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…
Author: kldudek1980
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…
EP 041: Re-release: The Breaking Point
We all have a point where the demands of life become too overwhelming and we lose our ability to self-manage and stay disciplined. For people who have a diagnosis of ADHD, that point can come sooner rather than later. In this episode, my husband (Joe) shares what happened when he hit his breaking point, including:…
EP 040: Cognitive distortions and ADHD
When it comes to supporting kids with ADHD or other conditions that impact executive functioning, it can be challenging to understand some of the behaviors we’re seeing. Sometimes figuring out why they act the way they do can be confusing, especially when it appears that they’re engaging in certain self-sabotaging behaviors. This might include (but…
EP 039: Ableism: What therapists, teachers, and caregivers need to know
Ableism is discrimination against disabled people. As we learn more and more about autistic people, those with ADHD, among other populations…this word continues to come up in conversation. Many of the interventions we’ve traditionally done to support children who need different educational and medical interventions are now under scrutiny for having ableist qualities. This has…
EP 038: Person first vs identity first language: Which one should I use?
When I was going through school back in the late 90s and early 2000s, I was taught that “person-first” language was the most respectful way to refer to my clients. For example, they weren’t “disabled people”, they were “people with disabilities”. Fast forward to the 2020s, and now we’re hearing a different story. Now, there…
EP 037: Building skills for connection (with Miriam Campbell)
How do we hold students accountable for their actions, but acknowledge their unique neurological profiles at the same time? How do we help neurodivergents (e.g., ADHD, Autism) build genuine connections with others and succeed in academic, vocational, and social situations? In this episode, I invited special guest Miriam Campbell, founder of Skills for Connection, to help answer…
EP 036: 3 tips for introducing new foods to your kids
In episode 36 of Are they 18 yet?™, I talk about 3 common “problem” food categories when it comes to kids diets; plus tips for making sustainable changes across eat of these areas. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to offer rewards for eating healthy foods. Acquiring a taste for different textures and flavors…
EP 035: How to help picky eaters (without bribing them with dessert)
Most parents know that eating a balanced diet is important for brain development…but making that happen is easier said than done. Especially when they have “picky eaters” who are unsure about venturing out of their comfort zone. It’s tempting to default to the popular method of using dessert as “positive reinforcement” for eating less enticing…