Nov 16
When Dr. Nanci Smith realized her neurodiverse childrens’ needs weren’t going to be met by the public school system, she knew she had to try a different approach to education. Luckily, Nanci has a background in psychobiology and is motivated by a challenge, so the transition to homeschooling was a no-brainer.
Nanci learned how to support her childrens’ sensory, socio-emotional, and executive functioning needs, and along the way she learned how to support her own unique brain as well. She has since gone on to become certified with the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) social skills program, is an expert in teaching executive function skills, runs Improv classes for kids on the spectrum, and is training to become an ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider.
Nanci’s belief is that kids do well where they can, and her empathetic approach to education will have you seeing neurodivergence in a whole new way.
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"There are skills that are taught and then there's other stuff that's caught, and people just expect you to know the caught stuff."
- Dr. Nanci Smith
"One thing that I consistently see is these kids [with autism and ADHD] are brilliant. They have so much to offer and they have facts. I'm always learning interesting facts from my students about things I have no idea about, and that is such an important quality."
- Dr. Nanci Smith
"You're the best coach of your own brain because you're in it from the inside and you know how you're thinking. You know what works."
- Dr. Nanci Smith
- Nanci shares her experiences with ADHD, including being outgoing as a child but realizing later she's an introvert, and struggling in college despite doing well in school.
- Nanci discusses her experience with structure and systems in her life, mentioning how she loved what they were doing and found it easy when there was a clear plan in place.
- Nanci shares her experience with her child's sensory processing issues and diagnosis with autism, mentioning that she learned about sensory processing issues and autism through online research
[24:48 - 35:30] ADHD and autism in children and adults
- Nanci shares her experience of her son's struggles with executive functioning and how she learned to approach it with empathy and understanding.
- Nanci helps parents and adults with ADHD and autism by providing tutoring and coaching on social skills, including understanding the 'hidden curriculum' of social interactions.
- Nanci notes that individuals with ADHD and autism have a strong desire for connection but may struggle with impulsiveness or understanding social norms. Therefore, they require education and support in these areas.
- Nanci discusses the importance of self-talk and how it can be destructive, particularly for women, who are often socialized to have low self-esteem.
- Nanci emphasizes the need to trust and understand one's own problem-solving abilities, rather than relying on external sources or methods.
- Nanci shares her experience with ADHD and how she organizes her life for maximum productivity.
Get $15 off classes at Outschool by entering coupon code NORELPODCAST15 at checkout. Promo available until Nov 28, 2024.
https://outschool.com/teachers/Nanci-Norelli-Smith-Ph-D
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