Rainbows & Rain: early intervention stories, reflection, coaching

As promised here is the handout "Delayed Response" I reference in my story when I was observing an incidental caregiver/child interaction.  In this episode I go through these these reflective statements regarding Observation, Discussion and Problem Solving: *I initiate a discussion about the family's priorities, needs and plans for the visit. *I have reflective conversations to help the caregivers think through what they know, have already tried or want to change.  *I observe caregiver-child interactions and family routines and activities whenever I can. *I begin by specifically defining the problem.  *I collaborate with the caregiver to solve the problem by bouncing ideas back and forth.  *I problem-solve with the caregiver in the moment while observing a routine, activity or interaction.   *After problem solving, I let the caregiver decide which strategy to try with the child. 

Self Reflection: "Am I coaching," when it comes to the coaching characteristic of practice? Listen as I take on the following self reflective questions that may get you thinking on your own interactions with families and how to continue to grow. I convey the idea to the caregiver that each intervention visit is a practice session for the child and caregiver. I use modeling as a teaching tool to help the caregiver learn to use the strategy.  When I model with their child I shift the interaction back to the caregiver so the caregiver can practice and feel successful.  I help the caregiver practice during routines and activities that re natural to them and in real time.  I coach the caregiver from the sidelines and fade my support over time so they feel joy in their accomplishments that they can do this without me.  I do my best to be patient and celebrate practice whenever it happens.  All Things Early Intervention TPT store resources for anyone working in EI! Pause & Reflect by Dana Childress

An IFSP meeting like I've never had before and will never forget.  Do you know what's been said to families before you enter their lives?  Hear what this mother was told after the diagnosis of Pader Willi Syndrome was confirmed after her son's birth.  It finally came out while discussing the goal for the IFSP.  It became very apparent that this mother did not know she could even want things for her son because of what "the doctor said." All Things Early Intervention

I've been thinking a lot about families.  How to connect intervention with everyday opportunities and it all comes down to parent/child engagement.  This episode I reflect on what I am learning through Autism Navigator and what they call "the layer cake."  Building support from the bottom up.  Let's face it; if our cake isn't baked, it's going to fall - or at the very least be uneven! Autism Navigator All Things Early Intervention - parent handouts "The Layer Cake"   

A listener recently reached out asking me to podcast on specific strategies I use with families and on visits.  Great idea and great topic!  Hear what has worked best during visits - I share 3 very different stories of kids at the same level doing very different things.  If you are new to EI this is a must hear episode! Find Coaching Resources at:  All Things Early Intervention

Feedback can get pretty muddy.  Listen as I reference Rush and Sheldon and put into real life context how this looks.     Handouts for Parents and EI providers

It's a follow-up on today's episode to last week's, “He's not making progress.”  Hear what one listener wrote to me and about how she relates. This is a common theme among all of us in EI.  I finished and created an entire series for parents and EI providers who are coaching to help parents understand communication, the skills involved and how it ties to their ultimate goal of, “I want my child to talk.”  Without losing focus on Coaching during visits!  Today I share a story of success when I didn't tell a parent what to do but gave her the AT her daughter needed.  With the right tool she was able to put it into practice in a way you would not expect but worked for them! Check out the entire series on my “All Things Early Intervention” storefront on Teachers Pay Teachers.   Get the, "I want my child to talk." series to help support your visits coaching families.

I get a call from my supervisor that the family is requesting another service provider because he's not making progress.  We know the “what” and the “why” kids need to work on the skills they do BUT do parents understand the “what” and the “why”???  How can we help parents to understand? When parents do understand, let them figure out how they're going to do it.  Sometimes we focus so much on the “how” first without pausing (to explain, model, discuss, give feedback on) “what” and “why” and then our message gets lost on them.  Listen as I try to make sense of all of this.   Check out the resources below for parents.  Teach them the "what" and the "why" let them figure out the "how."  Stay tuned for more resources in the series "I want my child to talk." I want my child to talk. Move to Communicate

Did you hear that bomb!  Ever felt one during a visit?  I did!  I dive into reflection during this episode.  The first thing you need to do in order to reflect is STOP.  Reflection requires you to be present, to be open and to be ok with pausing during a visit to reflect with the caregiver.  Stop thinking about what you are going to say or do and reflect.  I'll go through the 4 types of reflective questions; when and how I like to use them and what my favorite "go-to" questions are.  Hear what I say when I don't know what to say next. R-E-F-L-E-C-T find out what it means to me!  Check out this awesome video from Rush and Sheldon too!

What we say matters!  Is what you're saying meaning the same to the family you are saying it too?  If we want parents to do the work and feel confident doing the work we need to use words they understand and are in simple basic terms.  This includes how we write our IFSP outcomes.  Check out these tips and techniques on writing "family participation based outcomes."  

Not only do we need to meet families where they are at we need to meet our colleagues where they are at.  For me that means stepping off my soap box and letting others speak their opinions, feelings and beliefs so we can move forward in discussion and growth.

They're awkward!  First visits are your first shot at setting the stage for effective coaching visits!  Like a first date you want there to be a second date and it all depends on how the date (I mean visit - lol) goes and of course how will it end!  What can you do to make connections, build rapport and set up expectations?  What is the one thing everyone clearly understands?  Find out on this episode!

It's easy to do.  Especially when you're in a middle of visit and parents are chasing him to engage and he's escaping, avoiding and seeking movement.  Who's priorities do you follow?  Parents have their priorities and this child has another.  This episode looks at a visit where I went into a backwards slide to try and fix this interaction and then ultimately rebounded in the same visit and got back on track with coaching to increase parent/child engagement.  I explain the value of feedback and what it means to use our knowledge and expertise to increase caregiver understanding.  Coaching is not "this or that" you don't have to leave all the old "toy bag" strategies behind; take those strategies and use them in a more intentional way.  

As I start the new school year I'm reflecting on how to get ready for visits with new families.  How do I set the stage for visits? How do I communicate what parents can expect on visits while balancing the needs of families?  Here is the link to the video I mentioned in the podcast from Early Intervention Coaching.  It's a great refresher and load off our backs when we don't strive for "best" or "perfect" or "ideal."  We are meeting the needs of caregivers and building caregiver capacity.  Today I reflect on an initial IFSP meeting and something I said to help the parent see what her role was going to be on visits for her daughter.

Coaching is hard!  Why is it so hard!  It's hard because coaching requires you to be responsive to the caregiver, the child and the family.  It requires flexibly, spontaneity and intentional planning.  Coaching doesn't come from a bag you take from home to home.  If you did have to pack a bag to bring to a home visit what would you pack? *Joint Planning *Reflection *Feedback *Observation *Practice You would also pack your undeniable and vast knowledge, resources, expertise and strategies (don't forget to pack the family priorities)!  Listen as I build a visit like a sandwich.  What holds it together and keeps it from falling a part?  What do we put in the middle of our visit/sandwich?  How many recipes are there for sandwiches??  As many recipes there are for families!  And no two sandwiches (I mean visits) will look a like!

Welcome new friends and old to the Podcast!  Thank you for being my co-host in this episode and sending me your thoughts, questions and feedback!  Hear how to connect a parent's goal for their child to where their child is at right now and come up with a plan to work towards that ultimate goal of the parent or caregivers!  Other hot topics include direct teaching, joint planning and how to get parents to "buy into" the parent/caregiver coaching style of Early Intervention. 

It's raining on the podcast!  I reflect on an update from a family I've previously podcasted about (Great Expectations 1 & 2).  I also had the opportunity to have a reflective conversation with a team member and try my peer coaching skills with a team mate who is struggling.  Through this rain I'm embracing the fact that growth will (eventually) come!

What do you say?  When do you say it?  How do you say it?  Coaching is an interaction style you use when talking and interacting with caregivers.  Having your own "go to" catchphrases can help remember what to say, when to say it and how to say it!  These are some of my favorites that work for me when it comes to the five coaching characteristics. What works for you?  Hear what happens when caregivers start to learn your catchphrases! Erika's Coaching Catchphrases

Sometimes engaging families is easy.  Sometimes engaging families is hard.  What makes this task so hard sometimes?  What should I be doing that I'm not doing?  Do you ever feel like it's "raining" before you even get to the visit?  These are the visits we maybe don't look forward to.  Listen as I reflect on a conversation I had with a colleague that made me reflect on a visit I currently have with a family.   Both of us turned to the FGRBI website for resources, tips and support!  Listen to hear what we found!  Click the link below to find it for you too! www.fgrbi.com

Back to basics...the 5 characteristics of coaching.  Coaching is an interaction style.  It's how we interact with families.  It's how we talk with families.  It's intentional; and it's not always easy!  Listen as I review the 5 characteristics.  Does each one happen on every visit?  Is there an order to any of it?  Hear my "coaching truths" as I share what's hard for me on visits and I how I try and overcome roadblocks.    Don't forget to follow on instagram @rainbows_rain_podcast

BONUS Episode!  Listen as I share my story of how I went through the Early Intervention process after referring my son.  I hope by me sharing my perspective and what I've learned from it will give you some insight into how you interact with families.  Listen as I share a quick self check on how to know if you are coaching and using the practice as it's intended and not what you think it should look like.     Don't forget to check out the podcast on Instagram @rainbows_rain_podcast

What do you do when what you're doing isn't working?  Progress is really slow or almost immeasurable and you and the caregiver are feeling really discouraged.  Do you start going down a rabbit hole of strategy after strategy; brainstorming with the caregiver on what to do to get him/her to do ABC???  Listen as I discover the answer is sometimes right in front of us.

I'm busting the "Top 10 Coaching Myths/Misconceptions!"  Embrace the struggle because a lot of growth can come from all that rain!  Coaching can be hard but it does work and can work with everyone.  Listen as I address the 10 myths about coaching or as I call them, the 10 reasons coaching can be difficult, and ways to overcome the roadblocks we all face on visits as we work to empower and support families on and in-between visits. For support and resources check out the Rainbows and Rain website.

Rainbows & Rain has a website!  Check out links to materials and recommended resources I've used to fuel my growth in my Early Intervention Practice.   Most of us know WHAT coaching is, I want to know more about HOW to do it and do it better!  Working with adults and teaching adults is not something I learned in college!  I'm an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher; no where in my title does it say "adult" but everyday on every visit I am working with at least one adult that is responsible for the learning, growth and development of an infant or toddler.  I've only recently discovered the Adult Learning Principles for Early Intervention visits and I need to know more because through these principles and balanced intervention strategies I think lies the key to HOW to do it better!

What's changed?  How did we go from stormy visits trying strategy after strategy; brainstorming and trying different sensory tools and activities to, "Everything's good - We're doing ok!"  Wait, what?  Let's pause and check in on what's changed and how that happened.  Create awareness with your families by asking these questions in hopes they can identify what has changed so that they can translate it to other routines or aspects of their family life.

How often do you disconnect and recharge your energy levels?  Do you find yourself reflecting this time of year on your day to day practices as an Early Interventionist?  Why do I do what I do?  I reflect on my practice and discover there are things I'm doing I'm not satisfied with.  Do you find the energy you bring to a home visit spreads to others during the visit?  Simple changes in our day to day work life can make all the difference not only for us but for the caregivers we support. 

To quote Winnie the Pooh, "Tut-tut, it looks like rain!"  A cloud moves in after six months of visits when mom wants to know WHO is going to work on talking and WHEN are we going to work on talking?!?  If my brain was a vehicle I just hit the emergency break during this visit.  We check for understanding with our students but how often do we check for understanding with our parents and caregivers?  In this visit I learned I didn't check in enough because what mom was really asking was, "How are we working on talking?"  Resources: "Chart of 11 Skills Toddlers Master Before Words Emerge" from Laura Mize, M.S., CCC-SLP

How do we engage families and caregivers in the problem solving process?  Parents and caregivers often come to us seeking solutions to problems they face multiple times a day, making day to day routines and activities sometimes very difficult!  Do you give suggestions and solutions you think will work or do you engage caregivers in finding their own solutions and developing a plan?  Facilitating problem solving with caregivers is something we do on almost every single visit.  I reflect on 2 visits I had last week with 2 moms that needed HELP!!  Listen to the 4 step process I try and stick to! 1. Define the Problem 2. Generate Ideas (BRAINSTORM) 3. Chose a Solution 4. Develop and Implement the Plan Resource: Facilitating a Problem-Solving Approach for Families (handout)

Tackling the topic of Assistive Technology with families when our priorities as educators or therapists don't necessarily align with the priorities of families.  How do we meet family needs?  What is our responsibility when our idea doesn't match the parent/caregiver's idea of what to do?  What do you do?!?!  

How do you share information with families?  The pandemic forced many of us to think of new and different ways to communicate with families.  Joint Planning should happen at the end of every visit and reviewed on, or sometimes before, the next visit.  It's one of the simplest questions we ask, "What do you want to work on between now and our next visit?"  Do you check-in with families before your next visit?  Do families check-in with you during the week?  What would be the benefits of checking in before the next visit?  In this episode I share tips and tricks from my collective colleagues on how to make joint planning and sharing easiest for everyone! Resources: 6 Key Ideas on Joint Planning with Parents YouTube Video: Foundations of Coaching in Early Childhood: Joint Planning

The IFSP tells the story of the child/family.  But how good are we at writing that story down and focusing that story into family specific outcomes/goals?  I'm working on my own skills as I write each family's unique story.  Do you find yourself on auto pilot at IFSP meetings listening to parents express the same concerns for their child?  How can we dig deeper into the story behind the concerns to shape their priorities into outcomes/goals.  Parents/caregivers often tell us they want their child to talk and use words, but what words does that parent/caregiver want their child to say? Resources: Pause & Reflect: Your Guide to a Deeper Understanding of Early Intervention Practice by Dana Childress EI on the Fly Podcast MDE Part C video training

If you had to describe the mission of Early Intervention what would it be?  I reflect on what empowers parents to do what we know they can do?  I reference stories both rainy and sunny about how I tried, failed and succeeded at empowering the parents I work with.  How do we as Early Interventionists fill the gap between parents feeling they need help to them feeling empowered?  Resources: The Art and Practice of Home Visiting by Ruth E. Cook, Ph.D., Shirley N. Sparks, M.S., CCC-SLP 8 Ways Home Visitors Can Facilitate Family Empowerment

Practice makes progress with our families and with our students!  When can you seize those opportunities to practice?  How can you invite parents/caregivers to practice on visits?  I share a story about my son Sam who received Early Intervention services and a conversation I had with colleagues about this topic.  Parents/caregivers need practice as much as our students do. Both parents and children learn best when given the chance to practice in real time and real context.  I reflect on how to cross that bridge from talking about how to do something to actually putting the plan into action/practice!

In this episode I reflect on my emotions and process from moving towards a coaching model and away from the idea that "intervention comes from a bag."  I reflect on, "Why am I bringing what I'm bringing."  "What am I going to do if I don't have my bag!"  Listen to a story about a mom who needed help understanding sensory and how I got mom to "buy into" using something she's never used before.  What you carry with you visit to visit is your knowledge and experience and there isn't a bag big enough for those two things! Resources: Coaching Quick Reference Guide Dathan Rush M'Lisa Sheldon Pause & Reflect by Dana Childress

Joint planning is what connects each visit to the next.  Hear how this mom took action and ownership of how she was going to use a new visual cue with her daughter and what I didn't say that lead her to figuring out a way that was going to be easiest for her to implement!  You can never know enough about a family's routines.  It's sometimes the "micro routines" where we find the key to implementing something new! 

Embrace the struggle (or the rain) it's how we grow!  This special episode links to the previous episode (Great Expectations).  Did mom leave the room again?  Was the joint plan followed?  Listen as I try and go back to basics in order to move forward with this family.  Am I really following mom's priorities?  How good are you at planning for the next visit?  Planning will be key with this family!

What are your expectations for parents and caregivers on visits? Do you know what they expect from you? How are we communicating these expectations? What happens when the parent or caregiver leaves the room? Are they avoiding the visit, do they have something more pressing happening at the moment? I reflect on a second visit I've had with a mom and son and how mom will leave us during the visit. Listen as I try and figure out how do I shape this visit into what is going to be most meaningful for mom and her son.

Weathering the storms during a visit! I reflect on a visit where I am walking into a storm. He's mad and wants the phone; mom is trying to set limits and saying no however just as we get over one storm another one is brewing. How do I balance my support? Who do I engage with…child, parent?? What is my role? What is the plan? These things and more are thundering through my head as I try and support mom in finding strategies that will be manageable for the family and practicing them in the moment. Resources:  Pause & Reflect: Your Guide to a Deeper Understanding of Early Intervention Practice by Dana Childress

Forget the Chicken Soup! Feedback feeds the soul! Today's visit taught me how important it is to share our feedback with our families. To affirm to them what they are doing is making a difference in their child's life. Sometimes they need to hear it so bad that they are willing to snowplow their driveway to ensure you're coming (as if snow in Minnesota could stop a home visit)!

What better way to start the first episode of the podcast than to begin with a very first visit with a family! Mom wants him to say, "please." "He won't say please!" "Why won't he say please!" How do you move parents to get off the hamster wheel of doing the same thing but not getting anywhere? Hear how I tried and stay tuned to see if I succeed with this mom and her persistence with "please."