Unlocking School Success | for Parents with K-12 Kids cover art

Unlocking School Success | for Parents with K-12 Kids

Unlocking School Success | for Parents with K-12 Kids

Written by: Scotti Weintraub | Coach and School Navigator for Parents with K-12 Kids
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About this listen

 School challenges don’t come with a manual, and neither do our kids.

Maybe your child is capable but homework still turns into a nightly battle.
Or assignments keep disappearing in their backpack.
Or teachers are raising concerns but the advice you’re getting doesn’t really fit your kid.

You’re trying to connect the dots — and figure out what will actually help.

If you’re a parent trying to understand what’s really going on at school and how to support your child, you’re in the right place.
That’s what this podcast is here for.

Parent coach and school navigator Scotti Weintraub helps parents of K–12 kids navigate school challenges, understand how their child learns best, and advocate for support that actually works.

Because school challenges aren’t about lazy kids or bad parenting — they’re about understanding what’s really going on and finding strategies that fit your child.

We'll cover questions like:
-Why is my child struggling in school when they seem so capable?
-Why is my smart child getting bad grades?
-What’s really behind missing assignments and homework battles?
-How do I help my child who hates school or shuts down at the end of the day?
-Is this ADHD, executive function challenges, or a learning difference?
-What are signs of dyslexia, dysgraphia, or other learning challenges?
-What should parents do before a school meeting or IEP meeting?
-What is executive function and how do I help my child build more skills?
-How can I advocate for my child at school without making things worse?
-What accommodations actually help kids succeed in class?
-Why do teachers and parents sometimes see such different things?
-What helps kids with focus, organization, and motivation?
-How can parents support their child when school confidence drops?
-What do you do when the school’s advice just isn’t working?

After navigating anxiety, learning differences, and the school system with her own kids, Scotti Weintraub became the person other parents called when they didn’t know what to do next.

Now she shares the strategies, insights, and questions that help families stop guessing and start getting traction.
With solo episodes and expert guest conversations, Unlocking School Success explores what’s really happening for kids at school and how parents can respond in practical ways.

Press play and start solving those school puzzles.© 2026 Reframe Parenting All Rights Reserved.
Episodes
  • 26: Why Good Kids Get Bad Grades: The Real Reasons Kids Struggle at School with Dr. Linda Silbert

    26: Why Good Kids Get Bad Grades: The Real Reasons Kids Struggle at School with Dr. Linda Silbert
    May 13 2026

    If you’ve ever stared at a report card thinking, “But…this is a good kid—what is happening?” you’re not alone.


    In this episode of Unlocking School Success, I sit down with educational counselor Dr. Linda Silbert (who specializes in struggling readers and runs a tutoring/test prep company) to talk about the newly updated second edition of her book, Why Good Kids Get Bad Grades. Dr. Linda breaks down why grades don’t “just happen,” how many kids are never actually taught how to study, and why the most important job is finding the real cause behind the struggle—without crushing a child’s self-worth along the way.


    What you’ll learn:


    • Why focusing on grades alone misses the bigger (and more fixable) picture.
    • The two main drivers behind grades: tests and homework—and why both can go off the rails.
    • What “studying” actually is (and why “just read your notes” often doesn’t work).
    • How the brain’s limits (like only holding a few items at once) impact learning—and how “chunking” helps.
    • Why some school expectations can be developmentally unrealistic (especially for younger kids).
    • Early clues that may point to dyslexia (and why language development matters for reading).
    • Why kids remember negative feedback so powerfully—and what that does to self-esteem.
    • How to shift from being the “school police” to being your child’s ally.
    • Why kids need skills (study skills + time management), not just encouragement.


    This episode will help if:


    • Your child is smart and kind—but their grades don’t match what you know they’re capable of.
    • Homework time feels like a nightly conflict, meltdown, or power struggle.
    • You’re worried your child is starting to believe they’re “lazy” or “bad at school.”
    • You suspect a reading issue, but you’re not sure what to look for—or what to ask for.
    • Your child is overwhelmed and overbooked, and late/missing work keeps piling up.
    • You want practical ways to help that don’t involve more nagging, shame, or punishment.


    Full Show Notes here: https://www.reframeparenting.com/blog/why-good-kids-get-bad-grades


    Quick Links:


    • Dr. Linda Silbert / Strong Learning: https://stronglearning.com
    • Email Dr. Linda: DrLindaSilbert@gmail.com
    • Book (coming late March/early April): Available via https://stronglearning.com, Amazon, and bookstores


    Recommended Resources Mentioned:


    • Overcoming Dyslexia by Dr. Sally Shaywitz
    • International Dyslexia Association: https://dyslexiaida.org
    • CHADD (ADHD resources): https://chadd.org

    🎒 Follow Reframe Parenting for use-now tools and strategies for school success.


    🌐 www.reframeparenting.com

    🎧 Visit www.reframeparenting.com/blog to dive into blog posts & podcast episodes to discover more school success strategies and get tools designed with you and your child in mind.


    Submit a Listener Question for a Future Episode


    💖Instagram: instagram.com/@reframeparenting

    🖇️Threads: threads.com/@reframeparenting


    Write a review for the Unlocking School Success podcast & share a screenshot with me at scotti@reframeparenting.com for a chance to win a free month in the School Success Library! 📝
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • 25: ADHD Medication & Mental Health Support at School with Briana Cullen

    25: ADHD Medication & Mental Health Support at School with Briana Cullen
    May 6 2026

    Ever leave a school meeting wondering if you’re “doing enough” for your kids… and also somehow feel like your “doing it wrong”?


    In this episode of Unlocking School Success, I’m joined by Brianna Cullen, a pediatric psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, to talk about what parents really need to know when understanding ADHD Medication & Mental Health Support at School.


    What you’ll learn:

    • How mental health nurse practitioners can support kids and families and why many parents don’t realize this option exists.
    • What providers look at when deciding whether medication might help (academic, social, and home functioning).
    • Why medication decisions should be a family decision (and a kid decision), not something dictated by school pressure.
    • How to think about meds as “a tool, not a forever path” including the reality of trial-and-error.
    • Why collaboration with teachers can be key feedback when evaluating whether a medication is helping.
    • How stigma and guilt show up for parents and how supportive care can change everything.
    • Why untreated ADHD can increase long-term risks (including impulsivity and substance use) and why early support matters.


    This episode will help if:

    • You feel overwhelmed by school feedback and you’re wondering if medication is being suggested too quickly.
    • You’re nervous about side effects, stigma, or “making the wrong choice” for your child.
    • You live in a rural area (or anywhere with long waitlists) and need more clarity on care options like telehealth.
    • You want a provider who partners with your family without pushing a one-size-fits-all plan.
    • You’re trying to support a child with ADHD, anxiety, or big emotional/behavioral challenges impacting school.


    Full show notes here: https://www.reframeparenting.com/blog/adhd-medication-mental-health-support-school


    Quick Links:

    • SkyLake Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Clinic (Southern Oregon) — referral-based; telehealth available in Oregon
    • Gifted and Distractible: Understanding, Supporting, and Advocating for Your Twice Exceptional Child by Julie F. Skolnick (book recommendation)

    🎒 Follow Reframe Parenting for use-now tools and strategies for school success.


    🌐 www.reframeparenting.com

    🎧 Visit www.reframeparenting.com/blog to dive into blog posts & podcast episodes to discover more school success strategies and get tools designed with you and your child in mind.


    Submit a Listener Question for a Future Episode


    💖Instagram: instagram.com/@reframeparenting

    🖇️Threads: threads.com/@reframeparenting


    Write a review for the Unlocking School Success podcast & share a screenshot with me at scotti@reframeparenting.com for a chance to win a free month in the School Success Library! 📝
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • 24: Understanding Your Child’s Behavior Through Their Personality

    24: Understanding Your Child’s Behavior Through Their Personality
    Apr 15 2026

    Parenting can feel like you’re doing everything “right” and still constantly butting heads. In this episode of Unlocking School Success, I chat with human behavior specialist and Teaching Our Youth founder Karen Wagnon, about using personality and temperament (including the DISC model) to understand what’s really driving kids’ behavior at home and at school.


    Karen explains that kids are born with different traits and emotional needs, and when those needs aren’t met, parents and teachers often react to the surface behavior instead of the root cause.


    What you'll learn:

    • Why what works beautifully for one child can totally backfire with another-and how to adapt without losing authority.
    • How to look for the root cause of shutdowns, defiance, or explosions instead of only addressing surface behavior.
    • Why bridging teaching styles and learning styles in school can reduce frustration (without immediately jumping to labels).
    • How leading with curiosity (not judgment) helps kids feel safe enough to talk-especially in the teen years.


    This episode will help if:

    • You feel like you’re playing “whack-a-mole” at home - constantly reacting to behavior without real progress.
    • You have siblings with wildly different personalities and you’re not sure how to parent them fairly and effectively.
    • Your child is struggling in school and you’re hearing labels like “lazy” or “unmotivated.”
    • You want to advocate for your child with teachers but need better language and clearer insight into what your child needs.
    • You’re in the teen years and it feels like your once-close kid is pulling away-and you want to protect the long-term relationship.


    Full Show Notes here: https://www.reframeparenting.com/blog/podcast-understanding-childs-behavior-through-personality


    Quick Links:

    Karen’s website (Teaching Our Youth)


    Recommended Resources:

    Different Children, Different Needs by Dr. Charles Boyd (affiliate link)


    🎒 Follow Reframe Parenting for use-now tools and strategies for school success.


    🌐 www.reframeparenting.com

    🎧 Visit www.reframeparenting.com/blog to dive into blog posts & podcast episodes to discover more school success strategies and get tools designed with you and your child in mind.


    Submit a Listener Question for a Future Episode


    💖Instagram: instagram.com/@reframeparenting

    🖇️Threads: threads.com/@reframeparenting


    Write a review for the Unlocking School Success podcast & share a screenshot with me at scotti@reframeparenting.com for a chance to win a free month in the School Success Library! 📝
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
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