This solo episode is raw, real, and rooted in love. Host Wendy Taylor, M.Ed., ET/P, shares her family’s deeply personal journey—how her son’s brain tumor diagnosis flipped her world and transformed her as a special educator and advocate. You’ll learn why she created the $19 course Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility—and how it can help you move from fear to clarity.

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🎓 Cracking the Code Course – $19

🎧 Podcast on Apple

🎧 Podcast on All Platforms

Cracking the Code – Get free access to Module 1 during Brain Cancer Awareness Month with code: GoGray

Course Link 

Feeling overwhelmed by your child’s sensory needs? In Part 2 of our conversation, sensory integration expert Carol Kranowitz returns to share practical, joyful strategies to help your child feel more confident and connected. From Ziploc paint bags to backyard crash pads, this episode is filled with simple tools to bring calm, play, and purpose into your day. Missed Part 1? Be sure to go back and catch it first!

Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A., is a pioneer in sensory integration education and author of the bestselling The Out-of-Sync Child. Her newest book, Good Times with Out-of-Sync Grandkids (coming March 2025), continues her mission to help families make sense of sensory challenges through play.

Instagram: @learningessentials

LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor

Facebook: Learning Essentials

Website: LearningEssentialsEDU.com

Check out Wendy's course: Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility

Apple Podcasts: The Special Ed Strategist

Other platforms: https://pod.link/1639953041

Website: https://out-of-sync-child.com

Book coming soon: Good Times with Out-of-Sync Grandkids (March 2025)

The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Kranowitz

STAR Institute for Sensory Processing

What really makes a child "out of sync"? Wendy Taylor welcomes Carol Stock Kranowitz, renowned author of The Out-of-Sync Child, for an inspiring and practical conversation about sensory processing differences. With her signature warmth and wisdom, Carol explains how to identify sensory challenges, how they show up in everyday behavior, and what you can do to help. This episode is packed with aha-moments and activities that bring joy, connection, and movement back into learning.

Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A. is a pioneering voice in understanding Sensory Processing Differences. With over 25 years as a preschool teacher, her personal curiosity led her to write The Out-of-Sync Child, which has sold over 1 million copies and been translated into 16+ languages. Carol is also the author of several companion books focused on play, movement, and sensory-rich activities that support child development.

Put on Your “Sensory Spectacles”: Carol urges listeners to become curious observers of their children’s behavior—what sensory input are they avoiding or craving?

Movement is the Key to Learning: Small, consistent "heavy work" activities like pushing, pulling, and stretching can help regulate the nervous system and improve focus.

Play Is Powerful: From painting with shaving cream to using inner tubes as resistance tools, everyday objects become magical learning tools for sensory exploration and growth.

Confused about the difference between accommodations and modifications? You’re not alone. In this solo episode, Wendy Taylor, certified Educational Therapist and IEP Coach, breaks down what these terms really mean, how they show up in IEPs and 504s, and why getting them right can make or break your child’s educational journey. Tune in to learn which questions to ask in meetings and how to advocate like a pro—without the jargon.

Listen now and take the guesswork out of special education support!

Instagram: @learningessentials

LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor

Facebook: TutoringLE

Website: LearningEssentialsEDU.com

Check out the course: Cracking the Code

Why do some students push back against authority, struggle with compliance, or resist help? In this episode, Britt Rathbone, LCSW-C, BCD, CGP, a nationally recognized adolescent therapist, breaks down why students resist and how parents, educators, and therapists can respond effectively. From Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) to executive function challenges, anxiety, and sensory sensitivities, we explore practical strategies to build trust, reframe behavior, and create meaningful change.

✔️ Resistance is communication – Students who push back aren’t being defiant; they’re expressing unmet needs.

✔️ Relationships before redirection – Trust is the foundation for helping kids regulate and engage.

✔️ Reframe the approach – Small shifts in language and flexibility can drastically change student responses.

Britt shares his expertise from over 30 years working with treatment-resistant teens and co-authoring "What Works with Teens" and "Dialectical Behavior Therapy for At-Risk Adolescents." Tune in for a deep dive into why resistance happens and how to turn it into growth.

🎧 Listen now: Podcast Link

Connect with Wendy Taylor

📲 Instagram: @learningessentials

💼 LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor

📘 Facebook: Learning Essentials

🌐 Website: LearningEssentialsEDU.com

📖 Course: Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility

Connect with Britt Rathbone, LCSW-C, BCD, CGP

🌐 Website: Capital Youth Services

📘 Book: What Works With Teens

📖 Therapy Practice: Psychology Today Profile

Further Resources:

Understanding PDA: PDA Society

Managing Resistance in Kids: Child Mind Institute

Anxiety & School Refusal: ADAA

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Parents often wonder: Is my child getting enough support? In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist Podcast, Wendy Taylor, M.Ed., ET/P, tackles the big question of IEP service hours—how they’re determined, what truly matters (quality vs. quantity), and how to advocate for services that make a real impact. Learn key questions to ask at your next IEP meeting and bust common myths about service allocation. More hours don’t always mean better support—let’s talk strategy!

1️⃣ More Hours ≠ Better Support – It’s not about the number of service hours but rather the effectiveness of those services. Individualized instruction that aligns with IEP goals is what truly drives progress.

2️⃣ Parents Have a Say – You are an equal member of the IEP team! You have the right to ask questions, review progress data, and request changes if services aren’t meeting your child’s needs.

3️⃣ Ask the Right Questions – At your next IEP meeting, focus on how service hours align with your child's goals, what progress data shows, and whether there are alternative supports that might work even better.

Want more advocacy strategies? Check out Wendy’s course: Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility

Connect with Wendy:

Website: Learning Essentials

What’s the difference between pre-game jitters and full-blown performance anxiety? How can parents, coaches, and schools better support young athletes in high-pressure environments? In this must-listen episode, Dr. Virginia Jones and Dr. Brenna Chirby, two top clinical psychologists specializing in sports psychology, break down mental resilience strategies that help student-athletes perform at their best—on and off the field.

Key Takeaways:

Mental skills that top athletes use to manage pressure (and how your child can too!)

Growth mindset hacks that turn setbacks into comebacks

You’re a parent, coach, or educator supporting student-athletes

The Art of Screen Time – A recommended book for parents on managing social media use

Dr. Becky’s Social Media Insights – Follow Dr. Becky for parenting strategies

Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE) – A mental training approach used by both guests

Visualization Exercises from Michael Phelps and Simone Biles – Learn about their techniques

Research on Performance Anxiety in Athletes – Nationwide Children's Guide

Win Some, Lose Most – A recommended mindset for young athletes

Cracking the Code Course – Your guide to navigating special education like a pro!

Listen now: The Special Ed Strategist Podcast

Guest: Dr. Jillian Darefsky, Executive Head of The Siena School

Host: Wendy Taylor, M.Ed., ET/P

In this episode, Wendy Taylor speaks with Dr. Jilly Darefsky, a leader in specialized education and an advocate for students with language-based learning disabilities. With both professional expertise and personal experience as a parent of two dyslexic children, Dr. Darefsky shares invaluable insights into how the brain processes language, the importance of structured literacy, and practical strategies for parents seeking to support their children. This conversation highlights the power of early intervention, the role of multisensory learning, and the importance of fostering confidence and self-advocacy in students.

The Siena School Website

Siena School Blog

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter/X

LinkedIn

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

International Dyslexia Association – Comprehensive research and guidance on dyslexia

The Dyslexic Advantage – Insights on the strengths associated with dyslexia

Made by Dyslexia – Advocacy and educational resources for dyslexia awareness

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

Learning Essentials Website

Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility Course

The Special Ed Strategist on Apple Podcasts

The Special Ed Strategist on Spotify and Other Platforms

For questions or topic suggestions, connect with Wendy on Instagram or LinkedIn.

In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist Podcast, host Wendy Taylor, M.Ed., ET/P, delves into the essentials of measuring and reporting IEP progress. She offers actionable advice for parents to confidently interpret their child's progress reports, request raw data, and advocate for goal adjustments when progress stalls. Wendy emphasizes the importance of understanding legal rights under IDEA and provides strategies to ensure IEP goals are effectively supporting student growth.

Instagram: @learningessentials

LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor

Facebook: Learning Essentials

Website: www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com

Course: Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility

Wrightslaw: All About IEPs

A comprehensive guide to understanding IEPs, including legal requirements and practical tips. https://www.wrightslaw.com/

Offers tools and strategies for parents to monitor and support their child's educational progress. https://www.understood.org/

For more insights and resources, visit the Learning Essentials Podcast Page.

If you found this episode helpful, please like, share, and follow for more tips. For additional guidance on IEPs and educational services, check out "Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility" or visit our website.

In this powerful episode of The Special Ed Strategist Podcast, host Wendy Taylor welcomes Rachel Archambault, M.A., CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist and trauma-informed care advocate. Rachel shares her journey from experiencing trauma firsthand at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to becoming a leading voice in trauma-informed education. Learn how educators can implement practical, mindset-shifting strategies to create safer, more supportive learning environments for all students.

Educators should shift from asking “What’s wrong with this student?” to “What happened to this student?” and adjust their approach to reduce harm, foster safety, and support learning.

Removing violent phrases like “shoot me an email” and choosing more precise, neutral language helps create a safer, less triggering environment for students and staff.

The six pillars of trauma-informed care (Safety, Choice, Collaboration, Trust, Empowerment, and Cultural Sensitivity) guide educators to create spaces where students can shift from survival mode into their “learning brain.”

Website: www.ptsdslp.com

Instagram: @ptsd.slp

Facebook: @ptsd.slp

LinkedIn: Rachel Archambault

Email: [email protected] 

Instagram: @learningessentials

LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor

Facebook: Learning Essentials

Website: LearningEssentialsEDU.com

Course: Cracking the Code