One Literacy Coach: Going Back to Speech

So you are going back to speech therapy. Wow. That is sort of unexpected. You have been gone for twelve years, which is about nine years longer than you ever anticipated. So why did you leave your comfy speech therapy world to dive into the unchartered territory of literacy coaching to begin with? Oh yeah, you wanted to see if you could glean enough about the connections between oral language, reading, and writing so that you could assist children with language learning difficulties to better access core curriculum. Yup. That’s why. So did you figure all that out yet? Nope. Yeah, but you know a lot more now than you did twelve years ago, right? Yup. That’s good, right? Yup. You knew you would probably have to go back eventually and it isn’t that you left speech because you didn’t like it. You were just looking . . . looking for something more. Looking for answers. Hoping to study things that your grad school profs would have certainly viewed as out of the realm of a speech therapist. So how are you going to handle this transition back? After everything you’ve learned, there is no way you will do things the way you used too. Nope. No way. Maybe some things. You seem a little . . . worried, no, no, more than worried, maybe . . . scared. Yeah, I know you are still sad about the whole lit coach thing but you have to move on. So you are sad and scared and ticked and a whole bunch of other emotions but you’re gonna have to get over it. Good grief, at least you have a good job for crying out loud! That is a heck of a lot more than a lot of people can say in this town. Get off your pity-pot. Here is a to-do list to help get you going.

Find your ASHA (American Speech and Hearing Association) membership card and log into their website.
Review and collect relevant articles on CCSS and speech therapy services from LSHSS (Language Speech and Hearing Services in the Schools) journals.
Search for interesting speech therapist bloggers.
Check Pinterest for speech therapy resources and apps.
Obtain a copy of Michigan Guidelines for Speech Therapy Services.
Read the last book in the 50 Shades trilogy.

13 comments:

Stacey ShubitzJune 12, 2012 at 6:03 PM
Speaking of speech therapy bloggers, here's a great one http://thelittlestories.com. She has links to lots of other speech resources on her blog, http://thelittlestories.com/resources/. I hope that's helpful.
Good luck Diana.
elsieJune 12, 2012 at 6:16 PM
I am so sad for your district that they let a resource like you go. I am so happy for the students you will meet and work with, they don't know how lucky they are to have you. Your journey will be interesting, I hope you will keep us updated. Good luck!
Betsy HubbardJune 12, 2012 at 9:31 PM
Diana, you are one tough cookie! You see what's coming and you are taking it head on, writing about it and dealing with your grief all in one shot. What a big transition. I agree with Elsie, the students in your future are lucky because they are getting one dedicated teacher. Look forward to hearing more about your journey. Good luck.
Christy Rush-LevineJune 12, 2012 at 10:47 PM
I was in speech therapy from kindergarten through 5th grade, when I quit because I was embarrassed to be pulled out of class and frustrated that I just couldn't master the 'ch' and 'j' sounds. I continued the exercises my speech teacher had taught me and eventually mastered those sounds. So, I have a special place in my heart for speech therapists.

I know you are not going to feel your work has the same impact as a speech therapist rather than a literacy coach, but I know there will be kids out there who benefit lifelong from the work you will do with them.

And item 6 on your to-do list tells me you at least have a good sense of humor about you!
Linda BJune 12, 2012 at 10:51 PM
I like # 6 much more than the others, FYI, but also imagine you have so much learning in your background for this 'new' position that you will be awesome. Remember that Cisneros said "when you're eleven, you're also ten, and nine, and eight, and seven, and six, and five, and four, and three, and two, and one." Doesn't that go for all the years behind you inform you now? I'm happy that you have a job & didn't end up with a temporary one. Your students are lucky, and the colleagues with whom you work will be awed, Diana. Best wishes to you!
Terje June 13, 2012 at 6:50 AM
You could swim in self-pity for a while (and I would understand) , but you don't, and that is great. You move forward with determination. In addition to reading, think what options are there for writing.
JenniferMJune 13, 2012 at 12:11 PM
The style of this post -- talking or writing to yourself -- is a wonderful glimpse of what's going on in your heart and mind right now! I find that usually, we end up where we are supposed to be, so I bet you are going to do some amazing things for some children who really need a speech therapist with a lit coach's experience!
wakeupandwriteJune 15, 2012 at 1:21 AM
I am a "yup-per" myself so I could really relate to the voice in your entry. Well as one who wishes our students had more chance to exercise their out-loud voices as well as their writing voices I know your recent experience will infuse your services to your students with a necessary perspective.