Podcast

Understanding Interoception: The Eighth Sense in Home Education

Many kids—and adults—move through life disconnected from the messages their bodies send them. In this episode of The OT Is In Podcast, Sarah sits down with interoception expert Kelly Mahler to unpack why awareness of the “eighth sense” is vital for emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and everyday learning. Discover practical ways to model and nurture interoceptive understanding at home so your family can thrive with greater insight, language, and connection.

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How Do You Know If Homeschooling Is Working? Lessons from a Homeschool Graduate and a Skeptical Dad

In this special 100th episode of The OT Is In Podcast, Sarah Collins reflects on the homeschooling journey through the lens of the Gradual Release of Responsibility. Joined by her husband and children, she shares honest conversations about scaffolding independence, fostering confidence, and embracing the evolving role of parents as children grow into capable, lifelong learners.

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What Experienced Homeschool Moms Wish They Knew at the Beginning

What do experienced homeschool moms wish they had known when they first started? In this episode of The OT Is In Podcast, occupational therapist Sarah Collins and Colleen Kessler explore common misconceptions about homeschooling, trusting your instincts, neurodivergent learners, and how to build a homeschool that fits your unique child instead of chasing someone else’s expectations.

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Power Struggles in Homeschooling: Independence Without Surrendering Expectations

Power struggles in homeschooling often aren’t about defiance—they’re a signal that a child needs different support. In this episode of The OT Is In Podcast, occupational therapist Sarah Collins explores how to balance high expectations with appropriate scaffolding, helping children build independence without sacrificing connection, confidence, or long-term growth.

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Speech, Language, and the Brain: A Developmental Lens for Homeschool Families

A homeschool parent recently described her child this way: “He can explain everything he learned. He can tell me every detail of the story. But when I ask him to answer questions or write about it, it’s like everything disappears.” If you’ve ever had a child who seemed capable in conversation but struggled to demonstrate…

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Homeschooling Literacy: Reading Development Through Phonemic Awareness

Learning to read starts long before a child picks up a book. In this episode, occupational therapist Sarah Collins and literacy specialist Melanie Jeffrey discuss how phonemic awareness forms the foundation for reading success and share practical ways homeschool parents can build early literacy skills through meaningful, play-based experiences.

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Real Regulation, Real Readiness: Scaffolding For Executive Function at Home

Homeschooling parents live in the space where support and expectation meet. When our children struggle to get started on a lesson, complete a routine, or manage a transition, frustration often bubbles up—for them and for us. It is tempting to wonder, “Is this a motivation problem, a behavioral choice, or a deeper developmental obstacle?” Occupational…

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Working Memory in Children: How It Affects Learning and What Helps

Why does your child understand a lesson one moment but forget the directions the next? Working memory in children affects everything from following multi-step directions to math and reading comprehension. In this episode of The OT Is In Podcast, Sarah Collins and cognitive trainer Sandra Zamalis explain how working memory affects learning, signs your child may be struggling, and ways to support working memory at home.

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Handwriting or Technology? How to Support Both in Your Homeschool

Homeschooling often puts parents in the position of making daily decisions about what to hold onto and what to adapt. Handwriting is one of those decisions, especially as tools like speech-to-text, AI, and digital writing become more accessible. In Episode 93 of The OT Is In, I sit down with Leslie Catlett, occupational therapist and founder…

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Supporting Handwriting Development, Legibility and Growth

Handwriting is more than pencil grip and practice. This OT-informed guide explains why children struggle with handwriting, what legibility really means, and how to build skills at home without frustration.

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