K-12 Public Education Insights: Empowering Parents of Color — Trends, Tactics, and Topics That Impact POC

"Send me a Text Message!" The truth is, we are more alike than we are different. Despite what’s portrayed on social media and broadcast media, we are all connected. We are connected on a number of different levels. I reveal my thoughts on the importance of four areas of connection in this episode of the podcast. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyur...

"Send me a Text Message!" This is the seventh installment of my review of a book that is on the K-12 public education banned book list for the 2021-2022 school year. The book spotlighted this time is All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. I provide a summary/review of the book on this episode as well as my overall impressions.  Love my show? Consider being a regular subsc...

"Send me a Text Message!" Politics is involved in everything, including — and especially — education. Politicians determine curriculum, policies, and educational requirements for all students. This happens at the federal, state, and local levels, with each jurisdiction throwing a pass downfield to other jurisdictions. It’s been a long, arduous, and complex juxtaposition between politics...

"Send me a Text Message!" Over the past several decades, at various times, there has been a push for teachers to move away from letter grades for various reasons. What are the pros and cons of using letter grades in order to assess a student’s learning? I discuss what the research reveals about assessment, letter grades, and alternatives for letter grades on this episode. Love my show? C...

"Send me a Text Message!" Have you ever observed how exasperated some parents are when their young child (meaning 2-6-year-olds) is displaying an unwanted behavior? Is there a parenting style that is becoming more prevalent? I discuss my new awareness of this parenting style as well as my thoughts based upon what I was able to glean from just a sampling of the research on this episode of...

"Send me a Text Message!" This is the sixth installment of my review of a book that is on the K-12 public education banned book list for the 2021-2022 school year. The book spotlighted this time is Dear Martin by Nic Stone. I provide a summary/review of the book in this episode as well as my overall impressions.  Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyu...

"Send me a Text Message!" Does having a Black teacher positively impact the academic achievement of African American students? The research tends to indicate that this is the case. This would be great if it was a common occurrence; however, the number of Black teachers in the American teaching work force is so low it’s abysmal. I discuss what the current research reveals about the curren...

"Send me a Text Message!" Parents were exposed to the inner workings of the classroom as a result of the virtual school environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. What they saw was discouraging and disappointing. Since that time, they have begun a movement to let their voices be heard. The movement has been coined the parents’ rights movement, which includes the formation of parent unions...

"Send me a Text Message!" This is the fifth installment of my review of a book that is on the K-12 public education banned book list. The book spotlighted this time is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I provide a summary/review of the book in this episode as well as my overall impressions.  Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport ....

"Send me a Text Message!" Learning about the democratic process is a critical component of the civics process in this country. Students need to understand how to use their voices for change. Being able to voice unpopular perspectives in public is a part of that process but can students express themselves in any environment? I discuss the background of K-12 public school students’ rights...

"Send me a Text Message!" Maker learning is a relatively new trend being implemented in K-12 public schools throughout the country. This episode explains what maker learning is, the background of maker learning and the maker movement as well as the current issues and concerns. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport .  Support...

"Send me a Text Message!" Self-discipline is one of the most important traits a person can have. It's the ability to control your thoughts, feelings, and actions in order to reach your goals. I discuss four of the traits that typically identify someone as being a self-disciplined person on this episode of the podcast. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to htt...

"Send me a Text Message!" This is the fourth installment of my review of a book that is on the K-12 public education banned book list. The book spotlighted this time is How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. I provide a summary/review of the book in this episode as well as my overall impressions.  Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podca...

"Send me a Text Message!" What are the current trends that are being discussed by researchers and educators as they continue to pursue educational attainment for all students? In this episode, I discuss a number of areas that are being explored including a continued focus on student problem-solving skills, technological advances (including gamification), and data security. Love my show?...

"Send me a Text Message!" The topic of homework can elicit fears and frustrations — for parents as well as children. Everyone seems to have an opinion about whether homework is valuable or whether it’s a waste of time. In this episode, I discuss the appropriateness of homework, the ongoing homework debate, and the current homework gap.  Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber!...

"Send me a Text Message!" Gratitude is often an overlooked attribute. Taking personal stock of what we are grateful for can be both enlightening and humbling. In this episode, I discuss the role of gratitude in our lives and ways we can make this into a daily practice. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport .  Support the sho...

"Send me a Text Message!" This is the third installment of my review of a book that is on the K-12 public education banned book list. The book spotlighted this time is Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. I provide a summary/review of the book in this episode as well as my overall impressions.  Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcas...

"Send me a Text Message!" The probability of an African-American male in the K-12 public education system being suspended are expelled is high. There is a disproportionate amount of exclusionary racial/ethnic disciplinary policies aimed at children of color. This episode discusses background, policies and potential interventions related to the disproportionality of school suspensions for...

"Send me a Text Message!" The decision to use school choice programs like vouchers, charter schools and education savings accounts needs to be an informed decision, weighing the pros and cons of opting in vs. opting out. This episode discusses the implications of a school choice decision. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport .&n...

"Send me a Text Message!" How powerful are the words we speak? This episode provides a personal perspective on the power of words and their impacts on our childhoods, careers, health and relationships. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport .  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episod...

"Send me a Text Message!" Why is Out of Darkness a banned book? This episode provides a summary and overall impressions about this book. I examine the subject matter of the book and include my observations. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport .  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, e...

"Send me a Text Message!" Has desegregation helped us, really? What strides have we made in educational outcomes since desegregation? This episode provides a discussion about the where we’ve come since desegregation and what the new form of it looks like. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport .  Support the show  Thanks for...

"Send me a Text Message!" A positive and supportive parent-teacher connection has been linked to academic success for children. It is a critical and nuanced relationship that affects all parents with children in K-12 schools, and especially minority parents. This episode includes a discussion about the two-sided perceptions of teachers and parents as well as other insights from what the...

"Send me a Text Message!" This episode provides insights into the importance of life lessons. I discuss 6 life lessons that impact us early on and throughout our lives. In sharing a story about a recent event, I explain how an absence of learning critical life lessons becomes obvious.  Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport .&nbsp...

"Send me a Text Message!" Why is The Bluest Eye a banned book? This episode provides a discussion and summary about this book. I examine the subject matter of the book and include my observations and implications. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport .  Support the show  Thanks for listening! For more information about the...