EVERY KID BELONGS: DJ NICHOLSON ON INCLUSION, LEARNING & THE POWER OF “YET”

EVERY KID BELONGS: DJ NICHOLSON ON INCLUSION, LEARNING & THE POWER OF “YET” What happens when we stop asking, “Why can’t this child do it?” and start asking, “What support do they need to do it?” On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes DJ Nicholson, former teacher, instructional coach, trainer, and founder of Inclusivology—the study of inclusion. DJ works with educators across the country to help create classrooms where every child feels included academically, socially, and emotionally. Her passion is personal. Growing up, DJ struggled intensely with math and was even told by a teacher that she was the worst math student they had ever taught. Years later, she earned an A in graduate statistics. The difference? She finally had the tools, context, and learning environment she needed. In this episode, you will discover: • Why inclusion means more than putting every student in the same classroom • How belonging creates safer learning environments • Why labels without support can limit children • How to identify the actual barrier to learning • Why reading difficulty does not automatically mean a child is bad at math • How parents and teachers can work together earlier • Why the word “yet” changes the conversation • How technology and changing childhood experiences affect development • Why executive functioning matters for focus, planning, organization, and independence • How ADHD requires tools rather than excuses • Why conversation builds curiosity and confidence • How parents can encourage independence while allowing mistakes • Why DJ created Inclusivology after being told to “stay in your lane” THE POWER OF “YET” DJ repeatedly reminds educators that children may simply not be ready yet. A five-year-old may not sit still yet. A fourth grader may not read on grade level yet. A child may not know how to organize their backpack yet. “Yet” does not lower expectations. It creates room for growth, development, support, and possibility. As Uncle Dave puts it, “yet” is a promise that something can change. LOOK FOR THE REAL BARRIER DJ challenges teachers to ask what is actually preventing a student from succeeding. If a student struggles to read a math problem but understands the computation, is math really the problem? If a child cannot independently read grade-level material, could text-to-speech give them access to the same content? Instead of stopping at: “They can’t.” Ask: “What can we try?” BUILD THE TOOLBOX DJ believes teachers need multiple strategies because children do not all learn the same way. Sometimes a student needs technology. Sometimes they need a visual organizer. Sometimes they need movement. Sometimes they need information presented differently. Sometimes they simply need more time. The goal is meaningful access to learning—not forcing every child to reach the destination using the exact same path. INDEPENDENCE STARTS AT HOME Parents play an important role too. DJ encourages families to build conversation, curiosity, routines, and independence early. Let children get dressed. Let them organize their belongings. Let them make breakfast when developmentally appropriate. And let them make mistakes. Those everyday experiences help build executive functioning skills that support success later in school and life. SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN DJ Nicholson’s seed is simple: See kids for who they are right now. Not the label. Not the diagnosis. Not what they cannot do. Look at the child in front of you and ask what support will help them take the next step. Every child deserves the opportunity to feel safe, successful, capable, and included. And if they are not there today? They are simply not there yet. CONNECT WITH DJ NICHOLSON Inclusivology: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547