Speech Sound Centers Without the Stress

What if the secret to better articulation practice isn’t a perfect lesson plan? Hallie sits down with Lauren Clair, a school-based SLP and the voice behind Sunshine Speech Company, to talk about speech sound centers without the stress. Lauren loves finding creative ways to make therapy meaningful, engaging, and fun, and she’s passionate about sharing practical systems that help SLPs feel more organized and less stressed so they can focus on what matters most, their students. As a cleft-affected adult, she’s also passionate about helping children build confidence in their communication skills and find their voice, regardless of how they sound or look. Tune in to hear how Lauren runs speech centers (even in a tiny speech room!), why you don’t need a grand plan for every kid, and how being open about differences can make a big impact on your students! 

Bullet Points to Discuss:

Related to my cleft experience (background of my diagnosis/procedures, my speech therapy experience, what it was like to grow up “different”, why it has made me so passionate about speech therapy and building confidence in kids)

Regarding speech centers (why I started doing these, what this looks like in a therapy session, what types of activities I incorporate into these sessions, why it is beneficial to students, why it is beneficial to SLPs) 

Here’s what we learned:

• Lauren’s cleft story, from her diagnosis at birth to her five surgeries, years of dental work, and yearly cleft team visits
• What speech therapy was like for her as a kid, and how those early SLP experiences led her to the field
• What it was like to grow up “different,” and why she wants kids to know that being different doesn’t make them any less
• How sharing her own story can build confidence in students who are struggling with self-image or being picked on
• Why Lauren started using speech centers and why they’re a perfect fit for her speech sound caseload
• What a center-based session looks like: small groups, three stations, clear expectations, and a timer
• Hands-on center ideas like toys, sensory bins, crafts, Play-Doh, and digital activities that keep kids practicing their sounds
• Why centers boost engagement and give students more articulation trials in less time
• Why you don’t need to overplan every activity, and how letting go of rigid plans helps SLPs avoid burnout

Learn more about Lauren Clair:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinespeechcompany?stkn=MnlkeTBneXJ1amdj&utm_source=qr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunshinespeechcompany?_r=1&_t=ZP-99zEvhWEKkw 

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

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

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

Freebie:

https://www.slpmadness.com/shop/p/freespeechtherapydescribingprobe

https://www.slpmadness.com/iep-goal-bank