Decoding Learning Differences with Kimberlynn Lavelle

Video Version available at DecodingLearningDifferences.com   In previous seasons, we have talked EXTENSIVELY about motivation and because it is such a critical part of a child's academic success and overcoming learning challenges, I'll always keep bringing it up again and again!   This week we're diving into a quick and easy way to motivate a child.  It won't work for every child every time.  And it won't work if your mindset going into it isn't clear and motivating.     And yet, overall, it's such a simple action to take to increase learning!  

Video Version available at DecodingLearningDifferences.com   I recently was confronted (on this podcast episode!) with a myth that I had spread widely believing to be true: that learners retain 90% of what they teach.  I had never believed that the pyramid this fact was based off of was exact or precise but rather a generalization of lots of research.  It also was supported by the real-life experiences I had.   And yet– I had trusted the sources that first told me about this pyramid.  That led me to spread it to others and so on, and if any of us had looked into deeply, we would have seen it's just a common myth that has spread WIDELY!   So, do educators lie? Sometimes.  And sometimes educators fall for misinformation just like everyone else.  So what do we do about it?  Check the facts!  And set the record straight when you can!

Gretchen Wegner, a former classroom teacher, is the founder of The Anti-Boring Learning Lab. This is a wonderful resource for all educators to check out, including home educators! In this second conversation, Gretchen will share her knowledge of Self-Directed Learning, which we discuss calling “Collaborative Learning”!  You'll learn what it is, how to implement it in any learning situation, and why it's worth taking the time to implement well! Video version available at DecodingLearningDifferences.com Be sure to check out Gretchen's FREE resources!  These are shared during the conversation and I found them to be so helpful with my own kids and students!

Video version available at DecodingLearningDifferences.com Gretchen Wegner, a former classroom teacher, is the founder of The Anti-Boring Learning Lab. This is a wonderful resource for all educators to check out, including home educators! In this conversation, Gretchen will share her knowledge of neuromyths, why they are not accurate, and why we need to bust them! Check out Gretchen's blog article about Neuromyths here! This article is what led me to invite Gretchen on the podcast! Also be sure to check out Gretchen's FREE resources!

I do hope that I am not the only neuro-nerd out there, but even if you're not particularly fascinated by neuroscience, stick with me!   In this week's episode, I take an old-ish quote and apply it to how your kids learn, leaving you with action you can take to make learning more successful for your kids!   This is extremely helpful in working with kids with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and so many other specific learning disabilities! It also benefits those with ADHD or any learning struggles!

This week's podcast episode might be a first of its kind (for me).  It started out as wanting to explain that English is actually relatively logical and follows a lot of patterns, but it turned into a book recommendation because Uncovering the Logic of English by Denise Eide goes into better detail than I ever could in a podcast episode! Listen in to hear about why I like this book, why I recommend this book regularly, and some examples of how we were just never taught enough to know that English is a much more predictable and logical language than it is usually given credit for!

I am delighted to announce that our first guest interview for the 2025 season of Decoding Learning Differences is Dr. Hurford.  Dr. Hurford is doing great things in the world, studying dyslexia and teaching kids with dyslexia as part of his non-profit organization! You can hear all about that as well as some books he's published (that I just had to get my own copies of, so expect to see another episode on those in the future!) in this week's podcast episode! To learn more about his organization and his books, go to: https://www.jettpublishing.net/authors/about-the-author    

Times are challenging, and I'm dedicated to focusing on getting everyone the info they need to be successful in the area in which I have expertise in. There will be a few changes to the podcast for the 2025 season.  I will now be emailing and publishing the podcast episodes on THURSDAYS instead of Mondays!     So watch for emails from me on Thursdays at 12:34pm.  As much as I'd like to get back to weekly emails and episodes, I think bi-weekly is the most attainable for me at this time.  I am dedicated to continuing to keep this a free resource (for you; it costs me plenty, haha!) and hope that you find it valuable! I'll be focusing this year on Education law (especially the special education side of it), book reviews, learning/teaching tips, and guest interviews!   If you have any ideas for any of the above OR any other questions you would love for me to answer on the podcast, please email me: Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com

Parents assume that their kids have learned something and will still know it next week.   They won't, unless they've been practicing.     This is probably obvious to you when you stop to think about it, but it's just so common for parents to also be surprised when our kids have forgotten something they TOTALLY knew!   And this learning-requires-practice truth is exponentially more true for kids with learning disabilities! Listen to this week's episode and get some ideas for how to go about helping your kiddo to make progress that lasts and doesn't leave them saying, “I'm stupid!”  No kid deserves to feel that way!

If you have a “great”, “good”, or even “okay” IEP in place for your kiddo, don't assume all is going well and you don't need to check in until the next annual IEP.   Check NOW!  We're approximately ⅓ of the way through the school year (depending on your school's calendar).     We need to be sure that everything in place still makes sense and is benefiting your kiddo.     We need to be sure the goals are appropriate and progress is being made.   And we need to be sure progress is being made in all the areas that don't have IEP goals too!

Unfortunately, education has become increasingly political lately and I feel like I'm not doing anyone any favors by keeping quiet about it.   I will not tell you who or what to vote for, but I would love the opportunity to let you know about a few things that can impact your child's education.   I'm intentionally releasing this episode well ahead of Election Day because I want everyone to have time to research fully, and never to act out of fear.

Today is Christmas in September!  I've got a gift for you!   I've just created an IEP checklist to help you do what I do for my clients!  When working with clients, I go through every part of an IEP to ensure it is well-written, accurate, and is working toward reasonably ambitious goals.   With this PDF, you can now do the same thing!  The PDF links to videos that go deeper into some of these topics to help you better determine how to support your kiddo and how to best evaluate your kiddo's IEP.   In this week's podcast, I'm going over this PDF and how to use it most effectively. Click here to watch and get the PDF for yourself!

Click here to see the video and get the letters!   https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/Letters Or email me at Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com

See the video at: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/StartingtheSchoolYear  The school year has already begun in schools near me, and won't start for another month in some other schools around the country.  Whenever you are starting school, I want you to keep in mind a few things toward the start of the year.  These are some ways to help ensure this is a year of success and progress for your child, and not another lost year.   Stay in frequent contact with all general education and special education teachers working with your kiddo, as well as any other service providers (Speech, OT, counseling, etc) Be sure that everyone is very familiar with your child's needs and accommodations and be sure that they are actually implementing them, not forcing your child to be the one to ask for the accommodation before it is provided! Monitor your child's progress and ensure IEP goals are being worked on, are still appropriate, and progress is being made. Be friendly, be approachable, be firm.  The goal is for the school's IEP team members to treat you like they would a close friend or family member, providing the best for your kiddo; not taking advantage of you, and not keeping you in the dark out of fear.

Video version available at: decodinglearningdifferences.com/IEPAccommodations This week's podcast episode is long overdue!  This is an analysis of a real IEP accommodations page sent to me by a parent concerned about their child's IEP and wanting some free feedback. I love parents who care and who ask great questions to understand how to help their kiddo. In this episode, I take a look at this IEP for the first time and give feedback on what I'm seeing and noticing and what I would write differently, if anything. Did you know?? If you want free support on an IEP, email me (Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com) and tell me, “free help, please!” Attach any IEP documents you want me to look at.  I'll take a look, remove any identifying information, and provide some feedback on a future podcast episode, sending you the episode before it's published! Or- Do you want more intensive help and guidance?  Someone to hold your hand and guide you through more than a year of IEP process and ongoing monitoring and support?  Email me (Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com) and say, “I want ALL the help!” and we'll set up your 1:1 support.

I was watching a sweet video the other day of a toddler trying to figure out a puzzle and looking frustrated but determined.  Finally, the child figured it out and their face lit up!  So sweet! I love these kinds of stories of kids, adults, and even animals overcoming difficulties.  They can be such an inspiration! And even better: when someone overcomes a difficulty and then turns around and helps others to overcome that same difficulty! That's this week's guest on the podcast: Sherrika Myers! You will hear her tell her story of difficulty, overcoming, and then creating ways to help others overcome that same difficulty AND other challenges! Watch the video here:  https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/SherrikaMyers/    Links to Sherrika Myers's resources: https://www.every1voicematters.org/ https://www.lilherbieseries.org/

Hi, *|FNAME|*! Happy Monday! When I first became a special education teacher, I had received NO instruction on how to write an IEP.  I asked another special education teacher how to write it and was told to mostly just copy what the previous year's IEP said, just making the goals more advanced. I was so clueless going into that first IEP meeting. I cared DEEPLY about my students, and I wanted to do right by them.     I wanted to provide every student with a really great education that would meet their needs and see them excel. I felt that parents were an important part of the team, knowing more than I did about their student and best positioned to address and suggest certain parts of the IEP. I did not feel well-positioned to make suggestions on the rest of it…   A few years later, after talking to more special education teachers, receiving a little training, and writing and holding over a hundred IEP meetings….   I was still inadequate.   I still cared.  I still wanted to do what was best.  And I still felt like there was a ton I didn't know and needed to know in order to best serve my students.   Eventually, I got A LOT more training and feedback from experts on how to actually write effective IEP goals.   I had someone over my shoulder showing me what was right and what I needed to change to write effective goals.   I will forever be grateful to that person and the training I received which allowed me to finally be better at that aspect of my career. And now that I'm not writing hundreds of IEP goals every year as a special education teacher, I want to help others know HOW to write and recognize good IEP goals When the IEP team sends you a draft IEP goal, I want you to be able to look at it and determine for yourself if it is any good. Check out the video for this week's episode: “IEP Goals: Let's Fix One!​” by clicking here!

I so often hear from parents frustrated by the school system and specifically the school they are fighting with to get their child what they need. What I also hear from on occasion is fellow educators who are passionate about changing the schools from the inside! One such educator is Caroline Digman!  She is a dedicated teacher working hard to make real change in her school and in her school district.  She's also spreading the word on what she's doing locally to spread change in more districts! I love what she's doing so I asked her to be on the podcast to share about what she's doing and how we can all get involved in our own ways!   Send IEP documents you want free feedback on to: Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com

Continuing with ideas for motivating our kids, we're discussing the motivational impact of genuine belief in your child.  Belief in who they are and what they are capable of. Check out the video version, more free resources, and support at www.DecodingLearningDifferences.com Send IEP documents you want free feedback on to: Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com

Continuing with ideas for motivating our kids, we're discussing the motivational impact of giving kids genuine responsibility. See the video version and resources at: www.DecodingLearningDifferences.com Send IEP documents you want free feedback on to: Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com

Continuing with ideas for motivating our kids, we're discussing the motivational impact of  genuine gratitude. Send IEP documents you want free feedback on to: Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com

As a former special education teacher in the public schools, and as someone who still is paying attention to what kids are drawn to reading, I can tell you that anecdotally, graphic novels seem to be the most exciting type of book for kids to own! They love the pictures and our dyslexic kiddos often thrive off of fewer words on the page.  However, many graphic novels contain words that are WAY too challenging for struggling readers. Enter Sue Marasciulo.     If you don't know about her books, you'll probably want to grab some, especially if your kiddo is in the early reader phase (or if it's coming up)! In this week's episode, Sue shares about her background, her inspiration to create these books, and her hopes for them. Check out Sue's books at: https://www.suemarasciulo.com/    Send IEP documents you want free feedback on to: Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com

Affirmations expressing all the awesome qualities of your kid can be very motivating for them! Be sure to send IEP documents you want free feedback on to: Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com

This episode goes into three “Motivation Killers”: Punishments, Rewards, and Praise.  (Although praise is actually a type of reward).   Punishment Now that corporal punishment (physical abuse/hitting) is very rare and illegal in most states, punishment is usually about taking something away from a child (called a negative punishment).  Punishments you may have seen in schools: “You didn't do your work, you don't get to go out to recess.”  “You didn't do well enough, you get an F.”  “You get a zero.”  “You have a missing notice that has to go home and get signed by your parents.”    Now, that last one can also be a type of communication between parents and teachers and doesn't need to be punitive.  It really depends on the teacher's mindset.  Do they want to punish or just communicate?  Is the note given privately and with empathy or is the kid put on blast in front of the whole class?  Is the tone of voice kind or upset?   Similarly, at home we tend to not spank much anymore (there is a lot of evidence around the harm that spanking causes) but we will take things away (negative punishment): “You didn't do your homework, you don't get to watch TV” (or ride your bike, or play on the tablet, etc)   All of these punishments send the message that you believe the child has willfully chosen to do the “wrong thing” or to not do well enough on an assignment, etc. All of these punishments create a power struggle between child and adult.  All of these punishments can cause kids to feel like they are bad or dumb.   Rewards We can also flip some punishments to be rewards: “you don't get to watch TV until you do your homework.”   Or we can use bribes, “If you read this page to me, you get an M&M!”   We're letting kids know that doing the homework or reading is not worth doing unless they are being “paid” to do it.  “If you do A, I'll give you B” let's the child know that A is a bad thing and B is a good thing.  If they already like A, they quickly start to realize that they're not supposed to.   If your kid loved eating broccoli, you could kill that love pretty quickly by telling them they only get ice cream if they eat their broccoli and then one day stop giving them ice cream.   Reading is a wonderful and pleasurable activity for people to engage in.  Writing, mathematics, athletic endeavors, and playing music are also.  If we start rewarding a child for engaging in any of these, we are sending the opposite message.  We are telling kids that they shouldn't like these.  They should only like TV, tablets, candy, etc.   Because I never want my young children to lose their love of books and reading, I will never bribe or otherwise reward them for reading with me.  Reading is already intrinsically motivating and enjoyable.   Praise Praise is a specific type of reward.  Saying, “good job” tells a child that they are being evaluated.  It lets the child know that there is a right and wrong way to do things and that they better be careful not to do the wrong thing.   This can kill creativity.  If a child comes up to you with their drawing and you say it's a beautiful drawing, expect to see lots more just like it.  They're less likely to risk drawing something different because you might not like it.  They'll stick with the safe drawing.   If a child is working on writing, and you tell them, “great hook!” you are giving a specific praise, but you are still evaluating them and they're likely to use the same type of hook in their next piece of writing. (A hook is the beginning of the writing that grabs a reader's attention)   Keep in mind that many famous, award-winning authors were rejected by dozens of publishers before being picked up and then going on to become famous.  Those professionals didn't think that book was good enough but now it's being taught in classes on literature.  It doesn't matter what those particular professionals thought of the book and it really doesn't matter whether or not you like the hook.   It does matter whether or not your child is able to learn and grow from what they are doing.  It does matter how they feel about their writing.  So, ask them questions:  “How do you feel about the hook?” “What part do you feel you really nailed?” “What are you going to work on improving next time?” “Are you aware of the conventions around dialogue?  May I show you how we mark dialogue in a text?” OR “Do you know how most English writers show when characters are speaking to each other?  May I show you?”   You can guide and teach without your child feeling evaluated.   What to do instead Motivation is tricky.  In Alfie Kohn's book, Punished by Rewards, Kohn goes deep into why rewards are problematic.  And yet, he doesn't offer much in the way of what to do instead.  And that's because it's rather complicated and there aren't any easy and quick answers. In Season 2, we discussed a lot of options and in Season 4, I've got some new ideas for you!

This year, in the fourth podcast season, you can expect more about motivation, more interviews, and more IEP guidance!   Be sure to send IEP documents you want free feedback on to: Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com

Video version available at: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/podcast/DevelopingReadersAcademy/  Last week we dove deep into the Science of Reading.  This week, we're moving into how to make that reading instruction FUN! Laura and Megan of the Developing Readers Academy are this week's podcast guests and they are full of wisdom and inspiration! Join our conversation and gain some ideas for how best to help your “growing reader”. Learn more about what they're doing at: https://www.developingreadersacademy.com/ 

Video version available at: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/podcast/NHansford How much do you know about “The Science of Reading”? Do you feel clueless?  Do you feel like you are an expert?  Somewhere in-between? This week's episode is for you if you land ANYWHERE in that range!  I completely geek out over Science of Reading stuff and this conversation was a super fun one for me!  I got to ask an expert on the topic some questions and along the way, he gave a good overview of what good reading instruction requires and what the research says about each of those elements. He lists 6 Pillars of Reading Instruction.  Can you name them?   Find out more about Nate Hansford and his work at (one of my top favorite websites): https://www.pedagogynongrata.com/

Video Version available at: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/podcast/MotivationKillers/  This powerful replay episode goes into three “Motivation Killers”: Punishments, Rewards, and Praise.  (Although praise is actually a type of reward).   Punishment Now that corporal punishment (physical abuse/hitting) is very rare and illegal in most states, punishment is usually about taking something away from a child (called a negative punishment).  Punishments you may have seen in schools: “You didn't do your work, you don't get to go out to recess.”  “You didn't do well enough, you get an F.”  “You get a zero.”  “You have a missing notice that has to go home and get signed by your parents.”    Now, that last one can also be a type of communication between parents and teachers and doesn't need to be punitive.  It really depends on the teacher's mindset.  Do they want to punish or just communicate?  Is the note given privately and with empathy or is the kid put on blast in front of the whole class?  Is the tone of voice kind or upset?   Similarly, at home we tend to not spank much anymore (there is a lot of evidence around the harm that spanking causes) but we will take things away (negative punishment): “You didn't do your homework, you don't get to watch TV” (or ride your bike, or play on the tablet, etc)   All of these punishments send the message that you believe the child has willfully chosen to do the “wrong thing” or to not do well enough on an assignment, etc. All of these punishments create a power struggle between child and adult.  All of these punishments can cause kids to feel like they are bad or dumb.   Rewards We can also flip some punishments to be rewards: “you don't get to watch TV until you do your homework.”   Or we can use bribes, “If you read this page to me, you get an M&M!”   We're letting kids know that doing the homework or reading is not worth doing unless they are being “paid” to do it.  “If you do A, I'll give you B” let's the child know that A is a bad thing and B is a good thing.  If they already like A, they quickly start to realize that they're not supposed to.   If your kid loved eating broccoli, you could kill that love pretty quickly by telling them they only get ice cream if they eat their broccoli and then one day stop giving them ice cream.   Reading is a wonderful and pleasurable activity for people to engage in.  Writing, mathematics, athletic endeavors, and playing music are also.  If we start rewarding a child for engaging in any of these, we are sending the opposite message.  We are telling kids that they shouldn't like these.  They should only like TV, tablets, candy, etc.   Because I never want my young children to lose their love of books and reading, I will never bribe or otherwise reward them for reading with me.  Reading is already intrinsically motivating and enjoyable.   Praise Praise is a specific type of reward.  Saying, “good job” tells a child that they are being evaluated.  It lets the child know that there is a right and wrong way to do things and that they better be careful not to do the wrong thing.   This can kill creativity.  If a child comes up to you with their drawing and you say it's a beautiful drawing, expect to see lots more just like it.  They're less likely to risk drawing something different because you might not like it.  They'll stick with the safe drawing.   If a child is working on writing, and you tell them, “great hook!” you are giving a specific praise, but you are still evaluating them and they're likely to use the same type of hook in their next piece of writing. (A hook is the beginning of the writing that grabs a reader's attention)   Keep in mind that many famous, award-winning authors were rejected by dozens of publishers before being picked up and then going on to become famous.  Those professionals didn't think that book was good enough but now it's being taught in classes on literature.  It doesn't matter what those particular professionals thought of the book and it really doesn't matter whether or not you like the hook.   It does matter whether or not your child is able to learn and grow from what they are doing.  It does matter how they feel about their writing.  So, ask them questions:  “How do you feel about the hook?” “What part do you feel you really nailed?” “What are you going to work on improving next time?” “Are you aware of the conventions around dialogue?  May I show you how we mark dialogue in a text?” OR “Do you know how most English writers show when characters are speaking to each other?  May I show you?”   You can guide and teach without your child feeling evaluated.   What to do instead Motivation is tricky.  In Alfie Kohn's book, Punished by Rewards, Kohn goes deep into why rewards are problematic.  And yet, he doesn't offer much in the way of what to do instead.  And that's because it's rather complicated and there aren't any easy and quick answers. Check out Season 2 for more ideas on how to motivate kids to read, write, do math, and more!

What is your birth story? Did you experience a traumatic birth?  Do you suspect it may have impacted your child? I don't want this to scare you, worry you, or bring any kind of burden! I've just seen an anecdotal connection between birth difficulties and an increased likelihood of learning disabilities.  I've seen some research to support this, but more certainly needs to be done. As I talked with my doula friend Jemilla White about this, we decided to take this conversation to the podcast so that the wisdom can be shared more widely! The conversation took some unexpected turns and I found some surprising parallels between the world of birthing and the world of education! Learn more about Jemilla White and Doula services at: https://marimamadoula.com/  Find the video version at: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/jemilla

Some people just have SO much to offer the world! Today's podcast wisdom comes from a sweet friend who wrote a truly inspiring book: Swim the Lake Before You Row the Boat- that gives so much wisdom about how to raise children in a purposeful, meaningful way.  AND- Deb is a lawyer and has experience with special education and shared a lot of wonderful wisdom around the IEP process. Video version is at: https://www.decodinglearningdifferences.com/swimthelake 

This week I was excited to chat with Dr. Julian Reed, founder of Walkabouts.  He talks about a program that he developed to bring movement into the classroom as well as a lot of other ways that movement can be incorporated into the classroom, and I mentioned some examples I had seen in a school I used to work in. Learn more about the program at: https://www.walkabouts.com/

If I'm understanding Neurofeedback correctly- without adding another mentally exhausting task to their day, you can retrain the brain to change the brain waves to make learning easier for them.   Click here to watch this fascinating and hope-filled conversation! If you have tried or wind up trying neurofeedback, I would LOVE to hear about your experience! Find out more about Dianne Kosto's work here: https://symmetryneuropt.com/ 

“When I grow up, I want to be Jen Doidge.”- something I've said multiple times in my life.   Today's podcast episode is super special to me.  I have a good friend who exudes positivity and adventure and friendliness.     She's someone I want everyone to know.  She's not an education expert.  She's not a parenting expert.     She's simply an amazing human that I want to share with even more of the world.   I finally got her on a call and couldn't wait to release this episode!   In this episode, you'll hear about all of the amazing and adventurous professions she has held that do not require a college degree and have given her an amazingly successful and joy-filled life!   You'll also hear about her life motto that has served her very well over the years.  Click here to watch  this beautifully inspiring conversation!

Listen to this previously-released episode and check out more episodes that you may have missed here: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/ 

Dr. Marnie Ginsberg is the founder of Reading Simplified. Hear her story and get inspired to help your own learner master reading! Video version at: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/podcast/readingsimplified/  Check out: https://readingsimplified.com/ Some links discussed in this episode: Readingsimplified.com/switch-it ReadingSimplified.com/reading-tests ReadingSimplified.com/one-and-done-nearly ReadingSimplified.com/power-up-phonics-activities readingsimplified.com/academy

Take the Cognitive Questionnaire here: https://questionnaire.arrowsmithprogram.com/    Barbara Arrowsmith-Young is the founder of the Arrowsmith Program, an assessment process and suite of cognitive exercises designed to stimulate and strengthen areas of cognitive functioning that underlie a range of learning difficulties.   Her work is recognized as one of the first examples of the practical application of neuroplasticity to address learning difficulties and its application has expanded to address those dealing with traumatic brain injury, addiction, cognitive decline with aging and those who want to enhance performance. She is the recipient of the Leaders and Legends Innovation Award from the University of Toronto for her contribution to education.   Barbara's vision is to transform lives worldwide through the application of the principles of neuroplasticity. On your podcast, Barbara would be happy to discuss a wide range of topics such as: How our Brain Shapes Our Behaviour The Power of Neuroplasticity in Shaping Our Brain Common Learning Difficulties and the Brain Cognitive Enhancement in the Classroom Looking at Behaviour Through a Cognitive Lens Knowing Your Cognitive Profile Putting the Brain in Education Neuroplasticity and Mental Health

We are joined this week by Dayna Abraham, educator, author, mother, and so much more!  Dayna's newest book, Calm the Chaos (about to be released very soon) is "a revolutionary guide for parents of kids that struggle with big emotions, power struggles, or challenging behaviors".  Having had the opportunity to read a sneak preview of this book, I can tell you that it is for every parent I've ever met and ever heard of.  Unless your home is always sunshine and you never are left feeling uneasy, upset, or ashamed of an interaction with your child, this book is for you!  Click here and get the book pre-ordered so you can get all the lovely bonuses as well!

Last week we dove into the latest research on the best educational methodologies for children with dyslexia (including some methodologies that the latest research supports but have been around for over a hundred years!). This week we're diving into a topic that is a bit more complicated, because there is WAY less research.  This week we're talking about the best methods for educating a child with dyscalculia. There may not be as much research, but there are things we do know to do and things we know NOT to do. Click here to watch, listen, and learn!  While you're here, be sure to subscribe, rate, and write a review to help others discover all that you have found so helpful!

In this week's episode, I am giving some clear guidelines on the best methodologies for educating children with dyslexia, based on the most current research. Click here to watch, listen, and learn!  While you're here, be sure to subscribe, rate, and write a review to help others discover all that you have found so helpful!

After that long IEP Tips series, I'm excited to offer you an interview today!  Today's episode is an interview with Andrea Pollack of Autism Parent Solutions. Whether or not you have a child with autism, be sure to listen because you WILL gain insight! One of the biggest things that is explored in this episode is Unshakeable Parenting Confidence! Learn a bit about Unshakeable Parenting Confidence from Andrea Pollack of Autism Parent Solutions.  Find more about her at: AutismParentSolutions.com!   While you're here, be sure to subscribe, rate, and write a review to help others discover all that you have found so helpful!

This week's final episode stems from the position many families find themselves in of being offered a Section 504 plan when what they really wanted for their child was an IEP.  We go into the differences and similarities of these two educational supports to hopefully allow families to make the decision that is best for their child! Watch the video or download the audio for this week's episode where we discuss your options and my recommendations.

Last week we went through all the steps of GETTING an IEP for your kiddo, but another common question is around how to keep the school from taking that IEP away.   Every three years, the school district must determine if your child is still “eligible” for an IEP and while this brings updated information, it can also mean that the school may recommend “exiting” your child from special education/ an IEP.   And that's amazing news!  Your child is doing so well that the school thinks your kiddo will be just fine without an IEP! Take a moment to celebrate your child's successes (even if you disagree!).   And if you disagree and don't want your child exited?   Watch the video or download the audio for this week's episode where we discuss your options and my recommendations.

Many families assume that a school will recognize if their child is struggling and will assess them and put them on an IEP if that is needed, all without the parents saying anything.  And, honestly, that's how it's supposed to work.  For many children, that is exactly how it does work.   However, for many other kids, their needs get brushed aside and they are never assessed, and never put onto an IEP unless a parent or guardian steps in and advocates for them.   So how do you get your child an IEP?   First, write a letter to the school (all the details are in the episode).  Then, be sure that your school follows the law and responds correctly.  Too many schools don't know the law and unintentionally break it all the time.  Oops! Get all the details by listening to this week's episode!

Sometimes, we need a second opinion.     If you're feeling that the school's report didn't find give you the answers you needed regarding why your child is struggling, you might need a second opinion. And the beauty of the system is that you can request an IEE that is free of charge to you. I don't encourage the use of this option for most people, as it is a big expense to school districts and we'd probably have them use that money to actually educate our children and their teachers well. Click here to watch the video or download the audio for this week's podcast! Do you have concerns about your child's IEP reports?

Are Accommodations the most important part of an IEP? Last week we dove into the importance of well-written IEP goals and this week we're going to another section of the IEP. The Accommodations section of an IEP is, for many kids, the single most important section of their IEP! For kids who are able to understand and participate in grade level content, accommodations may be the thing keeping them in a general education class all day long, feeling successful and knowing that they are rocking it! For kids who struggle a bit more, accommodations are still allowing them to see their own areas of genius and feel good about themselves. Click here to watch the video or download the audio for this week's podcast! Then go check your kid's accommodations.  Are they crystal clear to you?  Do they need some explanation (and therefore, a rewrite)? Let me know!

When we're looking at IEP goals, we don't want just an emotional impression of what we think the IEP is supposed to guide.  We need it to be crystal clear so that there is no confusion as to whether or not a child met that IEP goal.   Those goals need to leave no room for interpretation.  If 2 different teachers both read that goal, will they use entirely different methods of measurement?  If so, the results will likely be vastly different. Unfortunately, many special education teachers are never taught how to write really good goals.  They get barely any guidance at all and even the “goal banks” that the teachers use are full of poorly written goals. Click here to watch the video for this week's podcast! Then go check your kid's goals.  Are they crystal clear to you?  Do they need some explanation (and therefore a rewrite)? Let me know!

When it comes to IEPs, knowing how to read them helps us know where to look to find the important stuff within them.     An IEP document 30 years ago was 2 pages long.  Now IEPs are often more than 30 pages long.  They can be so large and overwhelming that many parents need help looking them over, understanding them, and knowing if the IEP is providing what their child needs.   While I actually love analyzing IEPs and doing consultations with families, I also want to help everyone understand IEPs better so that everyone can make an educated decision when it comes to their child's IEP.   Click here to watch or download the audio for this week's episode: IEP tips: Parts of an IEP.   Next week we'll start going deeper into some of the most important parts of an IEP to help you analyze them in more detail.  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe!

Communication is really important to ANY relationship.  Most conflict seems to stem from miscommunication, misunderstanding, or lack of communication.   And when there is conflict around your child's IEP, your child is not benefiting.  Communicate regularly with the entire IEP team!   Listen for more details on how and when and where and why and what to communicate with who!   You can watch the video here!

knowing what to bring to a particular event/trip is critically important to the trip's success (and some things are out of our control).   When it comes to attending an IEP meeting, don't show up empty-handed and clueless!  There are specific items you can and should bring with you for an optimally successful IEP meeting.   Click here to watch or listen to this week's podcast episode and get all the details!

Ultimately, the answer to this question is personal and depends greatly on your particular situation.   Listen or Watch the video to find out what you should consider when trying to decide if it's time to hire an advocate or a lawyer, and what to look for if you do decide to hire one.   Learn more at www.DecodingLearningDifferences.com!

This week's episode is the first interview of the season!  And to kick us off, we're bringing back Dr. Victoria Waller!   Last week we discussed how to set your child up for optimal learning and one of the key pieces to that is to make learning pleasant or even fun, and this week Dr. Vicki will give us plenty of ideas to get us started engaging our kids' love of learning and creative spirit. Click on over to get the free PDF: “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It”, full of fun and creative ways to engage your child's learning!   Watch or listen to the podcast, download the PDF, and buy Dr. Waller's book!