Chain Letter Link Up

Today we have the pleasure of getting to know Kristin Cummings of ‘Simply Speech’.  This wonderful blog has cute, useful materials and great ideas. Make sure you stop by her blog and check it out after you learn a bit more about this amazing SLP.

1. Your name, email, and TpT store if you have one. 
Kristin Cummings
email: kcummingsslp@yahoo.com
blog: www.kcummingsslp.blogspot.com

TpT: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Simply-Speech-And-Phoebe

2. When and why did you start blogging?

My first blog post was August 12, 2011. Pinterest had a huge part in me starting a blog. I found SO many cute activities and ideas on the site that always lead me back to teacher blogs. I noticed there were not many speech blogs (my how times have changed!!) so I decided t start one of my own.  

3. What is your favorite population to work with?

I love working with young children. Right now I have the most experience with PreK- 2nd grade. They are always so excited to come to therapy and I get to do the cutsey games and activities with them!

4. How much time per week do you spend blogging and/or creating materials?

Finding time for blogging and creating materials has been a tough task during the last 7 months. My daughter was born in April and she gets the majority of my time after I get home from work. I blog and create materials after she goes to bed (if I can stay awake!) so I would say about 5 hours a week.

5. What’s your favorite topic to create materials for?

So far I have had the most fun creating materials that go along with books! I currently have story companions for Elf on the Shelf and Stone Soup available in my store.

6. What’s the best thing about blogging?

The best thing about blogging has been meeting so many talented and creative people!! I feel like I have grown as a therapist in the last year and a half because of other bloggers.

7. Do you have any blogging tips?

One thing that I have learned about blogging is that photos get more readers. You can have a great blog post, but if there is too much writing and no photos, people often skip over it! Also, if you use someone’s idea or download their activities, leave them a comment letting them know. Those little comments go a long way!

8. Add a question and answer of your choice (can be speech related or not). 

What got you into the field of speech language pathology? 

Growing up, I was dead set on being a classroom teacher until a close friend of the family had a son with Apraxia of Speech. His mother encouraged me to attend his therapy sessions at All Children’s Hospital because she thought this may be a field I would be interested in. To be honest, I had never considered speech language pathology and had hardly heard of the field. Well, needless to say, after attending the first session, it was love at first sight! I am so thankful for her and her son for leading me into this field!