De Facto Leaders
Latest Episodes
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 sk
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 ther
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
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 disadva
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 bri
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) sha
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
Ableism: What therapists, teachers, and caregivers need to know
Ableism is the 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 ch
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 forwa
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 s