『The OT is IN with Sarah Collins the Homeschool OT』のカバーアート

The OT is IN with Sarah Collins the Homeschool OT

The OT is IN with Sarah Collins the Homeschool OT

著者： Sarah Collins
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 The OT is IN podcast merges the worlds of education and occupational therapy to empower families like yours. Sarah Collins, your host, an occupational therapist and homeschooling parent of 3 ranging in age from elementary to high school. Sarah Collins has experienced occupational therapy by supporting families for over 15 years but also through seeking out support for her own children- so, she's right there in the trenches with you. Though there is not one right way to educate your child, there is a lot to consider when individualizing an education. The goal of this podcast is to explain some of the "why" behind what an occupational therapist is thinking so you can artfully apply it to your own family especially with executive functioning, handwriting, and sensory processing. Each episode will be packed with practical tips, expert interviews, and real-life stories aimed at helping you create a supportive learning environment for your child.2024
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  • Navigating Sibling Sensory Needs and Homeschooling Wins and Fails

    Navigating Sibling Sensory Needs and Homeschooling Wins and Fails
    2025/08/14
    Curious if OT could help your child's struggles? Download Why Choose OT to find out! This episode takes a heartfelt look into the Collins family’s homeschooling journey, especially focusing on the unique sensory and learning needs of my children, Annabelle and Kaleb. The conversation dives into how homeschooling allowed both Annabelle and Kaleb to better understand and support their own learning styles—whether that meant planning and organizing, or moving around to stay focused. The family shares candidly about what worked (and what didn’t), navigating sibling relationships with different sensory needs, and the importance of communication and self-advocacy. You’ll hear anecdotes from their homeschooling days, their experiences with tools like the Zones of Regulation, and thoughtful insights about adjusting environments and parenting strategies to support each child’s growth. If you’re a parent, educator, or just curious about how families work through challenges and celebrate differences, you’ll find practical ideas, laughs, and a few candid confessions in this warm, relatable conversation. In this episode you'll hear about: Annabelle introduces herself (age, homeschooling history, activities)Kaleb introduces himself (age, schooling plans, energy differences)Contrast in homeschooling experience and personal energy levels between the siblingsEarly Homeschooling ExperiencesReflections on starting homeschooling after public schoolComparison of Annabelle and Kaleb’s temperaments as young childrenDiscussion of behavioral and learning differencesUnderstanding and Managing Energy & Sensory NeedsUse of “energy” to describe learning and activity preferencesAnnabelle as more planner/organizer; Kaleb as high-energy/movement-orientedSarah reframes “energy” in terms of regulation and sensory processingIntroduction of the Zones of Regulation framework in their homeThe role and value of using regulation languageParenting Strategies: What Helped and What Didn’tHomeschooling as facilitating better self-regulationStrategies that helped each child understand themselves (e.g. movement breaks)Honest discussion of what did not work, like forced tours and over-explaining in learning situationsAcknowledgement of the importance of self-discovery in learning stylesAdapting Educational ApproachesAnnabelle’s experiences with various learning formats (dual enrollment, asynchronous classes)Experiences with different subjects (math vs history)Discovering and leveraging personal learning styles and advocating for oneselfManaging the Learning EnvironmentThe impact of environment on focus and sensory needsAdjustments made for sibling differencesSibling Relationships & Sensory NeedsConflicts arising from mismatched sensory needs (quiet vs noise/movement)Navigating these differences as children growUse of environmental and sensory strategies to defuse tense situationsCommunication and AdvocacyLearning to speak up about personal needs (self-advocacy)How sibling dynamics evolved to include better communication and mutual anticipation of needsParental Support and FairnessReflections on uneven parental attention due to different needsAnnabelle’s perspective on independence and desire for attention/supportKaleb’s need for more movement and direct supportEvolution of parental approach to meet both children’s emotional needsLong-Term Family Dynamics & GrowthEmphasis on the ongoing process of learning and adjusting as a familyAcknowledging that sibling relationships will outlast the parental focusHighlighting continuous progress and the importance of maintaining strong family bonds Links and Resources From Today's Show Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?Connect with Sarah Collins on IGGames That Teach Executive FunctionExecutive Functioning For Teens CourseZones Of Regulation How To Integrate The Zones At HomeBack To School: Student Interview QuestionsEpisode 8: Beyond the Pencil: Exploring Vision's Impact on Homeschool Handwriting SuccessEpisode 9: The Impact of Music on Executive Functioning: A Homeschooling PerspectiveEpisode 10: Streamlining Your Space: Organizing for Better Executive FunctioningEpisode 11: Exploring Unique Learning Paths in Homeschooling with Guest Amy BodkinEpisode 12: Executive Functioning in Homeschooling: A Teenager's Experience with Organization and Planning Episode 44: Prioritizing Slow in Homeschooling: A chat with Leslie Martino If you have more questions you want to ask two homeschooled teens, feel free to email here: sarah@homeschoolot.com
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    33 分
  • Raising Resilient Learners: When and How to Talk About Diagnoses with Your Kids

    Raising Resilient Learners: When and How to Talk About Diagnoses with Your Kids
    2025/08/07
    Curious if OT could help your child's struggles? Download Why Choose OT to find out! I am joined by Gretchen Rowe for a heartfelt and insightful conversation about navigating learning challenges with neurodivergent kids. Gretchen shares her personal journeys through homeschooling, discussing everything from the decision to seek formal diagnoses for her children to the ups and downs of finding the right support and resources. Together, we explore how to talk with kids about learning differences in a positive, empowering way, the importance of fostering self-advocacy skills, and the crucial role that other caring adults and community play in supporting children as they grow. With stories from our own families, practical advice, and plenty of warmth and humor, this episode is a must-listen for any parent, educator, or caregiver seeking a path forward when learning feels hard. In this episode you'll hear about: Gretchen’s backgroundThe Process and Value of DiagnosisGretchen’s view that diagnosis is not a destination, but just a point on the path.Questions about whether and how to share a diagnosis with children.Avoiding limiting language tied to a diagnosis.Seeking Diagnosis: Personal ExperiencesGretchen’s experience seeking a formal diagnosis for her son with acute dyslexia.Comparison with Sarah’s experience using public school evaluation:Deciding on Diagnosis and AccommodationsReflecting on reasons for pursuing diagnosis (information, resources, labels, fear of stigma).Discussion of accommodations for standardized testing (SAT/ACT) and the need for an established paper trail.Timing and consequences of seeking/not seeking accommodations.Talking to Kids About Their Diagnosis and Learning DifferencesWhen and how to initiate conversations with children.Changing “I can’t” statements into productive collaboration.Encouraging children to ask for help and reframe challenges.Parenting Strategies for Navigating NeurodiversityTeaching children to seek help productively.Modeling adaptive behaviors and self-awareness as parents.Handling setbacks and being open about parental mistakes and learning together.Preparing Neurodivergent Teens for Independence and AdulthoodTeaching practical life and self-advocacy skills.Encouraging mentorship and guidance from other adults besides parents.Empowering teens to seek feedback about their strengths.Supporting Teens’ Transition to Work or College Links and Resources From Today's Show Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?Connect with Sarah Collins on IGGames That Teach Executive FunctionDemme LearningWhat Are Executive Function Skills?Field Trips Can Build Executive FunctioningEpisode 2: Decoding Behavior in homeschooling- sensory overwhelm, emotional control, perseverance Episode 43: Collaborative Problem-Solving in Education and Parenting Episode 60: Tackling Childhood Anxiety: How Occupational Therapy Can HelpEpisode 66: Shifting From Compliance to Connection: The Power of Declarative Language in Supporting Kids Connect With Our Guest, Gretchen Roe Gretchen Roe has 21 years of home education experience with her six children, all of whom have now graduated. With a degree in psychology and child development, she has spent the last 27 years in positions of homeschool advocacy, developing special bonds with families of children who work harder to learn. With Demme Learning since 2014, first as a Special Needs Placement Specialist, now serving as the company’s Community Outreach Coordinator, she loves the outdoors, all things furry, chicken raising, and beekeeping. She is a high school swim coach and a second-degree Taekwondo Black Belt.
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    33 分
  • Tackling Homeschool Guilt and Finding Your Own Path with Kelly Edwards

    Tackling Homeschool Guilt and Finding Your Own Path with Kelly Edwards
    2025/07/24
    Curious if OT could help your child's struggles? Download Why Choose OT to find out! Kelly Edwards, a homeschool parent and creator of the 90 Minute School Day framework shares how early in her own homeschooling journey, Kelly’s insights from podcasts and social media were a guiding light. We dive into Kelly’s unexpected beginnings with homeschooling, the challenges she faced as a foster and adoptive parent, and how her journey evolved from recreating a traditional classroom at home to gradually letting go of rigid expectations. Kelly opens up about navigating the unique needs of her neurodivergent children, the process of deschooling, and the internal work necessary to truly embrace homeschooling freedom. You’ll also hear practical strategies for self-care as a homeschool parent, balancing sibling relationships, and what a day in the life looks like using Kelly’s 90 Minute School Day approach. Whether you’re brand new to homeschooling or looking for reassurance and inspiration, this is full of honesty, encouragement, and actionable advice. In this episode you'll hear about: The start of homeschooling: Not originally planned.Early exposure to homeschooling through a friend.Becoming foster and adoptive parents in West Virginia.Specific family needs leading to the decision to homeschool.Daughter’s academic, social, and emotional needs not fully met in traditional school.Desire to build stronger family bonds and attachment.Attempt to replicate traditional school at home (gradebooks, schedules, pledge, etc.).Realizing the Need for FlexibilityLetting go of unnecessary routines and structures.Dropping unneeded activities (e.g., spelling tests).Navigating self-doubt and seeking validation from others.Advice from Akilah Richards (“resistance is the roadmap”) and what that means in practice.Identifying and responding to resistance points in homeschooling.Transition Toward DeschoolingUnderstanding “behavior as communication.”Gradually dropping what didn’t work; picking up what did.Moving from strict frameworks to intuition and permission.The importance and discomfort of making individualized choices.Challenges of HomeschoolingNavigating neurodivergence within the family.Evolving as a parent and the grief of changed expectations.Managing Parental Needs and Self-CareThe 90 Minute School Day PhilosophyExplaining skill areas (reading, writing, math) and content areas (family time, activities, exploration).Emphasis on layering and reinforcing learning as children grow older. Links and Resources From Today's Show Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?Homeschool Daily Set Up: Parental Planning Guide Join Me At The BRAVE 2025 Conference Online Akilah Richards- Raising Free People: Unschooling as Liberation How To Integrate The Zones At Home Structure, Schedules, and Unschooling? Episode 30: Sensory Processing and Co-Regulation: Insights for Parents Episode 33: Dyslexia Demystified: Marianne Sunderland's Approach and Homeschooling Tips Episode 53: Redefining Rest: An approach to Spiritual, Physical, Cognitive, and Emotional Rest Episode 61: Mindful Moments: Supporting Focus and Calm in ChildrenConnect With Sarah On Instagram90 Minute School DayConnect With Kelly On Instagram Connect With Our Guest, Kelly Edwards Kelly Edwards is the founder of The 90-Minute School Day™, a framework that helps parents transition from a school-based mindset to natural learning. She helps families create a thriving homeschool by prioritizing felt-safety, connection, self-awareness, while honoring biological rhythms and neurodivergence. Through her Day in the Life community, Guide Training™ program, and The 90-Minute School Day™ podcast, Kelly supports parents in unlearning school-based conditioning, trusting natural learning, and redefining success by focusing on strengths, not setbacks. A wife and long-time homeschooling parent of three girls, she is also a parent coach, educator, and trauma-informed foster care advocate. Learn more at 90minuteschoolday.com
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    35 分
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