Best Theresa Melito Conners Podcasts (2024)

1
Developmental language disorder: Impacts on literacy and life beyond school (with Dr. Karla McGregor) 1:00:10

11h ago1:00:10

1:00:10

Students who meet the criteria for developmental language disorder (DLD) are often categorized as “speech only” in the school systems. In many cases, these students qualify for special education services under the eligibility category of “speech and language impaired”, which puts speech-language pathologists who serve as case managers in a difficul…

1
The relationship of literacy and language skills and involvement with the justice system (with Dr. Shameka Stewart) 59:17

7h ago59:17

59:17

There is a disproportionate number of individuals with communication disorders and reading disabilities involved with the justice system for both children and adults. Past research suggests that more than 40% of incarcerated people have some type of nonpsychiatric disability (Berzofsky et al., 2015; Bixby et al., 2022; Thompson, 2022) Additionally,…

1
Increasing book equity and fostering a love of reading (with Susan Brady) 1:02:45

6h ago1:02:45

1:02:45

How can school leaders make informed decisions about reading curriculum when they know the home environments among their student body vary widely? I don’t envy people tasked with these kinds of decisions. My opinion is that schools should ensure students get their instructional needs met during the school day, because it’s difficult to control what…

1
Are we allowed to say “dyslexia” in the schools? (with Tom Parton) 1:08:12

2d ago1:08:12

1:08:12

In 2015, the Office of Special Education Programs published a letter stating that school teams were “not prohibited” from using the term “dyslexia”. Unfortunately, this letter left many questions unanswered and is often misinterpreted. Parents seeking out services for their children are still unsure how to advocate for appropriate services in their…

1
Debunking reading myths and defining literacy buzzwords (with Anna Geiger) 53:47

7d ago53:47

53:47

There are many “science of reading” terms being used right now (including the “science of reading” itself). Yet debates about how to help kids become literate continues; and part of that is because of common logical fallacies applied to education. That’s why I invited Anna Geiger to episode 177 of De Facto Leaders to define important literacy terms…

1
Building the language skills for reading, writing, and spelling (with Dr. Jan Wasowicz) 1:03:15

14d ago1:03:15

1:03:15

The “science of reading” is trending; but in order for professionals to engage in effective instruction, they need to understand that literacy also includes spelling and writing. Writing, spelling, and reading are interconnected, and the growing body of research continues to show us that these skills need to be taught explicitly. That’s why I invit…

1
Re-release: The impact of texting on literacy and the skills needed for effective word-reading 46:36

16d ago46:36

46:36

In this episode, I’m revisiting an older episode in honor of a special event that I'm doing in the month of September, 2024. I'm so excited to participate in the National Literacy Month series of podcasts, which we're presented in partnership between the Be Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF). De Facto Leaders is part of the BE Podcast…

1
Creating a culture of collaboration on your school team (with Kurtis Hewson) 1:01:41

23d ago1:01:41

1:01:41

I’m a huge supporter of professionals taking ownership of their careers; regardless of the systemic issues at play. But having said that, I ALSO like to help educators get to a place where they can work towards addressing systems issues head on. That’s why I was so excited to talk with Kurtis Hewson about the Collaborative Response Framework in epi…

1
School leadership and middle management (with Chris Dodge and Dr. Chris Jones) 1:21:49

30d ago1:21:49

1:21:49

A while back, I heard someone refer to school administrators and other public sector leaders as “middle managers”, and it really hit home for me. As I’ve transitioned through different roles in my career, I’ve gotten into the trap of thinking that when I achieve the “next step”, I’ll finally have the influence I want. In my experience, telling myse…

1
Increasing attendance with student engagement and connectedness (with Jen Perry) 54:48

1M ago54:48

54:48

How can districts reverse chronic absenteeism and gain a deeper understanding of why students don’t come to school? Can we measure how “connected” students are to their schools? How do we impact the level of connection they feel with potential mentors in their lives? I invited Jen Perry to episode 172 of the De Facto Leaders podcast to discuss this…

1
Social-emotional learning for adults (featuring Crissy Mombela, Lisa Navarra, and Dr. Theresa Melito-Conners) 48:56

1M ago48:56

48:56

Most discussions around social-emotional learning are about helping kids stay regulated, healthy, and adjusted, but we can’t forget about the adults. Being in any type of role that involves caring for others can be incredibly dysregulating; whether you’re a K-12 professional or a parent. That’s why in this episode, I’m highlighting past interview c…

1
Making intentional decisions and leaning on the expertise of your team (with Dr. Jen Schwanke) 59:10

2M ago59:10

59:10

As a school leader, when is it best to make “top-down” decisions, and when should you make it a collaborative process? How can you tell which stakeholder input to prioritize? What’s the best way to communicate with your staff in a way that feels transparent, but doesn’t burden them with too much information? How can you make decisions confidently w…

1
How to support executive functioning with environmental scaffolding (self-talk, time-perception, planning) 45:41

2M ago45:41

45:41

Today, I wanted to share some FAQs that people ask about how to teach executive functioning. Some of those common questions are: How do you teach self-talk, time-perception, and strategic-planning? How do you offer help without making kids prompt-dependent? I understand that executive functioning intervention is more than just checklists and beha…

1
What do administrators need from school therapists and teachers? (featuring Eric Makelky, Jalita Johnson, and Jethro Jones) 41:37

2M ago41:37

41:37

Almost every school leader that I know has said they didn’t realize what they were getting themselves into when they started their first administrative position. In this episode, I wanted to share clips from past “De Facto Leaders” guests to showcase some of the challenges faced by school administrators (or those hoping to move into an administrati…

1
A framework for executive functioning intervention: Three shifts for school teams 43:53

3M ago43:53

43:53

As a professional field, we’re getting stuck in old ways of thinking when it comes to designing services for students experiencing executive dysfunction. When we think of “therapy” the first thing that comes to mind is a clinician sitting in a chair saying things like, “And how does that make you feel?” or a clinician doing exercises in a 1:1 or gr…

1
The role of syntax in supporting language processing and executive functioning 1:13:42

3M ago1:13:42

1:13:42

Language and executive functioning have a bidirectional relationship (Baron & Arbel, 2022; Larson, et al., 2019). This means that building language skills can impact executive functioning, and vice versa. A significant amount of executive functioning skills are required to comprehend language-based academic tasks like reading and writing. Yet strat…

1
Turning litigious situations in to reading reform initiatives (with Mary Saghafi and Shannon Betts) 1:15:05

3M ago1:15:05

1:15:05

Teacher preparation programs should equip reading teachers with the knowledge they need to provide explicit intervention for students who have dyslexia or other disabilities. But what if they don’t? Unfortunately, this situation is quite common. That’s why I invited Mary Saghafi and Shannon Betts from the Reading Teachers’ Lounge Podcast to episode…

1
The content + strategy + retrieval trifecta for language and executive functioning (with Katy Wyatt) 1:19:39

3M ago1:19:39

1:19:39

Is it functional to work on parts of speech? Is sentence diagramming useful? How do we improve word-retrieval in kids with developmental disabilities, and is it similar to what we’d do for an adult with a brain injury? How can we make therapy academically relevant and functional beyond just getting a good score on a standardized test? I invited spe…

1
Experiential learning and cultivating a passion for the outdoors (with Greg Morrissey) 1:12:22

4M ago1:12:22

1:12:22

Preparing young people for adulthood is all about providing them with the right blend of experiences; both in and outside of school. Building literacy, numeracy, and content knowledge will give students a foundation for success; but we need to pair that with real-world experiences where they can apply that knowledge in real time. When we think abou…

1
The summer slide: Real phenomenon or invented by tutoring companies? (with David Schipper) 1:27:39

4M ago1:27:39

1:27:39

My heart sinks when I see how polarizing topics in education have become, as well as the tendency for people to have “all or nothing” thinking. I’ve seen an increasing amount of activities pitted against each other as if doing one means we can’t ALSO do the other: 👉Standardized testing vs. real-world observations/stakeholder interviews. 👉Year-round…

1
Why aren’t they participating? Rethinking family engagement in special education (with Dr. Kristin Vogel-Campbell) 1:08:31

4M ago1:08:31

1:08:31

Helping families feel involved in their children’s education goes beyond checking the boxes to make sure you’re following legal guidelines. That’s why I invited Dr. Kristin Vogel-Campbell to De Facto Leaders to talk about how school teams can make the IEP process more welcoming to families, especially those from culturally and linguistically divers…

1
BONUS: The Authority: Executive Functions for Every Classroom with Mitch Weathers 55:58

4M ago55:58

55:58

About The Authority Podcast: Hosted by leadership coach, storytelling strategist, and edtech advisor Ross Romano, The Authority provides education leaders with proven ideas to increase your influence, hire and develop an excellent staff, build a stronger culture, lead meaningful change, form a strong foundation for teaching and learning success, an…

1
Turning disagreements in to alliances in K-12 education (with Dr. Barb Flowers) 1:04:51

5M ago1:04:51

1:04:51

There’s a lot of "us vs. them" thinking happening relating to what’s going on in the school systems. Parents feeling like teachers don't want to accommodate students with diverse learning needs. Teachers feeling like administrators don't understand because they aren't in classrooms anymore. Therapists feeling like teachers don't want to reinforce s…

1
Comorbidities and Differential Diagnosis (ADHD, DLD, Dyslexia) 50:01

5M ago50:01

50:01

When kids need support with language, reading/writing, and executive functioning, they often have multiple diagnoses. This makes both treatment planning, diagnosis, and determining eligibility for educational programming complicated; especially when it comes to legal guidelines as well as state and local policies. That’s why in episode 159 of De Fa…

1
Literacy and background knowledge: Essential skills for life (with Dr. Pamela Snow) 1:07:36

5M ago1:07:36

1:07:36

The most effective reading instructional practices aren’t always the ones that gain traction. It’s the ones with the most successful marketing campaigns. The best marketer wins; but this certainly isn’t a win for the students who go without effective instruction or the school staff struggling to support them. That’s why I was so excited to talk wit…

1
Unpacking the early literacy debate and building a foundation in PreK (with Jane Gebers) 1:11:13

5M ago1:11:13

1:11:13

The literacy space has become increasingly polarizing since the reading wars began. There are a number of debates and questions that continue, including: Will kids learn to read “naturally”? What did the whole language approach get right, if anything? Is explicit phonics instruction just a pendulum swing (and is focusing on phonics enough)? Are we …

1
Using AI to write IEP goals and manage service plans (with Sean Klamm) 1:03:45

5M ago1:03:45

1:03:45

No one working in special ed has ever said, “I chose this career so I could do paperwork all evening and weekend.” Yet many realize after getting into the field that administrative demands can take away from time spent with students or collaborating with colleagues. That’s why I was so excited to connect with Sean Klamm, special educator and founde…

1
Becoming a literacy leader and advocating for the right to read (with Brianna Guild) 51:11

6M ago51:11

51:11

Related service providers are often considered subject matter experts. Our role is to support other members of multidisciplinary teams like teachers, parents and administrators. But many clinicians I’ve talked to started their careers feeling like a “jack of all trades, master of none”. Some feel that graduate school was all theory and no practice.…

1
Therapy session structure, narrative language, and commentary on gestalt language processing 51:41

6M ago51:41

51:41

In this episode, I share a special Q & A session I did with the members of Language Therapy Advance Foundations; my program that provides service providers with a research-based framework for language therapy. I get a lot of questions about how to make the transition between preschool to school-age, what language therapy activities are appropriate …

1
Debriefing, de-escalation, and relationship repair (with Crissy Mombela) 56:37

6M ago56:37

56:37

Our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors don’t have to define us. This is an important thing to remember for adults dealing with professional burnout and compassion fatigue; and it’s also important to model for kids. When school discipline focuses on punitive measures alone, we miss out on opportunities to teach kids how to manage emotions or repair m…

1
The cost of caring: Compassion fatigue in education and healthcare (with Crissy Mombela) 1:09:11

6M ago1:09:11

1:09:11

People working in school or medical settings are in a position to be caring for others in their professional lives; which makes it difficult to leave work at work. When you combine that with relationships outside of work, family responsibilities or having a child with a disability, there’s a high risk of burnout. I invited Crissy Mombela to episode…

1
Does your SYSTEM support your policy and your curriculum? (with Jalita Johnson) 1:04:28

7M ago1:04:28

1:04:28

If we try to make schools in the US more like schools in other countries, will that result in more effective practices? Why do policies work in some districts, but not others? Many ideas sound good on paper; but the people working with students or leading schools are telling a different story. That’s why I invited reading specialist Jalita Johnson …

1
BONUS: SEEing to Lead: Seeing the whole staircase (with Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan) 57:13

7M ago57:13

57:13

This week, I’m sharing an interview I did with another host on the BE podcast network because I think it’s something you’ll really enjoy. The episode is going live in the De Facto Leaders podcast feed. Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. His experience in the classroom ranged from 8th - 11th grade working in an urban…

1
Am I influencing or trying to control? Reframing advocacy and clinical leadership (with Candice Noss) 47:41

7M ago47:41

47:41

There’s a difference between influence and control. Whether we’re making suggestions to a coworker, asking a supervisor for support, setting expectations with kids, or interacting with someone in an online forum…we’re all attempting to create behavioral change. In “helping people” professions, it’s easy to get emotionally involved with our work. Th…

1
Audiobooks, homework research, and the "read for 20 minutes" rule 30:40

7M ago30:40

30:40

If the schools are devoting time and money to improving reading instruction, how should the rest of the day look for kids as it pertains to literacy? Should parents be working with kids at home? If so, how much? What about reading? Can we use apps to help build language skills? How about audiobooks? A common recommendation is that we should read 20…

1
Unlocking success through sensory processing and team collaboration (with Maude Le Roux) 1:05:16

8M ago1:05:16

1:05:16

When I first learned about the field of occupational therapy, I had a very superficial understanding of what it entailed. In the school systems, it seemed like referrals often focused on fine-motor skills related to school, like pencil grip. When I learned about sensory processing, I discovered that it’s so much more than that; and I realized how i…

1
High school language therapy: Do we still have time to make an impact? (with Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz) 48:15

8M ago48:15

48:15

Language therapy often focuses on early intervention; but what happens if students continue to struggle with language in the high school years? Many SLPs are pressured to drop students from their caseloads or move to a consult-only model when students transition to secondary school. Yet that often means many students enter adulthood lacking skills …

1
The six stages of financial independence for therapists and educators (with Ben Hockema) 42:10

8M ago42:10

42:10

In this conversation, Ben Hockema and I discuss how to create a solid financial plan in your career so you can focus your time and energy on the impact you can make. We discuss all kinds of possibilities; whether you want to stay in your current position as a therapist and/or teacher, whether you want to add an additional income stream, or whether …

1
Building financial literacy from elementary school through adulthood (with Ben Hockema) 53:50

8M ago53:50

53:50

Executive functioning and financial literacy go hand-in-hand; which is why money management should be a part of any K-12 curriculum. Much of this has to do with self-evaluation, the ability to think into the future, and the understanding of quantitative and temporal concepts. There are endless digital tools designed to help people manage their fina…

1
Becoming a school founder and empowering students through project-based learning (with Tanya Sheckley) 1:01:40

8M ago1:01:40

1:01:40

Many people working in K-12 education have ambitions to start their own company where they have the ability to redesign the way student learning happens. The motivation often comes from wanting to create a scenario where they feel less constrained, more innovative, and more impactful. When I ventured into self-employment, I found that many of the “…

1
Developing a cultural competemility mindset for educators and clinicians (with Melanie Evans) 53:56

9M ago53:56

53:56

Many clinicians are trained to focus on checklists and evaluations so we can walk in to work confident; knowing exactly what our protocols are. And while systems and processes are extremely important, we have to know how to use them flexibly. When we think about this in relation to cultural competency; we often think of eliminating biases in our ev…

1
Are we being too child-focused in our therapy planning? 38:48

9M ago38:48

38:48

People working in the schools are often expected to make everything a priority all the time, without consideration of how they might be able to manage the backlog of projects. They have to say “No” to people who need help in the interest of saying “Yes” to others. They have to see the faces of the people their decisions are impacting. While there i…

1
No, kids do not learn to read and write naturally (with Melanie Brethour) 1:12:26

9M ago1:12:26

1:12:26

Skeptics of the Science of Reading claim that the current push for evidence-based reading instruction is just another pendulum swing. Yet if you look at the research, we haven’t so much been “swinging” as much as we’ve been building, evolving, and expanding on what we know about how we learn to read. Even though the Science of Reading is “trending”…

1
Body Grief, Fashion & Accessibility 36:45

9M ago36:45

36:45

Body Grief, Fashion & Accessibility, oh my! Rockstar Bri Campos joins Dr. MC for this fantastic episode. You may recall Bri from her previous episode. Dr. MC and Bri had so much fun recording that episode that they wanted to take the combo to IG live. This is the final release from our Summer Instagram Live Series. Dr. MC and Bri chat about the rea…

1
Creating an intentional career and life with alter egos (with Meg Niman) 1:11:39

9M ago1:11:39

1:11:39

Many leadership initiatives in education need to come from the top… But change can happen when direct service providers emerge as leaders on their teams without waiting for permission from someone else. School administrators and other people making decisions at the district and policy level are constantly pulled in different directions. The further…

1
Cell phones, 1:1 device initiatives, and homework policies in K-12 education (with Dr. John Burkey) 59:31

10M ago59:31

59:31

Learners in K-12 settings have changed over the past 25 years, and what were considered best practices in the 1990s may no longer work for learners in the 2020s. Much of this is due to technology, the invention of the Iphone, and the skills young adults need when entering the workforce. There’s a large amount of debate on how to address these evolv…

1
Pitfalls of the Wellness Industry 36:32

10M ago36:32

36:32

It is no secret that there are many pitfalls of the wellness industry. It can be incredibly toxic, exclusive, misguided, and downright dangerous. This $5.6 Trillion (and growing) industry is more concerned with making more money than health and well-being. Today’s episode is a conversion from our Summer Instagram Live Series with Christy Harrison, …

1
Increasing access to instructional programs in rural districts (with Chris Dodge) 1:09:42

10M ago1:09:42

1:09:42

If you’re providing therapy or tutoring services, contracting with schools, or offering professional development to K-12 professionals, you won’t want to miss this episode. As someone who has explored the possibility of school contracts, I’m always looking to learn more about how school leaders make decisions regarding budgets and staffing. I grew …

1
Why aren’t my students generalizing? (social skills groups, organizing tools) 27:00

10M ago27:00

27:00

Social skills groups have been widely criticized recently. They’re often labeled as ableist and not neurodiversity-affirming. I also take issue with the way social skills interventions are often delivered, but for a different reason. When social skills intervention is done, it’s often delivered via 1:1 therapy, in a “pull-out” model; where the chil…

1
Ending Weight Stigma 39:30

10M ago39:30

39:30

Ending weight stigma is beneficial for both individual and societal well-being. It promotes mental and physical health, fosters positive relationships, and contributes to a more just and inclusive society. Today’s episode is a conversion from our Summer Instagram Live Series with Becky Manley – founder of MEDA, the Multi-Service Eating Disorders As…

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