Language, Learning & Real Literacy: Understanding How Kids Think, Struggle, and Succeed in Today’s Classrooms | Dr. Lydia Soifer
Host Tracey Spencer Walsh sits down with Dr. Lydia Soifer, a renowned language pathologist, teacher trainer, and founder of the Soifer Center, for a thought-provoking conversation on the intersection of language, learning, and teaching. With decades of experience in interdisciplinary clinical and educational settings, Dr. Soifer breaks down the science of language development and the practical strategies teachers and families need to support children with diverse learning needs. 🟡 Why language, and not just speech, is the foundation of learning and literacy 🟡 The difference between modifying curriculum and truly teaching a child in the way they learn 🟡 How to recognize when behavior is masking a deeper language processing challenge 🟡 What teachers can do every day to reach students with language-based learning differences 🟡 Why students need to know how they learn, not just what they’re learning 🟡 What it would take to build real interdisciplinary collaboration in public schools “Language is the vehicle that drives the curriculum. If teachers don’t understand how children use and process language, they can’t teach effectively.” - Dr. Lydia Soifer This episode is a masterclass in how language impacts every aspect of a child’s academic and emotional development. Whether you’re a parent of a struggling reader, a new teacher trying to reach every student, or an advocate pushing for more support in schools, Dr. Soifer’s insights will leave you better informed and inspired to act. 🎧 Press play now and rethink what it really means to teach, to learn, and to connect.
Listen to full episode on:
Dr. Lydia Soifer is a language pathologist, educator, and founder of The Soifer Center, a multidisciplinary practice dedicated to supporting children with learning and language differences. With over 45 years of experience in clinical, academic, and consultative roles, she is widely respected for her expertise in language development, literacy, and educational advocacy. Dr. Soifer has served as an assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and has trained generations of educators and clinicians in understanding the role of language in learning. Her work spans public and private school systems, and she is known for bridging the gap between research-based theory and everyday classroom practice. She continues to challenge outdated educational models, championing interdisciplinary teamwork, and reminding educators that effective teaching starts with understanding how children think, communicate, and make meaning of the world around them.
