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Why Good Kids Get Bad Grades: Becoming Your Child’s Ally with Linda Silbert | Ep. 167
Description
Join the Neurodivergent Parenting Community: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/membership
Connect with Dr. Linda Silbert: https://stronglearning.com/
Samantha and Lauren interviews Dr. Linda Silbert of Strong Learning Incorporated about supporting neurodivergent learners and reframing bad grades as symptoms rather than reasons for punishment.
Dr. Silbert urges parents to stop blaming children or schools, become detectives about root causes (academic, social, emotional, bullying, sensory, or anxiety), and approach teachers and IEP meetings collaboratively.
She emphasizes repairing parent-child friction by apologizing, listening, and teaching practical study skills in short, effective bursts rather than long sessions, noting that stress can make students “blank” during tests.
Dr. Silbert describes gamifying reading intervention, using card-deck games, fluency activities, and plays aligned with Orton-Gillingham, to reduce anxiety, build confidence, and improve reading, and shares resources including her new book Why Good Kids Get Bad Grades.
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:40 Grades Are Symptoms
02:57 Homeschool and Nervous System
05:20 IEP Advocacy and Collaboration
07:11 Bullying and Emotional Fallout
11:10 Repairing Parent Child Trust
14:30 Study Smarter Not Longer
16:30 Gamified Reading Breakthrough
19:39 Play Based Learning Tools
21:13 Resources and Where to Find
22:09 Fun and Closing Reflections
23:06 Hosts Wrap Up Takeaways
28:51 Reading Counts Any Format
30:05 Final Goodbye
Connect with Samantha Foote!
Website: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/