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the OT is IN

the OT is IN

Auteur(s): Sarah Collins
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 The OT is IN podcast merges the worlds of education and occupational therapy to empower families like yours. Sarah Collins, your host, an occupational therapist and homeschooling parent of 3 ranging in age from elementary to high school. Sarah Collins has experienced occupational therapy by supporting families for over 15 years but also through seeking out support for her own children- so, she's right there in the trenches with you. Though there is not one right way to educate your child, there is a lot to consider when individualizing an education. The goal of this podcast is to explain some of the "why" behind what an occupational therapist is thinking so you can artfully apply it to your own family especially with executive functioning, handwriting, and sensory processing. Each episode will be packed with practical tips, expert interviews, and real-life stories aimed at helping you create a supportive learning environment for your child.2024
Épisodes
  • The Emotional Power of Family Reading: Fostering Vocabulary and Connection

    The Emotional Power of Family Reading: Fostering Vocabulary and Connection
    Feb 26 2026
    Curious if OT could help your child's struggles? Download Why Choose OT to find out! If you've ever wondered whether reading aloud to your kids really matters once they're past the early years—or found yourself worrying that reading together is becoming stressful or too focused on performance and skill—this episode is for you. Today, we're exploring how read-alouds shift as children grow, and why this tradition remains deeply relevant for homeschool families at every stage. You'll hear honest observations on how shared story time builds not just vocabulary, but emotional connection, family culture, and a sense of roots—regardless of how well your child reads or how old they are. In this episode you'll hear about: How perspectives and priorities shift as children grow older.The difference between connecting with peers in similar life stages and seeking mentorship from those ahead.The unique challenges of finding relevant mentorship as times and educational requirements change.The ongoing value of shared experiences in parenting and homeschooling.Mentorship and Community in HomeschoolingReading Aloud as a Family TraditionFoundation and evolution of reading aloud in the Johnston family.Using stories to explore heritage, diversity, and family background.Sharing stories as a communal learning experience.The Role of Reading Aloud in Family ConnectionThe continued importance of reading aloud, including with teens, even as participation shifts.Shared Language, Family Lexicon, and Vocabulary DevelopmentThe benefits of reading aloud for both parents and children, including pronunciation and vocabulary acquisition.Language Processing and Learning DifferencesAddressing Reading Challenges and ExpectationsAdvice for parents whose children are averse to reading independently.Navigating Changes as Children Gain Reading IndependenceEmotions and dynamics when kids begin reading independently and the parent is no longer central.The need for parents to adjust and expand the types of books shared aloud with older kids.Handling feelings of being left out as children have new experiences and knowledge.Knowing When to Abandon BooksSituations where it's okay to stop reading a book that isn't resonating with the family.The balance between persistence and letting go of unenjoyable reads. Links and Resources From Today's Show Download The Companion Guide For Why Reading Is Hard And What To Do About ItWhy Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?Connect with Sarah Collins on IGThe Homeschool OT Teachers Pay Teachers Check Out Our Title Sponsor LoveveryLearning RX WebsiteEpisode 8: Kaleb's StoryEpisode 9: The Impact of Music on Executive Functioning: A Homeschooling PerspectiveEpisode 10: Streamlining Your Space: Organizing for Better Executive FunctioningEpisode 11: Exploring Unique Learning Paths in Homeschooling with Guest Amy BodkinEpisode 12: Executive Functioning in Homeschooling: A Teenager's Experience with Organization and Planning Episode 44: Prioritizing Slow in Homeschooling: A chat with Leslie Martino Episode 72: Navigating Sibling Sensory Needs and Homeschooling Wins and Fails Thank you to our title sponsor for this episode, Lovevery. You can check out their products and resources here. Connect With Our Guest Amber O'Neal Johnston Amber O'Neal Johnston is an author, speaker, and world schooling mama who curates a life-giving, culturally rich home education for her four children—and encourages others to do the same. She champions the use of books and lessons that reflect the lived experiences of children and introduce them to lives and cultures beyond their own, offering both "mirrors and windows" through the power of story. She is the author of A Place to Belong, a guide for raising kids to celebrate their heritage, community, and the world, and Soul School, a masterfully curated collection of booklists that explore the fullness of the Black American cultural experience. Amber is also the editor of Homegrown, a collaborative work offering guidance and inspiration for navigating the homeschooling journey.
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    32 min
  • Making Literacy Feel Natural in Your Everyday Life

    Making Literacy Feel Natural in Your Everyday Life
    Feb 12 2026
    Curious if OT could help your child's struggles? Download Why Choose OT to find out! Download The Companion Guide For Why Reading Is Hard And What To Do About It If you've ever wondered why reading feels so different from day to day in your homeschool—why one lesson is smooth and the next is an uphill climb—this episode is for you. Today, we're looking at the five pillars of literacy from a more connected, practical lens. Instead of treating phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension as isolated skills, I'll show you how each one is woven into a child's sensory world, routines, and relationships and why that makes all the difference in homeschooling. We'll talk about environments that invite learning, habits that build confidence, and the subtle reasons a child's body and brain might resist or lean into reading. This approach matters because homeschool parents see the full picture academic progress and daily life blend together. Recognizing the signs beneath reading struggles lets you reframe tough moments, offer the right support, and help literacy grow in ways that feel meaningful and sustainable for your family. In this episode you'll hear about: The Five Pillars of LiteracyOverview of each pillarCharlotte Mason's Educational PhilosophyConnection between Mason's philosophy and the five literacy pillarsDescription of a learning-rich home environmentEducation as DisciplineEducation as LifeImportance of connecting reading to passions and curiosityIntegrating Occupational Therapy (OT) PerspectiveUnderstanding the "Person" (Child)Understanding the "Environment"Understanding the "Occupation" (Task of Reading)Applying OT and Mason's Approach to Each Literacy PillarPhonemic AwarenessWhy movement helps learning soundsPhonicsFluencyVocabularyComprehensionAddressing Broader Reading ChallengesDistinguishing skill deficits from motivation or intelligenceEncouragement for parents: challenges often relate to supportable systems Links and Resources From Today's Show Download The Companion Guide For Why Reading Is Hard And What To Do About ItWhy Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?Connect with Sarah Collins on IGThe Homeschool OT Teachers Pay TeachersWhere To Get OTCheck Out These Montessori LettersCheck Out The Scooter BoardStomp Stilts Mentioned In The EpisodeKnow And Tell: The Art Of NarrationCheck Out Our BlogEpisode 2: Decoding Behavior In Homeschooling- Sensory Overwhelm, Emotional Control, PerseveranceEpisode 5: Beyond 20/20 vision: understanding crucial aspects of visual assessment in children Episode 13: Beyond the Five Senses: Understanding Your Child's Interoceptive World with Cara KosinskiEpisode 25: Understanding Hippotherapy: Therapeutic Equestrian Activities for Children's DevelopmentEpisode 37: Reading, Writing, and Growing: The Bigger Picture of Developing Fine Motor Skills in Children Episode 58: Practical Tips for handwriting- how to know and what to do if the issue is motor planning Episode 64: Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Support for FamiliesEpisode 66: Building Connection Through Language Episode 71: When the Diagnosis Isn't the Destination: Encouragement for Parents Navigating Neurodiversity Thank you to our title sponsor for this episode, CTC Math. You can check out their products and resources here.
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    32 min
  • Rethinking Rhythm: Starting With Your Child, Not the Curriculum

    Rethinking Rhythm: Starting With Your Child, Not the Curriculum
    Jan 22 2026
    Download The Companion Guide For Acceptance & Expectancy In Homeschooling Curious if OT could help your child's struggles? Download Why Choose OT to find out! If your homeschool days seem to run smoothly one season and unravel the next, this episode will help you understand why. Today we're exploring how the rhythm of your day shifts as your children grow and why what worked before may suddenly feel impossible. In homeschooling, these changes aren't problems to fix, but transitions to understand. I'll walk you through how I observe children's patterns and needs using a practical framework: the PEO model—person, environment, and occupation. You'll learn why starting with curriculum often misses the mark, and how putting your child's individuality, regulation, and interests at the center creates learning that actually sticks. This matters because in a homeschool setting, you have the flexibility to shape both space and schedule to fit where your child is developmentally. Recognizing these shifts gives you clearer options, replaces urgency with confidence, and helps you build days that support connection before curriculum, especially for kids who didn't fit in traditional environments. In this episode you'll hear about: Understanding Changes in Homeschool RhythmRecognizing developmental shifts versus problems to fixConcept of "Connection over Curriculum"Managing Urgency and Educational DecisionsStress around leaving traditional school or seeking a fresh homeschool startThe tendency to rush into curriculum choicesThe Foundation: Start with the Child, Not the CurriculumEducation works best when child-centered, not curriculum-centeredIntroduction to the PEO Model (Person, Environment, Occupation)Two key truths: Parents know and love their child bestScriptural reference: Ephesians 2:10—children as unique and purposefulReference to Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy—children as "born persons"Definition of acceptance (seeing the child without comparison or urgency)Definition of expectancy (believing in meaningful and supported growth)Importance of holding both acceptance and expectancy togetherObserving and Understanding Your Child (The OT Lens)Observational strategies for understanding "the person" in the PEO modelNoticing regulation and sensory needsNoticing the role of joy and interests as "doorways" into learningShifting Away From "What's Wrong" to "What's Needed"Changing focus from problems to supports needed for a child to thrivePrioritizing connection and emotional safety before curriculumThe Neuroscience Behind Connection and LearningIntroduction to Stephen Porges and Polyvagal TheoryEnvironment: Designing Supportive Spaces and RhythmsAdapting Rhythms as Children GrowPractical Examples of Supporting Regulation and RhythmStory of a preschooler whose meltdowns improved with a more predictable daily flowStory of a teenager whose engagement improved by shifting his schedule later in the dayEnvironmental Reflections for ListenersInviting listeners to evaluate and make simple changes to their physical spaces and daily anchorsUsing Interests to Drive LearningIdentifying interests via observation in free time and conversationPractical examples of adapting curriculum and learning activities to interests and needs (movement, chunking tasks, choice) Links and Resources From Today's Show Download The Companion Guide For Acceptance & Expectancy In HomeschoolingWhy Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?Connect with Sarah Collins on IGThe Homeschool OT Teachers Pay TeachersHomeschool Daily Setup: Parental Planning Guide Polyvagal Theory: A Science of SafetySystematic Review of School-Wide Trauma-Informed Approaches Check Out Our Title Sponsor LoveveryLearning RX WebsiteEpisode 4: The Evolving Landscape of Homeschool Community SupportEpisode 11: Exploring Unique Learning Paths in Homeschooling with Guest Amy Bodkin Episode 17: Neuro Affirming Homeschool Environments with Keisha BerryEpisode 18: Practical Sleep Solutions for Children: Insights from Occupational Therapy Episode 28: Risky Play: Understanding the Benefits and Strategies for Safe Child DevelopmentEpisode 35: Connecting Speech, Phonemic Awareness, and Literacy: Sydney B. Explains it All Episode 48: Transforming Fashion for Sensory Needs: An Interview with Julia, Adaptive Apparel Pioneer Episode 50: Ask The OT, A Special 50th Episode Thank you to our title sponsor for this episode, Lovevery. You can check out their products and resources here.
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    31 min
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