The Reading SLP Podcast

024: How Older Students Learn to Read (+ HBD to me!!)

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 22:19:02 GMT

In this special birthday episode I give some personal life updates before diving into the three things every older student needs in order to learn to read.

Click here to download my FREE resource for older students!

https://thereadingslp.lpages.co/freebie-og-syllable-division-visuals

When it comes to reading, seventh graders are often missing the same foundational skills as first graders- but we can't teach older students the same way we would teach younger students.

This episode breaks down exactly how SLPs can target reading and spelling success during their vocabulary lessons.

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

023: The Reading SLP Summit 💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:48:31 GMT

The Reading SLP Summit is for SLPs who want to connect the science of reading to their speech and language expertise, so that they can break through confidence barriers and become the literacy expert your students need.

In this episode I introduce the 8 incredible thought leaders you will learn from on September 26.

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

021: LIVE from Big Sky: Thin Air and BIG Ideas

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 16:55:22 GMT

Recorded live at the Big Sky Literacy Summit!

In this episode, I'm sharing real-time reflections from the conference that feels more like a retreat: from activating genius sessions with artists and spiritual leaders, to a gondola ride between sessions, to a hallway conversation with Dr. Hugh Catts about how reading got added to SLPs' scope of practice with ASHA back in 2001.

PLUS I am sharing exclusive details on the next Reading SLP Summit- GET ON THE WAITLIST HERE!

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

022: Back to School, But Not Forever: From Basement Closet to DUMBO

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 18:13:51 GMT

I'm an SLP and I sit next to tech bros at work every day. How is that possible?

In this episode, I'm walking you through how I went from crying in my speech office to chasing my dreams — and the NDAs I had to sign along the way (seriously). If you are feeling the back to school blues, this episode will show you that happiness, fulfillment, and financial freedom IS possible as an SLP.

Plus, I'm sharing a MAJOR personal life update that's about to change everything for my family

GET ON THE WAITLIST FOR THE READING SLP SUMMIT

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

020: Recapping MASHA: Behind the Booth, Dyslexia, and Why So Many School SLPs Feel Isolated

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:59:44 GMT

n this episode I'm recapping my whirlwind trip to Boston for MASHA, the Massachusetts Speech and Hearing Association's annual convention. I'm walking you through what it actually takes to exhibit at a conference (spoiler: it's a lot of stickers and a disco ball), plus a behind-the-scenes look at the talk I gave on dyslexia and school SLPs' role in reading.

The Boston trip: Traveling with my mom, meeting up with MASHA's board, and why connecting with ambitious women in this field always lights me up
Exhibit hall behind-the-scenes: Early alarms, borrowed hand trucks, tablecloths at the dry cleaner, and the joy of meeting Reading SLPs in real life
My talk on dyslexia: The reading brain, orthographic mapping, and state guidance on diagnosing dyslexia
The real scope-to-preparation gap: ASHA includes reading within our scope of practice, but most of us never got the graduate coursework to back it up.
Why so many school SLPs feel isolated: And how finding your voice on reading can be the thing that finally gets you seen as a leader on your school team

Free download: Dyslexia Cheat Sheet for SLPs!

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

019 Writing: The Literacy Gap Nobody's Talking About

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:53:59 GMT

They make progress in speaking and listening. They make progress in reading. But when it comes to writing? The gap is so wide it feels overwhelming.

It's not because our students are incapable of writing, t's because writing had never been taught to them as an extension of language.

In this episode, I'm breaking down why writing gets left out of the literacy conversation, why SLPs are the ones who should own this space, and a first look at the framework I use to take students from sentences to essays.

In this episode:

My experience teaching writing to a 3rd grader and 11th grader
Why writing struggles are really language struggles in disguise
The sentence → paragraph → essay progression (a sneak peek)
Why this makes you the SLP schools and families can't replace

✨Ready to level up? Join The Writing SLP Challenge! ✨

Download your FREE Speech to Writing Roadmap Here

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

018 Motherhood, Master's Degrees, and Retirement Without Regret

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:09:30 GMT

We all dream of the day we can retire... but what happens when that day arrives?

In this very special episode, I sit down with my mom, who two weeks ago retired from a career in teaching. We talk about her decision to go back for a master's with young kids at home, staying hungry to grow even after tenure, and what she now knows on the other side of the countdown so many educators dream about.

If you're an SLP contemplating a big risk, this is the conversation about the rewards on the other side. You'll finish this episode knowing the leap you're about to take is the one you will be most proud of.

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

017: Packing Day: The Magic Inside The Pre-Reading SLP Playbooks

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 20:04:59 GMT

Elizabeth recorded this episode LIVE from the middle of packing up the Pre-Reading SLP Playbooks for shipping: pink envelopes, sticky backs, and all. She just had to capture this moment and the energy behind why this product exists.

In this episode Elizabeth covers:

Why she created the Pre-Reading SLP Playbook and what makes it different
The behind-the-scenes of bringing a physical product to market (spoiler: envelopes are harder than you think)
Her research collaboration on pre-literacy skills in children with a history of late talking, and what the evidence says
What Elizabeth and her co-researcher measured and why it matters before school even starts
Why "wait and see" is a missed opportunity, and what SLPs can do differently starting at age 3

If you've ever wondered whether early intervention in literacy is really within your scope — this episode is your answer. Elizabeth believes we can identify literacy risk before school starts. That means we can stop reading failure before it starts. That's the magic.

FREE RESOURCE: 💖 FROM TALKERS TO READERS: A FREE GUIDE FOR SLPS ON HOW TO SUPPORT LITERACY IN THE EARLY YEARS 💖

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

016 Before the ABCs: The Language Roots of Reading (plus the lies we tell ourselves)

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:49:22 GMT

Reading doesn't start when a child picks up a book. It starts at birth: in the language-rich environment surrounding an infant, in the conversations, the stories, the back-and-forth that builds the neurological foundation for everything that comes later. That's why as SLPs, we are uniquely positioned to stop literacy failure before it starts.

In my latest podcast episode, I walk you through:

What the research says about when reading actually begins
The key pre-literacy areas and developmental milestones SLPs need to know
Why early language is early reading
My own research on pre-literacy and what we're finding

But before all of that, I take a moment to hit on the 2 biggest limiting beliefs I continually hear in the SLP community: "no one can afford private pay" and "there's already reading tutors in my area, so no room for me." I am going to shift your perspective (and honestly blow your mind) when you hear why those thoughts are so untrue.

FREE RESOURCE 💖 FROM TALKERS TO READERS: A FREE GUIDE FOR SLPS ON HOW TO SUPPORT LITERACY IN THE EARLY YEARS 💖

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

015: "Just Artic" Doesn't Exist

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:01:22 GMT

In this episode, I share updates from a recent retreat and photoshoot before tackling one of the most common questions I'm asked: What is the relationship between SSDs and literacy?

I go deep on why my practice is built on the understanding that language and literacy cannot be separated from speech sound work — even in evals — and walk you through the two specific things I include in every single SSD report. If you work with kids with SSDs and have ever wondered how to justify the literacy connection, this episode gives you the clinical language to do it.

014: What AI Can Never Replace About SLPs

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Fri, 29 May 2026 20:34:07 GMT

I just finished grading 22 final exams for my graduate students. They aced them.... and I still don't think they're ready to be SLPs yet. That's okay.

Actually, it's the whole point.

In my newest episode of The Reading SLP Podcast, I'm breaking down what grading those exams reminded me about the gap between classroom knowledge and clinical skill. I share why I still believe the CF year is essential (hot take!!) and why what we do can't be only learned from a textbook (or downloaded from ChatGPT).

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

013 Income, Impact, and Ice Cream: Steal My Summer Reading Structure

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Wed, 20 May 2026 17:28:02 GMT

It's almost MDW which means summer is about to start. In this episode I talk about what I have planned inside my company, my practice, and my family for June and July.

Then I'm going deep on my summer private practice schedule and the strategy I use to lesson plan 5 sessions in about 60 minutes per week. This strategy gives me space to create student-specific materials when I need to while also keeping my sessions predictable for both me and my students.

This is the formula for a balanced summer of income, impact, and ice cream. 😎

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

012 Behind the Brand: What Its Like to Scale a Company

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Wed, 13 May 2026 18:10:43 GMT

Ever wonder what actually goes into running and growing The Reading SLP day to day? Elizabeth pulls back the curtain and welcomes a very special guest: the team member who helped scale The Reading SLP from a single course to a full community ecosystem. They're talking professional (and personal) growth, team-building, what worked, what didn't, and everything coming your way this summer.

Post recapping TILLS event

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

011 What Starting a Doctorate While Pregnant Taught Me About Risk

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Thu, 07 May 2026 18:55:25 GMT

What does it actually take to bet on yourself? In this episode, Elizabeth gets real about her Ed.D. journey — not just the milestone of passing her qualifying exams, but the messier, scarier decision that started it all: enrolling in a doctoral program while pregnant and walking away from a stable job.

But this episode isn't really about school. It's about risk — and how we've been thinking about it wrong.

Elizabeth also pulls back the curtain on what The Reading SLP actually is (hint: it's a lot more than a course), shares what's been happening in the After Dark WhatsApp group, and has an honest conversation about IEP season.

If you've been sitting on a dream, waiting for the "right" time, or quietly talking yourself out of something big — this one's for you. The real risk isn't going for it. It's staying put.

In this episode:

Elizabeth celebrates passing her qualifying exams 🎉
What the Ed.D. journey actually looks like (and what she didn't expect)
The moment she had to choose: new baby, new career path, or both
Why she believes the bigger risk is not going for it
IEP season real talk
The Reading SLP After Dark and what you're missing in the group chat
A reminder to stop borrowing problems from the future

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

010: Behind the Scenes of The Reading SLP

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:55:20 GMT

In this episode I open up about what happens behind the scenes of The Reading SLP. I talk about expanding the focus of this podcast, my two days with Nicole Culver, and the incredible insights from The Reading SLP After Dark 🌙

If you like this episode DM me on instagram and let me know @elizabeth_readingslp

Resources Mentioned:

✨Summer Session Sellout Ticket- VIP Pricing!

🎤Listen: My Interview with Nicole Culver

🎥Watch: My Interview with Nicole Culver

📲Can you guess the other SLP CEOs?

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

009 "Sight" Words 👀

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:38:35 GMT

"Sight word" might be one of the most controversial and misunderstood terms in all of the science of reading...and it's time to set the record straight. In this episode, I share why traditional sight word walls are well-intentioned but off the mark and leave you with the language to explain it all to the teachers and families you work with.

Katie Pace Miles on Sight Words

⭐️Join The Reading SLP⭐️

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

008 The Buzzword SLPs Need to Know

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:45:01 GMT

Structured Literacy is a hot buzzword right now 🐝🐝 If you've ever head of the Science of Reading or Orton Gillingham, then you know more about Structured Literacy thank you realize...

But knowing about it and confidently implementing it? Understanding our SLP-specific role? That's where most of us get stuck.

In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly what Structured Literacy is, why it matters for your literacy students, and how it fits perfectly within your scope as an SLP. Plus, I'm introducing a brand-new opportunity to become a Structured Literacy Specialist—in less than a day.

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

007 4 Literacy Skills Every SLP Should Assess

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 18:37:36 GMT

I'm sharing the four skills I measure every time I measure reading (the fourth one might make you laugh). Want to jump ahead? Grab VIP pricing of The Reading SLP Assessment, exclusively for podcast listeners

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

006 The Year of The Reading SLP

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:05:05 GMT

No, I didn't just write this title because I want you to join my program. 2026 is the year of Reading SLPs because of the shift that is happening inside the Science of Reading Movement. The SLPs who are prepared will get ahead while those without literacy knowledge will be left behind. (Recorded at The Reading SLP State of the Union)

If you are ready to be seen as a literacy leader in 2026, join us while enrollment is open.

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

005 Inside my Private Practice

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:16:03 GMT

DM me on Instagram what you'd like me to share about inside my private practice.

There are families in your IMMEDIATE area, RIGHT NOW, actively searching for the kind of support you can offer. If you are an SLP who wants to learn how to start working with local families then you need to be in the room for Referral Rush.

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

004 Are you even using the right definition?

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:32:22 GMT

In late 2025 the International Dyslexia Association updated their definition of dyslexia. So why aren't more people talking about this? In this episode I’ll share why SLPs absolutely must know about these updates (hint: they relate to language!) and how you can easily become a dyslexia expert (under 60 minutes easy).

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

003 2026 Literacy Predictions

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 20:14:21 GMT

After spending 2025 on the road, I am telling you exactly what I see coming in the literacy space in 2026. DM me UNION reserve your spot at The Reading SLP State of the Union 2026

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

002 Do not take a 30 hour liteacy training

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:56:51 GMT

In this episode I break down exactly why SLPs should NOT take a 30 hour training or get a second degree to teach reading. In under 10 minutes I'l show you why you're already the most qualified literacy specialist in your space.

Click for my FANBOYS lessons + more!

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6

001 Hi, I'm Elizabeth

Elizabeth, The Reading SLP — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:34:10 GMT

Meet Elizabeth, your host and the voice behind The Reading SLP! In this introductory episode, discover who I am, what The Reading SLP is all about, and why I created this podcast (spoiler: I'm exploding with ideas and needed a space to share them all with you).

💗💥🪩📘🫶🏼💬💖🦄🧠 Apply to join The Reading SLP →https://forms.gle/CgPVxndUehARMFMf6