We don’t want to be “helicopter parents” who coddle our kids…but we don’t want to be so militant that we traumatize them either. When it comes getting kids to do essential, but non-preferred tasks that ultimately help them thrive in the long run…the key to finding the right balance is learning how to scaffold. The…
Author: kldudek1980
EP 050: Interpreting “challenging behaviors” and meltdowns (with Brittany Bohach)
When kids show negative behaviors, it’s often because they’re struggling to do what they’re being asked to do. This unfortunately happens a lot in school settings. You may have heard the saying “Kindergarten is the new 1st grade”. Kindergarten used to be focused on play, and its becoming increasingly more academic. When “behavior problems” come…
EP 049: Natural treatments and ADHD: Spotting the fallacy
Are “natural” remedies really better when it comes to ADHD, autism, and related conditions? What does it mean to use a “natural” treatment or intervention? In this episode, I discuss why those questions aren’t easy to answer. Specifically, I discuss: ✅The “appeal to nature” fallacy, what it is and why it’s potentially harmful. ✅Common “natural”…
EP 048: The ins and outs of language screening (for school-age kids)
Am I choosing the right language screening tool?How do I know when a child should be screened and evaluated? I get these questions a lot. That’s why in this episode, I wanted to bust some common myths about language screenings and evaluations. I’m going to share:✅The difference between a screening and evaluation (plus common mistakes people make)….
EP 047: Are we “following the research” in education?
Does class size matter? Is homework effective? What’s the best way to help kids learn to read?Why do some teachers (and schools) succeed while others fail? Dr. John Hattie attempted to answer these questions in his meta-analysis, published in his book, Visible Learning. This meta-analysis has been widely cited and used in teacher preparation programs all…
EP 046: How to support language processing and comprehension in school-age kids (part 2)
In this episode, I continue the discussion about language processing and how to support it. I continue the discussion of difficult sentence types, and dive in to one very challenging syntax skill that tends to cause processing problems. Working on this skill can not only improve language comprehension, but it can also help kids more…
EP 045: How to support language processing and comprehension in school-age kids (part 1)
Language skills are essential to a child’s ability to succeed in school and life. But when processing language is a struggle there can be a global impact across a child’s entire day. Language comprehension issues can be such as challenge for therapists, parents and teachers because they’re difficult to spot. Often they look like a…
EP 044: Building vocabulary skills in Kindergarten through high school
Vocabulary growth is one of the biggest predictors of language growth and academic success. That’s why in this episode, I talk about what speech pathologists, parents, and teachers can do to help kids build strong vocabulary skills across elementary school through high school. Specifically, I share: ✅Why it’s hard to pinpoint what language and vocabulary…
EP 043: Supporting reading comprehension: What parents and professionals need to know
Reading comprehension is one of the most important skills for academic success. It’s a skill that can help us to continue to learn new information throughout our lives. On the other hand, kids who struggle to understand what they read are at a disadvantage when it comes to getting in school and beyond. When I…
EP 042: Re-release: Building discipline and self-management in elementary school through college
When raising kids in elementary school, junior high, and high school, a lot of parents wonder if they’re preparing their kids for what lies ahead in college and adulthood. We can’t look in to a crystal ball and predict the future, but we can bring insights from our own failures and successes to the way…