Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Hi, I'm Maggie.
[00:00:01] Speaker B: And I'm Nicole. Welcome to the DAC Dyslexia and Coffee Podcast. We're so happy you could join us. We're both moms and dyslexia interventionists who want to talk about our students and children.
What dyslexia is, how it affects our kids, strategies to help and topics related to other learning disabilities will also be covered in this podcast.
Parents are not alone, and we want to give voice to the concerns and struggles we are all having. This is a safe place to learn more about how to help our children grow and succeed in school, in the world. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the conversation.
[00:00:33] Speaker A: Hi, everybody. Welcome to episode 88 of Dyslexia and Coffee Podcast.
We are going to start today's episode like we do every episode with the concept of the week.
So the concept of the week is our opportunity as practitioners to kind of peel back the curtain a bit and let everyone into an intervention session. So we like to teach about things that each either we would teach directly to our students or talk about with their families.
Today's concept of the week is mindfulness, which I think gets a really bad rap. I don't think people fully understand what mindfulness really is.
Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing on tension on the present moment. So, like the thoughts and the feelings and sensation without judgment. Okay. And fostering a state of.
Of calm awareness.
So it really is just. My attention is on this moment.
What do I see, what do I smell, what do I feel both externally and internally?
And try not to like, judge those feelings and try not to like, push them away or push them down. Just noticing what is going on is mindfulness.
[00:02:06] Speaker B: And it doesn't have to be very long.
[00:02:08] Speaker A: It does not. And it's usually a couple of minutes.
[00:02:12] Speaker B: Right, right.
[00:02:14] Speaker A: A couple of minutes to just come back, center yourself. It doesn't have to be a long 20, 30 minute meditation. It can be.
[00:02:24] Speaker B: It can be.
[00:02:24] Speaker A: That's very healthy. Yeah, it can be. But often it's okay. When taking those two to three really deep breaths and coming back to a sense of this is what's happening right now. I'm not thinking about what's for dinner tonight.
I'm not thinking about that ugly conversation I had with my kids this morning.
[00:02:48] Speaker B: Right.
[00:02:49] Speaker A: I'm thinking about right now.
That's mindfulness.
[00:02:53] Speaker B: Yes.
So welcome to episode 88, which is why we're talking about mindfulness.
[00:02:59] Speaker A: We're gonna take a real hard turn.
[00:03:01] Speaker B: Yes.
The last month of school. Oh, why, why, why, why, why are There, field trips. Why is there end of the year testing musicals, plays, band concerts, more field trips. Why, why, why, why, why?
[00:03:18] Speaker A: I hate it and so much more. And then these surprise, fun spirit days.
[00:03:25] Speaker B: Yes. What?
[00:03:26] Speaker A: What?
I thought we were done with that crap over the holidays. Like, I don't want to do this more. I don't want to do this more. I feel like it's in the same kind of vein where all of a sudden Easter is like.
Yeah. All of a sudden Easter, you have to spend all this money. Like, why, why, why? No, thank you.
[00:03:47] Speaker B: I don't know, I just.
They're doing projects and then they have to get the projects done and then.
But they can't be late for their concerts. Yeah.
[00:03:58] Speaker A: I got a letter about.
[00:04:02] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:04:02] Speaker A: And it's generally stuff like the kids are looking forward to. Like they're doing a poetry unit at my kids school. And we get this letter that they need a box covered with a solid color wrapping paper.
And it has to be at least 12 inches on all sides.
[00:04:21] Speaker B: Okay. Why?
[00:04:23] Speaker A: Because they're gonna put their poetry on this spot. So like, they're gonna put. So it's like for a display.
Okay, okay. But like.
Okay, I don't have just. I just don't have these supplies just laying around and I don't know how many people do.
[00:04:43] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:04:43] Speaker A: And then you're like the worst if you're like, but I don't have that. I know, but I don't have that. But now I have to figure out how we're gonna go.
[00:04:56] Speaker B: Mm.
Get it?
[00:04:58] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:04:59] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:05:01] Speaker A: Yuck.
[00:05:02] Speaker B: And then all this is leading up to depending on what grade you're in. Some sort of graduation.
[00:05:07] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, absolutely. And you're like, ah, yeah. Which.
Yeah.
[00:05:14] Speaker B: Graduated from elementary school. Oh, you're from middle school. Graduating from high school. Graduated from college.
[00:05:18] Speaker A: It's like this whole thing. Well, even so, in our district, we've got two elementary buildings.
[00:05:25] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:05:26] Speaker A: So we, the 4K through second grade are in one building.
[00:05:30] Speaker B: Oh, so they're gonna do graduation for the second grade.
[00:05:32] Speaker A: Correct, correct.
[00:05:34] Speaker B: And I'm like, how did I know this?
[00:05:36] Speaker A: Yes. Yes.
[00:05:37] Speaker B: You didn't even have to say anything else.
[00:05:40] Speaker A: And I'm going, but they're not.
I understand the marking of time and all these things, but like, doesn't it just dilute? Like by the time my kid graduates from high school, I'm going to be like, I'm over graduation snow. I don't want to know.
[00:05:54] Speaker B: Yeah, I was over in mine.
[00:05:56] Speaker A: So. Yeah. I mean, same. That was not. That was not my Favorite. I don't. I do not like the attention on me. And it was ungodly hot that day.
No, thank you.
[00:06:10] Speaker B: So to start off with this episode, we decided to say remember to take care of yourself. Yes. There's some ways that you can.
[00:06:18] Speaker A: Yes. Yes.
[00:06:19] Speaker B: Get enough sleep. Right. Seven to nine hours.
I don't think I've had that since I have children, but. No, you can try.
[00:06:28] Speaker A: I know, I know. This is a little practice.
[00:06:32] Speaker B: Practice what we say, not what we do. Because.
[00:06:35] Speaker A: Because.
[00:06:36] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:06:36] Speaker A: I.
[00:06:37] Speaker B: My kids don't sleep, so my 9 hours is. 15 year old. Has not slept since she was.
[00:06:43] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:06:43] Speaker B: Born.
[00:06:43] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:06:44] Speaker B: Like she would scream 24 hours a day. So.
[00:06:47] Speaker A: Yeah, that's not.
[00:06:49] Speaker B: Which is not a typical behavior, by the way.
[00:06:52] Speaker A: No, no, it's not. And it. I think it's. It is a good reminder even.
Even when we're in this state of like, yeah, okay, never gonna happen.
But the remembering to like, actually it kind of all starts with sleep.
[00:07:10] Speaker B: Mm.
[00:07:10] Speaker A: Like, it's really.
It really is that important.
And to try to maintain at least some routine. Even if you can't hit your like 7 to 9.
Trying to maintain like what's your typical. Yeah. Like a routine and you know, setting up those, like good sleep habits at least.
[00:07:34] Speaker B: Yeah.
Eating good foods, your nourishment, doing some type of movement, even if it's a 10 to 15 minute walk.
[00:07:43] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:07:44] Speaker B: That will help reduce those stress. Relieving.
[00:07:46] Speaker A: Yeah.
And walking is like one of the best things we can do for our minds and our bodies. And sometimes I really do have to be reminded. Like, actually. No, go do it. Like, go do it.
[00:08:02] Speaker B: Remember to do your regular checkups.
[00:08:05] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. I'm really bad at that.
I really. I'll just say that I'm really, really bad at like, my kids have been to the doctor.
[00:08:21] Speaker B: Mindfulness. That's something that we just talked about.
[00:08:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:08:25] Speaker B: A lot of people like journaling because that's a big stress reliever for them. Like writing down your experiences, your feelings, anything that comes to your head. Sometimes that helps people sleep if they do it right before bed.
[00:08:38] Speaker A: Especially that understanding of gratitude. Yes. This truly stopping. And that really is like a form of mindfulness is just stopping and recognizing the things that we have gratitude for.
[00:08:55] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:08:56] Speaker A: Especially in the seasons where it doesn't.
Not feeling very grateful, but reminding myself, like, actually, no, there are a lot of things and I think it's kind of mean that the last month of school is in May when things are waking up and look at all the pretty flowers and listen to the Birds that are coming back and like, all those things that I truly do enjoy if I don't stop and take a walk and make a pause, like I miss all of that happening and then I'm kind of mad that I missed it all happening.
[00:09:41] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:09:41] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:43] Speaker B: Setting boundaries, remembering. You can say no even though I'm not sure how to say no to the schools.
[00:09:50] Speaker A: No is a complete sentence.
[00:09:52] Speaker B: Except for when your kids really want to go on that field trip and they need peers to go take them.
[00:09:57] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. No is a complete sentence. I love them so much, but no, no if it doesn't.
The thing is, the more we say yes to the things that we really can't do, the worse all of it becomes.
The worst all of it becomes. And the more they at, the more they. They take.
So no is a complete sentence. I think it's really important to.
[00:10:26] Speaker B: Maggie's a lot better with that as a complete sentence than I am.
[00:10:30] Speaker A: No is a complete sentence.
[00:10:32] Speaker B: She's always like, cool, let's think about that.
[00:10:36] Speaker A: Let's think about it. Because if we, if we say yes to all of the things, truly none of those things are done with quality. And I can suck it up and do a couple of things that I don't want to do.
[00:10:50] Speaker B: Right.
[00:10:51] Speaker A: In service to my kids, in service to their school, in service to things. But I cannot suck it up and do all of the things I don't want to do.
[00:10:59] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:11:00] Speaker A: I'm not going to do that.
That has to be. Some things have to be a.
[00:11:05] Speaker B: No self compassion, you know, be patient with yourself and allow your time for rest again connection. Remember to keep in touch with friends, family, or your supports in the community that you've built.
Because even though when you're busy, that's usually when those go away. And yes, those are when you probably should be using them.
[00:11:31] Speaker A: Oh, a thousand percent. I mean, just actually being able to say to a friend, like, I need some help. Can you help me?
[00:11:42] Speaker B: Great.
[00:11:43] Speaker A: I mean, do you have a box
[00:11:44] Speaker B: that's 12 by 12.
[00:11:45] Speaker A: Do you have a box?
Do you have a solid color wrapping paper stored away in your home somewhere? Because that is like a lifesaver for me right now.
And if someone asked me for that item and I had it, I would be so happy to share it.
[00:12:04] Speaker B: Exactly.
Yeah. Don't ask me. My, my family didn't even wrap my birthday gifts because they didn't. Couldn't find any paper in the house and so they didn't wrap your birthday present either. That's fine. For the same reason. Yeah, okay. Well, that's, that's bad for the same reason. Oh, that's fine. It's the thought.
[00:12:23] Speaker A: Yeah, it's.
I'm also like, yeah, she's gonna go to a landfill somewhere.
[00:12:28] Speaker B: So I can just have this, right?
Joy, Remember the things that give you joy. Reading a book, music, doing your hobbies, Those type of things.
[00:12:42] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:12:43] Speaker B: And honestly, if you need support, seek a therapist or counselor if you're feeling very overwhelmed. Yeah, I think that one. People miss a lot.
[00:12:51] Speaker A: I think they do miss a lot. And I think for as much more openness. I think there's a lot more openness to talking about counseling and talking about. Yeah, I have been to therapy or I am in therapy.
I think for as much as far as we have come, I think we have so much further to go to go that I think.
Yeah. Seeing a counselor in a time of need should be seen as a good for you. Yep.
Like, good for you for recognizing that's something that you need.
And being in counseling doesn't mean you're in counseling forever, ever.
[00:13:36] Speaker B: Usually it could even be like one or two times, depending on what the topic is or what the need is.
[00:13:41] Speaker A: Usually it's, I mean, you know, three to four sessions and you're, you know, have sought the guidance that you need. So that one's, I think, really, really important.
[00:13:58] Speaker B: So some small, quick things that you can do. Taking a 15 minute break or a nap. Spending some time outside.
[00:14:07] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:14:08] Speaker B: Decluttering your workspace.
[00:14:12] Speaker A: Did you put that one in there just to pick on me, Nicole?
[00:14:16] Speaker B: No, I didn't.
[00:14:18] Speaker A: I would forgive you if you it
[00:14:23] Speaker B: and celebrate your small wins, you know, like even.
Okay, you're gonna laugh. But I love when I am in the same building as me because she's always got coffee ready. And it's a win for me. I celebrate that every time.
[00:14:39] Speaker A: And I like to do it. It's fun for me because I like to. Well, one, I mean coffee.
[00:14:45] Speaker B: But two, hence the name of our podcast.
[00:14:49] Speaker A: Yes.
But I love that, like, that's my small way of like here. I care about you. We share this thing we both like.
[00:15:00] Speaker B: Right.
[00:15:01] Speaker A: And I can have it ready.
[00:15:04] Speaker B: And she knows I'm just gonna keep plowing along and I will totally go. Right.
I just don't stop fast long enough to make the coffee that I really want.
[00:15:14] Speaker A: Yes.
Don't worry, I got you.
[00:15:20] Speaker B: So we're going to flip a little bit and talk about too. What should we be asking our teachers this time of month, time of year at the end of the year about what we should do with our kids over the summer. Because that also is something that we should be preparing right now in anticipation of them being out of school for a while. Yes, yes.
So, like, I think one of the big things is maybe talking to the teacher about your own child's personalized recommendations.
Right. What do they think would most help prevent that summer slide? We've done a topic on this before, but you also need to focus on their academic needs and their fun and engaging activities.
But your teachers know your student learning the best by this time of the year.
[00:16:14] Speaker A: Correct. They can drill down, you know, some good questions.
[00:16:18] Speaker B: Right.
[00:16:18] Speaker A: What specific skills should my child work on? Not just math.
[00:16:25] Speaker B: Right, right.
[00:16:25] Speaker A: Like way too broad.
[00:16:27] Speaker B: I can get a whole bunch of different kind of math going.
[00:16:30] Speaker A: Right. You know, what were they?
Right. What would really help your child is if you did addition and subtraction up to 10.
Great.
[00:16:40] Speaker B: Great.
[00:16:41] Speaker A: Thank you.
[00:16:41] Speaker B: That's all you need.
[00:16:43] Speaker A: That's all I need to know. Thank you. Okay, great. That is.
[00:16:51] Speaker B: Also maybe asking what is a recommended reading list that they would say that align with maybe the curriculum from this year to next year. That kind of gaps that.
[00:17:01] Speaker A: Yeah. Or, you know, or even. Or even what is my kid inside the classroom? Right. When you have the kind of kid, like I do, my oldest, that shares very much nothing about what's going on. Like, I don't even know what he's reading at school. Like I don't know what kind of books he's picking off the classroom library shelf because he won't really talk to me. I know what he's kind of gravitating towards when we go to the public library. I don't really know what he's reading inside the classroom. What is he reading there? Because I might be able to find similar stories.
You know, he's not going to talk to me about it. But his teacher would.
[00:17:46] Speaker B: Right, Exactly.
And then what are the. Maybe asking what are the common challenges for children moving to the next grade level that you've seen that are moving from, let's say you're going from second grade to third grade.
[00:18:01] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:18:02] Speaker B: What is that that they've seen happens when they get to that third grade?
Maybe that's what you work on over the summer. Right.
[00:18:11] Speaker A: Definitely. You know, it's that pre teaching those skills.
So they're getting their at bats before it's expected that they just do it.
[00:18:21] Speaker B: Right.
[00:18:22] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:18:23] Speaker B: We kind of already talked about the reading.
What about like even asking them, are there any games, websites, workbooks that they recommend? Like if they're learning a Certain concept. I mean, at school, there are some pretty cool board games that could help the students build that school that skill back up or continue to build it.
[00:18:53] Speaker A: Well, and we've even purchased a couple of games on the recommendation of Millie's teacher. She loves this game. Or we're working on this and.
[00:19:06] Speaker B: Great.
Right.
[00:19:08] Speaker A: We will do that at home because we could make it fun.
[00:19:13] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:19:15] Speaker A: But if I don't really know what direction to go, that makes it really difficult.
[00:19:20] Speaker B: Yeah. And, like, for our area here, like, we have a couple of, like, CDC bingo games here. Or, like, when we're working with our students, an intervention, we sometimes bring out those games to reinforce that skill.
[00:19:38] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:19:38] Speaker B: That they're learning in a way that they can touch the tiles and they can move things around, and that's all really good for them.
[00:19:49] Speaker A: Yeah, totally. I.
I too, am thinking about not just academic skills, but I have one of my.
My older who just. He struggles with social connections and identifying who his friends really are, you know, and he.
He's the kind of kid where other kids reach out to him, and I can see it. I can see it at scouts. I can see it at, you know, school activities where other kids will try to be getting his attention and he's, like, not getting it.
And I have asked his teachers in the past, you know, who are some of the classmates that either he gravitates towards or they're gravitating towards him, but it seems like a connection isn't being made.
Like, I can try to facilitate that over the summer, you know, and hopefully we can build upon that connection.
[00:20:53] Speaker B: Right.
[00:20:54] Speaker A: So he's not feeling like he's losing that over the summer.
[00:20:57] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:20:57] Speaker A: I feel like that is just as important that he's got that going on then, you know, the academic skills absolutely are important, but it's also those social connections that go away over the summer.
[00:21:13] Speaker B: Right.
[00:21:14] Speaker A: They're not with each other all day every day.
[00:21:20] Speaker B: Also asking, what's a strength that my child has that I can continue to build? Like, is there, like a.
Something that they really love to do in school and they're really good at it and you don't. You want to foster that over the summer so it doesn't, like, start go away.
You know, maybe it's one of, like an older kid likes engineering, so then you give them an engineering project or a younger kid maybe really likes a certain center.
[00:21:55] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:21:56] Speaker B: And maybe that center is the one that you set up at your own house.
[00:21:59] Speaker A: Yep. Those things that, you know, keep that learning happening and keeping it fun.
[00:22:06] Speaker B: Right.
[00:22:07] Speaker A: So there's so much learning that can be done outdoors. Sidewalk chalk, you know, ways to like, still incorporate learning, even spelling words and things.
You know, keeping a journal of summer adventures.
[00:22:26] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:22:26] Speaker A: Like, that could be kind of fun. One of the things that we've got planned for this year, it was actually Aiden's idea, which I love.
We really like to go just take walks at, you know, state parks, county parks. Like, let's just go for a walk.
And he was like, mom, wouldn't it be so fun if we drew pictures of our walks?
[00:22:51] Speaker B: Oh, that would be nice.
[00:22:52] Speaker A: I was like, that would be fun. So we just bought some. Really? Went to the dollar store. None of the Gunther. Well, one of the Gunthers, but she's the youngest, is definitely an artist. But none of the rest of the Gunthers are exactly like artists. We're not selling these works or anything, but like, yes, we could absolutely do that. Why not? We could grab. We got some cheap notebooks from the literal dollar store and some colored pencils that we keep in the car. And when we go for a walk, we draw a picture of something we saw on our walk, or we sit and we draw together.
And it's fun. Yeah, and it's fun.
[00:23:35] Speaker B: And don't forget those executive functioning tasks too, that a student still needs to practice. Like.
[00:23:42] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:23:43] Speaker B: Organization.
[00:23:44] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:23:45] Speaker B: And maybe asking the teacher what strategies she's been implementing in school so that you can maybe replicate that at home. Like a checklist for daily chores or something. Yes. That replicates the checklist of what we did today at school, those type of things.
[00:24:00] Speaker A: And I think summer is such a good time of year to look at. Okay. What can my kids do that they're really not doing now? Like, what kind of. What more responsibility can I give them at home?
Because they're not in school right now.
[00:24:18] Speaker B: Right.
[00:24:19] Speaker A: So they're not in school right now.
What can I add to my kids plate that's age appropriate.
[00:24:27] Speaker B: Right.
[00:24:27] Speaker A: That I could teach them into over the summer.
[00:24:31] Speaker B: Right.
[00:24:31] Speaker A: So that come the school year, that skill will be secure.
[00:24:35] Speaker B: Right.
[00:24:35] Speaker A: And they will be one step further down the road, you know?
[00:24:40] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:24:40] Speaker A: That's something I start to think about in the summertime is, okay, what else can I add to my kids plate? Because. Because they're not in school right now, that gets them further down the road.
[00:24:53] Speaker B: Right. And remember that there's public resources, like the library has stuff all summer long and it's free.
[00:25:01] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:25:02] Speaker B: And there's other things like museums that will have a free day or the zoo will have a Free day. All those things are great learning opportunities and social opportunities because there'll be other children there. Absolutely. So they're just great to use and then.
[00:25:20] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:25:20] Speaker B: And just remember to enjoy your time in the summer
[00:25:26] Speaker A: once we get through May.
[00:25:27] Speaker B: Once we get through May. Yes.
[00:25:29] Speaker A: Oh, my goodness.
[00:25:30] Speaker B: So, Maggie, what's happening beyond dyslexia?
[00:25:35] Speaker A: Well, it is certainly maybe so.
[00:25:40] Speaker B: Doesn't feel like.
[00:25:42] Speaker A: Does not feel like that because it is very cold out today, which is disappointing me. I'm not going to lie.
[00:25:48] Speaker B: I have a blanket on. That's how cold.
[00:25:49] Speaker A: Yes, it's. It is cold, but it is supposed to warm up soon.
So we are looking forward to a fun weekend. The, the Gunthers and Boyingtons are going to Trivia and I am looking forward to that. I think that will be be a good time. And the kids are looking forward to it because anytime they get to hang
[00:26:13] Speaker B: out because of course, they're hanging out together while we're hanging out together. Yes.
[00:26:18] Speaker A: And they are thrilled to miss pieces about it.
So that's what's going on with us.
[00:26:25] Speaker B: What's going on with you, Nicole? I think that would be kind of our weekend, too, is between that and building the rest of the stuff for we decided to open a second office space in the same building because we got so busy in that location.
[00:26:42] Speaker A: So as we speak, my husband is building the furniture right now. Yes.
[00:26:47] Speaker B: And we'll probably be bringing the last couple things over the weekend, so my husband will be finishing building the things so that it will be ready for everybody to use.
Actually, people have been using it already, but so, yeah, it's been a very, very busy time and really looking forward to Trivia Night to take a break.
[00:27:07] Speaker A: Well, thank you, everybody.
Please follow us on social media and reach out if you have any questions or you would like us to discuss a topic. If you do like our show, be sure to follow us and rate us on your favorite podcast player. This is how we reach more listeners and we get to help more families. Thank you, everybody.
[00:27:24] Speaker B: Thank you.
