The Listening SLP

09/22/2025

Remember all that glitters is not gold. ✨

It’s easy to see the content I post and think Sydney’s got it all. Multiple speaking engagements, private practice, school contractor, a loving partner, family, friends and the list could on and on.

Let fill you in on a little secret. 🤫

NONE of this happened by chance. A few years ago, the business I built almost went in the 🚽. I cried many tears and was actually ready to give it all up.

You know what got me through that time. My support system. My professional network. My now husband.

People showed up for me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. But it also taught me how to rebuild, keep it pushing, and to forgive myself for the mistakes I made.

This journey isn’t always gold, but it’s worth it! I’m so happy that asked me to be on her ✨ NEW ✨ podcast called Scale Smart!

Comment “PODCAST” to listen to me share more about my journey as an SLP business owner who has had to ride the waves of adversity and still came out on top!
•
•
•

09/19/2025

Thank you, MISSISSIPPI! 🫶🏾

I had a blast in Flowood, MS this past week with SLPs and AuDs! Much love to all the people that came to my 5 HOUR pre-conference presentation.

We spent time unpacking how SLPs can align their therapy with the Mississippi Standards for Reading! We did a little role play, brainstormed ideas, and laughed a whole lot!

Your southern hospitality was truly one of a kind! 💚

Not pictured is the amazing time I had with floating in the lazy river. What a fabulous way to wrap up an exciting week!
•
•
•

09/19/2025

Using CROWD questioning routines can help facilitate conversations around book reading.

How many times have we asked a child something and they said “I don’t know” or give a brief one word answer? Sometimes the way you word a question can be limiting for the child responding.

Try using these strategies to assist the child in giving you more!

💡 Completion prompts: Given a prompt, the child will fill in the missing information.

💡 Recall Questions: Questions that ask the child to share details about the story. This is a great way to talk about sequence of events.

💡 Open-ended Questions: Any question that can’t be answered in just one word. Try to think of questions that require a deeper understanding of the story rather than factual statements.

💡 Wh- Questions: Questions that begin with who, what, when, where, and why. This is a great way to teach new vocabulary and ask questions about the details of the story.

💡 Distancing Questions: These types of questions can help make connections from the story to other times in the child’s life by pulling from any aspect of the story.

✨SHARE this post for others to benefit.
📥 SAVE this post to refer back to later.

Click the link in my bio to get your copy of my book, A Day Mom! Have you used CROWD questioning routines in your classroom or therapy room?
•
•
•

09/16/2025

✨CORE MEMORY ALERT✨

I am beyond excited to share that I’ll be serving as one of the Topic Co-Chairs for Literacy Assessment & Intervention at ASHA 2026! 🥳

If you’ve been around here a while, you know how much I geek out over all things literacy! I was very shocked and felt a deep sense of gratitude to be asked to help lead this topic. To be asked to be a Topic Chair means that you’re recognized as a subject matter expert in the area. 🥹

(SN: To my grad school friends, remember when I won that superlative as most likely to end up in The ASHA Leader 🤣 FOR GOOD THINGS)

I had the privilege of going to The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association headquarters to meet and brainstorm with so many amazing people who are truly movers and shakers in the field.

When you get to see all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into planning a conference, you gain a MUCH deeper appreciation.

This is only just the beginning with a lot more work ahead! Can’t wait for all the learning, connections, and inspiration ahead!

Here’s to ASHA 2026! 💕
•
•
•

09/15/2025

📌 SAVE THIS POST FOR THE TEACHING SCRIPTS

One reason kids get stuck in literacy? The words we use to teach it.

When we say things like blending or segmenting, kids (and parents!) might think: “Wait… what does that mean?” Using technical terms can be really challenging, especially for kids with language difficulties and dyslexia.

That’s why it’s SO important to explain these terms in simple, kid-friendly language. This makes sure that we are focusing on the skill and NOT trying to figure out the vocabulary.

Keep it SIMPLE 👇🏾
- Blending = smooshing sounds → /d/ + /ɔ/ + /g/ = dog
- Segmenting = breaking sounds → dog → /d/ + /ɔ/ + /g/
- Syllable = word beats → lol-li-pop (3 claps)

Simple words = clear learning.

💕 Don't forget to SAVE and REPOST this for others to benefit!

Tell me how you explain these terms to kids you teach or work with. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
·
·
·

09/11/2025

Thank you, IN-CoDE (The PASS Project) for having me! 🥹

I loved being able to talk about emergent literacy, ways to assess auditory skills, and functional intervention ideas! I learned just as much from the TODs as I hope you all learned from me!

Where I’m I heading next? 👀
To Flowood, MS for pre-conference all about integrating literacy into speech therapy sessions! 🙌🏾

BUT first, I have a quick pit stop in DC for an important meeting.
•
•
•

09/11/2025

It was so great to see Lindy and take time touring St. Joseph Hearing + Speech!

This week, Chief Program Officer Lindy Powell represented St. Joseph at the Indiana Conference on Deaf Education! This annual conference brings together parents and professionals from across the deaf education field to connect and engage with local and national experts.

Lindy was able to connect with Sydney Bassard, owner of The Listening SLP. We are always grateful to make cross-state connections with other amazing providers!

09/11/2025

When discussing early predictors of reading success, we often mention phonological awareness.

But what is phonological awareness? 🤷🏾‍♀️

Phonological awareness is an umbrella term to encompass the ability to recognize and manipulate the spoken parts of sentences and words. This includes rhyming, identification of words, and breaking words into syllables. Under this umbrella is phonemic awareness.

Phonemic awareness refers to the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate phonemes. A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound (i.e. cat has 3 phonemes /k/ /æ/ /t/).

When talking with families it is important to explain these terms and the importance of these skills when learning to read.

What questions do you have about phonological awareness?
·
·
·
·

09/09/2025

I carry these notes anytime I travel for work 💌

These little love notes from my husband got me thinking about the power of building a network. It’s not just about connections and who you know.

It’s about support, encouragement, and having people in your corner who see your work and cheer you on. I’m forever thankful to have my spouse, family, friends, and this space on the internet! 💕

As SLPs, our networks can be professional AND personal. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, share resources, and remind you why you do what you do. It’s not always going to be fun times. Find people who will wipe your tears and pick you up when life feels extra heavy.

Tag people in your network to let them know how special they are ⬇️

(P.S. I’m such a lover girl!! This gift from my husband has been one of my favorites! He wrote me these little notes when we were still dating. He’s forever my life partner.)
•
•
•
💍

09/09/2025

‼️ Hearing and understanding ARE NOT the same thing. ‼️

Erber’s Auditory Hierarchy describes the four stages of auditory development. 🪜

💡 Detection (The graphic has a typo)
💡 Discrimination
💡 Identification
💡 Comprehension

Why is this important to know?

When working with deaf and hard-of-hearing children who use spoken language, we need to know where they are at in the hierarchy when targeting skills.

As a parent or therapist, it allows us to adjust our expectations based on the child’s performance. For example, if a child is at the detection stage of a sound. We would not expect them to comprehend that sound within a language structure.

I also think about this hierarchy when targeting speech sounds. Oftentimes, we jump to identification without addressing discrimination between errors and correct production.

Have you seen this ladder before?

✨SHARE this post for others to benefit.
📥 SAVE this post to refer back later.
·
·
·

09/08/2025

Has a parent ever told you a family member or well meaning person told them these things when mentioning concerns about their child? 🧐

It is around that time of year when family members might provide their unsolicited advice on your child's development.

“Oh, they’ll outgrow it.” or “My child didn’t talk until three,” are a few things that well-meaning family and friends might say to comfort a parent whose child is not talking yet.

The reality is that some children are late talkers, but there are children who need intervention as they develop language. Early intervention is key for these kids. 🔑

As a parent or caregiver, you know your child BEST! If you have concerns about your child’s speech and language development, please get an evaluation.

Trust your gut! It is always encouraged to seek the guidance of a licensed professional versus "wait and see". 🗣

For therapist: Mabel Rice’s train metaphor of language acquisition is a great way to think about delay and disorder.🚂

Comment on one thing you wish families knew about speech and language development. ✨
·
·
·
·
·
·

09/06/2025

A one hour presentation = many hours of preparation

You get to see the finished product of slides, research, activities, and more presented in a near package for you! 🎁

What you don’t see is all the hours of research, cracking open textbooks, creating and tweaking slides, brainstorming interactive activities, and more.

It takes A LOT of work to get ready for a presentation.

Yet, I love doing it! I love being able to help give professionals actionable tools for assessments and therapy. It makes my heart happy when I get an email after a presentation stating how much you’ve appreciated a resource!

Remember the next time you sit in a presentation, PD, or training, that a lot of time, energy, and love was poured in to get you this information! 💕
•
•
•