As speech-language pathologists, we do so much at work to serve special needs children and families. The work is challenging yet very rewarding when you see the progress made by children with communication disorders, developmental disorders, and/or language based learning disabilities. It is important to remember to keep a positive mindset at work. This is an integral key to enhancing SLP work success. Here are 5 reasons to have an attitude of gratitude:
1. You will feel refreshed when you think about people, things,
and events that you are grateful for.
and events that you are grateful for.
2. It keeps you motivated to continue doing the best you can to
teach speech/language skills to children and adolescents.
teach speech/language skills to children and adolescents.
3. Families are often happy to see the benefit of what their children
are learning in speech & language therapy each week.
are learning in speech & language therapy each week.
4. Over time, teachers observe how the child's speech-language
skills are generalizing in the classroom and throughout the
school environment.
skills are generalizing in the classroom and throughout the
school environment.
5. Children can sense when you are grateful & enjoy working with
them and many will be more motivated to participate in speech-
them and many will be more motivated to participate in speech-
language therapy sessions.
Here are 5 ways to have an attitude of gratitude:
1. Tell someone at work that you appreciate something that he or
she has done.
she has done.
2. Keep a gratitude jar on your desk and write notes about people,
things, and events that you are grateful for. Try to keep this
related to work so that you can truly enhance your SLP work
success.
things, and events that you are grateful for. Try to keep this
related to work so that you can truly enhance your SLP work
success.
3. Show appreciation for someone on his or her birthday or
holidays throughout the year. Give the person a birthday card or
make a special effort to speak to him or her that day to show
the person that you care.
holidays throughout the year. Give the person a birthday card or
make a special effort to speak to him or her that day to show
the person that you care.
4. Reward your speech-language students with fun incentives after
achieving a goal or working hard in a session. They may earn
time on your ipad, a sticker, edible treat, game time, etc.
achieving a goal or working hard in a session. They may earn
time on your ipad, a sticker, edible treat, game time, etc.
5. Keep inspirational posters in your workspace to remind you to
be grateful in all things and at all times.
be grateful in all things and at all times.
I hope these tips will be helpful for you when you return to work in January 2017! Have a great rest of the year!
Blessings,
Tamara Anderson
