Rainbows & Rain: early intervention stories, reflection, coaching

Meeting Colleagues Where They’re At

Not only do we need to meet families where they are at we need to meet our colleagues where they are at.  For me that means stepping off my soap box and letting others speak their opinions, feelings and beliefs so we can move forward in discussion and growth.

First Visits are like First Dates

They're awkward!  First visits are your first shot at setting the stage for effective coaching visits!  Like a first date you want there to be a second date and it all depends on how the date (I mean visit - lol) goes and of course how will it end!  What can you do to make connections, build rapport and set up expectations?  What is the one thing everyone clearly understands?  Find out on this episode!

How to Rebound from the Backwards Slide

It's easy to do.  Especially when you're in a middle of visit and parents are chasing him to engage and he's escaping, avoiding and seeking movement.  Who's priorities do you follow?  Parents have their priorities and this child has another.  This episode looks at a visit where I went into a backwards slide to try and fix this interaction and then ultimately rebounded in the same visit and got back on track with coaching to increase parent/child engagement.  I explain the value of feedback and what it means to use our knowledge and expertise to increase caregiver understanding.  Coaching is not "this or that" you don't have to leave all the old "toy bag" strategies behind; take those strategies and use them in a more intentional way.  

Getting Ready for Your Best Visits with Families!

As I start the new school year I'm reflecting on how to get ready for visits with new families.  How do I set the stage for visits? How do I communicate what parents can expect on visits while balancing the needs of families?  Here is the link to the video I mentioned in the podcast from Early Intervention Coaching.  It's a great refresher and load off our backs when we don't strive for "best" or "perfect" or "ideal."  We are meeting the needs of caregivers and building caregiver capacity.  Today I reflect on an initial IFSP meeting and something I said to help the parent see what her role was going to be on visits for her daughter.

How to Conduct an EI Visit

Coaching is hard!  Why is it so hard!  It's hard because coaching requires you to be responsive to the caregiver, the child and the family.  It requires flexibly, spontaneity and intentional planning.  Coaching doesn't come from a bag you take from home to home.  If you did have to pack a bag to bring to a home visit what would you pack?
*Joint Planning
*Reflection
*Feedback
*Observation
*Practice
You would also pack your undeniable and vast knowledge, resources, expertise and strategies (don't forget to pack the family priorities)!  Listen as I build a visit like a sandwich.  What holds it together and keeps it from falling a part?  What do we put in the middle of our visit/sandwich?  How many recipes are there for sandwiches??  As many recipes there are for families!  And no two sandwiches (I mean visits) will look a like!

Hot Topics in Early Intervention

Welcome new friends and old to the Podcast!  Thank you for being my co-host in this episode and sending me your thoughts, questions and feedback!  Hear how to connect a parent's goal for their child to where their child is at right now and come up with a plan to work towards that ultimate goal of the parent or caregivers!  Other hot topics include direct teaching, joint planning and how to get parents to "buy into" the parent/caregiver coaching style of Early Intervention. 

Sometimes it just rains...

It's raining on the podcast!  I reflect on an update from a family I've previously podcasted about (Great Expectations 1 & 2).  I also had the opportunity to have a reflective conversation with a team member and try my peer coaching skills with a team mate who is struggling.  Through this rain I'm embracing the fact that growth will (eventually) come!

Coaching Catchphrases!

What do you say?  When do you say it?  How do you say it?  Coaching is an interaction style you use when talking and interacting with caregivers.  Having your own "go to" catchphrases can help remember what to say, when to say it and how to say it!  These are some of my favorites that work for me when it comes to the five coaching characteristics. What works for you?  Hear what happens when caregivers start to learn your catchphrases!
Erika's Coaching Catchphrases

The ”Hard to Engage Caregiver” on Visits

Sometimes engaging families is easy.  Sometimes engaging families is hard.  What makes this task so hard sometimes?  What should I be doing that I'm not doing?  Do you ever feel like it's "raining" before you even get to the visit?  These are the visits we maybe don't look forward to.  Listen as I reflect on a conversation I had with a colleague that made me reflect on a visit I currently have with a family.   Both of us turned to the FGRBI website for resources, tips and support!  Listen to hear what we found!  Click the link below to find it for you too!
www.fgrbi.com

The 5 Characteristics of Coaching

Back to basics...the 5 characteristics of coaching.  Coaching is an interaction style.  It's how we interact with families.  It's how we talk with families.  It's intentional; and it's not always easy!  Listen as I review the 5 characteristics.  Does each one happen on every visit?  Is there an order to any of it?  Hear my "coaching truths" as I share what's hard for me on visits and I how I try and overcome roadblocks. 
 
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