De Facto Leaders
Episodes
The ins and outs of language screening (for school-age kids)
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Are we "following the research" in education?
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 othe...
How to support language processing and comprehension in school-age kids (part 2)
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I continue the discussion about language processing and how to support it. I continue the discussion of difficult sentence types, and...
How to support language processing and comprehension in school-age kids (part 1)
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 imp...
Building vocabulary skills in Kindergarten through high school
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 patho...
Supporting reading comprehension: What parents and professionals need to know
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 thr...
Re-release: Building discipline and self-management in elementary school through college.
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 c...
Re-release: The Breaking Point
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Cognitive distortions and ADHD
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to supporting kids with ADHD or other conditions that impact executive functioning, it can be challenging to understand some of the beha...
Ableism: What therapists, teachers, and caregivers need to know
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ableism is the discrimination against disabled people.As we learn more and more about autistic people, those with ADHD, among other populations…this...
Person-first vs identity-first language: Which one should I use?
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ref...
Building skills for connection (with Miriam Campbell)
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do we hold students accountable for their actions, but acknowledge their unique neurological profiles at the same time? How do we help neurodiverg...
3 tips for introducing new foods to your kids.
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 36, I talk about 3 common "problem" food categories when it comes to kids diets; plus tips for making sustainable changes across eat of the...
How to help picky eaters (without bribing them with dessert)
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most parents know that eating a balanced diet is important for brain development...but making that happen is easier said than done. Especially when th...
Why you shouldn't assume "laziness" in neurodivergent kids
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is part 3 of a 3-part series on the common problems with interventions for ADHD and autism.When you have some type of neurological variation that...
A case against "normal" and "appropriate" behavior
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As kids go through the school systems and grow up in general, they're taught a lot about how to act "appropriately" in different situations. There's a...
When "compliance" does more harm than good (with ADHD and Autism)
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"Behavior management" approaches are often used with kids who have diagnoses of ADHD, autism. Usually these approaches focus on giving rewards for goo...
3 skills kids with ADHD need to overcome procrastination
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When kids with ADHD avoid difficult work, it's easy to assume they have a "behavior problem", that they don't care, or that they're just lazy. But thi...
Supporting executive functioning at home and school
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you're supporting kids who need help with executive functioning, academic skills, and language, it can be hard to figure out exactly how to interve...
Literacy skills and technology: The pros and cons
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 29 of the Are they 18 yet?™ podcast, I did part 3 of a 3-part series on literacy (you can find parts 1 and 2 in episodes 27 and 28.) Sinc...
How to help kids become fluent readers and spellers
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Figuring out how to help kids learn to spell can be confusing. If you've ever helped one of your kids or students spell a word, only to have them forg...
Is texting affecting spelling and reading skills?
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With all the technology and texting kids are doing these days, I often find myself wondering if kids are getting enough "good" practice with spelling ...
Does your family need a new operating system? (with Kate Wendell)
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're always updating the operating systems on our devices, but do we ever think about updating the "operating system" we use to live our lives? The t...
The problem with positive thinking
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk about "toxic positivity" in both the parenting and professional communities for therapists and teachers. If you've ever felt d...
Building creativity and independence through play (with Drew Vernon)
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk with Drew Vernon about how to help kids develop a natural sense of curiosity and ability to tell stories. Drew currently works...
De-escalation strategies for home, school, and community (with DJ Stutz)
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 w...
How to set boundaries and share positive feedback with your child (with DJ Stutz)
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most parents know they should be giving their child praise and encouraging them to explore their interests... But most people don't realize that makin...
3 ways to show appreciation for your child's school
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 you...
How to communicate effectively with your child's teachers and therapists
11 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
How to support your dyslexic child (with Nicole Holcomb)
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
What popular TV gets wrong about autistic people
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I share my thoughts on two popular shows: "Love on the Spectrum" and "Atypical". *Please note: This episode is marked "explicit" beca...
How much “school” practice do kids need in the summer?
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the spring, I often get a lot of questions about what parents should be doing with their kids over the summer to keep them from regressing.That’s...
Building communication skills in nonspeaking children and late talkers (with Rebecca Robbins)
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I sit down with Rebecca Robbins, a pediatric speech-language pathologist who specializes in working with young children with autism, ...
Am I neurotypical? I'm not sure.
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When I was growing up, the idea of being diagnosed with a mental health condition or a disability had a certain negative stigma associated with it.To ...
Talking to your partner and your kids about money
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 013, I sit down with my husband Joe as we share how we handled conversations on some difficult topics when we first got together. Specific...
Body image and media: What stories are we telling our kids? (with Dr. Kate Browne)
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I sit down with writer and speaker Dr. Kate Browne to talk about the narratives being told in the media, the impact it has on our bel...
Burnout, boundaries, and systems
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this special pop-up episode, I take a break from the regular content to talk about burnout and boundaries; and specifically how I use systems to he...
Your mental health: Why it’s impacting your kids (with Katherine Endy)
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 011, I sit down with Katherine Endy from The Family Life Coach. Katherine is a social worker, mom of 3, and doctoral candidate at the Unive...
Single parenting and emotional well-being after divorce (with Mary Leonard)
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you or someone you know is going through a divorce with kids involved, you’re not going to want to miss this episode of the Are they 18 yet?™ P...
Time Management and Device Use Boundaries for kids with ADHD (with Mike McLeod)
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I share the second part of my interview with speech-language pathologist and ADHD specialist Mike McLeod from GrowNow Therapy as we c...
Building accountability and motivation in kids with ADHD (with Mike McLeod)
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to working with kids who have ADHD, it’s easy to mistake skill-based issues with behavioral issues.That’s why in this interview, I s...
Positive Reinforcement: Does it really help motivate kids?
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When I worked in the school systems, rewards and behavior charts were a common practice. Even in my training to be a therapist, “positive reinforcem...
Improve attention and focus by building these skills
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you find that using organizers, minimizing distractions, or using rewards just don't work when it comes to getting your kids to focus? Does gettin...
Building discipline and self-management in elementary school through college.
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 c...
The Breaking Point
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Can we improve attention span?
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Can you change your child's capacity to focus? Or do they just have to play the hand they've been dealt for life? In this episode, Dr. Karen discusse...