The OT Schoolhouse Podcast for School-Based OT Practitioners

Struggling to figure out how occupational therapy fits within your school's MTSS framework?In this episode, Dr. Courtney Boitano shares findings from two groundbreaking studies on sensory processing interventions for kindergarten and fifth-grade students. As a faculty member at San Jose State University and a school-based OT with over 15 years of experience, Courtney provides practical insights into implementing tiered sensory supports that actually work. You'll learn how to use free screening tools like the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to identify students who need additional support, why teacher consultation may be more impactful than you think, and how to implement Zones of Regulation strategies across different tiers.Whether you're new to MTSS or looking to refine your approach, this episode offers evidence-based strategies you can start using tomorrow to support students and empower teachers with sensory processing challenges in your schools.Listen now to learn the following objectives:Learners will identify the research findings from tier 1 and tier 2 sensory interventions with kindergarten and fifth-grade studentsLearners will implement evidence based teacher consult strategies as a high- impact MTSS intervention.Learners will Identify the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire as a screening tool to identify students who may benefit from sensory processing interventions and determine appropriate tier- level supports.Click here to register & get the best deal on the 2026 Back to School Conference!  Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together. Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.comSee you in the next episode! 

Are you still relying on the Peabody or BOT as your go-to assessment? You're not alone, but you might be missing something critical. In this episode, we dive deep into occupation-based assessment with Dr. Alysha Skuthan and Dr. Erin Gaby, who recently published groundbreaking research on the occupational profile in school-based practice.This conversation is for every school-based OT who has ever wondered: What actually makes an assessment occupation-based? Why does the occupational profile matter? And how can I fit it into my already overwhelming workload?The research reveals surprising findings from their research showing that 35% of school-based OTs don't complete occupational profiles, despite it being a formal requirement in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework.You'll hear practical strategies for collecting occupational profiles, honest talk about barriers like time constraints and parent communication, and compelling reasons why using occupational language in your reports matters for advocacy. Plus, they discuss occupation-based alternatives to common standardized tests and share their favorite tools like the School Function Assessment.Listen to learn how shifting to occupation-based practice can transform not just your assessments, but your entire intervention approach.Learning Objectives— Learners will identify the key characteristics that distinguish occupation-based assessments from skill-based assessments— Learners will recognize why the occupational profile is an important component of every SBOT evaluation— Learners will identify the importance of using occupational language in evaluation reports for professional advocacyClick here to register & get the best deal on the 2026 Back to School Conference!  Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together. Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.comSee you in the next episode! 

When a student refuses to eat at school, it affects everything—academic performance, regulation, social interactions, and the afternoon meltdown that follows.In this episode, @Jayson Davies sits down with Alisha Grogan, MOT, OTR/L, founder of Your Kid's Table, to talk about feeding challenges in school-based OT. Alisha brings over 20 years of experience working with extreme picky eaters and shares what school-based practitioners need to know about supporting students who struggle with lunch and snacks.You'll learn how to identify when picky eating crosses into extreme territory, why the cafeteria environment can be so overwhelming for sensory-sensitive students, and what accommodations actually help. Alisha also clarifies the often-confusing scope question: what can school-based OTs reasonably address versus what requires outside support?Whether you're freezing up when feeding comes up in an IEP or wondering how to support a student who won't eat at school, this conversation offers practical, realistic guidance grounded in both clinical expertise and respect for the school setting.Listen now to learn how to make lunchtime less stressful and more successful for the students on your caseload.Learning ObjectivesBy the end of this episode, learners will be able to:Learners will identify the clinical indicators that distinguish extreme picky eating from typical developmental selectivity, including the 20-food threshold and sensory-behavioral red flags (Remember/Understand)Learners will identify and address environmental barriers in the cafeteria that prevent students from eating at school—including sensory overwhelm from noise, lighting, smells, and peer interactions—and implement appropriate accommodations such as quiet eating spaces, noise-canceling headphones, weighted lap pads, and regulation strategiesLearners will identify scope of practice for feeding intervention in schools by understanding what is appropriate for school-based OT (supporting participation in lunch/snack routines, environmental modifications, family education) versus what requires outside clinic-based or medical feeding therapy (expanding food repertoire, intensive feeding protocols, home mealtime culture changes)Click here to register & get the best deal on the 2026 Back to School Conference!  Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together. Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.comSee you in the next episode! 

This course explores the evolving landscape of school-aged mental health in a post-COVID world and the expanding role of occupational therapy in supporting students’ emotional, behavioral, and functional participation.Dr. Monica Keen examines current mental-health trends, trauma-informed care, behavior changes following the pandemic, and evidence-aligned OT strategies for school settings.Participants will learn practical, occupation-based approaches for addressing emotional regulation, engagement, and school participation within a tiered model of support.This course is part of the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community, where school-based practitioners come together to deepen clinical reasoning, explore meaningful topics, and translate evidence into real-world practice.If you’re looking to earn CEU’s for this course and access a full library of professional development opportunities, you can join the community here 👉 https://www.otschoolhouse.com/collabLearning Objectives—Learners will identify three mental illness diagnoses of school-aged children.—Learners will identify reasons/events for childhood mental illness and how it impacts occupational engagement.—Learners will recognize the role of OT in addressing these mental health issues in the school settingThanks for tuning in! Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together. Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.comSee you in the next episode! 

Have you ever wondered how a podcast can evolve, grow, foster a community, and make a meaningful impact in the field of occupational therapy?Join us as we celebrate the Journey of the OT Schoolhouse. In this special episode, we'll  discuss the growing reach of our Back to School Conference and our vision to reduce the knowledge translation timeline in occupational therapy. You'll meet the dedicated team behind our success and hear our aspirations for the future. Don't miss this episode packed with gratitude, insights, and exciting updates for the OT community.Listen now to learn the following objectives:Learners will describe the importance of accessible and simplified communication in the field of pediatric occupational therapy.Learners will identify ways technology and AI can enhance their productivity.Learners will recognize the essential role of community and collaboration in their ongoing professional growth.Click here to register & get the best deal on the 2026 Back to School Conference!  Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together. Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.comSee you in the next episode!