Decoding Learning Differences with Kimberlynn Lavelle

2024! WooHoo!

This year, in the fourth podcast season, you can expect more about motivation, more interviews, and more IEP guidance!

 

Be sure to send IEP documents you want free feedback on to: Kimberlynn@DecodingLearningDifferences.com

Fun and Effective Reading Instruction with Developing Readers Academy

Video version available at: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/podcast/DevelopingReadersAcademy/ 

Last week we dove deep into the Science of Reading.  This week, we’re moving into how to make that reading instruction FUN!

Laura and Megan of the Developing Readers Academy are this week’s podcast guests and they are full of wisdom and inspiration!

Join our conversation and gain some ideas for how best to help your “growing reader”.

Learn more about what they're doing at:

https://www.developingreadersacademy.com/ 

The Science of Reading with Nate Hansford

Video version available at: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/podcast/NHansford

How much do you know about “The Science of Reading”?

Do you feel clueless?  Do you feel like you are an expert?  Somewhere in-between?

This week’s episode is for you if you land ANYWHERE in that range!  I completely geek out over Science of Reading stuff and this conversation was a super fun one for me! 

I got to ask an expert on the topic some questions and along the way, he gave a good overview of what good reading instruction requires and what the research says about each of those elements.

He lists 6 Pillars of Reading Instruction.  Can you name them?  

Find out more about Nate Hansford and his work at (one of my top favorite websites):

https://www.pedagogynongrata.com/

Motivation Killers (REPLAY)

Video Version available at: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/podcast/MotivationKillers/ 

This powerful replay episode goes into three “Motivation Killers”: Punishments, Rewards, and Praise.  (Although praise is actually a type of reward).

 

Punishment

Now that corporal punishment (physical abuse/hitting) is very rare and illegal in most states, punishment is usually about taking something away from a child (called a negative punishment).  Punishments you may have seen in schools:

“You didn't do your work, you don't get to go out to recess.” 

“You didn't do well enough, you get an F.” 

“You get a zero.” 

“You have a missing notice that has to go home and get signed by your parents.” 

 

Now, that last one can also be a type of communication between parents and teachers and doesn’t need to be punitive.  It really depends on the teacher’s mindset.  Do they want to punish or just communicate?  Is the note given privately and with empathy or is the kid put on blast in front of the whole class?  Is the tone of voice kind or upset?

 

Similarly, at home we tend to not spank much anymore (there is a lot of evidence around the harm that spanking causes) but we will take things away (negative punishment):

“You didn’t do your homework, you don’t get to watch TV” (or ride your bike, or play on the tablet, etc)

 

All of these punishments send the message that you believe the child has willfully chosen to do the “wrong thing” or to not do well enough on an assignment, etc. All of these punishments create a power struggle between child and adult.  All of these punishments can cause kids to feel like they are bad or dumb.

 

Rewards

We can also flip some punishments to be rewards: “you don’t get to watch TV until you do your homework.”

 

Or we can use bribes, “If you read this page to me, you get an M&M!”

 

We’re letting kids know that doing the homework or reading is not worth doing unless they are being “paid” to do it.  “If you do A, I’ll give you B” let’s the child know that A is a bad thing and B is a good thing.  If they already like A, they quickly start to realize that they’re not supposed to.

 

If your kid loved eating broccoli, you could kill that love pretty quickly by telling them they only get ice cream if they eat their broccoli and then one day stop giving them ice cream.

 

Reading is a wonderful and pleasurable activity for people to engage in.  Writing, mathematics, athletic endeavors, and playing music are also.  If we start rewarding a child for engaging in any of these, we are sending the opposite message.  We are telling kids that they shouldn’t like these.  They should only like TV, tablets, candy, etc.

 

Because I never want my young children to lose their love of books and reading, I will never bribe or otherwise reward them for reading with me.  Reading is already intrinsically motivating and enjoyable.

 

Praise

Praise is a specific type of reward.  Saying, “good job” tells a child that they are being evaluated.  It lets the child know that there is a right and wrong way to do things and that they better be careful not to do the wrong thing.

 

This can kill creativity.  If a child comes up to you with their drawing and you say it’s a beautiful drawing, expect to see lots more just like it.  They’re less likely to risk drawing something different because you might not like it.  They’ll stick with the safe drawing.

 

If a child is working on writing, and you tell them, “great hook!” you are giving a specific praise, but you are still evaluating them and they’re likely to use the same type of hook in their next piece of writing. (A hook is the beginning of the writing that grabs a reader’s attention)

 

Keep in mind that many famous, award-winning authors were rejected by dozens of publishers before being picked up and then going on to become famous.  Those professionals didn’t think that book was good enough but now it’s being taught in classes on literature.  It doesn’t matter what those particular professionals thought of the book and it really doesn’t matter whether or not you like the hook.

 

It does matter whether or not your child is able to learn and grow from what they are doing.  It does matter how they feel about their writing.  So, ask them questions: 

“How do you feel about the hook?”

“What part do you feel you really nailed?”

“What are you going to work on improving next time?”

“Are you aware of the conventions around dialogue?  May I show you how we mark dialogue in a text?” OR “Do you know how most English writers show when characters are speaking to each other?  May I show you?”

 

You can guide and teach without your child feeling evaluated.

 

What to do instead

Motivation is tricky.  In Alfie Kohn’s book, Punished by Rewards, Kohn goes deep into why rewards are problematic.  And yet, he doesn’t offer much in the way of what to do instead.  And that’s because it’s rather complicated and there aren’t any easy and quick answers.

Check out Season 2 for more ideas on how to motivate kids to read, write, do math, and more!

Better Births, Better Education with Jemilla White

What is your birth story?

Did you experience a traumatic birth?  Do you suspect it may have impacted your child?

I don’t want this to scare you, worry you, or bring any kind of burden!

I’ve just seen an anecdotal connection between birth difficulties and an increased likelihood of learning disabilities.  I’ve seen some research to support this, but more certainly needs to be done.

As I talked with my doula friend Jemilla White about this, we decided to take this conversation to the podcast so that the wisdom can be shared more widely!

The conversation took some unexpected turns and I found some surprising parallels between the world of birthing and the world of education!

Learn more about Jemilla White and Doula services at: https://marimamadoula.com/ 

Find the video version at: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/jemilla

Swim the Lake with Deb Canja

Some people just have SO much to offer the world!

Today’s podcast wisdom comes from a sweet friend who wrote a truly inspiring book: Swim the Lake Before You Row the Boat- that gives so much wisdom about how to raise children in a purposeful, meaningful way. 

AND- Deb is a lawyer and has experience with special education and shared a lot of wonderful wisdom around the IEP process.

Video version is at: https://www.decodinglearningdifferences.com/swimthelake 

Move and Learn with Dr. Julian Reed

This week I was excited to chat with Dr. Julian Reed, founder of Walkabouts.  He talks about a program that he developed to bring movement into the classroom as well as a lot of other ways that movement can be incorporated into the classroom, and I mentioned some examples I had seen in a school I used to work in.

Learn more about the program at:

https://www.walkabouts.com/

Break Through Challenges Using Neurofeedback with Dianne Kosto

If I'm understanding Neurofeedback correctly- without adding another mentally exhausting task to their day, you can retrain the brain to change the brain waves to make learning easier for them.

 

Click here to watch this fascinating and hope-filled conversation!

If you have tried or wind up trying neurofeedback, I would LOVE to hear about your experience!

Find out more about Dianne Kosto's work here: https://symmetryneuropt.com/ 

Maximize Life- No Degree Required! with Jen Doidge

“When I grow up, I want to be Jen Doidge.”- something I’ve said multiple times in my life.

 

Today’s podcast episode is super special to me.  I have a good friend who exudes positivity and adventure and friendliness.  

 

She’s someone I want everyone to know.  She’s not an education expert.  She’s not a parenting expert.  

 

She’s simply an amazing human that I want to share with even more of the world.

 

I finally got her on a call and couldn’t wait to release this episode!

 

In this episode, you’ll hear about all of the amazing and adventurous professions she has held that do not require a college degree and have given her an amazingly successful and joy-filled life!

 

You’ll also hear about her life motto that has served her very well over the years. 

Click here to watch  this beautifully inspiring conversation!

REPLAY: 3 Learning Principles You NEED to Know!

Listen to this previously-released episode and check out more episodes that you may have missed here: https://decodinglearningdifferences.com/