De Facto Leaders

Latest Episodes:

Making sense of developmental milestones Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

Recently, the Center for Disease control updated the early developmental milestones, and there's been a lot of debate about what this means. In a lot of my SLP professional groups, there have been questions about whether this will allow kids to fall through the cracks. I've also heard the concern that developmental milestones in general focus on neurotypical development and don't take neurodivergents in to account. That's why recently, I did a training for the member's of SLP Learning Academy (my mentoring program for SLPs) to help them continue to provide quality services for kids who need them. In this episode, I share the audio from this training.

In the training, I cover:
✅What updates were made to the developmental milestones and concerns that have popped up in professional discussions.
✅Why developmental milestones are often misinterpreted and what to do about it.
✅What happens if a kid isn't following a "typical developmental progression"? What does that mean we should do?
✅What to do if a child IS meeting developmental milestones, but they're still having a difficult time functioning in school or social environments.
✅Why meeting developmental milestones shouldn't be the goal of therapy (and what to focus on instead).

In this episode, I mentioned this slide deck with a flow chart for making decisions during screenings/evals (taking milestones in to account). This episode was taken from a training in SLP Learning Academy, my mentoring program that helps SLPs develop leadership skills and deliver high-quality services without burnout. You can learn more about how to become a member here. The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.

Scaffolding: What it is and how to use it to help kids be more resilient (with Brittany Bohach) Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

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 term “scaffolding” is used to describe the foundation of a building, but it's also used to describe how teachers, therapists, and parents can teach kids challenging skills over time.

Ideally, we are providing JUST enough support that kids are challenged, but not so much support that they never progress. This can be applied to basic independent skills like making meals, basic hygiene, managing a schedule and deadlines (for homework and other things), among other things that are necessary life skills we want kids to be able to do.

That’s why in this week’s episode, I share the second half of my conversation with my friend and colleague, Brittany Bohach, a neurodivergent speech-language pathologist.

In this conversation, we share a number of tangible examples of scaffolding in the school settings-both in preschool and through elementary and secondary school.

Specifically, Brittany shares why something as simple as snack or lunch time can be difficult for a child in the preschool setting, and how to work through this situation in a way that has the child’s best interest in mind.

We also discuss another scenario that involved scaffolding from elementary school all the way through high school, and how a student was able to manage challenging sensory needs and develop communication skills in the process.

If you’re a therapist, parent, or teacher who wants to support kids in a neurodiversity affirming, healthy way (that also builds resilience), you’re going to love this episode.

To connect with Brittany Bohach, check out her private practice, Satellite Pediatric Therapy Services on Instagram at @satellitepediatrictherapy.

Additionally, we mentioned the work of Dr. Ross Greene on this episode, which you can learn more about here.

Finally, I also mentioned the Time Tracking Journal, my resource for parents and therapists who want to help kids build executive functioning skills during common non-preferred or challenging daily tasks (e.g., chores, homework). The Time Tracking Journal gives you a set of strategies to help kids complete daily routines independently by giving them the problem-solving skills they need to plan their day strategically. You can learn more about the Time Tracking Journal here. The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.

Interpreting “challenging behaviors” and meltdowns (with Brittany Bohach) Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

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 up, we have to consider the demands being placed on kids. Are they truly “behavior issues”, or are we simply asking kids to do too much too soon?

In episode 50, I dive into this topic with my friend and colleague, neurodivergent pediatric speech-language pathologist, Brittany Bohach.

Specifically, we discuss:
✅Popular pre-k classroom activities and accompanying behavior problems that go along with them.
✅What’s really causing kids to act out, and why punishment isn’t the best option to solve the issue.
✅Common environmental classroom triggers that can result in meltdowns in emergent communicators
✅Why kids resist common school activities (circle time, calendar time, snack), and why standard behavior management strategies can cause more harm than good.

If you’re a therapist, parent, or teacher who is helping a child with “Kindergarten readiness” and school in general, you’re going to love this episode. To connect with Brittany Bohach, check out her private practice, Satellite Pediatric Therapy Services on Instagram at @satellitepediatrictherapy.

Additionally, we mentioned the work of Dr. Ross Greene on this episode, which you can learn more about here.

Natural treatments and ADHD: Spotting the fallacy Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

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" treatments for conditions like ADHD (such as diet, sleep hygiene, supplementation)
✅How to avoid distorted thinking when making decisions about medication and other treatment options.
✅The problem with "child-led" interventions, and how to reframe that term in a way that helps kids build resilience.

In this episode, I mentioned this episode about homeopathy from the Unbiased Science podcast. I also mentioned the book "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer. If you want to create healthy home environment that supports executive functioning and independence in school-age kids, check out my program for therapists, teachers, and parents, Executive Functioning for Success. Executive Functioning for Success provides a 12-week plan for optimizing your home for learning, and helping kids become more independent with daily tasks at the same time. Whether it be simple chores, basic self-care and hygiene, or academic tasks; this program will show you how to teach your kids the critical thinking skills to work through it.

You can learn more about how to join here: https://drkarenspeech.com/executivefunctions (Disclaimer: This episode should not be considered medical or legal advice, and should not be used to diagnose or treat any specific medical condition). The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.

The ins and outs of language screening (for school-age kids) Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

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).
✅Why thinking of a screening as a "test" is problematic.
✅When you might not have to use a formal language screener (and what you can do instead).
✅A simple tool I use to simplify the screening process, so I make sure I'm evaluating the right students.

In this episode I mentioned the Academic Language Skills Rating Scale, a tool I use to streamline language screenings, so students don't fall through the cracks. You can download your copy of this tool at: drkarenspeech.com/languagescreening. The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.

Are we "following the research" in education? Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

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 over the world, and has also been used to make decisions regarding educational policy and funding. But are the conclusions accurate? In this episode I dig in to that question as I share some critical reviews of Dr. Hattie's work. Specifically, I share the problems that come when using statistics like effect size (used in Hattie's meta-analysis) to make practical decisions in education. Additionally, I share one specific place where I disagree with Hattie's conclusions, plus some additional research that supports my point of view; specifically when it comes to sentence-combining, language processing, and comprehension. You can find Dr. John Hattie's site here. You can find some critical review of his work here and here. I also mentioned that research supports the use of sentence-combining with certain students. You can find several studies that support this here, here, and here. I also share some additional support for sentence-combining and explicit work on syntax in my Ultimate Guide to Sentence Structure, which you can download here. The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.

How to support language processing and comprehension in school-age kids (part 2) Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

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 effectively express themselves verbally or in writing. If you're working with kids who have difficulty with reading comprehension, have difficult following directions with multiple steps, or if you have a child who has a hard time keeping up with the pace of daily routines, you'll find it really helpful.

Specifically, I'm going to share:
✅Why language processing issues can often be mistaken for "behavior issues", and why this can be damaging to a child's self-esteem. ✅One powerful skill kids need in order to be able to comprehend sophisticated language during conversations or book reading.
✅How to support kids' language skills during reading and other daily activities (by emphasizing one key syntax skill). In this episode, I also mention my Ultimate Guide to Sentence Structure, that takes this information a step further.

This guide walks through some of the common skills that cause language processing problems and how to work on them with kids.

Inside this 36-page guide, you’ll learn:

Simple strategies proven to boost sentence structure, comprehension, and written language.
The 4 sentence types your students need to know in order to comprehend language successfully.
A deceptively simple way to write language goals; so you’re not spending hours on paperwork (for my SLP listeners).

You can download your free copy on my website at: drkarenspeech.com/sentencestructure. The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.

How to support language processing and comprehension in school-age kids (part 1) Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

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 "behavior problem" when a child doesn't follow instructions, or when they appear to be off-task. On top of that, when kids repeated fail at a certain task and no one can figure out why, it's only natural for them to stop trying or willfully avoid it.

That's why in this episode, I'm getting the word out about language processing and why it's so important to develop in school-age kids. Here's what I'll be discussing in this episode:
✅The difference between "speech therapy" and "language therapy".
✅Red flags of language processing issues and how to spot them.
✅One of the most common culprits behind processing issues (that's often overlooked).
✅The 4 types of sentences that are difficult for kids with language processing issues. In this episode, I also mention my Ultimate Guide to Sentence Structure, that takes this information a step further.

This guide walks through some of the common skills that cause language processing problems and how to work on them with kids. You can download your free copy on my website at: drkarenspeech.com/sentencestructure. The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.

Building vocabulary skills in Kindergarten through high school Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

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 skills are "age-appropriate" between Kindergarten and 12th grade.
✅What types of words we should be emphasizing to help kids learn words more efficiently.
✅Some practical ways to improve kids' vocabulary in the home environment.

To learn more information about how to build language skills across the school-age years, check out my blog here: https://drkarenspeech.com/blog/ If you want more specific information about the language therapy framework I teach SLPs that I mentor (that's specifically designed to build the vocabulary skills that support strong comprehension), then check out my free online presentation. You can sign up for spot here: https://drkarenspeech.com/language The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.

Supporting reading comprehension: What parents and professionals need to know Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

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 worked in the school systems as a speech-language pathologist, a large portion of my caseload was referred to me because of language and literacy challenges.

Poor reading comprehension was often the red flag that resulted in those referrals. The challenge was knowing what to do for those students.

That's why in this episode, I aim to answer the question of "Whose job is it to support kids' reading comprehension skills?"
Specifically, I share:
✅The typical scope and sequence of reading instruction across K-12, and why some kids struggle with it.
✅The common causes of reading comprehension difficulties, and what schools and professionals typically do to address them.
✅What SLPs, teachers, and parents can do to work as a team in supporting reading comprehension. In this episode, I share my brand new presentation that walks through my framework I teach SLPs I mentor.

This process is designed to help professionals like SLPs give kids the foundational skills they need to support strong reading comprehension. I designed it with SLPs in mind, so if you're a speech pathologist supporting a K-12 caseload, it will give you a ton of clarity. If you're a teacher or a parent, you're welcome to check it out as well (or share with your child's speech pathologist). You can save your seat in this presentation here. The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.

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