Manisha Snoyer sits down with education innovator Jade Rivera to explore the ins and outs of strength-based education and homeschooling. With a particular focus on children with special needs, Jade provides invaluable insights into identifying learning disabilities, promoting healthy emotional development, and the dynamics of micro-schools. The conversation delves deep into hot topics, including the misunderstood realities of diagnoses like ADHD and autism. Jade also highlights the flexibility that homeschooling can provide, particularly for children who don't fit the conventional education mold. Manisha adds her own invaluable perspectives, revealing her experiences with imposter syndrome and offering advice for families navigating the often confusing world of educational options. Together, they examine the latest research and debunk common myths, providing listeners with a well-rounded, thought-provoking understanding of what education can—and should—look like for each individual child. Jade Rivera is an educational innovator with nearly 15 years of experience in designing and leading micro-schools in Oakland, CA, specializing in neurodivergent and twice-exceptional children. Armed with a Montessori credential and training in nonviolent communication, her pedagogical approach encompasses strength-based pedagogy, project-based learning, and gradeless classrooms. Jade has been honored by the California Association for the Gifted and recognized as a "person to watch" in the 2e movement by 2e News. She recently earned her Ed.D. from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity, where she continues as a professor and has been named the director of the Strength Based Assessment Lab. Author of multiple publications, her latest book is "Could You Live Underwater: A Design Thinking and STEM Curriculum," with Do More of What Makes You Awesome: Micro-Schools for Twice-Exceptional Children forthcoming.
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Time Codes:
00:00:00 — Introduction: A brief overview of the episode and an introduction to guest Jade Rivera.
00:03:03 — Learning Disabilities: Jade Rivera discusses the evolution of learning disability definitions.
00:08:16 — Early Signs: Manisha Snoyer explains signals indicating a child may have learning struggles.
00:10:00 — Car Talk: Introduction of the "car talk" concept, a method for open dialogue with children.
00:12:40 — Evolving Landscape: A discussion about the shifting landscape of learning disabilities in the U.S.
00:16:22 — Imposter Syndrome: Manisha shares personal experiences and the impact of imposter syndrome.
00:18:04 — Twice-Exceptional Kids: Jade Rivera elaborates on the concept of twice-exceptional (2e) children.
00:21:15 — Diagnosing the Gifted: The challenges and nuances of diagnosing gifted individuals.
00:24:46 — Value of Diagnosis: How a diagnosis like "twice exceptional" can be valuable for parents.
00:26:23 — After-School Behavior: Jade Rivera introduces the concept of "after-school restraint collapse."
00:30:48 — Data-Driven Parenting: Dr. Rivera encourages a data-driven approach for parents.
00:37:33 — Autism Indicators: A discussion on the symptoms of autism and the concept of special interests.
00:41:40 — Hyper-Focus: The benefits and challenges of hyper-focus are discussed.
00:47:09 — Restoring Confidence: Manisha Snoyer talks about ways to restore confidence in children with learning struggles.
00:51:24 — Understanding Dyslexia: An in-depth look at dyslexia and how it affects learning.
01:00:27 — Sensory Processing: Dr. Rivera discusses sensory overload and sensory processing disorder.
01:08:11 — Embracing Grief: Dr. Rivera talks about the importance of acknowledging and processing grief.
01:10:32 — Low Demand Parenting: Dr. Rivera recommends looking into 'low demand parenting.'
01:13:20 — Unconventional Methods: A discussion about the effectiveness of unconventional educational methods.
01:19:00 — Community Support: The importance of finding and engaging with supportive communities.
01:21:00 — Closing Remarks: Final thoughts from both Jade Rivera and Manisha Snoyer.
This podcast is made possible through a generous grant from the Vela Education Fund.
VELA Education Fund is catalyzing a vibrant alternative education ecosystem. VELA provides trust-based funding to entrepreneurs, fosters community-building and knowledge-sharing, and increases visibility through storytelling that promotes cultural awareness and acceptance of the out-of-system space. Today, VELA serves the largest community of out-of-system education entrepreneurs in the country, with over 2,000 community members. About half of VELA’s community members operate small learning environments, and the other half are ecosystem and community builders offering direct services and support across the out-of-system space. Learn more at
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