New SLP Survival Kit: What You ACTUALLY Need (and What to Skip) Your First Year in Schools

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie breaks down the realistic SLP toolkit that no grad program actually prepares you for. She walks through what new grads really need before stepping into their CF year — from skipping the summer shopping spree to treating week one like a recon mission. If you’re a brand new SLP wondering where to even begin, this one’s for you.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• Don’t buy everything this summer — wait until you know your caseload
• Treat your first week like a detective mission, not a performance
• Ask your colleagues everything — they are your lifeline
• Keep therapy simple — one activity can serve multiple groups and goals
• Build systems over perfection — predictable routines beat elaborate lesson plans
• Give yourself permission to be new

Here’s what we learned: 

• Done is better than perfect — especially when you don’t even know what perfect looks like yet.
• Your colleagues have been where you are and most of them are happy to help.
• Adaptability is the one skill that will save your sanity more than any material ever will.
• Simple routines protect your students just as much as they protect you.
• Being new doesn’t make you an imposter. It makes you human.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup

📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book

🎓✨ Grab your free spot at CF Bootcamp 2026 here! https://www.speechtimefun.com/cfbootcamp2026

🎤✨ The Speech Retreat is Back! Learn more and register here!

https://www.speechretreat.com ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets