De Facto Leaders

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 this couldn't be further from the truth. People with ADHD are wired in a way that makes it hard for them to overcome feelings of overwhelm that lead to avoidance. It's a skill-based issue, NOT a behavior issue! That's why in episode 031, I talk about 3 common skills kids with ADHD need to overcome procrastination. Specifically, I share: ✅Why having a good sense of time is critical to motivation. ✅One of the most common culprits behind anxiety, irritability, and defiant behaviors in ADHD and how to combat it. ✅The relationship between time-management and self-esteem; plus how to build both at the same time. ✅The essential habit that many people with ADHD don't have, and why it's so important for building a positive self-image.  In this episode, I mentioned the Time Tracking Journal, which is a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, without bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding.  The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/timejournal The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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 intervene. For parents, it can be overwhelming; and for professionals (like SLPs, teachers, and other professionals), it can be a challenge to figure out who is working on what skills. That's why in this episode, I talk about the roles of the teachers, therapists, and parents when it comes to supporting kids with executive dysfunction and language processing issues. Specifically I share: ✅What teachers are already doing to support executive functioning and what happens when kids need more support than what's offered in standard general education instruction. ✅What speech-language pathologists do to support language, literacy, and executive functioning (including the highest priority area where they can focus). ✅How professionals and parents can work together to support language and executive functioning; including who's working on what skills. If you’re a parent, teacher, or therapist who wants to set your kids up for success as adults, then then you’re going to love my free parent guide, which I mentioned in this episode. In this guide, I share the executive functioning skills that kids need in order to stay organized, focused, and motivated during their day-to-day tasks like chores and homework. You can sign up for the guide here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/parentguide The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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.) Since the influx of technology, a lot of us are left wondering how this will impact our children's learning; especially their reading and writing skills. ✅That's why I discussed the following in this episode: ✅The difference between "explicit learning" and "implicit learning". ✅The kind of opportunities kids need in order to develop solid reading/spelling skills. ✅Why typical reading instruction leaves some kids behind; plus what pieces are typically missing. ✅The pros and cons of technology for struggling readers. In this episode, I mention a blog post called "What is texting doing to reading and spelling skills?" where I dive further in to this conversation. I also mentioned a simple protocol you can use to study challenging spelling patterns (like affixes), which I outline in this article. Finally, I also talked about my Word Study Toolkit, which offers a set of definitions and concepts you can use to help build the skills kids need to be fluent readers and spellers. Here’s what’s inside the Word Study Toolkit: Over 200 flashcards with prefixes, root/base words, suffixes, and multiple meaning words to build strong reading and spelling skills.Word lists with key orthographic concepts, so you have a quick guide to important word parts needed for strong vocabulary skillsDescriptions of 17 key concepts for building morphology/orthography skills.All flashcards and word lists have definitions, so your students actually remember how words are spelled.BONUS: Video tutorials with a quick-guide for using the toolkit to build reading and spelling skills.You can get instant access to the Word Study Toolkit here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/wordstudy The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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 forget what you taught them the next day, you know what I mean. The challenge is that if kids don't automatically catch on to reading skills, they get further and further behind as the years go on. That makes it hard for them to keep up in school, and over time they start to dread going. No one wants their child or their students to be in that situation. While a lot of curriculums are getting pretty good at addressing early phonics skills, there are some other essential skills that aren't emphasized as much. But addressing these skills can make all the difference. That's why in episode 28 of the Are they 18 yet? ™ podcast, I talk about: ✅The commonly overlooked skills that kids need to read/spell longer, more difficult words. ✅Why you shouldn't assume that certain words are "too difficult" for your kids to spell (even if they're struggling readers). ✅Why referring to difficult spellings as "exceptions" that "don't follow the rules" does kids a disservice. ✅Specific concepts you can teach kids to help them read more fluently and improve reading comprehension. ✅Why "memorizing" spelling words doesn't work for struggling readers (and what to do instead). In this episode, I mention a blog post called "What is texting doing to reading and spelling skills?" where I dive further in to this conversation. I also talk about my Word Study Toolkit, which offers a set of definitions and concepts you can use to help build the skills kids need to be fluent readers and spellers. The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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 and reading skills. Based on social rules, texts often don't have to be written with "correct" grammar and spelling. Since a lot of the kids I've worked (who have diagnoses like dyslexia or developmental language delays, among others), I know that having opportunities to practice reading and spelling is really important; so I'm always on high-alert when it comes to the impact of technology. But the reality is that texting is here to stay; which is why in episode 27 of the Are they 18 yet? ™ podcast, I talk about how to support literacy skills in a digital world. Specifically, I share: ✅What the current literacy trends show as far as the impact of texting. ✅The 3 tenets of effective literacy intervention. ✅Common mistakes people make when teaching kids to use reading strategies. ✅Three essential skills kids need in order to become fluent readers and spellers. In this episode, I mention a blog post called "What is texting doing to reading and spelling skills?" where I dive further in to this conversation. I also talk about my Word Study Toolkit, which offers a set of definitions and concepts you can use to help build the skills kids need to be fluent readers and spellers. The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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 truth is, a lot of people end up living with their "default" setting; doing things not because it's what they want, but because it's what they think they're "supposed" to be doing based on what they've seen in their past.  That's why in episode 26, I sit down with Kate Wendell from FamilyOS. Kate and her husband Tanner Wendell work with couples to help them update their "family operating systems" so they can live a more peaceful, successful life. In this conversation, Kate shares: ✅What is a "family operating system" and why is it essential to having healthy relationships with your partner and child? ✅The "CODE" for creating a peaceful, thriving family (that Kate and Tanner teach couples they coach). ✅Why the mindset of "the kids always come first" can do more harm than good; plus the counterintuitive way of thinking that ends up helping kids more in the long run. ✅How your past impacts the way you parent and interact with your partner (plus some personal struggles Kate and Tanner have worked through). ✅Why having a "system" focused on long-term goals can help your family feel safe and secure.  You can learn more about how to connect with Kate on Instagram @thekatewendell, and on her Facebook page here. You can also check out  the FamilyOS podcast here. In this episode, I mentioned SLP Learning Academy, my a membership designed to help you make a lasting impact with your services, create change in the field, and feel confident and fulfilled in your work WITHOUT burning out (or spending hours planning.) To get more information about this program (plus my other resources for parents, educators, and SLPs), visit my resources page here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode, I talk about "toxic positivity" in both the parenting and professional communities for therapists and teachers. If you've ever felt dismissed when someone told you to "look on the bright side" or "be grateful for what you have", you'll appreciate this discussion. I share:  ✅Why telling someone to "just think positive" can make an overwhelmed person feel worse. ✅Why many depressed people don't WANT to feel happy when they're having an episode (and what they want instead). ✅Why it's so hard to do simple things that you know you SHOULD be doing (for yourself, your kids, your clients, etc.). ✅How to calm the chaos in your life, so you can finally breath and recharge (hint: I'm not going to tell you to "change your mindset" or "be more positive"). ✅The strategy I use to stop overwhelm and think long-term, instead of just putting out fires all day (this is the SAME strategy I used to finish my dissertation while working full-time). In this episode, I mentioned SLP Learning Academy, my a membership designed to help you make a lasting impact with your services, create change in the field, and feel confident and fulfilled in your work WITHOUT burning out (or spending hours planning.) To get more information about this program (plus my other resources for parents, educators, and SLPs), visit my resources page here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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 for Tonies®, a toy brand that partners with schools to bring screen-free education to your children. He also spend several years working for the LEGO® Group, hosts a podcast with his 5-year old daughter, and has a passion for toys that help kids become creative thinkers. In our conversation, we discuss: ✅Ways to guide your kids through play in a way that builds storytelling skills and language. ✅The benefits of offering "screen-free" toys for you kids (with specific toy examples). ✅The pros and cons of many popular toy options for kids today. ✅Toy features that help build resilience and problem-solving skills. ✅How limitations can breed creativity (and how this applies to toys and play). In this episode, I mentioned the Time Tracking Journal, which is a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding.The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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 why in episode 023, I share the second half of my conversation with DJ Stutz, where we talk about bad parenting advice, building self-esteem, and how to de-escalate tantrums and melt-downs. She also shares her experience growing up with an undiagnosed hearing impairment until 6th grade, and how this has helped her be a better teacher and parent.  DJ has been an early childhood teacher for kids with special needs for over 20 years, is a mom of 5, the host of the  Imperfect Heros: Insights in to Parenting podcast, and the founder and CEO of Little Hearts Academy, USA. Also, she and her husband have 70 children between their two families! In the second-part of our conversation, DJ shares: ✅Bad parenting advice that can be detrimental to your child's self-image and what to do instead. ✅Why allowing kids to experience disappointment can be more beneficial than trying to make them happy all the time. ✅How what you say to your kids impacts their identity and behavior, and how to use language that strengthens their self-image.✅Specific language and strategies you can use when your kids are having a meltdown or tantrum (in public, home, or school). To learn more about how to build connection with your kids and raise your kids to be resilient people, check out DJ’s  Imperfect Heros: Insights in to Parenting podcast, and if you’re interested in her parent coaching programs, check out Little Hearts Academy, USA.You can connect with DJ on Instagram here and email her at djstutz@littleheartsacademy.com.If you want a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding, then check out the Time Tracking Journal. The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Most parents know they should be giving their child praise and encouraging them to explore their interests... But most people don't realize that making small changes to what you say can make a big difference in your day-to-day life and interactions with your family. That's why in episode 022, I sit down with early childhood educator and parenting coach DJ Stutz to talk about the RIGHT (and wrong) ways to communicate expectations with your child. DJ has been an early childhood teacher for kids with special needs for over 20 years, is a mom of 5, the host of the  Imperfect Heros: Insights in to Parenting podcast, and the founder and CEO of Little Hearts Academy, USA. Also, she and her husband have 70 grandchildren between their two families! In this conversation, DJ shares: ✅How to encourage your child to find their unique talents and interests while building resilience. ✅Why apologizing to your kids can strengthen the parent-child bond and your child's future relationships. ✅How to give clear feedback and communicate your expectations, so you can build trust and connection with your kids. ✅Why you shouldn't tell your kids "Good job", and what to do instead.  To learn more about how to build connection with your kids and raise your kids to be resilient people, check out DJ’s  Imperfect Heros: Insights in to Parenting podcast, and if you’re interested in her parent coaching programs, check out Little Hearts Academy, USA.You can connect with DJ on Instagram here and email her at djstutz@littleheartsacademy.com.If you want a SIMPLE tool that will help you get through daily routines (like homework) with ease, WITHOUT bribery, arguments, or constant hand-holding, then check out the Time Tracking Journal. The Time Tracking Journal walks you through a strategy you can do in just 10-15 minutes a day that will help kids get tasks done effectively and efficiently, and critical thinking skills and self-confidence at the same time. You can learn how to get instant access here: https://drkarenspeech.lpages.co/time-tracking-journal-37-1/ The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding.  We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.