In this episode of Are they 18 yet?™, I talk with my friend and former colleague, Joann Briggs. Joann was a special education teacher in the public school systems for over 30 years, and I had the opportunity to work with her for a good portion of my time as a school speech pathologist. While…
Tag: special education
EP 051: Scaffolding: What it is and how to use it to help kids be more resilient (with Brittany Bohach)
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…
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 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 023: De-escalation strategies for home, school, and community (with DJ Stutz)
Meltdowns and tantrums are a normal part of parenting, but it’s not always easy to get through the day if you aren’t sure how to handle them. That’s why in episode 023, I share the second half of my conversation with DJ Stutz, where we talk about bad parenting advice, building self-esteem, and how to…
EP 022: How to set boundaries and share positive feedback with your child (with DJ Stutz)
Most parents know they should be giving their child praise and encouraging them to explore their interests… But most people don’t realize that making small changes to what you say can make a big difference in your day-to-day life and interactions with your family. That’s why in episode 022, I sit down with early childhood…
EP 021: 3 ways to show appreciation for your child’s school
One of the best ways to take care of your kids is to take care of the people taking care of our kids. That includes any professionals working with your child, like teachers, school therapists, administrators, and coaches to name a few. If you know anyone in any of those positions, you know it can be a…
EP 020: How to communicate effectively with your child’s teachers and therapists
It can be frustrating when you aren’t sure how to best support your child; especially when it comes to schoolwork. If you have a child who gets some type of specialized services and therapies, that makes it even more complicated. The good news is that strong communication with the professionals helping your child can make…
EP 019: How to support your dyslexic child (with Nicole Holcomb)
In this episode, I had the opportunity to talk with Nicole Holcomb from Dyslexia Mom Life. Nicole is a lawyer, and educator (she’s worked as a teacher, school counselor, and school administrator); but most importantly, she’s a mom of a dyslexic daughter and the host of the Dyslexia Mom Life podcast where she provides information and support for…