edu-Me: Recent Episodes
Punam V. Saxena
edu-Me is bridging the gap between parents and schools. We will discuss everything from how to volunteer to what you need to know about your child's high school years to surviving the holidays. Our goal is to empower you to become a well-versed partner in your schools. Each episode will help us work together to educate them better. Join us every other week for an exciting new episode!
Often we forget to recognize our teachers, especially in middle and high school. They work long hours grading, planning, and providing academic and emotional support. They also do not receive the compensation they deserve.
So, we need to ensure they feel validated and appreciated for their dedication to our children. In this edu-sode we discuss five ways your child can show their appreciation to their teacher without spending a lot of money. Actually, many of them are free!
Here are two, but you'll have to listen to hear the rest.
- Create a book or journal of the teacher's favorite sayings/quotes
- Bake them a treat
Want to learn more? Click here to get more episodes, and get a copy of Punam's book, Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond, and her TEDx Talk, The Key to Enhancing Student Success.
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The end of the grading period is upon us. It's only one more but important round of tests, but your child is burnt out and unmotivated. They just can't muster up the energy to keep going. What you need is to help them with that last push to get to the finish line. Like the last 0.2 miles of a marathon which seems like the first 26 miles for most. (I'm a long-distance runner.)
:)
In this edu-sode, we discuss strategies that you can implement to help your child finish their semester confident and strong.
Here are just a few that we share but you'll want to listen for more!
- Listen to episode #95 to learn some overall strategies for good study habits
- Talk to your child's teacher
- Provide a conducive environment that works best for your child
Want more information regarding parent engagement? Check out edu-Me's website for Punam's TEDx Talk, The Key to Enhancing Student Success, and her book, Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond.
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And we're back. The holidays are here and the madness will soon begin. This year, though, can be different.
In this edu-sode, we share how to make the holidays less stressful, more productive, and enjoyable for everyone, including you. We provide strategies for organization and delegating tasks that can alleviate a lot of the overwhelming feelings we often have around this time of year.
By simply changing a few things in your routine holiday planning will be a game-changer.
As my husband always says, "These times are precious and fleeting. We must remember to enjoy the time we are together. "
To learn more about edu-Me, click here to grab a copy of my book, Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond, and watch my TEDx Talk, The Key to Enhancing Student Success.
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It is inevitable that our children will behave in a way that either needs to be rewarded or corrected. That's just the nature of growing and learning. But how we react and handle it is entirely in our control.
In this edu-sode we discuss how to reward your child for good behavior, their hard work, or just because that encourages creating memories without a lot of expense. That's right, little money involved.
I have never been a proponent of attaching a monetary value to expected behaviors, and I'm extremely frugal, so my suggestions will reflect this mindset.
Punishment is a more complex situation. Depending on the severity of the behavior, it may require various degrees of intervention. It can be as simple as a stern talking to taking away privileges. I'm not a fan of taking their phones away because that's the only way I can contact them in the event of an emergency.
Want to learn more about edu-Me? Check out Punam's TEDx Talk, The Key to Enhancing Student Success, and her book, Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond by clicking here.
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Finding good study habits can be difficult for your child. Each child learns differently and in various circumstances. And while in the classroom, teachers are limited in their ability to reach every student's learning styles, parents can provide opportunities for their child to learn best at home. By identifying the best ways your child learns, you can provide an environment that will lead to academic success and long-term retention.
In this edu-sode, we discuss several characteristics of your child to consider as you help them navigate study habits and develop behaviors that will keep them organized, and find success academically and beyond.
To learn more about edu-Me, check out www.edu-Me to grab a copy of Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond and watch Punam's TEDx Talk, The Key to Enhancing Student Success.
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Many children are bullied at some point during their school years. Let's face it, even as adults, we face them.
There are strategies that we can use to help our children manage bullies in school by asking our children what is being said or the actions that are hurtful. Early communication with the teacher and administrator is critical to stopping the behavior. By checking in frequently with the teacher will allow your child to feel supported and decrease their anxiety.
Small bullying tactics -> Bigger bullying tactics -> Behaviors that can be threatening to our society
If your child is the bully, there are strategies you, too, can implore to combat the behavior and de-escalate the situation.
Listen in for strategies that YOU can use to help every child have a safe, fun school experience.
Want more? Check out my book, Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond available at www.edu-Me.net, and tune into my TEDx Talk, The Key to Enhancing Student Success.
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School curriculum is designed to reach the maximum number of students in a classroom. However, what about those children who are at the extreme ends of the spectrum? The child who is struggling to grasp a concept or the one who grasps it so easily that they are left with lots of idle time. These students may need additional support services within the school or from other educational programs.
Is your child bored in school? Acting out? Unable to grasp a concept?
Our edu-sode shares strategies that parents can research, collaborate with the teacher, and then implement to help their child reach their full potential.
Don't forget to grab a copy of my book, Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond and tune in to hear my TEDx Talk, The Key to Enhancing Student Success.
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What is the best way to communicate with your child's school? In the last edu-Sode, we discussed various ways to communicate. We all realize that this is the key to enhancing student success.
This week, we are specifically discussing an app designed to facilitate teacher/parent conversation. Melissa Lucero-Admasu from Klassroom joins us to share the importance of staying connected by also how their app, Klassly promotes and facilitates easy ways to share what is happening with the child.
To learn more, listen to our chat, but also follow the links below to download the app and begin your communication journey today! The best part?? It's FREE!
Melissa is a mom of 2 and a teacher who turned to education technology in 2021. She is an advocate for collaborative education when everyone in a child's "village" works together to best support their growth as a whole.
She now works at Klassroom, sharing better methods and tools with districts, schools, and teachers to connect with, engage and involve families in their communities.
Klassly is the communication app created by Klassroom with both sides of the school-home relationship in mind, Families, students, AND educators.
The balance between respect for privacy and accessibility is embedded in the DNA of Klassly with Communication at the heart of it all. Easy to manage settings to adapt to needs, differentiate school resources, instant translating, guiding messages, and offer peace of mind for access to organized info. Klassly has helped millions of parents connect with teachers on an app created by two dads who just wanted to be better involved. Today 94% of parents engage weekly, and teachers feel the benefits of improved relationships with the students.
Link to the WebApp : https://klass.ly/
Link to The website: https://klassroom.co/
The App is free, you can find it on the apple store and google play store.
Want to learn more about edu-Me? Check out our website, Punam's TEDx Talk, and grab a copy of her book!
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Communication is the best way to ensure that our children are receiving the support they need from their team of teachers, parents, and administrators.
But how do we do it effectively? Who should be at the 'table' to discuss a particular instance or issue?
In this edu-sode, we discuss how parents have a crucial role in communication as their child is the recipient of the decisions, so they must check in with their child's teacher, ask their child pertinent questions, and offer solution-oriented ideas in a non-threatening way to facilitate a strong relationship between all parties. The child will see the support, understand their responsibility, and perform at a higher level.
Be sure to check out my book, Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond, and tune into my TEDx Talk, The Key to Enhancing Student Success for more information about edu-Me's work.
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Orientation or Open House is just around the corner. It's an exciting yet overwhelming time of the year.
What is your routine with your child? Do you stay back and get caught up on tasks? Do you send your child alone? Do you know what's expected of your child for the year?
Adam Lane, Principal at Haines City High School, Florida and Florida Principal of the Year, joins us in this episode to discuss everything we need to know to get our children's school year off on the right foot. His practical strategies are easy to implement, simple to follow, and necessary to ensure a successful school year.
Meeting your child's teachers, knowing their schedule, understanding transportation options, and the extracurricular activities offered on campus are just of few of Adam's strategies. Listen in to learn more about his visionary approach to student retention and success.
Adam is also a professional speaker and a guitar enthusiast and loves to share his strategies with other parents, schools, and districts. To learn more about his work, check out http://www.leadinglane.com.
To learn more about edu-Me, click here.
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My heart is heavy with sadness and anger this week. I cannot get these mass shootings out of my mind. It's been all-consuming and inconceivable that we are unwilling to have a conversation to find a way to save people.
I'm all for your 2nd Amendment Rights. I'm not ok with these assault rifles being used to kill anyone, especially those elderly grocery shopping, Asian Americans worshipping, and young children, babies, in school. People engaging in their everyday activities. Shouldn't they feel safe doing so??
When does it stop? Why does it keep happening?
This short episode is sharing how I feel about these incidents and that we all have a responsibility to make better choices to protect ourselves. It's raw and emotional.
Click here for the transcript. https://otter.ai/u/Fey3J96oiemshyPGHGbcFhhq3OI
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Let's face it. Teachers are the most underappreciated group of professionals in our country. They are continuously scrutinized, overworked, and bombarded from all sides. Yet, they are the most resilient, caring, and empathetic people who deeply care about the future of our society.
So, as the mass exodus of teachers is occurring nationwide, how do we keep them motivated and in their classrooms?
Florida 2017 Teacher of the Year, Jessica Solano, joins us in the studio to discuss the innovative, exciting ways Polk County, Florida is retaining their teachers through their Ambassador program, listening to their teachers' needs, and how parents can also lend a hand in helping teachers.
Jessica was the very first guest on edu-Me back in October 2019. Since then, she has grown her Teacher Recruitment and Retention division into a model that is being sought after around the country.
Know of a school/district that could benefit from her expertise? Contact her here.
Also, check out my TEDx Talk, a parallel conversation from the parent's point of view. Click here.
Time Stamps:
3:05 - Intro
5:20 - How teachers find value in their work
9:20 - Teacher Ambassador Program
18:55 - Teacher Input
20:25 - Consistency is a challenge
23:10 - Parent Responsibility
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Parents have learned a lot about how to best meet their children's educational needs over the past few years. What is the best environment. What is the best time of day for maximizing comprehension. What are the resources that best equip their child.
Regardless of what type of school your child is in, there are more options today than ever.
Brent Goldman, CEO of Xceed Preparatory Academy, joins us this week to discuss a flexible personalized learning model that he created that addresses learning and student success in a way that is counter-intuitive to many of us but necessary for some students who need and crave a different model that focuses more on achieving the ultimate goal of learning through the child's best academic and personal schedule.
Brent's takeaway? "You don't have to be satisfied with the status quo."
Learn more about Xceed Preparatory Academy here.
Time Stamps:
0:00 - Intro
1:50 - Understanding Xceed Preparatory Academy
8:00 - Teachers as mentors, models, and motivators
10:05 - Diversity in student population
14:10 - Students included in academic planning
17:20 - How all students, regardless of finances or need, are able to attend such a program
20:25 - Meeting academic needs and resources for student success
27:30 - Parent engagement at Xceed
31:30 - Student socialization and program extracurriculars
36:00 - Contact Brent https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentgoldman1/
36:25 - Brent's golden nugget
Learn more about your host!
Have you watched Punam's TEDx Talk, The Key to Enhancing Student Success? Click here.
Have you ordered Punam's book, Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond? Click here.
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So often we look at a child who is misbehaving and immediately think, "Wow, they need some help, maybe even medication." Or, "Surely they know better."
It's an unfortunate part of how we make assumptions about people and their actions.
Dr. Hokehe Eko, a Board Certified Pediatrician and Holistic ADHD Consultant, joins us this week to discuss how we need to do a deeper dive into a child's life, experiences, and trauma to determine whether the behavior is because of their environment or a chemical imbalance that needs to be addressed by medication.
She shares that, in order to understand the child, physicians need to inquire about their home life and any experiences that could have led to this behavior. Dr. Eko even shares that a mother's trauma prior to pregnancy can affect a child's behavior. Mind blown, right!?
This episode will enlighten you and give you pause the next time you see a child acting out. You'll now be asking, "I wonder what that child is missing in their life that they're asking for."
Time stamps:
3:23 - What do you want to be when you grow up?
6:35 - How the brain handles trauma
9:20 - Environmental causes of ADHD
11:45 - Nutrition can affect behavior
15:15 - Cayenne or onions for nosebleeds??
17:56 - Kits For Hope
25:00 - School Labels
29:37 - Golden Nugget: Specific Praise to children
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In light of the recent anti-LGBTQ bills in states throughout the country, it seems only appropriate to have an encore presentation of Indi's journey.
My son, India, was always quiet, shy, but highly accomplished. He is kind. He is compassionate. He is a hard worker. He is a good friend to all. He is gay. His attributes make him a productive member of society. His sexual orientation is only one part of who is personality. It does not, in any way, impact his professional goals or how he interacts with others.
These bills introduced throughout the US only create more division between people. I can understand that differences make people nervous. What I cannot understand is why someone would take their inhibitions and force them on those whom they don't want to learn about.
As my kids tell me, "It sounds like a YOU problem".
Our episode this week is Indi's journey of his coming out. There is a lot of honesty and emotion in our conversation. If you're looking for direction or an ear, you'll want to talk with him!
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It sounds overwhelming to expect our children to thrive and excel in schools right now. Even though the world seems to be getting back to some normalcy, our children are still reeling from the aftermath of two years of uncertainty, hybrid classrooms, and the mental toll it has taken on them.
But parents have the opportunity to help them navigate these challenging times. In a recent article published in Authority Magazine, Punam shared her strategies to help parents guide their children in a kind, compassionate, and empathetic way.
After listening to the episode, check out the full article here.
Time Stamps
1:00 - Thrive and Excel
2:05 - Children need to know your expectations
3:44 - Speak with your child
5:44 - Communicate and build relationships
8:20 - Do vs. Does
8:34 - Support your child in public
10:55 - Safe fails
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We all have an opinion on what we would like to change in our education system. Things that would simplify the process and increase student productivity and success. This episode focuses on Punam's strategies for improving the US education system. Excerpted from a recent article in Authority Magazine, she breaks out five (5) important areas that, if implemented, could change the trajectory of the education our children receive.
Time Stamps
1:32 - Overview of the US Education system
2:15 - What are we doing well?
2:26 - Our heroes
3:43 - Data
4:29 - Flexibility
5:09 - Technology (thank goodness!)
5:49 - Cultural needs
7:10 - Prioritizing where we are right now
9:10 - Changing of the tide
10:14 - Breaking point
11:29 - Children need a team
12:45 - Value our teachers (yes!!)
15:40 - Decision-makers
16:38 - Student-focused
17:46 - Business involvement
19:08 - Financial Support
Click here to read the full article. Be sure to like and share with your friends!
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Teachers are our teammates. They go to school each day with the motivation to impart knowledge to our children. They work long hours teaching, grading, understanding
curricula, and helping guide our children.
Ryan Pelkey, teacher extraordinaire, joins us for this episode to share how he has created a team approach to education. As the Athletic Director at his school, he has reached out, held town halls, and personally walked his parents through the challenges parents have faced in schools.
Ryan is the author of The Boy Who Lost His Ears and has led several initiatives that have encouraged student outreach and community service. His Tie Drive and Gift Card Campaign are just two of his projects. Don't know what I'm talking about? Listen in and find out!
Support Ryan by purchasing his book, and be sure to reach out to your child's teacher to become a part of the team!
https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Lost-His-Ears/dp/B09FC895HY/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1YDJIXW9I9I7F&keywords=ryan+pelkey&qid=1645050357&sprefix=ryan+pelkey%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-3
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Trigger episode. The temperature is rising, again. The discussion of banning books is back in the spotlight and it seems the conversation is hitting its peak.
This episode discusses the negative impact of banning books on our children's understanding of the world, the empathy they need to have to create relationships, and the importance of parent engagement and teaching their children about challenging issues.
My strong belief is that children learn about these sensitive topics early and the more we educate them from reputable sources, e.g, books, teachers, parents, the better equipped they are to manage their understanding of them.
As far as music goes, think about the Beatles, Madonna, or Rick James and the language used in their songs. What do we do when if we think they are controversial? We change the station or, better yet, turn the radio off.
We need to do the same for books.
This is an emotional episode that will trigger some to feel uncomfortable. But, listen to the whole episode to gain a new perspective. It will be the start of a conversation that we desperately need!
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If you've never heard of tapping, then Dr. Nall is about to enlighten you. She holds degrees in mathematics, statistics, computer science, and math education but has found her passion in tapping and has been tapping for years. In our interview, she shares the impact this technique has on our body and mind. Tapping, also called Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), helps you get rid of negative feelings and emotions through WAFFLES (Worries, Anxiety, Fear, Frustration, Lethargy, and Exhaustion). Our conversation led us through how parents can use tapping to diffuse stressful situations. It can even help our children learn to calm themselves when they are feeling overwhelmed and anxious. This was the first we at edu-Me had heard of this and were amazed at the benefits. And since it's non-invasive, it can be done anywhere! Dr. Nall is a TEDx Speaker, a Master Trainer, and Advanced Certified Practioner in trauma and quantum tapping.
Find out more about her at www.nalledgeco.com. You'll be glad you did!
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Let's face it: the last 2 years have been challenging and we feel like we are floating in the ocean trying to find our North Star.
In the first episode of the year, I share several updates and thoughts to a mentally strong year ahead.
I share the reason I've been MIA for the past few months. (Hint: It's BIG!) And the link is here. Humbly ask each of you to watch and share with your friends. Let's get this message out!
The second section of this episode covers goals for 2022 but not in the way you think. We often make lofty goals that we would like to achieve but many are too drastic for us to attain immediately. I offer 4 ways to achieve your goals in manageable bites.
In the third section, I discuss the mental fatigue we feel as parents trying to maneuver the seemingly never-ending pandemic. There are a few ways to keep yourself sane while we wait for a return to normalcy.
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CRT has been a hot-button topic the past year, especially since the death of George Floyd. But what is it? Why is so controversial?
In my research, I learned that CRT is a legal term that studies the implementation of systems related to race and how we adjust and adapt to them. Unfortunately, it has morphed into a political battleground for the division of racism.
This episode is a humble attempt to help parents understand CRT, the argument for both sides, and what we can do to educate ourselves and our children.
Tyler Campbell, an English teacher at Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida, joins me this week to discuss his thoughts on CRT, what he is seeing in the classroom, and how he addresses controversial issues with his students. His wisdom, thoughtful insights are powerful for each of us to learn and reflect upon.
Here are some links to the articles I have read and gathered information. This is NOT a comprehensive list, so I encourage you to do your own!
https://criticalrace.org/what-is-critical-race-theory/
https://nypost.com/2021/07/04/why-america-needs-to-ban-critical-race-theory-in-schools/
https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-are-people-so-upset-about-it
Time Stamps:
1:29 - Definition of CRT (criticalrace.org)
3:24 - US News & World Report article for CRT
5:19 - NY Post article against CRT
12:31 - How does CRT affect schools?
13:54 - Many teachers already using this method but not using this term
16:12 - What can we do?
20:13 - What advice do you have for parents?
24:28 - Argument for the other side
27:42 - Reading a variety of books creates empathy
34:59 - Equity v. Equality
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Is loving math an oxymoron for you? It is for so many of us, including, at times, me. But Allison Dillard and Nicole Thompson are in the studio this week to discuss how math is not only a skill but a mindset for how we teach our children about life.
In their new journal, the Love Math Journal, they share practical affirmations, prompts, and affirmations to help create a strong growth mindset in our children. It is a guide to help parents and teachers navigate the challenges children face daily while also developing a love of math. You won't want to miss this important episode.
Check out Allison at www.allisonlovesmath.com, and Nicole at
www.thefulfilledclassroom.com.
Time Stamps:
0:00 - Introductions
6:00 - Math is a skill
9:00 - Teaching math without actually teaching math (contextual learning)
12:00 - The importance of socio-emotional and growth mindset
15:40 - Teaching children how to learn life skills
23:35 - Why 4-8 graders need a positive experience with math
30:55 - Love Math Journal's purpose
36:15 - Buy the book!
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Dr. Michele Borba, the author of the newly released book, Thrivers, joins us this week to discuss how parents can change the trajectory of their child's academic success by identifying strategies within 7 characteristics she discusses.
These characteristics include:
- Self-Confidence
- Empathy
- Self-Control
- Integrity
- Curiosity
- Perseverance
- Optimism
While it is difficult to achieve all of these, Dr. Borba shares that ensuring that our children have some of these characteristics will lead to a more emotionally stable, secure, and global-thinking child. And if we are successful as parents, then our children will be productive, engaged citizens of the world.
Michele Borba, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned educator, award-winning author, and parenting child expert recognized for her solution-based strategies to strengthen children’s character, resilience, and reduce peer cruelty. A sought-after motivational speaker, she has spoken in 19 countries and five continents, and served as a consultant to hundreds of schools and corporations. Clients include Sesame Street, Harvard, U.S. Air Force Academy, 18 US Army Bases in Europe and the Asian-Pacific, H.R.H. the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. and a TEDx Talk: “Empathy Is a Verb.” She offers realistic, research-based advice culled from a career working with over one million parents and educators worldwide.
Click here to order her book today!
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I'm sure you've been on the edge of your seat wondering how edu-Me started. :)
During a walk with my SIL this summer, I shared the personal story that started this journey. She insisted that it was time to tell it.
This episode tells the story of my childhood, the academic hill I had to cross, and what eventually led me on this path of wanting a stronger relationship between parents and schools.
It is a somber episode because its gravity hits me hard when I tell it, and this is the authentic me being vulnerable.
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In October 2019, my son, India, shared this...'Mom and Dad, I'm gay.' So many emotions of happiness, relief, and thankfulness. On some level, my husband and I always knew but to hear him say it, be ok with it, and deciding to live his life true to himself was an epiphany not only for himself but for us as well.
This episode is our conversation in June 2020 where he shared how he felt growing up, the peer pressure he faced, and how he rose about it all. I also share my thoughts and journey as his mother and the emotions I felt as he finally decided to live his honest and authentic life.
I am incredibly proud of this young man.
I hope you will listen to this episode, share it with your friends, and let's begin the dialogue of real compassion, learning to listen and understand, and finding empathy to embrace everyone.
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Which are you? Are you an introvert in some situations and an extrovert in others? My belief is, yes, we weave in and out of these personality types depending on the situation.
Tracy Guillet, owner and founder of Parenting your Introverted Teen, joins us this week to discuss the differences between extroverts and introverts, how each functions, and how we can best understand our differences to gain the most out of our relationships. We discuss ways to connect, be respectful, and enjoy what each has to offer.
Most of all, Tracy reminds us that introverts are pretty awesome people, they just don’t need to be outward about their accomplishments and successes.
This is a fascinating conversation that I know you will enjoy.
Want to learn more? Check out Tracy at www.quietpathways.com
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Many of us are ultra-competitive. We want to win at all costs. We want our children to be successful in every sport they play.
Well, let's face it...that's not reality. Heath Eslinger, the founder of A Better Way Athletics, join us this week to discuss how we can best prep our child and ourselves for managing sports and life. By providing opportunities in sports that help your child grow, learn life skills, and build confidence, we can raise well-rounded, strong, team-oriented future leaders.
Heath is a dynamic leader and communicator who has been changing lives for over two decades. His passion for individuals, teams, and corporations to simply evaluate their present circumstances and do things “a better way” has become contagious. His experience as a successful Division I wrestling coach has given him a training ground to see what it really takes to get an organization to believe in a system, buy into a philosophy, and perform at a high level while most importantly impacting the deepest parts of all involved. This experience, coupled with a passionate ability to communicate, make him a speaker that listeners in every area and every phase of life love to hear.
This episode was enlightening, exciting, and so much fun!
Check out Heath at www.abetterwayathletics.com
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Summer brings a whole new opportunity to relax, unwind, and spend time with the children being home. It can also be financially challenging if we haven't planned our children's camps, vacations, and any other activities we may want to do during this time.
How do we do this? What are some strategies that can help us?
Janice Scholl, the podcast host of Money Career & Motherhood, joins us this week to discuss ways for us to plan the summer, be creative with our activities, keep the children engaged, and not break the bank in the process.
Her practical advice, manageable ideas, and budget-friendly activities will ensure you and your children have a fun, memorable summer.
To learn more about Janice, check her out at https://www.moneycareermotherhood.com and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/moneycareermotherhood.
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The first 2 minutes of this episode is me trying to connect with my guest, Elyse Wagner. Join the fun as I try to navigate technology!
But our episode is actually about summertime and food. The children are home. The 24-hour diner at your house is open. They want to eat food that is easy to grab without a lot of fuss.
And you want them to eat healthy food...at least some of the time.
Elyse Wagner, Chief Wellness Officer at Functional Medicine Coaching Academy Inc. and Founder, Certified Nutritionist & Licensed Mental Health Counselor at Elyse Wagnerjoin us this week to discuss how to offer healthy options to our children (and ourselves) while also satisfying our craving for the 'unhealthy' foods.
Her approach of 'no judgment' and honoring yourself is exactly the one many of us need. In this episode, she shares her philosophy of normalizing eating, enjoying the moment, and ensuring that we have a healthy relationship with food and our family.
There is so much to learn from Elyse...be sure to check her out at www.elysewagner.com
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With graduation upon us, there are many emotions parents are feeling. The excitement of making it to the finish line. The overwhelming number of graduation activities, and, if your child is leaving the house, the uncertainty of what the future holds.
In this episode, I share an excerpt about empty-nesting from my brand new book, Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond. I share my experience with graduations, the next phase of life, and how to own our feelings without hesitation.
This phase is an emotional roller coaster. Let it be ok not to be ok.
Want more? Check out the Call to Actions this week, including purchasing the book!
www.edu-Me.net
https://bit.ly/navigateschoolandbeyond
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I'm so excited to share that my first book is releasing TODAY!! Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond is a journey through parenthood of my experiences, lessons, and challenges of raising 4 children.
As an educator and parent, I learned many strategies along the way and this book allows you to take our daily activities, gain some perspective, and, hopefully, understand that our parenting challenges are all normal.
This week, we have 2 guests to share how their suggestions, ideas, and support helped this book come to fruition.
Dr. Daryl Ward, my friend, and children's high school principal joins us to discuss how he guided me and even experienced several of the events I relay. And how the book may be beneficial to parents. He also has written the afterword for the book which culminated in the book and our work together. Contact him for your writing needs at www.theleadingpoints.com
Aparna Verma, my sister-in-law (actually more a sister), is a commercial artist and designed the book cover in Parent Power. She brought her creativity, inspiration, and vision to light (literally) by the lightbulb image and the filaments depicting double 'P's' for Parent Power. She shares how she came to this image and what the color combinations chosen mean. To contact her for your creative needs, email her at designreach@gmail.com.
The book is available now on Amazon at Parent Power and retail bookstores nationwide!
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Teachers and administrators are the true backbones of our education system. Each day they head to work to impart knowledge, create a safe environment, and motivate their students. It takes heart and passion to teach. And a positive work environment creates a sense of belonging and desire to invest in student success.
In this episode, we have the distinct honor of speaking with Dr. Danny Steele, principal at Pell City High School in Alabama. Danny's positive approach to helping his faculty and staff navigate teaching trickles down to his students. Sometimes there are big achievements to celebrate, but Danny shares that even the small ones are important because we never know how they will impact the student.
Danny shares that parents have a stake in student success and provides several strategies for parents to partner with schools to ensure their child is gaining the skills they need.
This episode is eye-opening, student-focused, and teacher and parent-approved.
Prior to Danny's current position, he has served as an Assistant Professor of Instructional Leadership, principal, assistant principal, teacher, and coach. In 2005, Steele was recognized as the “Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year” for the state of Alabama. And in 2016, he was recognized as Alabama’s “Secondary Principal of the Year.” He has presented at numerous state and national conferences and spoken in school districts around the country. He has written two books with Todd Whitaker which were released in 2019. Steele has an undergraduate degree in History from Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, GA); he has an M.A. in History from the University of Alabama, Birmingham; he has an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Administration and an Educational Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership – both from Samford University. He resides with his wife and three children in Birmingham, Alabama. Follow Danny on Twitter at @steelethoughts and he can be reached at http://www.steelethoughts.com/.
Time Stamps:
0:24 - Introduction
3:58 - Danny's Book, The Total Teacher4:39 - Reflect on things that matter
6:12 - Teaching is not a hobby, it's a profession
7:31 - Teachers want to work where they are valued
10:28 - Parent involvement/engagement
11:31 - Shared values between parents and schools
13:59 - Some parents feel alienated walking into schools
16:21 - Parent reaching out to teachers
19:17 - 100 positive phone calls in 100 days
25:27 - Challenges of managing overwhelmed students during the pandemic
33:45 - Students re-socializing into schools
36:19 - Students need interaction
37:27 - Words of wisdom/closing
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
We are rounding the corner on the most unusual school year in our lifetime. It's been a yo-yo as to whether our children are in school full-time/part-time/or virtual. Yet, the one thing we know well is that we, the parent, need to partner with our teachers and administrators more than ever.
Kerry Graham, a high school English teacher, joins us this week to share how she encourages her students to become as independent as they can be along with providing strategies for parents to share the responsibility of their child's education.
Her practical advice, the challenges she sees her lovelies (students) face, and her desire to create productive citizens will inspire you!
Kerry Graham lives, teaches, writes, and kayaks in Baltimore, MD, USA. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Education, Kerry prioritizes laughter, compassion, and self-expression in her English classroom. She's grateful for and humbled by her ten years as a public school teacher. You can reach her on FB, IG, and Twitter @mskerrygraham.
Time Stamps:
1:05 - Intro
5:49 - Talking Shop
7:01 - Effective student time management for classroom success
9:47 - Window of opportunity and life skills
14:50 - A safe place to fail
15:35 - Human life skills
16:39 - Best intentions between schools and home
20:12 - Communication is key
24:24 - Gradual release of responsibility
26:05 - Alleviate student stress
29:36 - Creating support at home
33:13 - Words of wisdom
34:36 - Punam's story
37:40 - Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond available on Amazon now!39:04 - Closing
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
The end of the school year is around the corner and we have all become accustomed to this new normal.
In this episode, we speak with Jibin Park who shares how teachers have navigated the year, how his students have adjusted, and how they have mostly kept on their academic track through this most unusual year.
You'll enjoy the honest conversation we have about baseball (he's a Dodgers fan and I'm a Braves fan), my lack of understanding of economics, and, yes, education.
Jibin Park is an AP Economics instructor at Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights, CA. He served as an AP Economics Reader for the College Board from 2007-2012, and also completed a lecture series for AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics, and AP Government on www.educator.com. He also teaches AP Economics and AP US History at IvyMax Academy in Irvine, California. In addition, Mr. Park is a contracted AP Economics tutor for hire on wyzant.com. Jibin holds an M.A. in education from Claremont Graduate University, and completed graduate coursework in economics at Cal State Fullerton. He graduated with a degree in economics and government from Claremont McKenna College, and pitched four years for the Claremont-Mudd Stags baseball team under Coach Randy Town.
Time Stamps:
0:55 - Intro
6:11- Jibin's background
9:10 - Keeping seniors motivated on Zoom
11:32 - How students approach finals through remote learning
16:02 - Balancing personal/personal life as a Zoom teacher
18:33 - Decrease in parent engagement
21:54 - Academic performance steady/social interactions challenging
24:25 - Students' secondary plans
28:30 - Praise for Los Altos HS and principal Jeff Hess
29:08 - Wyzant.com
34:33 - Differences in social interaction at elementary and high school level
38:43 - Closing
jibinpark@gmail.com
www.wyzant.com
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
So many times, we only look at our differences. Our skin color, our physical limitations, our academic challenges, and we make judgments based on them. And then, we 'pigeon-hole' them into what we believe they should be.
Dr. Bibinaz Pirayesh, educational therapist and founder of The Learning Tree, joins us this week to discuss how we can embrace our children's differences, advocate for them in school, and how to find balance in our lives.
This powerful conversation gives you an opportunity to reflect on your own parenting style, find some perspective, and make your family's lives less stressful. Bibi's calm methodology and approach will allow us to gain some perspective.
Dr. Pirayesh holds a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience and Education from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master's degree in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University where her work focused primarily on children’s development of mathematical thinking and cognitive neuroscience. She works with children grades 1-12 and covers a wide range of learning difficulties including dyslexia, ADHD, and spectrum disorders. Dr. Pirayesh completed her doctoral work at Loyola Marymount University where she is also Faculty and is involved with a number of service organizations including The Association of Educational Therapists.
Time Stamps:
1:35 - Introduction
3:09 - What is an educational therapist?
6:25 - What have we gained this past year?
9:00 - Teaching in a box
12:40 - Systemic issues when we see those who are different
14:15 - Team approach to education
16:37 - Differences make us nervous
21:52 - Strategies to get parents involved
22:43 - Do LESS!
24:32 - Punam is guilty!
26:44 - Finding balance
28:00 - Where parents get their superpower
29:23 - Guilt and Fear fuel parents schedules
32:15 -Parent Power: Navigate School and Beyond (releasing May 4)
33:02 - Parent expectations of themselves is insane
34:57 - Children bully themselves in their minds
36:20 - Closing
Resources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bibi-pirayesh-b771331/
www.laeducationaltherapy.com
www.aetonline.org
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Many of us did not grow up with social media yet it has overtaken our lives as well as our children's. Between phones, iPads, computers, and video games, we have an addiction that many of us are victims of.
But what are these devices doing to our children's behavior, social skills, and brain development? Larissa Mills joins us in the studio this week to share her research and startling findings.
Larissa, in her role as a teacher, parent, and coach, observed a dramatic increase in unwanted and even violent behaviour in children. She saw a possible link between this negative behaviour and the increase in children's cell phone use. This inspired her to start a research proposal to investigate the link further. In her preliminary interviews with school administrators, teachers, and early childhood educators, there was a resounding consensus indicating a negative change in children's behaviour since the introduction of handheld devices in the classroom and at home. Her focus quickly expanded to include how parents balance and monitor their children's use of cell phones and devices. Today, this negative, violent behaviour is still occurring and becoming increasingly worse. Larissa fears that if parents don't heed the medical guidelines, children will be unteachable in the classroom.
Time Stamps:
1:14 - Introduction
2:35 - The 21st Century addiction: Phones
6:25 - Did you know 60% of parents are bullying others
7:03 - Parents' legal responsibility for their children's phones
11:16 - Disruption in sleep cycle
12:21 - Single most challenge facing parents with social media
14:17 - Dr. John Hutton, Cleveland Clinic, says linguistic part of the brain not developing
16:41 - Scariest stat yet
19:22 - Nothing good happens after midnight
23:47 - 3 C's of challenges professionals see in children
24:07 - Delays in development and affecting mental health
27:16 - Increase in admission of those with gaming addictions in addiction facilities
31:04 - 5 routines necessary to balance children's days
34:52 - Closing/Words of wisdom
Find Larissa Mills at www.iParentgen.com
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
As we continue our series on bullying, Berthine Crevecoeur West joins us this week to discuss how she has created a business of educating business and children about cultural competence.
Berthine was born in the US but her family hails from Haiti. Her first language is French and she learned English when she started school. Not understanding she was 'different', her teacher asked her mother to only speak with her in English. She was treated differently, even in the Black community.
As Berthine grew up, she realized she did not want this to be her fate so she created Westbridge Solutions to change the paradigm of how we teach and work with those coming from different backgrounds. Her expertise, novel approach to teaching cultural competence has changed the way ethnic groups are approached.
Berthine Crèvecoeur West believes the power of knowledge is transformational. She founded Westbridge Solutions on the core competencies of planning and organization, cultural awareness, and collaborative working. Clients of Westbridge would agree that being a catalyst in these competencies enabled their organizations to deliver outstanding service. Berthine received both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from St. John’s University in Jamaica, NY. Prior to becoming the CEO of Westbridge Solutions, LLC, Berthine worked in the corporate and healthcare sectors as a multilingual professional. Her passion for learning and sharing knowledge with others led to her role as a trainer and public speaker. Berthine Crèvecoeur West is a best-selling author, award-nominated podcast host of The Global Fluency Podcast and Founder of Global Fluency Magazine. She has been featured on CBS, FOX and NBC, as well as other domestic and international media. All of her projects continue her drive towards positive cultural change on a global scale.
Contact Berthine at https://www.westbridgesolutions.com
Time Stamps:
1:10 - Intro
3:40 - Cultural Competence/Paradigm Shift
7:45 - Berthine is the 'other'
9:19 - Discriminated against her own
11:22 - Berthine becomes the first Nationally Certified Healthcare Interpreter in GA
14:15 - Pendulum of cultural competence moving slower than immigration rate
18:01 - Lead with logic and facts
23:23 - The impact of Ahmaud Arbrey
28:00 - How do we help parents understand cultural competence
33:45 - Golden Rule
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Dwarfism is a genetic or medical condition that allows a person to be short in stature. We may look at these individuals and see them as different, treat them differently.
Christophe Zajac-Denek, host of the podcast I'm Kinda a Big Deal, joins us in the studio this week to discuss his life as a dwarf and how he has overcome multiple surgeries to become a successful competitive surfer, an actor, and a podcaster. His podcast is about the unique lives of people affected by dwarfism. He interviews little people and we talk about the successes, the struggles, the funny, and the real day-to-day experiences we, as little people, face. His goal is to build a bridge between little people and the average height world.
He reminds us that regardless of our size, color, or any other discriminatory characteristic, we can accomplish anything we'd like.
His laughter and stick-to-it-ness will inspire you to keep focusing on your goals, regardless of what stands in your way.
He was born with Cartlidge Hair Hypoplasia and started seeing a dwarfism specialist at age 2. He's had 2 reconstructive leg surgeries (ages 6, 16) and a spinal fusion (age 17, fused from T1-L4). I'm 4'4" tall.
Went to college at Michigan State University.
Began working as a TV producer for local community stations.
Started a rock band in which I played drums. We toured the US and Europe for 6 years. Lots of press in Detroit and opened for Iggy Pop, Motion City Soundtrack, My Chemical Romance, Ok GO, and more.
Christophe left the band and moved to Hollywood to pursue music and ended up getting work in the acting/film industry as an actor/stuntman for various productions.
Notable productions I've worked on: Twin Peaks, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Oz: The Great And Powerful, Fresh Off The Boat, My Dinner With Herve, Insidious 4.
Listen to Christophe's podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/im-kind-of-a-big-deal/id1484411273
To learn more about dwarfism, check out this site: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dwarfism/symptoms-causes/syc-20371969
Time Stamps:
1:12 - Intro
3:27 - Little people have to grow up before anyone else
8:25 - How tall is Christophe?
9:15 - Friendships growing up
11:20 - Encountering people in the wild
14:08 - Children have no judgment
15:51 - Adult life and self-confidence
20:27 - Educate/re-educate parents
21:47 - I'm Kinda a Big Deal
24:01 - The 'E' words
26:49 - Judge someone based on their character
28:35 - Ally, Christophe's special guest
30:05 - Punam's Freshman story
32:24 - Christophe, the drummer
35:56 - Parting words of wisdom
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
The past year has been difficult for everyone. The constant fluidity in our lives, concern for family members, and trying to maintain some type of normalcy have all been challenging. But if you are an Asian American, you are facing intense scrutiny, bullying, and crimes.
Unfortunately, the backlash against Asian American Pacific Islanders has risen with the political climate of phrases such as "Kung Flu" and 'China Virus".
It is such an honor to have Dr. Russell Jeung, professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, join me in the studio this week to discuss how Asian Americans are being bullied and what we can do about it.
Teaching our children to appreciate and embrace physical and cultural differences is crucial for a homogeneous society.
As an AA, I'm saddened to watch the increased violence and hatred among any group of people, but especially those from my heritage. This is a learning opportunity for everyone. For Asian Americans to teach about our culture, and our hopes and dreams. For those who want to understand, be inclusive, to embrace our differences, this episode is for you.
Dr. Jeung is a rock star in his work and has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, KTLA, and Time magazine to name a few.
Time Stamps:
2:09 - Introduction of Dr. Russell Jeung
5:02 - AAPIs, mental health, and COVID
6:30 - AAPI youth are disproportionately discriminated against
9:24 - 3 ways AAPIs are being attacked
14:08 - What can parents do to mitigate this hate
15:00 - How AAPI parents can talk to their children
16:49 - How non-Asians can talk to their children
18:27 - AAs and cyberbullying
23:40 - Women and girls being targeted more
24:17 - Help the Cause of Stop AAPI Hate
29:57 - Empower parents to empower their children
31:47 - Words of wisdom from Dr. Jeung
www.stopaapihate.org
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
We never want to see our children suffer. It hurts us to the core because we want our child's life to be pain-free, perfect, happy.
But when they face medical challenges, it is heartbreaking and devastating. When Em was 3.5 years, she was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma and was given a short time to live. Fast forward, she is now 14 years old. Yay!
Her mom, Tara Geraghty, joins me in the studio this week to share how she made the journey fun for both of them. It's not easy to make such a diagnosis fun, but Tara and Em made it enjoyable for everyone around them. It was their coping mechanism, but also tremendously healing in the face of fear.
Tara will inspire and remind you to enjoy the small things in life, and laugh along the way.
Tara has spent over 23+ years in leadership development leading a team of women across the nation. She holds a degree in theater, has a background in improvisation and is both Counseling Practitioner and REBT certified. Tara is a sought after Top 5 TEDx speaker, the Author of Making Cancer Fun: A Parents Guide (Amazon #1 New Release), and has been featured on MSNBC, GMA, 5280 & Reader’s Digest to name a few. She is a contributing author on Every Entrepreneur’s Guide to Running your Own Business, a contributor to Conquer Magazine: The Patient’s Voice, and can be heard on podcasts worldwide. She volunteers her time as a member of the JLMC and the NJ State & Public Affairs Committee. Tara lives in NJ with her miracle kid daughter Emily Grace. You can find Tara at www.taragonline.com
Time Stamps:
1:05 - Intro
3:40 - Cancer Diagnosis
8:00 - Em wants a bikini
9:03 - Tumor Stomping party
11:30 - Radiologist's encouraging words
14:57 - TEDX and how happiness helps scientifically
18:25 - Tara's not the expert :)
24:10 - PTSD
28:13 - Em's positivity about COVID
32:52 - Tara's meltdown
35:10 - Self-care v. Selfish
38:23 - Focus on me
40:08 - Parting words of wisdom
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Have you ever wondered how parents of children with special needs manage everything? The day to day tasks can be overwhelming, challenging, and exhausting.
Effie Parks from Once Upon a Gene joins us in the studio this week to share her positive, hopeful, and energetic outlook on life with her son, Ford. Her message is that it is your choice how you approach adversity. Hers is head-on with a smile. But that doesn't mean she neglects herself. Effie has some simple, doable ways for us to take care of ourselves, even if it means we make a Target run. (Disclaimer, she may not always go to Target!)
Frankly, I needed to hear her message and I know you will, too. She is amazing!
Effie Parks was born in the magical land of Montana, where she was raised with her 12 loving siblings. After moving to Washington and marrying her husband, they were blessed with the birth of their son, Ford Canon Parks. When she learned that Ford had been born with an extremely rare genetic condition – CTNNB1 syndrome – she dove into the world of advocacy. Now, she is the host of her own podcast, Once Upon a Gene, where she speaks to others about their journey through life with rare disease.
Contact Effie if you are wanting advice, resources, or even just an ear at www.effieparks.com.
Time Stamps:
0:52 - Effie Parks intro
2:25 - Once Upon a Gene
4:17 - Ford and his condition
8:46 - Effie Time
11:05 - Toothbrush Test
15:35 - You matter the most
18:23 - Target and margaritas
23:15 - Socializing with Ford
28:05 - Judging someone on their character
29:31 - Connect with Effie
31:01 - Effie's sage advice
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Sounds like a crazy busy life to juggle with so many responsibilities. We all are super busy doing so many tasks, it begs the question, "How do we have time for anything for ourselves?".
This week Tiffany Hwang joins us in the studio to discuss how she, the mother of14:14 two young children, holds a full-time job, and a podcast host (TITT Talks), manages to create time in her incredibly busy schedule for herself.
Her one piece of advice? Do something that works with everyone's schedule! Listen to learn more.
Time Stamps:
- 0:00 - Intro
- 8:21 - Parent Guilt; how Tiffany prioritizes her time
- 12:11 - Anger management meditation (is that a thing??)
- 14:54 - How Asian American women are conditioned
- 16:28 - Tiffany's daughter in a dual immersion program at school
- 19:56 - White board for scheduling purposes
- 21:30 - Is getting groceries self-care?
- 23:02 - Staying home and mental sanity
- 25:17 - Sometimes you need more help than you can provide yourself
- 27:14 - By taking care of ourselves, we are more patient with our children
- 28:23 - Tiffany and I discuss who is more patient, our husbands or us
- 30:38 - Tiffany Hwang contact info
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Anyone else out there great at giving advice but not taking it? No? So, it's just me. OK.
For so many years, I was told to take care of myself when my children were young. Take time to do some just for me. To step back and take a breath so I could enjoy the time with my children. But did I listen?? Nope. I thought I knew better.
Much later, when the children were teenagers, I finally started doing a few things for myself. I would make sure I did at least one thing just for myself every day.
Looking back, I should have listened sooner, so Do as I Say, Not as I Did. Take time for yourself. In this episode, I break down 4 areas where we need to be healthy to provide the best we can for our children.
Mental, physical, emotional, and social are the areas I feel are important for us to understand.
Each day this month, I will post a self-care tip for you to consider, and look forward to you sharing yours with me.
Follow me for the latest updates:
https://www.instagram.com/theedume/
https://www.facebook.com/theedume
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
We have extremely busy schedules and it's hard to fit everything in. How many times do you think 'We need to do that', but it never happens?
Reading is an important part of our children's education, but we also need to devote time to it. Children's reading doesn't just 'happen' overnight. We have to teach them, help them, and it requires lots of patience.
Catherine Praiswater, host of the podcast Your Positive Imprint, is philosophical but also sentimental. She was raised in a close-knit family with several siblings. Life was spent in the outdoors camping, hiking, backpacking, traveling, fishing and singing songs around the campfire. Often times she and her family were the only ones in the wilderness, except for the wildlife. Her parents told stories and taught the children about life from these stories. As a result, Catherine enjoys telling stories and writing about her experiences in a reflective manner. host of the podcast Your Positive Imprint, joins us this week to discuss how parents can create strong readers, even with busy lives. Her strategies can be implemented in fun ways, if we plan and schedule. By doing so, we can build confidence in our readers, and enjoy quality time with them, as well.
We can create strong readers with a few adjustments in our schedules. Listen to Catherine tell us how.
Some of the sources she cites in this episode:
https://yourpositiveimprint.com/
http://www.louisamoats.com/
Doug Fisher, Ph.D.
https://www.trelease-on-reading.com/
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Testing season seems to never end. The SAT/ACT are given more times a year than ever and it can be overwhelming to guide your children. As parents, we are trying to optimize our child's 'performance' on the test so they can apply to colleges. It is an exhausting time for everyone in the family.
Creating a schedule, ensuring that your child is efficient with their time is critical for maintaining sanity, and doing well on the test.
There is help!
Amy Seeley from Seeley Test Pros and Mike Bergin from Chariot Learning join us in the studio this week to discuss:
- When is the best time to take the ACT/SAT
- When is the best time to prepare for these tests
- What can we do to help our child attain their highest scores
- What are resources we can ALL use to help our children
https://seeleytestpros.com/
https://chariotlearning.com/
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/testing
https://www.youtube.com/user/KaplanSATACT
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
We all have busy schedules. Our days are filled with lots of multi-tasking at work and home. And throw in a pandemic, and we have now have elevated our level of the number of tasks and stress. There are ways to help decrease our anxiety levels and stay sane in the process.
Keeping on this topic for the month, my friend Jerry Won joins us in the studio this week to share how he manages his business and spending quality time with his young children. He creates and implements many projects that are dear to his heart, that he is passionate about, and brings them to fruition. His approach to his work/life balance is admirable and one we should all learn from.
Jerry is a storyteller, brand builder, and entrepreneur. He is the Founder & CEO of Just Like Media, an Asian American storytelling company whose shows include Dear Asian Americans, Beyond the Resumes, MBAsians, and The Janchi Show. He is the CEO of The Podcast Firm, a podcasting production, consulting, and education company. Prior to podcasting, he was a strategy consultant at Accenture and sales leader at start-ups and F500 companies. Jerry has a BS from USC Marshall and an MBA from Michigan Ross. Along with his wife Kyung and his two children, Jerry lives in Southern California. Connect with him on Linkedin at jerrywon.com
Jerry is a visionary and voice for the Asian community around the world. Having immigrated to America when he was 8, he has worked to find his voice in the world and elevate others.
In order to do so, he has to be effective with his schedule. This episode includes his views on:
- Time management strategies
- The Korean journey
- Privileges
- Making choices about your time
- @Dear Asian Americans
- @The Janchi Show, and
- @Asian Podcast network
And, no recording of mine would be complete without some technical glitches that was left in for your listening pleasure.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
This is a very heavy episode for me. I'm still in shock and dismay at the events of this past week. Watching the events at the Capitol were unbelievably scary and unnerving.
However, the whole time I was watching, I kept asking myself, 'What do we say to our children? How do we explain this to them?'
In this bonus episode, I share 3 points that I have shared with my own children about the events. These 3 points are also what I told my children as we watched the events together.
This is not a political episode. It is a reflection of my thoughts and desire to move forward to a better, more stable country.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Happy New Year!
We all have survived 2020. It presented with unknowns, constant juggling of our schedules, and trying to find our sanity in the process.
Thankfully, 2021 has arrived and it's time to look ahead to a less stressful, chaotic year (hopefully!). Along with a new year, we tend to also want to become a better version of ourselves.
So, this month we are discussing time management. How can we make our lives more efficient and productive? AND sustainable? In this episode, I break down 5 ways to become a better time manager.
- Plan, Plan, Plan
- Be reasonable in your expectations
- Find your calm time
- Re-evaluate your priorities often
- Create a plan that is flexible and workable
Join in as I share some concrete examples from my parenting that will help you!
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
This is the last episode for 2020 and we wanted to end it on a high note. There are some good things that happened this year. I share, in this episode, the best thing that's happened for my family.
If you know anyone with hearing loss, you understand how challenging it can be for them and everyone they are around. The simple, daily task of having a conversation, watching TV, or talking on the phone can be frustrating and affect self-esteem.
In this episode, my Mom and Dad join me to share my Mom's 50-year journey of hearing loss, how it affected her teaching 2nd graders, and the never ending quest to find a solution.
While this may not be for everyone, this path did help my mother regain her hearing with the help of a device called a bone-anchored hearing aid. With the help of this device, she can now hear about 80% better than she is able to without it.
There are so many lessons in this episode, but here are my top 3:
- Never give up. There may be a solution that you aren't aware of.
- Do not associate a physical deficiency to intellectual, social, or emotion deficiency.
- Be sure to teach your children the first two!
Be sure to subscribe and listen to this and all our other episodes!
Links are below for anyone interested in more information.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone-anchored_hearing_aid
https://www.healthyhearing.com/help/hearing-aids/bone-anchored
https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/procedures-and-treatments/bone-anchored-hearing-aids-baha
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Most of us worry about our finances. Wonder if we are planning well enough for those rainy days and our future. Hoping we can provide for our children the way we would like. Ensuring we can retire when we would like without worrying about finances.
But how do we help our children learn these lessons as well? At what age do we start? Where do we start?
This week, Julia Guerin, Financial Planner at Northwest Mutual, joins us in the studio to share what we can do to ensure we are financially stable. She shares that it is never too early to start with our own planning AND teaching our children about the value of money.
There are so many lessons in this episode but the one that sticks out with me is that I need to be less intimidated by finances and actually educate myself. What will you learn? Listen and find out!
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It's that time of year again. Feverishly racing against the clock. Buying the perfect Christmas gifts. Decorating the house. Planning the meals. Figuring out who's coming for the holidays.
And in this pandemic time, there is an added stress of keeping everyone healthy and safe.
In this episode, I break down how I'm managing the holidays this year. It's not easy, but I'm trying to focus on the positives AND stay calm at the same time.
Here are some things discussed in this episode:
- Holiday Shopping
- Christmas tree shopping
- Meal planning
- Your self-care (VERY important this year!)
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
It's easy to look at the madness around us and think, 'What should I be thankful for?' In the midst of all that has happened this year, I reflect on the things I am grateful for in this episode...and there are many.
Let me know what you are thankful for!
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Are you stressed and overwhelmed about the holidays? Are you worried about how you are going to get that holiday meal on the table? Are you trying to figure out what your holiday looks like during this unusual year?
Marie Fiebach, host of the podcast Feed Your Family Tonight, joins us in the studio this week to give us practical, manageable ideas on how to destress with our meal planning this holiday season. During our conversation, I was already beginning to lower my shoulders, take deep breaths, and realize that I will survive!
Want more?
www.feedyourfamilytonight.som
Feed Your Family Tonight podcast
weekly guest chef on KAKE ABC
Feed Your Family Tonight Cookbook available on Amazon
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This week, I have the privilege of speaking with Kelly Andrews from Kelly Andrews Today to talk about Heart Math+ and Resilience. Heart Math+ is a tool to help us understand how our body reacts to different emotions and the impact it has on our physical body.
She shares that we need to find calming mechanisms from within ourselves, and not from external factors. With over 30 years of experience in emotional awareness, Kelly brings the knowledge we need right now.
As parents who don't have a lot of free time, we can often overlook how our reaction is affecting those around us. Taking some time to understand ourselves is the key to making our lives less stressful. Once we recognize ours, we are better able to help our children with theirs. And it's never too early to start!
And we need this just before the holidays!
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Do you find yourself imposing (even subtly) your thoughts, visions, and stresses onto your children?
Let's face it, we all do. We all want better for our children. For them not to face the challenges we had in our childhood. For them to take advantage of all opportunities presented to them.
I am so guilty of this! But what can we do to help our little ones?
When we look at younger children, we see their creativity and inhibitions. This is the intuition we are born with...and that we begin to lose around age 6-7 when they start school. See, intuition isn't so scary!!
Victoria Shaw, Ph.D, host of the podcast Intuitive Connection, author of 4 books, and intuitive coach joins us this week to share how parents can help their children can stay true to their gut feelings (intuition) and develop their own identity in a safe, nurturing environment. Victoria is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Spiritual Coach who combines her background and training in psychology and counseling with her intuitive gifts to help clients heal, grow and realize their spiritual and full personal potential. She takes a holistic approach to counseling, addressing clients’ concerns on the mind/body/spiritual levels. She especially loves working with people who are committed to using their struggles and life experiences to fuel their own spiritual awakening.
Check Victoria out at:
Intuitive Connection podcast
www.victoriashawintuitive.com
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BONUS EPISODE!
I had the highest honor to speak at the Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) for Biden campaign just 2 days before the election.
Moderated by the one and only Jerry Won, and with 6 of my other Asian American podcaster friends, we discussed how podcasting has impacted the election, our voices, and, ultimately our decisions.
It was a surreal experience to be able to share my voice in a meaningful, impactful way.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
In this episode, Sara Roberts McCarley shares the loss of her husband, Randy Roberts, when her children were 6 and 3. Everyone grieves in a different way.
Sara discusses her story of her:
- Grief
- Telling her children
- Keeping Randy's memory alive
- Finding purpose again
- Falling in love and remarrying Trey McCarley
Through this journey, Sara founded the Randy Roberts Foundation in honor of her late husband. The mission of the foundation is to 'cultivate Florida's future leaders through promoting civic engagement, public service initiatives and providing resources to students excelling in those areas'. Each year, Sara takes high school students to DC to learn the intricacies of how the government works.
There can be positive that comes out of tragedy. And Sara is proof of it.
Sara Roberts McCarley is the mother of 2, a Lakeland, Florida City Commissioner, and President of the Harrison Parents' Association.
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In this episode, Jessica Kupferman, co-founder of She Podcasts, joins us in the studio to share her daughter, Emily's, story. This beautiful young girl's life was altered when trust was broken at a very young age. It plagued her for the rest of her short life.
Between addiction and having a borderline personality disorder, Emily's last years were tumultuous for her and the family.
Jess shares the emotional journey she traveled with Emily as a mother and a woman. Join us as this episode is what every parent needs to hear. Her insight, reflections, and advice will help guide you to seek help, unabashedly, for your child.
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This week, we are celebrating our 1st birthday! Making it through your first year, means you've learned a lot, had some success and some challenges.
As we celebrate the successes of edu-Me, I'd like make a shoutout to everyone who has listened to our podcast over the past year, been a guest, a contributor or a supporter.
I am immensely grateful to each one of you. In this episode I share just a few highlights from this past year and what is on the horizon for year 2.
Celebrate with us by playing our birthday. Details at the end of episode! Grab a friend and play today!
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Ever wonder what your children think of you volunteering in schools? How does it impact them? What do other students think? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a parent involved in schools?
Punam's children, Maya, Kavi, Lyla, and India (MILK), come into the studio to share their experience of having 2 active parents in their schools. It was an eye opening conversation with them where we all learned a lot from each other (and a fair amount of sidebars that has been left in for your listening pleasure).
Parents walk a tightrope of being 'too involved' and 'not enough'. The Saxena children's experience can help us be more cognizant of our own purpose and desires for becoming a volunteer.
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You are either a math person or you're not. I loved math and planned to minor in it until my college professor said that 2+2 did not equal 4. I immediately dropped the class and that was the end of that.
In our episode this week, Allison Dillard joins us in the studio. Allison is an Adjunct Professor in Math at Irvine Valley College, a mom of 3, and the author of the books, Crush Math Now and Raise Your Math Grade. Her parenting membership, Raise a Math Person, helps parents to set their kids up for long-term success in math, STEM, school and life.
She loves math and shares how we can teach our children to love it, too. Her practical approach to helping our children will not only make them excited about math, but you, too! You can get Allison's free parenting mini-course, 7 Secrets that Parents of Successful Math Students Know, at allisonlovesmath.com.
Here are the links to her books and the resources she discusses in the episode.
https://www.amazon.com/Crush-Math-Now-High-Impact-Strategies/dp/1950720020/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZPC6PX5WMYZF&dchild=1&keywords=allison+dillard&qid=1601146234&sprefix=allison+dillar%2Caps%2C348&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/Raise-Your-Math-Grade-Uber-Streamlined/dp/1950720071
https://www.kahoot.com/
https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique
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The Notorious RBG's passing last Friday shocked the country. I spent the weekend reflecting on the lessons she taught me during her time on the bench. In this episode, I dissect the difference between educating and teaching. Many are educated but unable to teach effectively.
Justice Ginsburg was highly educated and one of the most impactful of our lifetime. Politics aside, her sheer tenacity and bravery have impacted and changed the trajectory of so many. She was tremendous teacher by the examples she set. .
I discuss this and more about the impact of her legacy on our nation and my family.
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September 11, 2001 changed our lives and our world forever. It is the one day each year that we all come together, regardless of our backgrounds, and remember the horrific acts of that day.
But what happened on September 12, 2001? That is the day we began healing as a nation but it also showed our differences.
In this episode, I talk about my experience post 9/11, as a PoC, and how it impacted the parenting of my 4 children.
By educating ourselves, we can learn so much from each other and begin to break down these social barriers.
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This week, my amazing husband, Anu, joins us in the studio to discuss how fathers can become engaged in their child's schools. Father's roles are different from mothers and just as important in the schools. Their approach to education and support is a vital source of strength needed for schools and their children.
Children need to see their fathers take interest and participate in education.
Anu and I discuss and laugh our way through his journey of fatherhood and raising 4 children. Listen in!
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Cori Asuncion, creator and host of the podcast, That's Not Proper!, and mother of 7 amazing children and grandmother to 4, joins us in the studio today to discuss the merits and challenges of homeschooling children.
She shares the reason she and her partner chose homeschooling for more than 20 years, how they succeeded, and ways to ensure each child is receiving the necessary education and skills they need to become productive citizens in society.
She also shares her deep respect for teachers and parents as they maneuver through the schooling process.
Here are some of the homeschooling programs she shares in the episode:
www.hsdla.org
www.allinoneshomeschool.com
www.kaplanco.com
Want to learn more about Cori? Contact her at cori@thatsnotproper.com
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Dr. Orlena Kerek, pediatrician and mother of four, joins us this week to discuss how to ensure the picky eater in your family is getting the nutrition they need without everyone having a meltdown. Her approach, tips, knowledge and insight will make sure family meals are enjoyable and memorable...the ultimate goal.
She gives practical, easy advice that we can all benefit from.
0:09 - Quick reminder to participate in the 2020 Census
2:02 - Introduction
3:54 - Journey to a healthy lifestyle
5:29 - How fiber affects constipation
6:44 - Presenting nutritious foods
8:49 - What Dr. Orlena made for dinner
10:45 - Greek salad
12:12 - Parents are in charge of balancing the menu
17:25 - Children learning to cook
20:08 - Introduce lentils/legumes for children
21:30 - Serve more veggies
24:48 - Meals for working families
26:45 - Black bean and beetroot burger
27:13 - Food pairing
28:09 - Advice for parents
Here is the Black bean and beetroot burger Dr. Orlena discusses in this episode.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5064331/Foods-boost-digestion-gut-MOT.html
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Have you ever wondered how to teach your children how to stay calm in stressful situations? Whether they are in the classroom or out in the world, finding calm is a necessary tool for them.
Ryan Lockee joins me in the studio this week to discuss his new book, Wisdom Beyond the Classroom, which focuses on mindfulness and meditation. He is a wealth of knowledge and shares some of his experiences with us. His book easily navigates how we can incorporate skills within our children to help them through those stressful times. There are some helpful ideas for adults to incorporate, too!
Join us as we discuss his enlightening book and a few of our favorite sports.
https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Beyond-Classroom-Real-World-Lifetime/dp/1734818492/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ryan+lockee&qid=1597528700&sr=8-1
@ryanlockee
wisdombeyondtheclassroom
ryanlockee
meditation
mindfulness
yoga
dalailama
ramdas
waynedyer
listen
learn
baseball
MLB
naia
collegeworldseries
universityofnebraska
universityofnebraskaomaha
bayarea
sanfranciscogiantsfan
parents
parentpower
educateyourself
beintheknow
education
wisdom
classroom
edume
wttetb
workingtogethertoeducatethembetter
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Yikes! Schools are opening in a weird way. One day schools are opening in-person, the next all virtual. It's a rollercoaster every day for parents, students, and the schools. In this episode, I discuss the 3 main options I've seen for schools, the pros and cons, and what our household is doing to navigate this tumultuous time.
I share my own apprehension of sending my children back to the colleges.
And a HUGE shout out to @jerrywon for becoming our latest patreon supporter! Thanks, friend!
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Lesley Chambers, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Florida Southern College, shares her insight of what parents and students need to know in grades 10-12 to set students on the right path to pursue their post-secondary plans.
Her expertise will be motivating to get this school year (whatever it looks like) off on the right foot where she answers all those burning questions you have. You will be enlightened and glad you listened to her!
Also, remember, Punam is now offering parenting coaching sessions to help you navigate this unusual time as schools open back up (or whatever your district is doing). Let her help you!
Link in bio.
beintheknow
educateyourself
parentpower
parentingishard
beanadvocate
parentsmagazine
familycirclemagazine
yourteenforparentsmagazine
thenaturalparentmagazine
potential_mag
edume
bridgingthegapbetweenparentsandschools
wttetb
workingtogethertoeducatthembetter
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In this week's Throwback Tuesday, we are bringing Lesley Chambers back to discuss what we need to know as our children are starting high school. With all of the unknowns about what Fall looks like, the one thing that doesn't change is the curriculum to keep our children on track.
This is a great episode for all parents to learn what you need to know as your child is heading to high school. Let Lesley break it down for you!
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In our Throwback Tuesday series, we are highlighting how to teach our children during this pandemic.
We are in a quandary both on a community level and a personal level on what the schools will look like in the Fall. With a month or so to go, everyone is beginning to feel the uncertainty.
Dr. Shelly Gruenig shares her secrets to teaching your children from home. Her insight and knowledge will calm your anxieties.
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We are throwing it back to just a few weeks ago when we discussed racial discrimination and how to help your child understand the disparities in our world.
Here is our description of this episode when first launched. Change the timeline and it's still the same.
The world has changed. We are in a different state than we were just 10 days ago. Recently, the innocent lives of two black men were taken for no apparent reason.
This is not a 2020 issue. This has been an ongoing issue for hundreds of years. Many times in our nation's history, we have had civil discourse due to the oppression of one sect of our population.
Today, we are seeing it again. What can we do? What are the changes needed to create not only harmony, but equality.
We can be the change. We just need to know how to start the conversation.
edu-Me discusses ways to help yourself and your children understand this new chapter of our history and begin the change we need for our nation.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
We are bringing back this episode as a reminder for us to take care of ourselves. Right now, with the children home, it can be difficult to manage everything that is asked of us.
But it is important for us to take care of ourselves so we can better take care of our parents.
This episode shares some practical ideas for all parents as they look for a few minutes to relax.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Since every day is Father's Day, we are celebrating now! It's always a great time to celebrate the men who have given us so much throughout our lives. edu-Me shares 15 characteristics of strong fathers. While they may not possess all of these characteristics, we share some important reminders of how to create lifelong memories for your children. We also have the honor of sharing some special tributes to some amazing fathers.
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Our 25th Episode! We are so excited to celebrate with all of you! In this episode, we talk with India Saxena, Punam's younger son, about his coming out as a young gay man. A rising Junior at Miami University (Ohio), he shares his hesitation in sharing his news, his advice for other young people who want to come out, and advice for parents.
His insight, humility and, kindness shines through in this episode. I am a bit biased, but he's a pretty spectacular young man. AndI know you'll enjoy his story.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Kathy Barron, the podcast host of Women Who Sarcast, is in the studio! She joins us share her journey as a gay woman who grew up in a conservative community and how she changed the trajectory of her life. From understanding herself, to telling her parents, to advice for parents, her story is what we need to hear right now to ensure our world understands the impact of those who are discriminated against.
You'll be as inspired by Kathy as I have been since I met her.
And there may be a bit of fun we've thrown in. :)
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Neha Mehrotra, Associate Teaching Professor, Iowa State University joins us to share her experience as a mentor of students who are learning about their sexual orientation. Support systems can flounder during the initial phase and it is important to have someone who can be a support, understand and provide resources for students. Neha shares her insight, dedication, and compassion.
Join us on this enlightening conversation where we discuss the necessity of having open dialogue.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
The world has changed. We are in a different state than we were just 10 days ago. Recently, the innocent lives of two black men were taken for no apparent reason.
This is not a 2020 issue. This has been an ongoing issue for hundreds of years. Many times in our nation's history, we have had civil discourse due to the oppression of one sect of our population.
Today, we are seeing it again. What can we do? What are the changes needed to create not only harmony, but equality.
We can be the change. We just need to know how to start the conversation.
edu-Me discusses ways to help yourself and your children understand this new chapter of our history and begin the change we need for our nation.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
We are proud to bring you this last episode in the series. We share beautiful tributes of amazing moms and how they impacted our lives. You'll be inspired and humbled by these stories. Here are our guests this week:
-
1:25 - Shelley Bourgeios is my friend, a teacher and Dancer who teaches at the performing arts high school my children attended. She taught both of my daughters. @shelleybourgeios
-
9:51 - Sudha Verma, Retired Teacher, is my mom who shares her mom, my grandmother (Nani) with us. She brought her to life for me as she passed before I was born
-
17:26 - Jessica Hessels, Podcast host at The Badass Moms Club, is a mompreneur with an infant and owner of her own business. You'll be excited to hear her tribute about her mom. @jeshessels
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23:16 - Kamy Farahi, Director of Development at Johnson & Johnson' Lung Cancer Initiative is my friend and brother by another mother. He shares his mom's journey from Iran to the States. You'll be inspired!
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37:35 - Punam V. Saxena, Podcast host of edu-Me is a mom of 4 and a former educator. She shares her mom's resilience once she moved to the States from India. @theedume
edu-Me is grateful for all the amazing guests and tributes shared through this series.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
We are so fortunate to have our guests for this podcast. Each guest has a special place in my heart and even more so when you hear their stories about their Moms.
- 1:52 - Carolyn Cohen, friend and fellow podcaster for Wellness While Walking, shares her story about her mom and her teacher. Both ladies brought a love of life, by example, to Carolyn's life.
- 7:20 - Jyotsna, Laxmi, and Aparna are my sisters and sister-in-law respectively who live in India. They share their story about a person we all called Mummy. She was a role model for us all for her almost 92 years of life. We lost her in December 2019 but her memory will live with us forever.
- 21:04 - Brahm Verma is my dad. He shares the touching, admirable story of his Mother, my Dadi who raised 10 children, 7 of them boys. She was an inspiring person in our family and we all benefited from her simple, kind, loving ways. Although she passed before I was born, it warmed my heart to hear about her.
- 28:48 - Anu Saxena is our last guest for this episode. The last name probably gives it away, but my husband joined in this week to share a fun, lively lesson his Mom taught him during his senior year in high school. Even thought it is humorous, it also taught him, and then us when we married, about parenting.
This episode warmed my heart. I know it will do the same for you.
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We are celebrating Moms in this episode. This is our opportunity for us to recognize the heroes in our lives. edu-Me invited several family and friends into the studio to share stories about their amazing moms. You'll be inspired!
Our guests in this episode:
Terri, Mixing Up Midlife podcast host, @mixingupmidlife
Reshma, Functional Medicine physician, @reshmapatelmd
Kathy, Women Who Sarcast podcast host, @womenwhosarcast
Sangeeta, Professor of Electronics, @sangeetas23
Neera, Accountant and HR Director, @neera321
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
It is my honor to speak with my son, Kavi Saxena, about his perspective as a first-year teacher. He is learning on the job teaching middle-school Math to 7th graders in an underserved school. He was finding his groove with his students and in a routine when the pandemic hit and he now has to learn to teach remotely.
He shares insight and expertise with parents to help them feel reassured about their parental roles while they also try to teach their children the expectations of academics.
Everyone's journey is tough right now. Kavi will put your mind at ease, I promise!
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Now more than ever, parents should take some time to focus on themselves. Everyone is overcommitted, overwhelmed, and overworked. Even in 'normal' times, we have a hard time carving out 'Me' time for ourselves. Throw in a pandemic, and we really struggle with finding time for self-care.
In this episode, Punam will give you ideas so you can find some zen time. It's crucial to find some time in your day for 'you'. Let this episode give you direction and permission to spend 10 minutes away from all of your daily tasks.
For those of you who are old enough, this is our 'Calgon, take me away' episode!
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Dr. J. Richard Gentry, Ph.D., joins us to kick of Literacy month at edu-Me. He shares his research that enlightens us on how reading to your child actually helps their success in school. He is an independent researcher, author, educational consultant, former university professor, reading center director, and elementary school teacher. He is the author of 17 books including the recently released Brain Words: How the Science of Reading Informs Teaching (Stenhouse, 2019) co-authored with Canadian psychologist Gene Ouellette. Richard speaks nationally and internationally at educational conferences and blogs for Psychology Today. He earned his Elementary Education degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in Reading Education from the University of Virginia.
Want a signed copy of Dr. Gentry's book? Listen to the podcast see how you can win! Submit your answer by May 1!Follow him on FB at J. Richard Gentry to get the latest updates on reading, literacy research and everything in between.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
I know it's not the holiday season. But a lot of the same information in this episode applies throughout the year. And this is as good a time for that reminder than ever. So we are bringing this episode back for you.
Punam shares some of her tips and ideas for making the EOY (End of the Year) and the holiday a bit less stressful.
You'll want to know how she survived the EOY with her four (4!) kids and found some sanity in the madness.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
We interrupted our regularly planned episode, Breathe! The Holidays are Coming, to bring you 10 Tips. Dr. Shelly Gruenig, Ph.D., joins us today as we discuss ways to help you find calm and comfort in these crazy times. She has home-schooled her three children, created an award-winning robotics team in New Mexico, hosts the podcast STEM Southwest, and has a business, Life-Launch.Be Better than Average which prepares students and parents to leave the nest and Launch their Lives.
You'll laugh your way through this episode as Shelly overcomes a hail storm and I have kids making lunch in the background during our recording. Things you can't make up, right!?
Welcome to social distancing and having our lives turned upside down!
Check out Shelly's podcast, STEM Southwest, and her website,https://life-launch.begreaterthanaverage.org/
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
The world has changed in the past few weeks. Coronavirus has taken over our lives and for the foreseeable future. We are now working from home, the kids are now learning online, and we have had little time to prepare for it.
Punam shares her thoughts on how to manage this ever-changing crisis we are currently in. This episode will be a gentle reminder of how we bond in the face of adversity. We can do it! I promise you, because we are all in it together.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
We are bringing Dr. Daryl Ward's episode back for several reasons.
1. It's super-informative with many pearls of wisdom for creating a robust fund development program.
2. Spring time is THE perfect time for parent organizations to do their financial planning for the upcoming school year.
3. And, you need this to ensure your school can provide the resources they need for your child.
So, 'nuff said...listen in!
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Alicia and I cover many topics on testing, GPAs, and Utah's technical/vocational classes. Parents are continuously worried about their child's performance. How does it affect their school? How does it impact the child? Alicia is here to help us understand the roller coaster ride of high school and beyond from the perspective of the teachers, schools, and districts.
Plus, Alicia shares her own Ph.D. research work on how technical/vocational classes in high school affect graduation rates and your child's options in their post-secondary choices.
Want more? Follow us on FB, Instagram, and at www.edu-Me. net.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
This is a very special episode for us. It's not only our 10th episode but our guests are my parents. Having emigrated from India in the '60s, there was a large learning curve for them to overcome. The education system is vastly different in India than America. They learned that our teachers here were overwhelmed with limited resources. And they had not yet met an Indian family from India. Many thought we were Native Americans. I know, right? Hard to imagine this today. There were also some differences in the teacher/student/parent relationship that they learned as we were growing up.
My parents have persevered and successfully raised my brother and I. Their journey is, obviously, a personal one. But they also share their pearls of wisdom that can help everyone but especially immigrants. I urge you to hear their story. You will understand, through the lens of their life, what many immigrants face when they are learning a new country, culture and system.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=31725704)
Lesley V. Chambers is back to share her insight on what we need to know about grades 10-12. There is so much to understand and figure out in these crucial years as our children plan their post-secondary paths. High school is an overwhelming time for students and parents alike.
Let Lesley take some of the mystique out and give you some concrete ideas that can make your job a bit easier. She breaks down what we need to know for each grade level including plans for technical college, military and college paths.
As busy as our children are during this time between their classes and planning for post-graduation, it's easy to get behind. Lesley will give you a schedule and keep you on track for a seamless transition.
As a mother of four, Lesley alleviated much of my anxiety during these years. She can help you, too!
Got an incoming 9th grader? Check out episode #8.
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Lesley V. Chambers, the Director of Student Services at Harrison School for the Arts in Polk County, Florida, joins us for this new episode.
Each year of high school brings challenges for the student and parent. High school is a stressful time as students juggle the daily pressures of academic and social expectations while simultaneously working on setting themselves up for successful post-secondary plans. It is an overwhelming time for the entire family.
Thankfully, we have taken a bit of the frenzy out and spread it out over two episodes. Lesley breaks down everything you need to know for each year of high school to ensure you are 'in the know' of how best to prepare your child for their post-secondary goals.
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Billy Townsend is back with a new episode focusing on school testing. Head's Up: he is not an fan of standardized tests, but he shares his insight and research as to why. And they will cause you to take pause. Many of you may not agree with this position, but I urge you to listen to this as it is informative and detailed episode that will certainly enlighten you. Billy, a Polk County School Board Member (Florida), is passionate about ensuring students are the focus of education. He takes deep dives into various aspects of education that seem inequitable, does extensive research, and shares his findings on his website, www.billytownsend.com.
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We all have WAY too much on our plates. Between work, schools, homework, extracurricular activities and managing the family, we are in a constant juggling act. And if you're like my husband and I, usually everyone gets looked after but us.
So, Punam is back with her advice for those busy weeks coming up. She reached out to several of her friends and family to get advice on what they do to make those crazy busy weeks less stressful. We compiled all their advice for this episode. We discuss everything from dinners to evening events.
Listen in and make your weeks a tad easier, too!
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Billy Townsend, Polk County School Board Member, joins us to discuss the different school configurations and the pros and cons of each. Having spent hours doing research on schools in Florida, Billy brings a wealth of knowledge for all of us to think about as we begin to understand and choose the school that will benefit our child the most.
If you'd like to learn more about his quest to understand the education system, visit his website at www.billytownsend.com
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Yours truly goes solo in this episode to share some tips that I learned over the years to survive the holidays. The holidays were always a juggling act with four children 4.5 years apart and a husband who was a small business owner. So, I created some ways to ensure all my holiday tasks were completed while also enjoying the time my family was home all while maintaining my sanity.
Find your zen this holiday season by listening in to our latest episode. And remember to breathe!
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Schools are always looking for ways to raise money to provide 'extras' to teachers and students whether it be upgraded technology or grade level supportive material or school experiences. Although bake sales and car washes can be lucrative ways to fundraise, Dr. Daryl Ward, Ph.D., and principal of Harrison School for the Arts in Polk County, Florida, says that if we create a fund development plan (different from fundraising), then we can create a consistent stream of funds to cover those experiences and opportunities for our schools.
Dr. Ward shares Harrison's 7-year philanthropic journey which has consistently raised funds to enhance student experience and provide educational opportunities. Tune in and be inspired to start your own fund development plan for your school!
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Julie Ward, M.Ed., joins us to share her insights on getting involved in your child's school. Parent volunteering is a need that is crucial to the whole volunteering scene. Julie gives us insight on how to become engaged as a parent volunteer at the elementary and middle school levels. She provides pro tips for parents who would like to volunteer and have varied time commitments. There is something for everyone!
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Jessica Solano, Polk County and Florida Teacher of the Year, 2017, joins us to explain the correlation between emotional security (Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs) of a student and its impact on student's academic success (Bloom's Taxonomy). Jessica shares her personal experiences and her personal expertise as we begin to understand the strong relationship between the two.
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Welcome to our new podcast focusing on engaging, educating and empowering parents to become a partner as we all work to educate our children. Parents and family members are the most instrumental piece of a child's growth and development whether it is their socio-emotional well-being or their academic progress.
Join us every other week as we learn together the different areas of parenting and education. Together, we will make a difference because we are always working together to educate them better.
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