The Helping Children Learn Podcast

S4E2 Changing Lives in PA Between IUs and Variety, The Children's Charity

Today’s episode of the Helping Children Learn Podcast is about the power of partnership, specifically when supplying special needs students with equipment they need to live better, more inclusive lives. Equipment that makes it easier to go to the park, the grocery store, communicate with one another, things we take for granted every single day. CLIU21 works with a non-profit organization from western Pennsylvania called Variety the Children’s Charity. They provide those pieces of equipment all over the state. Although there are 40 chapters across 11 countries sharing the same name and doing much of the same work, Pittsburgh is where this foundation began. We chat with them about the work they do, how they do it, and the meaning it brings them.

S4E2 Working Together in the Classroom with Transdisciplinary Modeling

On this episode of the Helping Children Learn Podcast, we're talking about Transdisciplinary Modeling in the classroom. That sounds like complicated term, but really it just means everyone working together knows how to do each others' job at least in some part. We sit down with MDSB teacher Kelly Ehritz and Occupational therapist Amy Pidgeon to see how classroom educators and rotating related services itinerants help each other by learning from one another first. This podcast can be streamed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Amazon Music, and more! Just type in the search bar “Helping Children Learn” and you will find it. You can also find this video podcast with closed captioning on our Facebook and YouTube page.

S4E1 Chatting with our Annie Sullivan Award Winner, MDSB Teacher Heather Szoke

Welcome to a new season of the Helping Children Learn Podcast! We start off with our Annie Sullivan Award Winner from the 2024-2025 school year, MDSB teacher Heather Szoke! We sit down with her and talk about the moment she won the award at our Opening Day ceremony, what drives her to be an awesome teacher, and how the IU shaped her future in special education from the very start of her career! This podcast can be streamed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Amazon Music, and more! Just type in the search bar “Helping Children Learn” and you will find it. You can also find this video podcast with closed captioning on our Facebook and YouTube page. #helpingchildrenlearn #specialeducation #anniesullivan #autism

S3E8 Caring for Caregivers

Working in special education, or any education for that matter, is exhausting. It's rewarding work, of course, but some days you leave your classroom feeling like you gave it everything you had. Over time, this can lead to burnout if you don't take care or yourself. On this episode of the Helping Children Learn Podcast, we talk about Caring for Caregivers. We go over wellness, self-care, and overall preservation of your mind, body and spirit. We even held a professional development session about it for our people! This podcast can be streamed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Amazon Music, and more! Just type in the search bar “Helping Children Learn” and you will find it. You can also find this video podcast with closed captioning on our Facebook and YouTube page. #helpingchildrenlearn [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/helpingchildrenlearn] #caringforcaregivers [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/caringforcaregivers] #education [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/education] #selfcare [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/selfcare] #wellness [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/wellness] #teacher [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/teacher] #pennsylvania [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/pennsylvania]

S3E7 Sensory Strategies for Taking Children Out in Public

Now that the weather is getting warmer, we are going to start taking our family and our children out more often! But parents of special needs children know it's not always that easy. Children with sensory perception issues can have a difficult time in places most people find routine; grocery stores, birthday parties, etc. In the April episode of the Helping Children Learn Podcast, we sit down with two of our Occupational Therapists to talk strategy! This episode is all about helping parents better prepare their special needs children to stay calm and have a positive sensory experience out in the community! This podcast can be streamed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Amazon Music, and more! Just type in the search bar “Helping Children Learn” and you will find it. You can also find this video podcast with closed captioning on our Facebook and YouTube page.