Hall Pass

In this episode of The Hall Pass Podcast , Jen and Brian tackle one of parenting’s biggest villains: boredom. Or is it? In a world of colour-coded calendars, back-to-back activities, and constant stimulation, they make the case that boredom isn’t a failure of parenting—it’s a gift. Jen and Brian unpack what really happens when kids have nothing to do, and why those quiet, “I’m bored” moments are o...

In this emergency episode, Jen and Bri unpack the 2025 EQAO results — focusing especially on math, where about half of students meet expectations. They take you through the history and purpose of the EQAO assessment, clarifying what it measures (and what it doesn’t), and analyzing the latest data with an eye toward what it means for your child and Ontario’s schools. Jen and Bri dig beneath the hea...

Progress reports are more than just a checklist or a grade snapshot—they’re a window into your child’s learning journey. In this episode, Jen and Bri break down what progress reports actually measure, why they matter, and how they fit into the bigger picture of your child’s education in Ontario schools. You’ll learn how to read between the lines of those comments and marks, what questions to ask y...

What is an IEP, really—and how does it shape your child’s learning experience in Ontario schools? In this episode, Jen and Bri take you behind the scenes of the Individual Education Plan process, breaking down the myths, the meaning, and the mechanics of how schools support diverse learners. They trace how IEPs began, what’s required by law, and how they’re used day-to-day in classrooms. You’ll he...

Think you’re a “visual learner” or that your brain only works if information is served just right? Jen and Bri are here to bust that myth wide open. They dive into the pseudo-science behind learning styles, unpacking why tailoring teaching to “auditory, visual, or kinesthetic” preferences just doesn’t hold up in real research. A seminal study by Pashler et al. (2008) found no solid evidence that m...

Back-to-school routines can feel like an Olympic sport—but fear not, there’s no perfect formula. Jen and Brian compare their wildly different habit-building styles—Bri, the early-morning swimmer who thrives on structure, and Jen, the forgetful whirlwind navigating life with a Rube Goldberg–style system of reminders, alarms, and little “traps” to avoid leaving anything behind…only to sometimes real...

Episode 1: Advice to Our Past Selves Ever wish you could hop into a time machine and tell your younger self a thing or two? In this episode of Hall Pass , Jen and Brian take a trip down memory lane and share three pieces of advice we’d give our past selves —covering school, learning, and life in general. But here’s the twist: would our younger selves have actually listened? Or would they have roll...

Hall Pass: Your official permission slip to talk about everything education related—no homework, just honesty. We’re Jen and Brian: educators, entrepreneurs, and seasoned pros in the supplemental education world. On Hall Pass , we dive into learning, classrooms, and the highs (and occasional chaos) of Ontario’s education system—exploring what it really means for students, parents, and teachers. In...