As the spring months settle in, it’s the perfect time to start thinking ahead to summer. As a school-based SLP, you should make the most of your well-deserved summer break. Whether you’re considering a fabulous vacation, seeing clients privately, or a more creative summer venture, the earlier you decide, the better chance you have at success! Let’s check out 5 great summer options for school SLPs and learn how to best prepare for them now.
Why Plan Now?
It might feel too early to plan for summer, but making decisions now gives you time to research, prepare, and secure the best opportunities before they’re gone.
Think about:
- What balance do you want to have between work and relaxation this summer?
- Are there any summer options that can support your long-term career goals?
- Are there any new skills or experiences you want to gain?
- What existing summer plans do you have and need to work around?
Taking a proactive approach to your summer ensures that you make the most of your time— whether you’re relaxing, working, or a mix of both!
Summer Options for School SLPs
The great thing about being a school SLP is that you have options! You have a variety of opportunities you can say “Yes!” to this summer, and next summer you can choose to continue on or do something totally different.
- See Clients Privately
- Run a Speech Camp
- Work as a Summer School SLP
- Contract with a Short-Term Placement Agency
- Take the Summer Off
Each of your options has its benefits, so choose the one that best fits your personal and professional goals, and don’t look back!
1. See Students Privately
Working with students privately can provide a nice mix of work and fun for your summer. With the flexibility of private sessions, you can work as little or as much as you’d like while keeping your skills fresh and supplementing your income.
Choose between in-person or virtual therapy sessions, early intervention, school-aged kids, adults, or a mix of all!
Consider these steps to get started:
- Get referrals: Consider your desired population, and begin getting the word out now. Advertise your private services on local Facebook groups for parents, at your local library, or the nearby Boys & Girls Club.
- Handle paperwork: Create a simple system for intake forms, progress notes, and consent forms.
- Decide on a location: Will you see clients in their own homes, in a rented office, or virtually?
- Set up payment systems: Decide on your rates and payment options before you begin. Will you take insurance or only be private pay?
- Obtain liability insurance: You may already have suitable insurance as a school SLP, but double-check to make sure you don’t need to expand your coverage to protect yourself professionally.
Check out these engaging summer speech activities to use with school-aged clients!
2. Run a Speech Camp
Another great summer option for school SLPs is running a speech camp— especially if you love group activities!
Partner with local private schools or community centers to organize a speech camp without the hassle of securing a location, marketing to find clients, or lots of paperwork. You likely won’t get to keep all of the registration fees, but you will save time and effort by partnering with an established club or school.
Popular Summer Camp Themes:
- Social skills workshops
- Phonemic awareness boosters
- Fluency-focused groups
- Social-emotional language development
3. Work as a Summer School SLP
If you prefer keeping a steady schedule, working as a summer school SLP is a great option. Work with your current school district or contact other nearby schools to secure a spot in the summer school program. Depending on the size of your district, there may not be many spots available.
This option provides you with structured work hours, consistent income, and the opportunity to make an impact on students who need additional support. Summer school usually doesn’t run for the entire summer break, so you’ll still have a nice break to relax or pursue other ventures.
4. Contract with a Short-Term Placement Agency
Short-term placement agencies are a fantastic way to try new experiences while keeping your schedule flexible during summer break. Agencies that will match SLPs with schools or clinics that need temporary coverage. These positions can range from a few weeks to a couple of months long.
5. Take the Summer Off
Sometimes, the best summer plan is no plan at all! Taking a break lets you recharge mentally and physically and ensures you’ll be fully recharged for the next school year.
Even if you plan to fully enjoy your time off, consider carving out a little time to prepare for the next school year or get ahead on continuing education hours. This might include:
- Organizing therapy forms & materials
- Pursuing continuing education opportunities: consider these SLP Webinar options!
- Bookmarking back-to-school speech activities or new lesson plans
- Assembling (or purchasing!) informative caregiver handouts to send home the first week of school
As a school SLP, your summers are valuable! Beginning to consider the summer options for school SLPs now will set you up for a fulfilling and enjoyable summer. It will be great no matter what you choose!
You may also be interested in reading:
4 PRACTICAL Tips to Share with Caregivers for Summer Speech Success
3 IMPORTANT Considerations for SLPs: Choosing Continuing Education Courses Wisely
