Rethink Time

What does dyslexia really feel like, and how can parents and teachers recognize when a child is struggling with reading rather than simply avoiding the task?In this episode of Rethink Time, host Christen Barbercheck sits down with Cari Kelly, a reading and learning disabilities specialist, Wilson credentialed dyslexia therapist and trainer, and board member of the International Dyslexia Association's Ohio Valley Branch. With more than 20 years of experience supporting students with learning disabilities, Cari shares her professional expertise and personal experience navigating dyslexia, which wasn't diagnosed until she was in high school.Together, they explore the realities of dyslexia beyond common misconceptions, including why reading and writing can be mentally exhausting, how reading difficulties affect comprehension and confidence, and why task avoidance may signal an underlying learning challenge rather than a lack of motivation.In this episode, you'll learn:What dyslexia is and why it's more than mixing up letters or seeing words backward.Early signs of dyslexia and reading difficulties to look for at different ages.How to recognize the difference between task avoidance and a child struggling to access information.Practical strategies for parents and teachers, including breaking tasks into manageable chunks, using multisensory instruction, and providing accommodations.How to reduce academic pressure while supporting reading fluency, comprehension, and a love of learning.Why curiosity, empathy, and self-advocacy are essential for helping students succeed.How visual timers and time chunking can help students approach challenging reading and writing tasks.Cari also discusses structured literacy, the Wilson Reading System, and the importance of partnering with teachers, monitoring progress, and giving students the language and confidence to advocate for their own learning needs.Her message for students, parents, and educators is a powerful one: difficulty today does not determine what you're capable of tomorrow.Whether you're a parent concerned about your child's reading development, an educator supporting diverse learners, or an adult navigating a late dyslexia diagnosis, this conversation offers practical insight and encouragement.Resources from the episode:The Ohio Valley Branch of the International Dyslexia Association: ovbida.orgExperience Dyslexia simulation: https://ovbida.org/i4a/calendar/?pageid=3281&showTitle=1 IDA Infographics and Resources: https://dyslexiaida.org/infographics/#Wilson Reading System: https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/programs/wilson-reading-system/Learn more about Springer School and Center: https://www.springer-ld.org/Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz: https://a.co/d/02ixkycaLearn more about Time Timer: https://www.timetimer.com/Rethink Time is a podcast from Time Timer exploring how we teach, support, and experience time in classrooms, therapy spaces, and everyday life.Learn more about Time Timer and visual tools for making time visible at https://www.timetimer.com/.

What if making a difficult task easier has less to do with trying harder and more to do with taking some of the thinking out of your head?In this episode of Rethink Time, we sit down with Jeff Copper, an ADHD coach and cognitive ergonomics expert, to explore how working memory, attention, task initiation, and cognitive load can affect the way we manage everyday tasks.Jeff introduces the idea of cognitive shortcuts, practical strategies that help reduce the amount of information we have to hold in our heads. From grocery lists and visual reminders to color-coded Post-its, index cards, demonstrations, and other environmental cues, Jeff shares simple ways to externalize information and make tasks easier to navigate.We also talk about why getting started can sometimes be the hardest part of a task, what happens when distractions interrupt our focus, and why techniques like the Pomodoro method may work well for some types of tasks but not others.Throughout the conversation, Jeff challenges us to rethink how we approach organization, productivity, time management, and ADHD. Instead of expecting ourselves to remember everything or simply "try harder," we can design systems that work with the way our brains process information.Whether you have ADHD, support someone with ADHD, work with students, or are simply looking for practical ways to make everyday tasks easier, this conversation offers plenty of ideas to try.In this episode, we explore:• ADHD and working memory• Cognitive load and attention• Task initiation and getting started• Cognitive shortcuts and externalizing information• Visual cues, lists, Post-its, and other practical tools• How demonstrations can make learning easier• Managing distractions and protecting focus• When time-management techniques like Pomodoro can help• Designing systems that make everyday tasks easierListen to Rethink Time wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe for more conversations about how we teach, support, and experience time in classrooms, therapy spaces, workplaces, and everyday life.Learn more about Time Timer at www.timetimer.comLearn more about Jeff Copper and DIG Coaching at www.digcoaching.com#ADHD #WorkingMemory #TaskInitiation #TimeManagement #CognitiveLoad #Neurodiversity #RethinkTime

The start of a new school year can be exciting, but for many students, teachers, and families, it can also feel overwhelming. New schedules, new routines, organizational demands, technology, activities, and expectations all arrive at once.In this episode of Rethink Time, we talk with Erin Beers, a middle school teacher with 26 years of classroom experience, about what it really takes to make the transition back to school smoother.Erin shares practical strategies for helping students feel connected, organized, and confident from the first day of school. We talk about establishing routines, supporting executive functioning and time-management skills, navigating technology and attention, recognizing signs of back-to-school anxiety, and strengthening communication between teachers and families.We also dive into one of Erin's favorite classroom tools: Time Timer. She explains how she uses a visual timer to help students understand how much time they have for assignments, group work, transitions, independent work, and conferences—and why seeing time can make it easier for students to focus and manage their workload.In this episode:How teachers can prepare for a new school year without overwhelming themselvesWhy connection is one of the most important priorities during the first days of schoolHow routines and structure help students know what to expectSupporting executive functioning and time-management skillsHelping middle school students plan ahead and take ownership of their responsibilitiesThe challenges technology can create for student attentionHow teachers can adapt their approach to different groups of learnersBuilding stronger home-to-school connectionsHelping families prepare children for new sleep and morning routinesWhen back-to-school nervousness may signal a bigger concernHow visual timers can support students at school and at homeErin's favorite ways to use Time Timer in her classroomWhether you're heading back to the classroom, sending a child back to school, or simply trying to make the transition into a new routine easier, this conversation offers practical strategies you can put into practice right away.Subscribe to Rethink Time for more conversations about education, neurodiversity, executive functioning, time awareness, and strategies for everyday life.RESOURCESTime Timer: www.timetimer.comCONNECT WITH ERINhttps://mrsbeers.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinbeerstpt Instagram: @erinbeersFOLLOW TIME TIMERInstagram: @thetimetimerFacebook: @timetimerLinkedIn: @time-timerTikTok: @timetimerllc

What if the best way to help children learn is to trust how they're naturally wired to grow?In this episode of Rethink Time, host Christen Barbercheck sits down with Montessori educator Anita Calo to explore the principles behind Montessori education and how they can help children become more independent, confident, and engaged learners.Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Anita explains why Montessori is about far more than specialized classrooms or learning materials. It's an approach rooted in respecting the child, observing their development, and creating environments that support curiosity, focus, and meaningful learning.Together, they discuss how adults can better understand children's developmental stages, why making abstract concepts like time more concrete matters, and simple ways families and educators can bring Montessori principles into everyday life.In this episode:What Montessori really means—and what it doesn'tWhy respecting the child changes the way we teach and parentHow environment shapes behavior and learningThe importance of observation before interventionWhy concrete experiences build stronger understandingPractical Montessori-inspired strategies for home and schoolHow adults influence children's emotional regulationWhy visual tools like Time Timer support independence and time awarenessWhether you're an educator, parent, therapist, or simply curious about Montessori, this conversation offers thoughtful insights and practical ideas for helping children thrive.Follow Rethink Time for more conversations exploring education, neurodiversity, executive functioning, time awareness, and practical strategies that make everyday life a little easier.--RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE- The Heart of the Guide: https://www.theheartoftheguide.com/- Time Timer: https://www.timetimer.com- Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Stoll Lillard: https://a.co/d/015KXeVE---CONNECT WITH ANITA CALO- Website: https://www.theheartoftheguide.com/- Email: [email protected] TIME TIMERWebsite: https://www.timetimer.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetimetimerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/timetimerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/time-timerTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@timetimerllc

How do we teach kids emotional regulation before they actually need it?In this episode of Rethink Time, Sarah Habib from The Calm Caterpillar shares research-informed and practical approaches for helping children build mindfulness and self-regulation skills through play, breathing, movement, and modeling.From rethinking calm corners to understanding behavior as communication, this episode explores how educators and parents can create environments that help kids manage big feelings—not suppress them.If you’ve ever wondered:• How early can kids learn mindfulness?• What should a calm corner actually look like?• How do adults model regulation for children?• What helps kids move from reaction to self-awareness?This conversation is for you.---RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE- The Calm Caterpillar: https://thecalmcaterpillar.com/- Time Timer: https://www.timetimer.com- Free Parenting Class: https://thecalmcaterpillar.com/pages/calm-caterpillar-free-parent-class- Mindfulness Guide for Neurodivergent Learners by Sarah Habib and Tara Phillips: https://thecalmcaterpillar.com/products/mindfulness-guide- Joining Forces for Children: https://joiningforcesforchildren.org/- Learn more about the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Score: https://www.cdc.gov/aces/about/index.html and https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html - Effective School Solutions: https://effectiveschoolsolutions.com/---CONNECT WITH SARAH HABIB & THE CALM CATERPILLARWebsite: https://thecalmcaterpillar.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-calm-caterpillar/Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecalmcaterpillarFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecalmcaterpillar---FOLLOW TIME TIMERWebsite: https://www.timetimer.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetimetimer/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimeTimerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/time-timerTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@timetimerllc