Episode Details

I remember the first time I “Marie Kondoed” my therapy room and got rid of materials that were published before I was born. 

There were shelves of things I never used, and having so many options created unnecessary decision fatigue every time I sat down to plan my week ahead. 

Over time, I started investing in knowledge instead of flashcards and games. I found my students did better when I kept it simple. I thought my students would be bored, but they actually became more engaged and independent. 

That’s why I was so excited to talk with Marisha Mets from SLP Now, who shares my passion for systems and frameworks that don’t require complicated materials. 

Marisha Mets earned her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington. She has worked as a school-based SLP and shares therapy ideas and resources on her blog (SLP Now). Marisha also developed a membership for SLPs that includes digital tools and resources to streamline evidence-based therapy, including a one-stop caseload management solution that currently supports thousands of SLPs. 

In this conversation, we discuss:

✅How to manage both physical clutter and mental clutter.

✅Identifying the point of diminishing returns when it comes to organizing.

✅Deciding when to use a batching process vs. habit stacking. 

✅Defining the “containers” you use to manage your workflow and your workspace.

✅How to identify your “staples”.

✅Investing in materials vs. knowledge/skills. 

You can connect with Marisha on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisha-mets-9aa396133/

Follow her on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/slpnow

Follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/slpnow/ 

Listen to my episode on the SLP Now Podcast here: https://slpnow.com/blog/how-to-write-iep-goals-an-expert-guide-for-slps/

Learn more about SLP Now and read Marisha’s free blog posts here: https://slpnow.com/

The following resources were mentioned in this episode:

“Outer Order, Inner Calm” by Gretchen Rubin: https://gretchenrubin.com/books/outer-order-inner-calm/

“Atomic Habits” by James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

In this episode, I mentioned Language Therapy Advance Foundations, my program that helps SLPs create a system for language therapy. You can learn more about Language Therapy Advance Foundations here: https://drkarenspeech.com/languagetherapy/

Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL and Renaissance:

Learn more about Renaissance:

As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable i