I am sorry you haven’t heard from me for a while. I thought I should make a post so that I don’t make the inactive list after making the list for top SLP sites. I was not expectingIt to be recognized for my efforts and it was a pleasant surprise. I am amazed at how many new SLP sites/blogs are out there since I began 2 yrs ago. We are certainly a creative bunch of individuals. You should definitely check the sites out on the list. All of this sharing is making it much easier to plan therapy and learn new things. It is also makes it much harder to come up with original ideas.
At this time I don’t have much new to offer. I have been preoccupied with adjusting to a new building and staff. So far the staff has been welcoming and helpful. The secretaries and janitor are not running from me when they see me so I haven’t worn out my welcome yet. I have moved to a room that is 1/3 or less the size of my previous room. This has forced me to make priorities of what I keep at home and at school. It is a good way to clean out things you really don’t need. I have a window to the outside which I haven’t had for the last 7 yrs.
It does seem like a better working situation. I have an elementary school with K-5th grade population and a few students at a close by charter school. There is still a poverty and english learner population which means we have pressure to meet testing requirements which seem more out of reach each year. I will not supervise a SLPA this year which should make the paperwork considerably less. The district has decided that claiming reimbursement for Medicaid is no longer cost-effective and have discontinued the practice. That will also cut down on paperwork and data taking. If you read posts from last year you know we spent most of the year without a contract and had a strike looming for most of the year. It was definitely a stressful year.
I have hopes for a better year. I know other places are still fighting rough times. Does anyone care to check in from else where? Is your year looking better? I want to assure the teachers in Chicago that you have support even on the West Coast. We have learned here there is power in numbers and sometimes that is what it takes.
