Present Notes:
On this inspiring episode of SLP Espresso Speak, Hallie sits down with MaKayla Elrod, a passionate pediatric SLP who shares her highly effective journey from Tennessee to Miami—and from being advised she’d by no means make it, to thriving in early intervention and personal apply. From tackling imposter syndrome to navigating a cross-country transfer after marriage, MaKayla opens up about her CF yr in PreK, her love for dad or mum training, and what she needs each new SLP knew about managing behaviors, work-life stability, and trusting the method.
Here is what we discovered:
- Overcoming grad faculty rejection and proving doubters unsuitable
- The advantages of working with a contract firm in the course of the CF yr
- Imposter syndrome and adjusting to working with out fixed supervision
- Studying habits administration expertise in a preschool particular ed setting
- The shift from information obsession to specializing in reference to college students
- Ideas for time administration and constructing a sustainable work-life stability
- The influence of shifting cities after marriage and adapting to Miami
- Mentorship and assist techniques in the course of the CF yr
- Exploring varied settings: faculties, personal apply, and grownup care
- The reality about what supplies to purchase (and what to skip!) earlier than beginning
RESOURCES
Study extra about MaKayla Elrod:
Instagram: @missmakayla.slp
TikTok: @makayla_elrod
TPT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/miss-makayla-the-slp
Study extra about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:
🎧 Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here!
JOKE OF THE WEEK:
Q: Why aren’t bushes very forgiving within the spring?
A: As a result of they flip over a brand new leaf
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TRANSCRIPT
00:00:00 Hallie: Hey there, SLP working with grades 4 by 12. New faculty yr, new you. Let’s not go into this faculty yr feeling overwhelmed and behind on paperwork. Let’s not fear about college students asking why they’re coming to speech. Let’s not have college students shrugging their shoulders and taking a look at you saying, “Why am I right here? I do not wish to be right here.” Let’s as a substitute have your college students excited to return to speech, able to tackle the challenges you present, and make huge progress in direction of their objectives.
00:00:30 Hallie: In case you are able to make this faculty yr the yr that you simply depart work promptly on the finish of the day, plan in an hour or much less every week, and go into each session assured that your college students will grasp the session targets, then SLP Elevate is simply what you want to make this faculty yr a profitable one. Both go to www.SLPElevate.com or ship me a DM on Instagram with the phrase “culb”, C-U-L-B, and we will focus on if SLP Elevate is best for you and your college students. Now’s the time to get your time again, and now’s the time to get your college students excited to return to speech. SLP Elevate is ideal for you.
00:01:15 Hallie: Welcome to SLP Espresso Speak, the podcast designed solely for speech-language pathologists who work with older college students, grades 4 by 12. I’m your host, Hallie Sherman, your SLP behind Speech Time Enjoyable, the Speech Retreat Convention, and the SLP Elevate Membership. And I am thrilled to carry you conversations, methods, and insights that provides you with the jolt of inspiration that you simply want. Whether or not you are tuning in throughout your morning commute, on a break in between classes, and even throughout a well-deserved rest time, I’m right here for you every week. Let’s do that, SLPs.
00:01:54 Hallie: Hey, hey, and welcome to a different episode of SLP Espresso Speak. It’s that point of the yr the place it’s possible you’ll be graduating, graduating quickly, possibly lately graduated, and are beginning to consider your CF yr. Or possibly it was a factor with the previous and also you simply wish to pay attention in to see what does Hallie need to say in regards to the CF yr when she’s performed it 17 plus years in the past. Effectively, I had MaKayla Elrod right here right this moment with me speaking all about her CF expertise. Welcome to the present.
00:02:25 MaKayla: Thanks for having me. I am so excited to be on.
00:02:29 Hallie: So everybody listening a little bit bit about your SLP journey to what you had been doing new.
00:02:34 MaKayla: Sure. So, I went to undergrad at Center Tennessee State in Tennessee. I had my undergrad in speech pathology, after which I went to graduate faculty at Samford College in Birmingham, Alabama. Then after graduating from there, I made a decision to remain in Birmingham and full my medical fellowship in Birmingham. I really like the town, so I made nice connections with different SLPs there, so I made a decision to remain. I accomplished my CF within the faculty system, and I labored within the pre-Okay unit with the college system, solely simply the pre-Okay. I beloved it a lot so I made a decision to remain at that college the following yr and keep on the group. After which I lately obtained married this previous Could and needed to transfer to Miami, Florida. And now I work in a non-public apply.
00:03:26 Hallie: Effectively, so you’ve got been a little bit bit all over the place. How did you resolve the place you wished to do your CF?
00:03:33 MaKayla: That was one thing I believed loads about and I heard lots of superb, very completely different grad faculty placements. I had placements in personal apply, faculty, adults, and I truly appreciated adults far more than I believed I’d. That was one in all my final placements. I did acute care within the hospital, in order that was truly on my radar as properly. However in the end, I knew my ardour was for kids.
00:03:59 MaKayla: And I actually beloved the concept of doing a faculty system for my CF. And I particularly did it with a contract firm. And what appealed to me about working with the contract firm is I obtained loads of supervision and mentorship, which was actually essential for me, for my CF. So in the end, that is form of what led me to the colleges. I knew I may actually get an excellent basis for my CF.
00:04:25 Hallie: Now, I am curious, was your supervisor on the similar placement? Do the contract firm… like was it simply somebody within the contract firm that was your supervisor? Inform me a little bit bit about how that labored.
00:04:38 MaKayla: Sure. So I had— with the contract committee, we had a head SLP of the SLPs that labored collectively. After which we additionally had my faculty district head SLP. After which except for that, I had my very own supervisor. So I form of had like three folks I felt like I may go to. And naturally I’d discuss to my supervisor loads, but when I wanted somebody, like boots on the bottom to form of assist me the following day or be obtainable for a name. I really feel like I’ve three folks obtainable. And in addition I actually discovered a lot working within the faculties. I discovered a lot within the OTs, the academics I labored with, and I really feel like I discovered simply as a lot from them as I did my supervisors, which I actually, actually suppose was wonderful for my CF.
00:05:29 Hallie: Love that. So, I do my CF in a preschool as properly. So it was a particular ed preschool. It was like a non-public depart, you recognize, just one. So there was like 10 completely different SLPs on workers. I simply beloved that one in all them occurred to be my supervisor. I used to be employed by the college. And I simply beloved having so many individuals there, plus OTs, plus PT’s. I’d generally do my speech classes within the sensory fitness center. Simply allow them to see what they’re doing as a result of we’re new. We did not… I did not get to see that in a few of my placements.
00:05:59 Hallie: So I really like that you simply had. folks there versus, you recognize. What was your first, like impolite… I’d say a impolite awakening. I do know I’ve spoken to many new grads the place they’re like coming from beneath coming from graduate faculty the place their supervisor is like proper behind them. , like, wait a minute, you are not behind me the entire time. Like, how is that transition for you?
00:06:24 MaKayla: Yeah, that was a significant transition that I really feel like folks don’t discuss sufficient. I really feel like I bear in mind the second the place I noticed nobody was coming to test on me. Nobody was trying proper behind me. It was my duty to make my schedule, be my youngsters, monitor their progress. Like all the pieces was on me. And I do really feel like it’s a huge imposter syndrome scenario. And I do really feel prefer it took me a couple of months.
00:06:51 MaKayla: And to be sincere, like I obtained my C’s in 2022 and I really feel prefer it’s 2025 now, and I really feel like I am simply now getting the purpose the place I really feel actually assured and I nonetheless have my days after I’m like, I can not consider I am doing this. I’ve my – nonetheless have my shoppers that problem me. And I believe that is one thing that can by no means go away. However these first preliminary, like I’d say six months had been very laborious. And I do suppose that is why the mentorship, if I did not have that. I believe it could have made the expertise far more troublesome. So if I did not give any recommendation is to essentially discover folks that you could lean on and study from.
00:07:32 Hallie: For certain. Love that. And being okay to ask for assist and being okay to say, I do not know this. Am I doing this proper? Like that is the yr, that is the chance. That is why you’ve CF internet pupil identify and never CCC SLP.
00:07:48 MaKayla: That is proper.
00:07:50 Hallie: So what would you do? What would you say was your largest problem?
00:07:57 MaKayla: That is an excellent one. I actually suppose managing behaviors as a result of such as you mentioned, was within the – I used to be additionally within the particular ed pre-Okay unit and I really like working with preschoolers. I inform everybody my – I really like nothing greater than the 2 and three yr previous. Like that’s my jam, but in addition, you recognize, you are dealing with huge feelings they usually have no idea the right way to talk these feelings but. So it’s a must to deal with lots of behaviors and I didn’t, or I did not really feel like I didn’t study as a lot about behaviors in grad faculty as I in all probability ought to have in managing behaviors. And I am nonetheless engaged on that right this moment, however that was a really huge problem. And it is laborious when, you recognize, I at all times say connection over compliance and there is many classes I needed to simply be like, “Okay, I’ve simply obtained to satisfy this youngster the place they’re at right this moment.” And that is that. And that was a tough lesson to study for certain.
00:08:53 Hallie: In order that’s large lesson, particularly coming from graduate faculty the place it is like, “The place’s the information?”
00:08:58 MaKayla: Proper. Precisely.
00:08:59 Hallie: Lesson plan.
00:09:00 MaKayla: Precisely.
00:09:01 Hallie: And sure, like you want to present your information while you’re on the job. However like in the long run, you bought zero information right this moment.
00:09:08 MaKayla: Yeah, however it’s.
00:09:10 Hallie: Precisely.
00:09:11 MaKayla: I believe in grad faculty, you recognize, I believed actually normally, like younger ethnicities, we get so wrapped up in, you recognize, the information present me the information, present me the progress after which not having progress from that day or not having laborious information. Like progress seems completely different, you recognize, on completely different days. So that could be a problem for certain to study.
00:10:25 Hallie: What had been your huge [plans] or challenges or development learnings you needed to do when it got here to work-life stability and time administration? That’s the hardest one I discover – Like, sure, you went from grad faculty, you needed to handle the comps and the apply and your placements and the password. However then swiftly I’ve a full caseload.
00:09:54 MaKayla: Yeah. And also you wish to form of possibly have a light-weight. Yeah, that can be an enormous problem. And I do suppose I inform lots of people working within the faculties, I believe was a better transition, you recognize, since you do get these faculty break and also you get off, know, that is like that’s a better transition going from grad faculty otherwise you’re used to these breaks after which sliding into that the place you are still used to that. In order that did assist me loads to form of preserve an analogous schedule to what I already had.
00:10:27 MaKayla: However I attempted from the start. My supervisor at all times advised me, “Go away work at work.” Like while you depart right here, don’t take any of it house. And I nonetheless to today try this. Like I’ll have some nights the place I may need to carry a couple of issues house, however I actually attempt laborious to love 90% of the time, it at work and it’ll get performed finally. And I will discover a manner, however I believe studying to maintain your hobbies, your hobbies and lean into that and find time for that makes you a greater skilled moderately than simply working continuously after which getting burnt out.
00:11:04 Hallie: Nobody was listening to my saying, “However how did you get all of it performed at work?”
00:11:06 MaKayla: Oh, that’s one other factor too, proper? I needed to study that, I imply, I took benefit of any free moments that I discovered. And I do suppose it is rather essential to form of create your system and staying organized. I really feel prefer it makes me be a lot extra environment friendly moderately than being, you recognize, an unorganized mess generally. And generally I’m that manner, however I’m very sort A and I do suppose like – I attempt to benefit from any minute I’ve at work and I do must scroll my telephone generally. Do not get me unsuitable, you recognize. I must test my varieties every so often.
00:11:47 Hallie: For certain.
00:11:48 MaKayla: However making an attempt to do the very best I can at work to get all of it performed. And if I can not, there’s at all times tomorrow.
00:11:57 Hallie: That was true. And I am all about taking one exercise and utilizing it with as many teams as doable in order that the time that you’d have been planning all these many classes, you can be writing these studies.
00:12:06 MaKayla: Yeah.
00:12:07 Hallie: It should obtain notes, working to the lavatory, do not maintain it in. It is not wholesome. All of the issues. Eat late lunch, cease and eat lunch and have a dialog with a colleague.
00:12:17 MaKayla: Sure. Sure.
00:12:19 Hallie: What did that like, you talked about earlier than imposter syndrome. How did you overcome that when, you recognize, you are the beginner, everybody is aware of you are new, everybody is aware of you are younger strolling round?
00:12:31 MaKayla: Yeah. I do actually really feel like some imposter syndrome is one thing that I really feel like by no means goes away, proper? Like, our discipline is so numerous and broad that there’s at all times going to be one thing that you simply may not really feel tremendous sturdy about. However while you’re beginning out, like all the pieces is new. However one factor a coworker advised me that actually helped me is she was a little bit bit older than me. She was like, you’ve given me a lot extra like pleasure for this job and like so many new contemporary concepts. And it made me really feel like, or she mentioned she made her really feel like a greater SLP figuring out me.
00:13:09 MaKayla: And that actually made me really feel like, “Oh my gosh, like, wow, I am instructing her one thing and I am studying all the pieces from her.” So, I used to be so grateful she advised me that as a result of I really feel prefer it completely switched how I felt about my job as a result of I believed if I may educate her one thing, then I’m doing one thing proper. And yeah, that was an enormous gentle bulb second for me.
00:13:30 Hallie: So true, particularly whilst you guys, new grads popping out, you recognize, AI, you recognize, know-how. There’s so many issues that you could carry to the desk to assist others that veteran SLPs like me, like, you recognize, it is a problem. Even identical to the most recent method it. You simply went to high school and discovered them.
00:13:54 Michaela: For certain.
00:13:56 Hallie: You talked about that you simply moved throughout the nation. Share a little bit bit about that have in case somebody is considering simply uprooting themselves and altering location for his or her CF or F work.
00:14:08 Michaela: I moved this previous Could, I obtained married, after which, after I had our honeymoon, it moved the following week to Miami, Florida. My husband’s in medical faculty down right here, so that is what introduced us down right here. However I moved after school for grad faculty to a brand new metropolis, and I beloved it. I had the very best expertise, after which I made this actually huge transfer from Alabama to Miami, Florida. However I actually can not say sufficient about making a transfer. Like, I believe it has really made me study a lot. I’ve gotten, particularly residing in Miami, I’ve gotten so many cultural experiences I’d have by no means gotten anyplace else. And I believe simply making connections and simply figuring out you are able to do it, you possibly can transfer someplace and begin contemporary and have all of those experiences. And particularly while you’re younger, like now’s the time to do it. I do not know if I’d have essentially moved to Miami if I wasn’t compelled to take action, if I had been in class.
00:15:03 Michaela: However I’ll say, like, it has fully modified me as an individual. I can not advocate it sufficient, simply making the leap and shifting. Like I mentioned, I moved for grad faculty, and I’ve made a few of my greatest mates from these strikes that I’ve made. So I actually cannot advocate it sufficient. And it was simple to get relicensed in one other state and all the issues. Yeah, it is consider it or not, Florida was very simple to get licensed in my supervisor. I work in a non-public apply now.
00:15:32 Michaela: She was very useful in getting all of that taken care of, was very nervous about that as a result of that may simply be a complete headache, but it surely was very simple. And I, a technique I’ve had my Alabama import a license on the similar time. So, so yeah.
00:15:47 Hallie: Okay. Advisable sufficient? In the event you can return and inform your CF stealth in your first day, or your CF expertise one thing, what would you inform your self?
00:15:57 Michaela: Oh, that is such an excellent one. I’d say there are such a lot of issues I’d say, I do not know what I’d say truly. I’d say, like, you do not understand like what you are able to. Like whether or not it is, you recognize, treating these youngsters which are among the most felt like instances you’ve got ever seen and also you did not find out about, you recognize, from a textbook in grad faculty or working with a troublesome dad or mum or working, you recognize, with completely different coworkers. Such as you study a lot as an individual, not simply within the discipline.
00:16:32 Michaela: Or simply medical instances, you discover ways to turn out to be an worker, and also you discover ways to turn out to be an SLP, and there is a lot to speech pathology that isn’t simply treating a toddler or an grownup. I like that first medical fellowship yr, or that first, it was one yr, medical fellowship yr, was like transformative. And I believe everybody feels that manner in some level or not directly, everybody looks like that yr was transformative.
00:17:01 Hallie: Love that. And out of curiosity, did your contract firm make it easier to with the paperwork and stuff like that wanted for an SIA? Or did it’s a must to determine it out by yourself?
00:17:09 Michaela: So they didn’t essentially do any of it for me, however my supervisor was tremendous useful. I had a number of folks I felt like I may discuss to about doing the paperwork. And that’s very anxiety-inducing for me as a result of I am at all times nervous I will mess it up. They usually had been very useful with that. So I used to be very grateful to have them for that.
00:17:33 Hallie: Yeah, I, I discovered this useful working in a setting that usually takes the F’s. In order that they lately helped another person do the paperwork. It wasn’t like I needed to do it myself, however they had been capable of reply questions as a result of they knew the method. They knew which type I wanted. They knew who I wanted handy no matter to as a result of they do it on a regular basis. Generally while you go into a faculty and it is like, sure, they rent SLPs, however they are not essentially an SLP firm form of factor. like, you may need a supervisor who was simply signed to you, whether or not they wished to or not. Precisely. To ensure the place you might be working is form of ready for a SIA.
00:18:13 Michaela: Yeah, undoubtedly.
00:18:15 Hallie: Any final bit of recommendation or ideas that you simply want you knew, otherwise you would hope others know as they’re about to embark? Into their CF right here?
00:18:26 Michaela: I’ll say one query I get requested loads is I’ve like we will have a apply now. I’ve performed, I’ve labored in two completely different ones after I was in my stand within the afternoons, I’d additionally go work in a non-public apply, however I’ve labored in many various settings at this level and everybody requested me what are the professionals and cons of every or which one is best. And I really feel like in your CF like, or actually normally, I believed there is no such thing as a higher be previous or higher, you recognize, scenario.
00:18:57 MaKayla: There’s praising cons to all the pieces. And I really feel like it’s a must to select your coronary heart. You understand, there’s gonna be a coronary heart in your medical fellowship right here. Like it’s a must to anticipate that and know that. And on this job normally, and there is gonna be one thing laborious and I really feel like every [setting] has its challenges and there is nothing I really feel like superior of over one or the opposite.
00:19:24 MaKayla: However yeah, I simply select your laborious, like it should be a really rewarding and thrilling yr for certain. And it is regular to cry. And it is also regular to depart after your CF yr. I left. I did my yr in preschool after which I went to a center faculty and pay faculty. Yep, precisely. I knew it wasn’t for me, however I wanted the supervision. I wished the supervision and I left and guess what? It is simply the job. They usually changed me in minutes. Prefer it’s high-quality.
00:19:50 MaKayla: Yeah. I believe that medical fellowship right here is a good alternative additionally to discover. And like, you suppose like I mentioned, I did a rotation with adults and I appreciated it far more than I believed I’d. I believe if, you recognize, you are like form of dabbling with the considered going with one or the opposite, I believe {that a} good time to form of discover that as a result of you’ll have that supervision and form of hand holding a little bit bit earlier than you are fully simply dressed on the market. So, for certain.
00:20:15 Hallie: [inaudible] Particularly relying on date, however then 99% of the states on the market, there is a scarcity of SLPs. So ,you are additionally interviewing them when they’re interviewing you. So do not be afraid to ask these questions in regards to the supervision, in regards to the paperwork, about assist with all of the issues, supplies. What recommendation would you about supplies? I am certain you I’ve ideas on that one. Individuals pondering, what ought to I spend money on over the summer time to prepare?
00:20:48 MaKayla: Oh, that I may discuss for days about. I really like shopping for stuff on academics. Pay Lecturers. I really like your stuff, clearly. I make Lecturers Pay Lecturers feed, however I’ll say this. I believe you want to maintain off on buying something. And I made this error. I purchased a ton of stuff on Fb Market and every kind of stuff. I, a few of it I’ve by no means even used as a result of it does not match my caseload.
00:21:16 MaKayla: And I believe fold off and wait and see what you are going to look, your classroom’s trying like or what your previous SLP may need for you or what’s already obtainable. And it can save you your self lots of money and time from, however after all, I imply, I believe there’s at all times your necessities like Mr. Potato Head, Guess Who, issues like that.
00:21:35 Hallie: Candyland.
00:21:37 MaKayla: Certain. There’s at all times these necessities, however I undoubtedly suppose wait and see the place you are gonna be. And that may prevent a ton of money and time. I spent methods an excessive amount of cash my CF yr on issues that had been massive, cumbersome, and may very well be used as soon as from a selected firm. I am not going to say which one.
00:21:56 Hallie: Yeah. Vibrant colours. And what.. Like, there’s so many different choices now and there is so many different methods to do issues that work smarter, not more durable, particularly it’s possible you’ll not even day that yr for one more yr. like you’ve your complete profession to spend money on stuff that, “Hey, for vacation time, birthday time, ask for goal reward playing cards, TBT reward playing cards..”
00:22:20 MaKayla: Amazon reward card.
00:22:21 Hallie: Yeah. The longer term gross sales at all times inform everybody new SLPs that is a good time to refill on stuff, purchase the bundles, regardless that they’re a little bit bit costlier for issues, however that saves a ton of cash. However yeah, that is form of my two cents on that.
00:22:38 Hallie: Thanks so, a lot, MaKayla. The place can everybody study extra about you and study extra from you?
00:22:42 MaKayla: Yeah. It is.. I’m on Instagram, MaKayla Elrod and I am additionally.. or it is not private, my [inaudible] Instagram, which I am making an attempt to get extra energetic on day-after-day. It is simply makayla.slp and I even have a TikTok that’s simply my identify, MaKayla Elrod.
00:22:58 Hallie: Hey, from somebody who’s making an attempt to study TikTok myself, however hey, I hear you.
We’ll add Speech Time Enjoyable on TikTok if you happen to’re listening to this one, too. As a result of, hey, this previous fart is making an attempt to study TIkTok too. So let me inform you. My 10 yr previous son is making an attempt to show me.
00:23:15 Hallie: Thanks so a lot, MaKayla. I at all times finish my episodes with a joke as a result of jokes construct rapport, are enjoyable and really language-based and I had it. Okay, there we go. Why aren’t bushes very forgiving within the spring?
00:23:30 MaKayla: Oh. I do not know.
00:23:33 Hallie: As a result of they flip over a brand new leaf.
00:23:35 MaKayla: Oh. That is excellent. Thanks.
00:23:39 Hallie: Like corny dad jokes, guys. Each week, they’re right here so you possibly can steal them and use them together with your college students. The CFs, if you happen to’re listening, return to all my earlier episodes. I share a really corny dad joke on each single episode that you could steal them and have lots of enjoyable with. So, thanks so, a lot, MaKayla. Go test her out on TikTok and Instagram. Click on on my TikTok too. And I’m.. Till subsequent week, everybody. That they had a hassle.
00:24:11 VO: Thanks a lot for tuning in to a different episode of SLP Espresso Speak. It means the world to me that you simply’re tuning in every week and getting the jolt of inspiration you want. You could find all the hyperlinks and knowledge talked about on this episode at my web site, speechtimefun.com. Remember to observe the present so you do not miss any future episodes. And whilst you’re there, it could imply the world to me if you happen to would take a couple of seconds and depart me an sincere assessment. See you subsequent week with one other episode filled with enjoyable and inspiration from one SLP to a different. Have enjoyable guys!
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