speaking fluency without pausing for air!

Collaboration

Being able to collaborate with general education and special education teachers is what my impressive friend Mia of Putting Words in Your Mouth wouldn’t change. She cherishes the opportunity she had to understand the role of the SLP in the curriculum as well as intensive reading and math remediation so well, which helped her to know exactly what kids needed from her. Ultimately, making her a better school-based SLP. Her last comment, “I knew my role in the bigger picture,” totally rings true for me too. Are there times when I don’t feel that my every growing group size is hindering my therapy and if I could just get those students individually what a difference I could make. Then, I have the opportunity to observe or collaborate with a teacher and find out that together we are ALL working to support the student and I don’t have to tackle the mountain on my own. We bring different angles to the target skills and therefore collaboration enhances progress!

Connection

My ever enlightening friend Mary, of Old School Speech, is grateful for the educational environment that allows her to know that she can connect with so many students, whether on her caseload or not, and make a difference in their lives. Well said Mary! If I ever need a pick-me-up, I can easily walk down the hallway during arrival, dismissal, or lunch transition and receive high-fives, hugs, a chorus of my name, and sweet smiles. I have one little gem that looks me in the eyes, points to herself and then toward me, and mouths, “pick me up!” How can I resist?! I’ve made it a point to extend myself and become part of the school environment. Yes, I work mainly in a little room off the library; however, the connections I have made outside of my room with both adults and students are also treasured!

As another year draws to a close, marking the end of my 16th year as a school-based SLP, I’m in total agreement about the things I wouldn’t change about my position! What are some things you wouldn’t change about your current setting?