Planning the Day Away

I have recently become an ambassador for my favorite planning tool ever, Passion Planner. This gives me the ability to share really cool new products and goodies (like discount codes - MICHELLEC10 for 10% off- woohoo!). I have used Passion Planner for about 6 years now. Not only does Passion Planner have a gorgeous design, but the layout and features that it provides are unlike any other planner I have used. I recommend it highly for all of my middle school students who are entering the world of endless assignments, tests and extra curricular activities. I wanted to share a download from the website that I think is a great resource, and the best part…it’s free!

Click here to access the Passion Planner Notes .pdf. It’s a great template for note taking!

Happy Planning and Note Taking, my organized peeps!

Michelle Campbell

August 14, 2020

Let's set your student up for success, staring at their desk!.jpg

Michelle Campbell

July 28, 2020

Passion for Planning

Okay, I admit it, I am type A and I live for a good planner. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Google Calendar…couldn’t live without it. Call me “old school”, though, I still use a pen-and-paper planner, too. Not only is it pretty, my physical planner has a lot of benefits.

Here’s why your Student Needs a Planner

Helps with time management
Builds organization skills
Allows for reflection
Helps to teach planning and prioritizing
Assists with memory
Stress relief (I repeat, STRESS RELIEF)

I will be writing a blog post shortly on the benefits of handwriting in a planner. Until then, if you’re looking for a planner for the upcoming school year, look no further. I have been using Passion Planner for years. I love the weekly layout which really fosters organization. In addition, there is room for mind mapping, goal setting and reflection which I think is imperative, especially for those middle and high schoolers! I have linked my favorite design and layout, but you really can’t go wrong. Take a look here- Passion Planner

Michelle Campbell

July 30, 2020

Debunking Some Common Myths About Learning Differences

Understood.org is one of my favorite resources to share with parents. They do an incredible job of breaking down information that can otherwise seem overwhelming.

Click the following link to check out on of my favorite articles that debunks common myths about learning differences: https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/getting-started/what-you-need-to-know/common-myths-about-learning-and-thinking-differences

Michelle Campbell

July 27, 2020

The 20-Minute Check In

Coming at you with a new offering this fall…the 20-minute Check In to help strengthen executive function skills. What better way to support online and remote learning than with a quick check in to ensure your student is organized, planned and prepped for upcoming homework and tests!

Learn More HERE!

Michelle Campbell

July 20, 2020

So, What is Educational Therapy Anyway?

I had the same question as you. Educational therapy—what is that? Even some of the most seasoned educators are confused on what educational therapists do. So, let’s take a look at what educational therapy looks like and how it can help students with learning differences.

What is Educational Therapy?

Educational therapy is a one-on-one approach that helps students build skills and acquire strategies to manage learning and thinking differences.

The definition of educational therapy is rather broad, which is actually fitting, since the spectrum of services is also extensive. Not only do educational therapists focus on building academic skills, but they also foster self-confidence in students who have often struggled academically and emotionally. The work they do can vary from remediating reading difficulties, helping to build number facts, and/or teaching coping skills for test anxiety.

Many educational therapists specialize in certain areas that can range from multi-sensory reading instruction to ADHD. The scope of their work can target reading difficulties, trouble with math, weaknesses in writing or deficits in executive function skills.

How is Educational Therapy Different from Tutoring?'

One of the most common questions I get as an educational therapist is, “so, you’re basically a tutor?” And, the answer is no. There are quite a few distinctions between the two.

In short, educational therapists and tutors differ in the following three areas:

training
plans/strategies
services

Educational therapists have extensive training and experience in learning disabilities and remedial services for intervention. Not only are they trained in intervention strategies, but also in how to administer assessments and set up goal oriented (long-term) learning plans. Tutors traditionally are skilled in a certain subject matter and focus on academic skills. In contrast, educational therapists are trained to assess, set up specific learning goals in many subjects, and attend to the more emotional side of learning (i.e. anxiety, lack of self-confidence).

Therefore, educational therapist’s goal is not only to improve grades, but to develop plans that promote psycho-educational and socio-emotional aspects of learning. Utilizing a team approach, by referring out to other types of therapists, is imperative in the educational therapy field.

So although at first glance, educational therapy and tutoring may seem similar, it’s important to know the difference when seeking support for a student with learning and thinking differences.

How Does Educational Therapy Help?

Since your school may have learning specialists, you may wonder why you would need an educational therapist. Schools are there to provide IEPs or 504 plans and often have special education teams…so why hire an educational therapist?

Despite their best efforts, schools may not be trained in the specific skills required to reach your child’s needs. Educational therapists are specifically trained to assess what areas, specifically, your child is struggling with, set up an individualized learning plan that targets those needs, and provide a multi-sensory approach to remediating learning differences. Here are a few examples of what an educational therapist can do to help:

Teach important executive function skills like organization, planning and prioritizing, and time management skills
Support academic growth by focusing on “how” to learn, not “what” to learn
Build foundational skills in reading, writing and math
Continue assessments in order to create individualized goals and plans
Develop an individualized plan while tracking progress and adjusting goals as they see fit
Improve self-confidence and self-advocacy skills
Provide coping skills for anxiety that comes from difficulties at school

In conclusion, it’s important to differentiate the type of academic support your child would benefit from. With the above info, hopefully you’ll feel more clear on how an educational therapist could help your family.