All Episodes
Displaying 1 - 20 of 240 in total
Educational Eligibility, Clinical Diagnosis, and the “Just Be Like Finland” Argument (with Dr. Chrishawn Finister)
Every few years, conversations about education in the U.S. circle back to the same refrain: Why can’t we be more like Finland?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Chri...
What words should I target in language therapy?
Most of us know that it’s important to work on vocabulary in language and literacy intervention.But how do we know what words to pick? Should we be working on specific...
A Case for Talking about the “Summer Slide” in the Fall (featuring David Schipper)
Every time I look into research on the summer slide, I get more confused. It’s no wonder professionals and families are scrambling every May as they think about how ki...
What “Biologically Secondary” Means for Literacy Instruction (featuring Dr. Pamela Snow)
The idea that exposing kids to enriching literacy and play-based experiences will effectively teach them to read and write sounds nice on paper.Unfortunately, it’s not...
The Relationship Between Language Skills and Discipline Referrals (featuring Dr. Shameka Stewart)
When schools respond to “behavior problems” in students, the focus is often on the symptom, not the cause. Failing to look beyond the surface behavior does a disservic...
Building the Literacy Skills Needed for Technology and Life (featuring Tom Parton)
“We don’t need to work on decoding because students have access to assistive technology and accommodations.”“We don’t work on word-decoding in high school.”“Working on...
Engaging Families and the Role of Tech in Addressing Book Deserts (featuring Cassandra Williams)
In this episode, I reflect on my conversation with my colleague Cassandra Williams as we discuss book and resource deserts, as well as how to engage with school commun...
Navigating Language Therapy as the Only SLP in the District
Ever feel overwhelmed being the only SLP in your district without a network of fellow clinicians for support? You're not alone; many in similar situations face these c...
Case Study: Shouldn’t I have language therapy figured out by now?
Ever feel like you should have language therapy figured out by now, but you're still struggling? Even experienced clinicians can feel that way.In this episode, I’m sha...
Balancing Language, Academic Content Areas, and Executive Functioning (featuring Jill Fahy)
What if choosing between language and executive functioning for your students wasn't an "either/or" decision? And how can we effectively balance academic content with ...
Finding a Place for AI in Therapy and Product Development (with Natalie Yona)
In this episode of De Facto Leaders, I’m joined by speech-language therapist Natalie Yona from Cognishine to explore one of the most nuanced conversations happening in...
Part 5: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework
One of my favorite “hooks” or titles to use when I’m talking about executive functioning centers around the idea that executive functioning intervention is about “more...
Part 4: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework
Every time I give a session on executive functioning, I have clinicians and teachers ask me the same thing:“How can I motivate students who don’t seem to care or don’t...
Part 3: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework
Students with executive functioning challenges often intend to complete tasks or meet expectations—but struggle to execute consistently. The reason? They aren’t mental...
Part 2: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework
I’m often asked if I can create an “executive functioning lesson plan” that a clinician could do within a 20-minute therapy session with a student or group of students...
Part 1: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework
Executive function is often defined as “having good time management skills”. While this isn’t completely off-base, it’s a vast oversimplification.The REASON people are...
Building Data Culture & Trust in Education (with Jessica Lane)
In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Lane, founder of Data-Informed Impact, to unpack the critical role of data in K-12 education—and how to use it responsibly, ef...
Orthographic Mapping & Effective Spelling Instruction (with Dr. Molly Ness)
In this episode, we’re joined by literacy expert Dr. Molly Ness, author of Making Words Stick, to unpack the science behind orthographic mapping and what truly effecti...
How to Create a Research-Based Executive Functioning Implementation Plan for Your School Team
Ever feel like your school is trying all the “right” strategies—social skills groups, planners, behavior charts—but students still struggle with time management, motiv...
Executive functioning assessment, late ADHD diagnosis, and proactive support (with Dr. A. Jordan Wright)
In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr. A. Jordan Wright, psychologist who brings both professional insight and lived experience to the conversation—having be...