Tuesday Talks!

Dr. Tiffany
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Education
  • Weekly

Join me for weekly discussions about ALL things education...from preschool through high school! As a mom, Speech Language Pathologist, and educator, I share my personal experiences related to each week's topic in relatable and informative ways.  My message about education is powerful: Reflecting on what is and making waves to cause change!

  1. 3h ago

    What Teachers Wish Parents Knew About Middle School

    Your kid may feel like a brand-new person in middle school, but here’s the twist: they may be a different person at school, too. I’m joined by Linda Porter, a passionate educator with 25 years in education and 17 years teaching middle school English language arts. Linda has seen the full range of sixth grade to eighth grade growth, and she breaks down what’s actually going on when parents say, “My kid has changed.” We dig into why peer acceptance and friendships have such a powerful pull and reframe common stress points like attitude, rule-pushing, and shutdowns as signs of normal adolescent development and overload. We also talk about what teachers wish parents understood: the child you know at home is not always the child teachers see at school, so staying curious and asking for examples beats reacting from denial or defensiveness. You’ll hear practical strategies for parenting middle schoolers and supporting classroom success. We also normalize academic shifts as expectations move from elementary foundations to deeper reading, writing, discussion, and independent work. To end the episode, Dr. Tiffany shares a simple challenge to strengthen parent-child connection: pause, ask whether the moment needs correction or connection. Spend 15 uninterrupted minutes with your middle schooler and ask, “What’s something adults don’t understand about being in middle school?”  Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s in the middle school trenches, and leave a review so more parents and teachers can find Tuesday Talks. Tuesday Talks—Real conversations sparking real change in education. Links to all episodes ➡️ https://linktr.ee/drtiffanyslp Like, comment, subscribe & share! Connect with us via email  at info@ourwordsmatterllc.com! Tuesday Talks is hosted by Dr. Tiffany. She has been a Speech/Language Pathologist for 20 years. She's also a speaker and educational consultant. Dr. Tiffany hosts webinars and in-person workshops for teachers and parents. Book Dr. Tiffany as a speaker for your teachers, parent groups and professional development sessions! Visit: www.OurWordsMatterConsulting.com

  2. Oct 13

    Raising Preteens: Real Experiences & Mom's Wisdom

    Raising a preteen or teenager? Has your sweet elementary kid hit sixth grade and suddenly you’re thinking, who are you and what happened to my child? Dr. Tiffany is taking off her PhD hat and speaking purely as a mom who’s stunned by preteen hormones, middle school mood swings, and that intense drive for independence that shows up as attitude at home. We walk through practical preteen parenting strategies that help with executive function and respect, including short neutral directives, predictable consequences, visual checklists, timers for homework stamina, and “when then” rules that shut down endless negotiation. One of the biggest takeaways is learning to shift from boss to consultant, offering controlled choices so kids don’t fight for power through back talk. Then Dr. Tiffany's mom joins the conversation with the kind of grounded wisdom you only get from someone who has raised kids and worked with students. We talk about the line between normal development and disrespect, why “too many words” makes you lose them, how to get on eye level and be specific, and how to balance discipline with a relationship that stays open as they grow. If you’re raising a tween or middle schooler, you’ll leave with language to try today and a new way to frame what’s happening at home. Subscribe, share this with a fellow preteen parent, and leave a review, then tell me: is your child pulling away, or simply growing? Tuesday Talks—Real conversations sparking real change in education. Links to all episodes ➡️ https://linktr.ee/drtiffanyslp Like, comment, subscribe & share! Connect with us via email  at info@ourwordsmatterllc.com! Tuesday Talks is hosted by Dr. Tiffany. She has been a Speech/Language Pathologist for 20 years. She's also a speaker and educational consultant. Dr. Tiffany hosts webinars and in-person workshops for teachers and parents. Book Dr. Tiffany as a speaker for your teachers, parent groups and professional development sessions! Visit: www.OurWordsMatterConsulting.com

  3. Sep 29

    IEP Data That Actually Matters

    “Making progress” sounds reassuring until you realize it can mean almost anything. We sit down with Dr. Amber Izrael, Ed.D, a specialist in special education data collection, to get painfully clear about what IEP data should look like when a child is receiving specially designed instruction and why weak progress monitoring puts students and schools at risk. We talk through what data collection actually looks like whether a child is in a self-contained classroom, a resource setting, or receiving virtual services. Dr. Amber explains how teachers can plan data ahead of time so it fits naturally into instruction, how paraprofessionals can help collect data (when they’re trained to do it with fidelity), and why the best data is the kind you can hand to someone else and they’d instantly understand the student’s starting point, current level, and next step. Then we get into what parents should look for in IEP progress reports and SMART goal updates. We call out red flags like vague statements, missing prompting levels, changing measurement methods midstream, and the dreaded “not enough data to report.” If progress slows, listeners will learn the problem-solving mindset: verify the data, consider circumstances and context, and then make small instructional adjustments that keep the plan responsive and truly individualized. If you’re a parent advocating for your child or a teacher trying to tighten your data systems and establish cleaner collaboration, this conversation gives you language, questions, and practical expectations you can use right away. Subscribe, share this with a parent or teacher who needs it, and leave a review to help more families find the show.  Tuesday Talks—Real conversations sparking real change in education. Links to all episodes ➡️ https://linktr.ee/drtiffanyslp Like, comment, subscribe & share! Connect with us via email  at info@ourwordsmatterllc.com! Tuesday Talks is hosted by Dr. Tiffany. She has been a Speech/Language Pathologist for 20 years. She's also a speaker and educational consultant. Dr. Tiffany hosts webinars and in-person workshops for teachers and parents. Book Dr. Tiffany as a speaker for your teachers, parent groups and professional development sessions! Visit: www.OurWordsMatterConsulting.com

  4. Sep 15

    How To Tell If An IEP Is Working For Your Child

    “Your child is making progress.” Those five words can sound comforting, but they can also keep you in the dark. I want you to have something better than reassurance. I want you to have evidence you can understand and use to advocate for your child with confidence. In this episode, we dig into the real way to tell whether an IEP is working, and it comes down to one thing: data. I explain why a beautiful IEP document does not automatically create student growth, why implementation matters, and how progress monitoring should show clear proof over time. You will hear exactly how to ask, “Can you show me the data?” in a way that invites teamwork instead of tension, plus what strong IEP data can look like, from work samples to percentages, graphs, and measurable goal criteria. We also separate a common confusion point: report card grades versus IEP goal progress. Grades reflect performance in the curriculum, often shaped by accommodations and modifications, while IEP progress reports track whether specially designed instruction is moving the needle on the goals that matter most. Finally, we talk about what to do when data plateaus, the “spidey sense” signs that progress reports are too vague, and why better communication builds trust and stronger outcomes for students. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share the episode with another parent or teacher, and leave a review so more families can learn how to ask better questions and get clearer answers. Tuesday Talks—Real conversations sparking real change in education. Links to all episodes ➡️ https://linktr.ee/drtiffanyslp Like, comment, subscribe & share! Connect with us via email  at info@ourwordsmatterllc.com! Tuesday Talks is hosted by Dr. Tiffany. She has been a Speech/Language Pathologist for 20 years. She's also a speaker and educational consultant. Dr. Tiffany hosts webinars and in-person workshops for teachers and parents. Book Dr. Tiffany as a speaker for your teachers, parent groups and professional development sessions! Visit: www.OurWordsMatterConsulting.com

  5. Sep 1

    How to Read Your Child's IEP Like an Advocate | Part 1

    Ever walked out of an IEP meeting with a signed packet in your hand and a knot in your stomach, wondering if you actually made the right call? I get it. The room is full of well-meaning professionals, the conversation moves fast, and the IEP language can feel like a different world. So I’m slowing it down and giving you a simple way to read an Individualized Education Program without drowning in jargon. Dr. Tiffany shares a profound piece of guidance: An IEP should tell one complete story. The beginning is the present levels, the clearest picture of where your child is today based on data. The middle is the annual goals, which should define success in a way you can actually measure and explain to someone at home. The ending is services and supports, the specialized instruction, therapies, accommodations, and teaching that connect directly to the goals. If those chapters don’t connect, your “make it make sense” instinct is worth listening to. You’ll also hear Dr. Tiffany's “spidey sense” checks for common IEP red flags and respectful, high-impact questions that any parent can ask to build real partnership while still advocating hard for what their child needs. Subscribe and share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review with the question you want answered next. Tuesday Talks—Real conversations sparking real change in education. Links to all episodes ➡️ https://linktr.ee/drtiffanyslp Like, comment, subscribe & share! Connect with us via email  at info@ourwordsmatterllc.com! Tuesday Talks is hosted by Dr. Tiffany. She has been a Speech/Language Pathologist for 20 years. She's also a speaker and educational consultant. Dr. Tiffany hosts webinars and in-person workshops for teachers and parents. Book Dr. Tiffany as a speaker for your teachers, parent groups and professional development sessions! Visit: www.OurWordsMatterConsulting.com

  6. Aug 18

    Ten Back-To-School Conversations That Prepare Kids For The Entire School Year

    Back-to-school prep is everywhere, but most families spend more time picking backpacks than preparing kids for what school actually feels like. I call it the backpack problem, and it’s the reason so many students start the year looking ready, yet feel unready when friendship stress, homework pressure, conflict, and disappointment show up in October. I’m Dr. Tiffany, and I’m sharing 10 back-to-school conversations that help parents, caregivers, and teachers build a stronger foundation for the entire school year. We talk about setting character goals that outlast report cards, defining what respect looks like in real life, and creating a family plan for technology use, media literacy, and fact-checking in a world shaped by AI and endless content. We also talk about why homework belongs to your child and how “productive struggle” builds true learning and confidence when we stop rescuing and start supporting. We go deeper into resilience, choosing healthy friendships, and handling conflict without shame. Then we zoom out to the big relationship that can make or break a year: the parent-teacher partnership. You’ll hear how the language we use at home shapes how kids walk into school, plus how to advocate for your child through informed, collaborative questions instead of confrontation. If this helps you, share it with a parent or teacher you care about, subscribe for season four, and leave a review. Which conversation are you having first? Tuesday Talks—Real conversations sparking real change in education. Links to all episodes ➡️ https://linktr.ee/drtiffanyslp Like, comment, subscribe & share! Connect with us via email  at info@ourwordsmatterllc.com! Tuesday Talks is hosted by Dr. Tiffany. She has been a Speech/Language Pathologist for 20 years. She's also a speaker and educational consultant. Dr. Tiffany hosts webinars and in-person workshops for teachers and parents. Book Dr. Tiffany as a speaker for your teachers, parent groups and professional development sessions! Visit: www.OurWordsMatterConsulting.com

  7. Jun 2

    The YouTube Trap: What Parents Are Missing This Summer

    Your kid taps one harmless video and suddenly an hour disappears into “next up” content you never would have allowed them to watch. Summer break makes that drift even easier, and the platform name does not matter as much as we want it to: YouTube, TikTok, and YouTube Kids all still require active parenting. In this episode, I talk through why only focusing on screen time misses the real issue: What your child is actually watching. We unpack how recommendation algorithms are designed to keep kids hooked, why filters and automated systems cannot catch everything, and how “a distinction without difference” can lull us into lowering our guard. Then I share practical digital parenting steps you can use right away, turning off autoplay, checking watch history, blocking channels, and using parental controls on every device (yes, that part is annoying, and yes, it matters). The most important takeaway is a simple mindset shift: trust but verify. I explain how to teach media literacy for kids with everyday questions about creators, sources, and evidence, plus red flags like extreme language, secret “no one knows this” claims, fear-based content, and too-good-to-be-true giveaways. We also get real about YouTube and TikTok challenges, why kids may copy what they see, and how clear family rules can prevent dangerous choices. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a parent friend, and leave a review so more families can find Tuesday Talks. Tuesday Talks—Real conversations sparking real change in education. Links to all episodes ➡️ https://linktr.ee/drtiffanyslp Like, comment, subscribe & share! Connect with us via email  at info@ourwordsmatterllc.com! Tuesday Talks is hosted by Dr. Tiffany. She has been a Speech/Language Pathologist for 20 years. She's also a speaker and educational consultant. Dr. Tiffany hosts webinars and in-person workshops for teachers and parents. Book Dr. Tiffany as a speaker for your teachers, parent groups and professional development sessions! Visit: www.OurWordsMatterConsulting.com

  8. May 19

    Real Partnership That Creates Real Student Success

    Most of what schools call “partnership” isn’t partnership at all, it’s participation with a nicer name. If you’ve ever shown up to the meetings, answered the emails, tried the strategies, and still watched a child struggle, I want to offer a different lens: the structure around the child may be the real issue, not the effort of one person. We unpack Dr. Tiffany's Student Success Partnership Model, a simple framework built on three pillars: accessibility, authenticity, and accountability. Accessibility asks whether families truly have access to clear information and whether educators have access to the full story of the child, or whether systems stay confusing on purpose through jargon, timelines, and paperwork. Authenticity asks whether we can speak honestly or whether we are just performing roles in polished meetings that feel “fine” but change nothing. Accountability asks the question that turns talk into progress: what are we doing about it, who is committing to what, and how will we follow through without sliding into blame. You’ll hear real-world examples, the predictable patterns that show up when one pillar is missing, and the shift that changes everything: stop asking who failed, and start asking what’s missing from the partnership. If you care about student success, family engagement that actually works, and healthier school-home collaboration, this conversation will give you language and next steps. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a parent or teacher who needs it, and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so more people can find Tuesday Talks. Tuesday Talks—Real conversations sparking real change in education. Links to all episodes ➡️ https://linktr.ee/drtiffanyslp Like, comment, subscribe & share! Connect with us via email  at info@ourwordsmatterllc.com! Tuesday Talks is hosted by Dr. Tiffany. She has been a Speech/Language Pathologist for 20 years. She's also a speaker and educational consultant. Dr. Tiffany hosts webinars and in-person workshops for teachers and parents. Book Dr. Tiffany as a speaker for your teachers, parent groups and professional development sessions! Visit: www.OurWordsMatterConsulting.com

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About

Join me for weekly discussions about ALL things education...from preschool through high school! As a mom, Speech Language Pathologist, and educator, I share my personal experiences related to each week's topic in relatable and informative ways.  My message about education is powerful: Reflecting on what is and making waves to cause change!

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Tiffany
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    99
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tuesday Talks!
  • Show Website
    Tuesday Talks!