5 Evidence-Based Strategies to Boost MLU (That You Can Use Tomorrow!)
Access the Sentence Pack (for free!) here: slpnow.com/podShow Notes: slpnow.com/237In this episode, we’re diving into five evidence-based strategies to boost your students’ Mean Length of Utterance (MLU) — in a way that’s fun, functional, and easy to track! 🎯You’ll learn how to:✅ Use language samples to identify targets and monitor progress✅ Embed MLU practice into play, books, songs, and routines✅ Model just above the child’s level for natural growth✅ Use sentence frames and visuals to support longer utterances✅ Give students space with contingent responses and wait timePlus, I’ll show you how it all comes together in a Little Blue Truck therapy plan.✨ Resources MentionedFree Language Sample Sheet: slpnow.com/free-language-sample-hackSentence Pack: slpnow.com/materials/sentence-pack/Therapy Plans (including Little Blue Truck): slpnow.com/pod
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Making Syntax Simple: Strategies for Passive Voice and Clauses
Show Notes: slpnow.com/236Even our youngest students use complex syntax, but what happens when they don’t? In this episode, Marisha breaks down why syntax matters (even for kindergartners!) and shares practical strategies to assess and target structures like passive voice, relative clauses, and adverbial clauses. You’ll learn evidence-based techniques such as focused stimulation, sentence combining, and sentence decomposition — plus how to easily embed these skills into your literacy-based therapy sessions using SLP Now resources.
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5 Evidence-Backed Strategies for Teaching Compound Sentences
Help your students master compound sentences! In this episode, Marisha shares five evidence-backed strategies—from visuals and sentence combining to movement and classroom collaboration—that make teaching conjunctions clear, fun, and effective.
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5 Practical Strategies to Teach Following Directions (Backed by Research)
Full Show Notes: slpnow.com/234In this episode, Marisha shares six practical, evidence-based strategies to target following directions. From pinpointing the right foundational skills to collaborating with teachers and planning for generalization, you’ll walk away with clear, actionable ideas you can use in your sessions right away.✨ What You’ll Learn:How to assess and identify the root causes of direction-following difficultiesThe power of recasting and corrective feedbackWhy incorporating movement boosts comprehensionHow to explicitly teach and model strategies like rehearsing and visualizingWays to partner with teachers for greater carryoverHow to plan for generalization from the start🎧 Tune in for practical tips you can apply this week!
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How to Teach WH Questions: 6 Practical Strategies for SLPs
Full Show Notes: slpnow.com/233WH questions are foundational for language, literacy, and classroom success—but teaching them effectively can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Marisha shares six practical, evidence-backed strategies to help your students master WH questions using the Assess–Teach–Practice framework.You’ll learn how to assess to find the right starting point, teach question words with visuals, scaffold instruction through a hierarchy, focus on one question type at a time, embed practice in meaningful contexts, and provide high-repetition practice for generalization.Go to slpnow.com/trial to download the WH Questions Skill Pack. (It's free!)
The SLP Now Podcast is your go-to resource for practical speech-language pathology tips. Through this podcast, you'll hear directly from Marisha Mets, a school-based SLP turned research nerd. She’ll be joined by expert guests to answer your biggest questions. Submit your questions at slpnow.com/ask.
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