Getting Started with (Unexpected) School-Based Teletherapy

As Peachie Speechie's shirt says, "I guess I'm a teletherapist now- Every SLP in 2020". 

I want to be clear before we go any further. I did not sign up to be a teletherapist. Perhaps, at best, I could be considered an "emergency teletherapist". I simply do not want to misrepresent myself-- before the COVID-19 pandemic, I was NOT a teletherapist. 

I'm keeping this as simplified as possible because if you're like me, you're easily sent into information overload mode. I'm just here to get you started with my top recommendations.

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR STATE/DISTRICT EXPECTS

Some of your districts may not require you to use teletherapy. There are other options, such as virtual learning (where you are perhaps using parent coaching or co-teaching with a whole class, or sending pre-recorded YouTube videos), remote learning (not involving technology, such as paper packets), or a combination of the two. Especially if you are in an area with limited internet (Hello, rural America!), you may not be required to complete teletherapy. So step one is to find out what will be expected of you and to bring up any possible concerns to your director.

If your director says to begin teletherapy, read ahead. 

WHAT IS TELETHERAPY?! TIME TO LEARN.

When you didn't sign up to be a teletherapist, but suddenly you are one, it's tough to figure out where to start. Here are some of the best "getting started" resources that I have found. Pick which learning style best suits your needs and go from there!

Watch Videos for CEUs on SpeechPathology.com (affiliate links):
(Get a free month with your subscription when you use code KAYLASLP)

• Language Therapy via Telepractice: Imagine the Possibilities

• Forced Into Telepractice With No Idea What To Do Next! The Ins & Outs to Becoming a Teletherapist

• Telepractice: What You Need to Know for Practical Application in Pediatrics

• Telepractice: Using Distance Technology to Connect, Communicate, & Enhance Language Learning in Young Children with Hearing Loss

• Connecting to Communicate: Defining Telepractice (3 Part Series)

Listen to podcasts:

• #040: A Crash Course in Telepractice for SLPs by SLP Now

• #047: How to Foster Parent Engagement in Telepractice by SLP Now

• SPECIAL EPISODE: Teletherapy from EI to High School: Practical Applications and Resources (Panel Discussion From Teletherapy Bootcamp) by SLP Now

• Teletherapy 101 by The Digital SLP

Read blog posts:

• Teletherapy Quick Start Tips by Stacy Crouse

• The Ultimate List Of Teletherapy Resources For SLPs by Fun in Speech Therapy

FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH VIRTUAL PLATFORMS

Pick one platform that your district has approved. Different districts require different platforms.

• Video: Zoom Teletherapy Demo for Speech-Language Pathologist by Jill Shook- Private Practice SLP

• Video: Google Meet for Teletherapy 101 by Sarah Gregory, SLP

PICK A FEW WEBSITES THAT WORK FOR YOU

Please do not think you need to join every website to do teletherapy. As a matter of fact, DO NOT join tons of sites for teletherapy. Pick 1-3 that work well and stick with them. The more you join, the more stressed out you'll be.

Top recommendations:

Boom Learning (free)

• Interactive website that allows for both the SLP and student to participate on screen. Students can also use Boom Learning when not in teletherapy (extended home practice) and will collect data.

• Video: Boom Cards 101 - How to Get Started on Boom Learning by Tiny Teaching Tube

• Video: How to Zoom and Use BOOM Cards for Teletherapy by Bjorem Speech

ReadWorks (free)

• Reading passages and comprehension questions for all ages.

Wheel of Names (free) 

• Use the FREE pre-made spinners by Fun in Speech by clicking here!

Vooks (educators get it free for 1 year)

• Books brought to life! Engaging online books to use with all students.

SLP Now (paid) (use affiliate code KAYLASLP for $10 off your subscription)

• Interactive book companions for comprehension, as well as worksheets that can be used digitally using Kami (see below for a video on how to use Kami)

YouTube (free)

• Watch videos with (or provide videos for) your students for speech, language, and more. 

• Video: Speech Sound Cues for Parents, Teachers, and SLPs by Kayla SLP

LEARN TO MANIPULATE DIGITAL PRODUCTS

If you choose to use PDFs during teletherapy, here are some ways you can manipulate these PDFs to be used virtually.

• How to EASILY Separate Pages of a PDF by Peachie Speechie

• Using the Kami Chrome Extension in Teletherapy by The Dabbling Speechie

These are the main links that have gotten me through virtual learning and will continue to help me for the foreseeable future. I hope these resources help you as well! 

Note: Please know that if you join SpeechPathology.com using the links above, you are using my affiliate link. It does not cost you anything extra to use my link, but if you go through the link and make a purchase, I will earn credits.

 If you use the SLP Now discount via my affiliate code, I will get a commission. 

Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the credits/commissions I receive from your purchases. The decision to use any link provided is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.