Things I Can't Live Without as a High School SLP
- jilliangtheslp
- Feb 6, 2023
- 5 min read
These are my SLP ride or dies in the high school setting!
It's finally happening -- my wish has become my reality. My caseload is slowly increasing! I am now bouncing between two of the local high schools, and, while this is the nightmarish reality for many SLPs, I couldn't be more excited! I thrive in a hustle n' bustle environment since my last 2 semesters of grad school consisted of various hospital settings. Yes, I would get burned out squeezing 10 patients into an 8-hour workday plus charting, but I'm also the type of person who gets burned out sitting around, twiddling my thumbs. As the saying goes, idle hands are the devil's playground. The only downside is now I have 2 therapy rooms to shuttle my therapy items to and from. Obviously, I am not going to get two of everything, and clearly, I can't bring everything back and forth. So, how does a traveling high school SLP with a diverse caseload not only survive but also thrive? We prioritize and minimize.
1. Daily Planner
First and foremost, I literally could not function without my endless amounts of calendars... I have a work one, a personal one, and a house renovations one. My work calendar alone is split into 3 separate calendars: therapy schedule, IEP and Triennial schedule, and meetings and misc. Those are just my electronic ones... I prefer electronic for everything so that I can have it on my desktop and sync to my phone and laptop when I am on the go. It helps especially when I need to rearrange my schedule last minute -- I can't stand when I have to cross out things on a handwritten calendar. But, I recently got turned on to making a daily agenda to help me with my day-to-day organization and note-taking. I made my own daily planner on Canva, and it's been really helpful. Feel free to download and use it for yourself!
2. Yeti Water Bottle
The next most important is my Yeti water bottle. No, I don't have a Stanley. Yes, it is shocking. When I have time to drink water at work, I chug. Sipping from a straw just doesn't have the same efficiency, in my opinion. My water bottle is literally called "Rambler Chug Bottle"... This is my favorite water bottle for exercising, working, sitting on the couch, sleeping, you name it and I bring my water bottle with me.
Why I love it:
It's giant so less filling up and more hydrating
It's insulated
It has a nozzle like a real water bottle (hence the chugging)
It doubles as a weapon if needed (I'm half kidding)
3. Apple Watch
I know not everyone has an Apple watch, but it has been so useful when it comes to being an SLP in any setting! I am able to check my messages as they come in from supervisors and coworkers while I am in a session and silence phone calls. But the most useful part is the timer, which I am getting better at remembering to use in my sessions. It helps me stay on time with my sessions without the obnoxious ringing of an alarm since it just vibrates on my arm. This has come in handy as my caseload is increasing and I sometimes double up on sessions during 1 class period.
4. Hedbanz
This game is a lifesaver. There is no prep required, and it's fun! I can adjust the game slightly for it to match the goals of most of my students -- articulation, expressive language, WH- questions, executive functioning skills, fluency, grammar and syntax, etc. -- and it creates a more functional atmosphere for them to practice their skills. It can be played in a 1:1 setting as well as a group setting to target pragmatic language skills, too! This is the game I like to have in my back pocket at all times.
5. Personal Keurig
Luckily, this is something I don't have to tote to and fro. I have my own personal Keurig in my main office, and my supervisor has one in her office, which I am inheriting during my 2 days there. I love coffee. I usually don't drink it until the afternoons since I start my mornings with a scoop of preworkout. The after-lunch slump can hit me hard if I don't have a lot of sessions to fuel my energy. I am also permanently cold, so, in addition to my space heater, the coffee helps warm my soul. Having an in-office personal Keurig is truly a luxury that I never want to be without. I might not use it every day, or every week sometimes, but I like knowing I can if I wanted to. Leave my office to make coffee? Gonna be a no from me. I would probably never drink coffee at work if I had to leave my office. Same goes for microwaving. I will eat a cold burrito bowl if I have to, merely for the sake of convenience and time management. Luckily, my supervisor also has a microwave in her office.
6. Whiteboard + Marker
I can't say a bad thing about whiteboards. They are literally so minimalistic and basic that I can use them however I deem appropriate. Reading? Duh. Writing? Yep. Visual cueing? You betcha. I have 3 whiteboards that are double sided, which means I really only need to travel with 1 since it functions as 2. I found my love of whiteboards when I worked in the hospitals with adults. I love its versatility and tabula rasa, or blank slate, capabilities. And you already know I only use pink whiteboard markers.
One of the things I love about working in the high school is that it can be very no-frills if you want. The students couldn't care less if you have the best therapy materials or everything color-coded and laminated; They are just as engaged and happy with my whiteboard and marker or paper and pencil... or just as unhappy and avoidant... just depends on the kid and the day. Keeps me on my toes. The point is they don't care what you use in therapy as long as you help them be successful, which is why only 2 out 5 things listed are therapy-focused. 3 out of 5 help me function mentally and emotionally, which is much more important than how cute my materials are (though I do try my hardest sometimes). If I'm happy and stable, then I can give all my energy to prepping, planning, and therapizing. If not, then I'm not doing anyone any favors. Put the mask on yourself before helping others, per the airline safety videos. Take care of yourself first so that you can be the best for your patients. So, yes, I will continue to ensure I have a personal Keurig in every office I work in.
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