SLP Like a Boss with Kim Lewis from Activity Tailor

 

How do you SLP like a boss?  Someone who SLPs like a boss, is professional, compassionate, organized and inspirational. An SLP boss gets things done![spacer height=”default”]

In this series I’m interviewing SLP boss women who work by day as speech language pathologists, but at night (and on weekends),  they are business builders.  I’m talking about running websites, writing blogs and creating therapy materials for their fellow SLPs and teachers. They not only serve as advocates for their clients (students); they are advocates for our profession. These are the strong, amazing women that I admire and who inspire. [spacer height=”default”]

I am thrilled to kick off this series with the amazing Kim Lewis from the award winning blog Activity Tailor. Just two short years ago, Kim was my introduction into the magical world of blogging and Teachers Pay Teachers.  Her products are innovating, creative and kids love them.  Kim consistently writes articles and posts that are thought-provoking, helpful and supportive of our SLP/teacher community. She inspires me to strive for the utmost professionalism, to write creatively and to be generous. So let’s dive right in to my interview. [spacer height=”default”]

Tell me about yourself in seven words: “Creative, passionate, determined, hard-working, big picture.”[spacer height=”default”]

Where did you go to grad school?: University of Virginia[spacer height=”default”]

What are your top three SLP must haves (other than your own amazing materials)?: “I use miniatures, little plastic animals and common objects all the time.  Play-mobile Advent calendars and the bins at Party City are two of my resources. I use them with a big tupper-ware container full of magic sand. I do use the iPad a lot for articulation drill and for motivation.  But I try to limit the screen time and not just use the iPad during the session.” Here are Kim’s most used TPT materials: Listening Skills Resource Pack by Crazy Speech World, Therapy Popcorn R Articulation by Speech Therapy 101, Articulation for Reading and Conversation by Nicole Allison, Articulation Menus by Speech Musings, and Fluency Treatment Pack by Lauren LaCour.[spacer height=”default”]

What do you love most about what you do?“The kids that I see are all mildly to moderately impaired.  I like tweaking what I’m doing with each child to fit their needs and interests. These are kids that really need to know how to advocate for themselves.”[spacer height=”default”]

Tell me your advice for the newly minted SLP: “Keep learning. Read.  Attend a lot of CEUs. Keep asking questions.”[spacer height=”default”]

Tell me about your blog: “I get a lot of pleasure and relaxation in writing.  I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of writing for the ASHA Leader.  This is a fun, creative outlet…it’s a mix of musings and easy to implement activities.”[spacer height=”default”]

Tell me about your TPT store: “I focus on products that I need and use regularly.  There’s not a lot of cutesy stuff, the kids I work with don’t want items they think are “babyish”.  I try to avoid a lot of visual distractions because of my kids with attention difficulties.  I like visually clean materials.”[spacer height=”default”]

What SLP-boss inspires you?: “Amy at 3DSLP. She is so passionate about what she’s doing.  Her subscription boxes have great attention to detail. She’s a true entrepreneur. And what she’s doing is so different from what I do.  She works with voice and even does endoscopies.”[spacer height=”default”]

What is your favorite children’s book?:“I can’t pick just one. I like a lot of the young adult books. Secret Garden. Charlotte’s Web; I read that till there were practically no pages left. Mandy is a book by Julie Edwards, who is THE Julie Andrews.  I was trying to remember the book to recommend to my daughter and I loved it when she discovered it on her own.”[spacer height=”default”]

What about picture books? “Chrysanthemum and Lily’s Plastic Purse are some of my favorites.”[spacer height=”default”]

Inspirational right? Thank you so much to Kim for taking to time to chat with me and continuing to inspire me. I’m am looking forward to when our paths cross again. [spacer height=”default”]

Who inspires YOU to be your best?  Leave a note below in the comments, I’d love to know.[spacer height=”default”]

 SLP like a boss,[spacer height=”default”]

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