D35 on the Go

In this episode, we highlight the work we do with gardening and the environment at West School. Amy Shearer, West School special education teacher and Garden Club leader, engages in a conversation with Dr. Wang to explore the following topics: Gardening in at West School The district’s commitment to environmental sustainability Community partnerships nurtured through our Garden Explorers Night Hos...

In this episode, we visit with our school nurses and highlight the work they do in our schools to support student wellness and belonging. You will learn more about: The role school nurses play in schools How mental health finds its way into the nurse’s office The work our nurses do to support heart health Link to D35 Nurses and Healthcare Page: https://www.glencoeschools.org/family-resources/nurse...

In January, D35 hosts a Career Exploration Day. The experience is designed to provide our 8th grade students an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the careers available across multiple pathways as they plan for the classes they will explore in high school. In addition to visiting a variety of different booths, students hear a keynote presentation from a D35 alum.  On today’s episode...

In this episode, Dr. Wang and Mrs. Weir have a conversation focused on the ripple effect of gratitude. As we approach the end of another calendar year, focusing on spreading gratitude to others can be a great way to get positive energy out into the world. The science of gratitude is also an interesting topic to explore. During our conversation, we will discuss: Research on the positive effects of...

In this episode, Dr. Wang speaks with Enza Fox and Mary Kelly from West School. Mrs. Fox serves as our Instructional Technology Specialist at West, and Mrs. Kelly serves as our library, or CLC, director. Together, these two innovative educators lead our Westies through creative lessons that require critical thinking and collaboration.  During our conversation, we discuss: The unique experienc...

In this episode, Dr. Wang connects with Dr. Marc Brackett, a leading voice in the field of emotional intelligence. Dr. Brackett is the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and a professor at Yale’s Child Study Center. His groundbreaking research explores how emotions influence learning, decision-making, relationships, well-being, and even the climate of schools. During o...

We had the good fortune of meeting today’s guest, Andrew Fishman, during our Anxious Generation panel last year. Andrew is a licensed, clinical social worker who specializes in supporting his clients to understand the impact video games have on their lives. He also recently wrote a book titled, Parenting a Gamer: Help Your Child Build Healthy Habits, Make Positive Choices, and Find Balance in Virt...

In our 3rd episode of the D35 On the Go Kindergarten mini-series, we are  joined by Molly Pope, parenting coach and early childhood expert, and  Erin Nathan, one of our South School kindergarten teachers, to discuss the following topics: The ways in which regulation comes into play in kindergarten Developmentally appropriate expectations when it comes to regulation Ways we can support ou...

We will be recording 3 Kindergarten Mini-series episodes in this first month of school to bolster kindergarten families as they support their child in the transition to kindergarten. In this second episode, we welcome Molly Pope, parenting coach, former school psychologist, and early childhood expert. Molly will be talking us through how we can set boundaries in our homes in order to support our c...

One unique resource in our Glencoe  community is access to mental health care through Family Service of Glencoe, or FSG as they are known. In this episode, Dr. Wang speaks with Amber Bond, Executive Director of FSG. During their conversation, they discuss: The services offered by FSG How you can reach out for support if it’s needed Information about our upcoming Hearts & Minds in Motion e...

We will be recording 3 Kindergarten Mini-series episodes in this first month of school to bolster kindergarten families as they support their child in the transition to kindergarten. In this first episode, South School Principal, Kelly Zonghetti, and Director of Professional Learning, Betty Weir, discuss all of the planning that went into opening this school year and ways in which parents can comp...

As we look to the 2025-26 school year, District 35 is excited to be offering the Let Grow Play Club as an option at both South and West. In this episode, Dr. Wang speaks with Megan Hebert, Let Grow’s school program director. During our conversation, we will discuss: The foundations of the Let Grow organization The way in which the clubs are structured Ways parents can complement the Let Grow appro...

In this episode, Dr. Wang speaks with Sarah Ward, a nationally revered professional in the area of executive functioning. During our conversation, we will discuss: The reasons we are seeing an increase in executive functioning challenges, among children and adults Ways in which we can support our children at home and at school Special considerations as we think about setting up routines and struct...

In this episode, Dr. Wang speaks with West School principal Ben Baird about the 4th Grade Boundless Adventures field trip. During our conversation, we will discuss: The origin of the field trip The types of activities our students experience on the field trip The value of the field trip as the students conclude their 4th grade experience at West and prepare to transition to 5th grade at Central In...

In this episode, Dr. Wang speaks with Dr. Doug Bolton about the ideas presented in his new book, Untethered. During their conversation, they will discuss: The role of attachment in healthy development The importance of learning to regulate emotions The power of repair Interested in learning more?  Take a look at the book, Untethered Listen to Dr. Bolton’s interview with Lisa Damour from the A...

In this episode, Dr. Wang speaks with Megan Michna, South’s Multilingual Learner Teacher and member of the District Belonging Committee.  During our conversation, we will discuss: A behind the scenes look at our Family Belonging Event The variety of cultures represented within our D35 schools The strengths that our multilingual learners bring to our school community Interested in learning mor...

In this episode, Dr. Wang speaks with members of the D35 leadership team regarding learnings coming out of recent D35 parent engagement events and ways we can empower our children to be more independent. During our conversation, we will discuss: New approaches community parents shared on ways they are promoting skill-building with their children Shifts we are making in our schools to enhance free...

D35 On the Go, Episode #25: PTO Spotlight: Enhancing Education Beyond the Classroom In this episode, Dr. Wang speaks with Lauren Kase, one of our PTO co-presidents, and Sarah Elsasser,​​​​​​​​ Chair of The Power of Partnership 2025 Appeal. During our conversation, we will discuss: The role of the PTO in D35 Examples of opportunities the PTO funds How you can get involved with and support the PTO I...

In this episode, we speak with Jennifer Miller, a highly revered parenting expert. Jennifer has been a regular contributor to NBC Education Nation’s parent toolkit and has contributed articles and interviews to publications such as The Washington Post, Parent Magazine, and the Huffington Post. She has a masters degree with a focus on social and emotional development from University of Illinois Chi...

In this episode, Dr. Wang connects with members of the Central School Integrated Arts team. During the conversation, they will discuss: Central’s integrated arts offerings How the arts add to our students’ experience in D35 Experiences your children can look forward to in these programs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we are joined by Amy Holaday, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, who is also a leader in our work with instructional technology. During our conversation, we will discuss: Our philosophy about instructional technology in the district The work we are doing as a district to ensure intentional and purposeful use of technology in classrooms Our tech practices in D35 and their conn...

In this episode, we hear from West Teachers Courtney Orosz and Katie Doherty to discuss the power of reading aloud with children (no matter their age)! Our discussion includes: The value of reading aloud in the classroom Ways in which you can incorporate reading aloud in your home How reading aloud can support your child in perspective taking Resources:  Resource shared at West Family Literac...

In this episode, Dr. Wang will speak with Mary Kelly, CLC Director at West School and leader of several West student clubs. We will also feature some South and West students to help provide a picture of the club experience in D35. Additional information on student clubs Club offerings in D35 How clubs can support students in feeling a sense of belonging at school We will also hear directly from se...

In this episode, Dr. Wang is joined by Dr. David Yeager, acclaimed developmental psychologist and author of the recently published book, “10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People.” Dr. Yeager is a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and worked closely with Carol Dweck and her research on growth mindset. Dr. Yeager and Dr. Wang will discuss: Current misconceptions a...

As we look forward to the 2024-25 school year, we have planned an exciting lineup of parent engagement opportunities for the Glencoe community. During this episode, Dr. Wang and Betty Weir, Director of Professional Learning, discuss: The learning opportunities you have to look forward to in the upcoming school year. The process that we use to plan parent engagement in D35 Family Night gatherings t...