Little Bits of TLC

Heather and Ashley share what it takes to organize and lead meetings that bring families and professionals together—without the tension taking over. From setting a clear agenda to making sure every voice at the table feels valued, Ashley offers practical strategies she’s used to turn even the most contentious conversations into collaborative problem-solving. The discussion highlights how relations...

In this episode, Heather and Mary take a deep look at what true collaboration looks like in schools, especially when working with students in alternative settings. Mary shares how her building has built-in structures for teaming and how she intentionally aligns collaboration with school improvement goals, not just compliance tasks. They talk about the difference between appearing collaborative and...

Join Heather, Cass O’Hara, Flora, and Matthew Hayes as they talk through the real-world challenges educators face today—from shifting state and federal policies to the everyday work of staying flexible in uncertain times. Heather opens up about what it takes to keep operations creative, the importance of knowing when to pivot, and the deep commitment to students that drives every decision. You’ll...

Join Flora, Heather, and Cass O’Hara as they talk about what it really takes to care for yourself while running a business in this episode of their summer series, Ask Me Anything . Heather shares how she balances personal well-being with day-to-day responsibilities, touching on team care, burnout, and setting boundaries. Cass adds perspective on building a work environment that supports resilience...

Join Heather, Flora, and Matthew as they unpack the real story behind launching and growing a business. From navigating the shift out of education to building trust, finding the right support, and facing imposter syndrome head-on, they explore what it really takes to keep going when things get tough. This episode is full of honest reflections, lessons from failure, and the mindset shifts needed to...

In this episode of Ask Me Anything , Heather, Cass, and Flora get honest about what it really means to reshape education from the inside out. They talk about what it takes to stay mission-driven while navigating complex systems that don’t always work for every student. Heather shares how her passion for meeting individual needs drives her work, and Cass brings insight into why flexible thinking ma...

Go behind the scenes with Flora, Matthew, and Heather in this episode of the Ask Me Anything series , where the team pulls back the curtain on what really makes TLC tick. From juggling big-picture goals to responding in real-time to school needs, the trio shares how they keep things moving when the weeks get messy. Heather walks through how she balances leadership and direct service, and how TLC s...

In this episode of the summer “Ask Me Anything” series, Flora sits down with Matthew and Heather to dig deeper into the vision, core values, and practical philosophy behind TLC’s work. Heather shares personal reflections on the importance of culture, boundaries, care, and humility when supporting both students and staff. Through stories and candid conversation, the episode explores how TLC evolved...

In this episode of Little Bits of TLC ’s Ask Me Anything series, Flora Yao and Cass O’Hara sit down with Heather Volchko to unpack who TLC really serves—from the complex, high-incidence students who don’t fit into typical boxes to the school staff who show up for them every day. Heather shares how TLC’s flexible support model evolved by listening deeply to the real needs of districts and creativel...

In this second episode of Little Bits of TLC ’s Ask Me Anything series, host Flora Yao and co-host Cass O’Hara dig deep into the early experiences and defining moments that shaped Heather's career. From skipping AP classes to spend time in a special ed classroom, to discovering her passion for emotional and behavioral work in a juvenile hall, Heather traces her path through layered educational...

In this special kickoff to our summer “Ask Me Anything” series, Flora, Matthew, and Heather sit down to talk about how Threshold Learning Collective got its start—and how it turned from a one-woman consulting effort into a fast-growing nonprofit supporting schools around the country. Heather opens up about the people who nudged her toward this path, the fears and surprises of starting a business,...

In this episode, Heather talks with Alex—a new teacher and former writing center tutor—about how feedback becomes one of the most powerful tools in the classroom. They explore what makes feedback truly effective: it’s not just about praise or correction, but about giving students clear, specific information they can use to grow. Alex shares how meaningful feedback supports independence, builds con...

In this episode, Heather and Marla unpack what it really means to help students keep using what they’ve learned—across settings, with new people, and long after instruction ends. They talk about the difference between practicing a skill and actually owning it, and why independence is the real marker of success. Marla shares everyday examples and classroom takeaways that help clarify what it looks...

In this episode, Heather and Manny break down what intensive instruction actually means—beyond smaller groups or different settings. They discuss how real intensity comes from tailoring instruction to what each student truly needs, not just reteaching the same thing in a quieter room. Manny shares stories from self-contained and alternative classrooms where individualized strategies, responsive fe...

In this episode, we explore how educators can adapt curriculum materials and tasks to meet diverse learning goals. Erin shares practical strategies drawn from Universal Design for Learning, from small tweaks to fully differentiated options, and highlights how adaptations can support both struggling and advanced learners. We discuss balancing required curriculum with creative flexibility, leveragin...

In this episode, Heather talks with Candace, a master at reaching students who seem unreachable. They explore what active engagement really looks like—beyond just compliance—and how sometimes the most unexpected strategies unlock the biggest growth. From standing on his head to earn cashews, to walking vocabulary lessons and Pokémon-themed math problems, Candace shares how listening closely and ad...

In this episode, Heather talks with Ann, an early learning instructional coach, about how flexible grouping can unlock student growth when it’s done with purpose. Ann shares how she used both homogeneous and heterogeneous groupings across subjects—and how the real value came from knowing her students well enough to make thoughtful decisions about who should work together, when, and why. They explo...

In this episode, Heather and Alex compare how explicit instruction shows up in general and special education classrooms—and why it works for all students, not just those with IEPs. They reflect on how clear routines, strong objectives, and step-by-step teaching benefit not just academic progress but classroom stability and student confidence. From helping students anticipate what’s coming next to...

In this episode, Heather and Mary talk about what it really takes to support students with wide-ranging needs—especially in secondary settings. They explore how scaffolded supports aren’t just about tools or strategies, but about knowing your learners, collaborating across roles, and being willing to adjust on the fly. Mary shares how she helps teachers balance content demands with real student ne...

In this episode, Heather sits down with Lathyrelle, a school psychologist, to talk about how we help students build the thinking skills they need to be successful—and independent—in school and life. From mindfulness and memory to self-regulation and feedback, they unpack what it really looks like to teach students how to think about their thinking. This isn’t about adding one more thing to your pl...

Adapting curriculum tasks and materials isn’t just about meeting legal requirements—it’s about unlocking access to learning for every student. In this episode, we explore how teachers can make intentional changes to what students use (materials) and what they do (tasks) so that each learner can meaningfully engage with grade-level goals. From highlighting key information and simplifying directions...

In this episode, Heather and Alex unpack what it really means to design instruction with purpose. Coming from two very different settings—Heather in schools, Alex in funded in-school behavioral support—they explore how roles, restrictions, and realities shape what “systematic” instruction looks like in practice. Alex shares how he builds goals within the boundaries of funder guidelines, often need...

In this episode, Heather is joined by Marla to talk about the real-life work behind identifying and prioritizing long- and short-term goals for students. They unpack what this actually looks like across school, home, and clinic settings—and why it’s not just about fixing what’s broken today. Marla shares how she approaches planning with teachers, families, and other providers to figure out what ma...

In this episode, Heather is joined by Lathyrelle, a school psychologist who brings years of experience helping teams understand what behavior plans should actually look like in practice. Together, they walk through what makes a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) meaningful—not just checking boxes, but truly understanding the student behind the behavior. Lathyrelle breaks down how a comprehensi...

In this episode, Heather is joined by Waddell, a school social worker who believes social work belongs far beyond the therapy office. Together, they talk about what it really looks like to teach social behaviors in ways that make sense for individual students—not just based on a curriculum, but rooted in context, lived experiences, and real conversations. They explore how teaching social skills of...