academic performance

Gen Z: A Cautionary Tale

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

A couple weeks ago, a study reported that we are entering a post-literate society: people simply aren’t reading books anymore. The horror!

Before that, there was a trend of managers sharing what their new Gen Z hires were saying/requesting/complaining about in the workplace. For shame!

And lest we forget the article about Gen Z never having completed an entire book during high school before showing up to college. WTF!

Gen Z carries a reputation that’s hard to ignore. Yes, they’re the most socially tolerant, entrepreneurial, tech‑fluent (to an extent), emotionally aware, and scientifically literate generation we’ve ever seen. But, they’re also routinely labeled as entitled, fragile, phone‑obsessed, socially awkward, overly sensitive, and unprepared for adulthood. Those criticisms show up everywhere, especially in headlines about academic struggles, resilience gaps, and workforce readiness. But context matters.

As we’ve been told many times, Gen Z’s identity has been shaped by an always‑on digital landscape, rising mental‑health challenges, and a level of societal instability no previous generation faced at the same age. Many of the behaviors older generations interpret as weakness or entitlement are actually signs of a generation growing up under unprecedented pressure. And that’s exactly why Gen Z has become a warning for parents raising younger kids today.

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OT Month: School Supports 101

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Most parents only hear about school supports when something feels off. Their kid may be struggling with reading, falling behind in math, or having a hard time staying organized or regulated. While we may be familiar with supports like OT, PT, and/or speech, schools have far more tools, services, and interventions than most families ever realize.

Support begins the moment your child walks through the door.  Every school uses a layered approach to helping students succeed, much like climbing a ladder. The first rungs include everyday supports that all children receive. As you move up, the next rungs offer extra help for students who need a little more. At the top are individualized plans for students who require more intensive, personalized support.

What many families don’t realize is that most of this help happens long before an IEP or 504 is ever discussed. That’s because frameworks like MTSS and RTI are designed to catch challenges early and provide support right away.

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OT Month: The 504 Plan

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

If your child doesn’t qualify for an IEP, a 504 Plan might fit. It may sound like a highway number or a health code, but it’s actually a legal support that ensures students get the access they need to participate in school.

A 504 Plan is a school-based support plan that provides students with disabilities the accommodations they need to access learning alongside their peers. Its purpose is to adjust how a student learns, not what they are taught.

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OT Month: The IEP

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

When you’re navigating support services in the school system, it can feel like an alphabet soup (OT, PT, MTSS). This post is all about the IEP.

An IEP, or Individualized Education Program, is a legal, written plan that explains exactly how a public school will support a student with a disability in order to facilitate their learning and make progress. It’s part of the federal special education law called IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), and it guarantees students access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

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The Girl Brain

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

While working at a pediatric clinic, seasoned therapists often noted that boys responded best to clear expectations and consistent consequences, while girls benefited more from patience, emotional connection, and time to process instructions and feelings.

When I was just starting out, I assumed all kids processed things the same and saw girls’ need for patience as coddling. For context, I was raised in an Asian household where emotions were seen more as a weakness than an asset. So, if you had to cry, go outside.  

With time however, I realized I was wrong. It wasn’t that they didn’t understand the task; it was that they wanted to get it right so badly. Sometimes they’d miss the mark on the first try, or they’d misread my tone and think I was upset with them. Other times, they were simply grappling with the fact that there was no room to negotiate the task or the consequence. What they needed wasn’t leniency—it was time, clarity, and emotional safety. Check out this IG video.

We know that boy and girl brains are different, but what are the actual characteristics a girl brain and makes it’s learning processes distinct from its male counterpart?  

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