play on words

Episode 75 of the Play On Words podcast from Big City Readers, host Beth Gaskill dives into the viral trend inspired by Taylor Swift's song "Cancelled," exploring the concept of a "betrayal list" in education. Beth shares her own list of educational practices she believes should be "cancelled" to foster successful readers, including behavior charts, memorizing sight words, and the "letter of the w...

Welcome back to episode 73 of Play On Words from Big City Readers ! In this kickoff episode, Miss Beth dives into one of the most common challenges families face each fall: back-to-school anxiety. If mornings feel chaotic, drop-offs end in tears, or your child worries about school all weekend, this episode is for you. Drawing from her years of working with families, Beth shares practical, playful,...

The principal is BACK. Part 2 or 2 with principal, educator and friend of the pod: Jon Arens. We are answering all ALL your questions about learning to read and starting kindergarten. Questions YOU asked and we discuss in these two episodes: 🧠 Decision-Making Factors What factors would make you consider redshirting as a good fit aside from age alone? Is it better to make the decision based on aca...

The principal is BACK. Part 1 or 2 with principal, educator and friend of the pod: Jon Arens. We are answering all ALL your questions about learning to read and starting kindergarten.  Questions YOU asked and we discuss in these two episodes: 🧠 Decision-Making Factors What factors would make you consider redshirting as a good fit aside from age alone? Is it better to make the decision based...

The Psychology Behind Competitive Kids (and What Helps) If your child is the kindest kid on the block … until they lose a game and suddenly you’re dealing with a rage monster - this episode is for you. Competitive kids often have big hearts and even bigger feelings . In this quick pep talk, I’ll walk you through what’s really going on beneath that explosive reaction, how to support emotional growt...

Ever find yourself standing in a daycare hallway thinking, “Wait… what exactly am I supposed to ask on this tour?” Same. In this episode, Miss Beth is breaking it all down Big Sister style—whether you’re looking for daycare, preschool, or kindergarten. Inspired by a recent conversation from Alex Bennett on Two Parents and a Podcast, Beth is sharing real, practical tips to help you figure out what...

In this episode of Play On Words , Miss Beth is bringing the heat—and the research—on one of the most asked-about early reading topics: sight words . What even are sight words? Should your child be memorizing them? Is there a better way? What do syllables have to do with all this? And what should you do if your child’s school is sending home flashcards and calling it a day? Whether you’ve got a pr...

Are you constantly wondering if you're doing enough as a parent? Do you feel pressure to “get it right” when it comes to your baby or toddler’s development? In this episode, I’m joined by Ayelet Marinovich , pediatric speech-language pathologist, parent educator, and founder of Learn With Less® . She’s the author of Understanding Your Baby and Understanding Your Toddler , two incredible resources...

Today’s episode is all about modern motherhood, community, and keeping things fresh ! Beth Gaskill (Big City Readers) is joined by Jenny LeFlore, the powerhouse mama behind Mama Fresh , a movement dedicated to creating spaces where families—especially Black families—feel seen, supported, and celebrated. We talk about:✨ The story behind Mama Fresh and why community is essential for moms✨ How Jenn...

Are you stressed about choosing a school for your child? Maybe your neighborhood school has low ratings, and you're wondering if that means it’s a bad choice. In this episode, Miss Beth breaks down: ✅ What school ratings actually measure (and what they don’t!) ✅ How to tour a school and know if it’s a good fit ✅ Ways to make a positive experience at any school—even one with low scores ✅ The ke...

On today’s episode of Play on Words from Big City Readers with Beth Gaskill I am diving into a recent consultation I had with a family about choosing a preschool. I asked a simple question: Why are you leaving your current school? The answer they gave me shocked me—and it’s one I know you’ll want to hear. But this episode isn’t just about what can go wrong; it’s also about what parents love about...

In this episode of Play On Words from Big City Readers , Miss Beth dives into the Business Insider article titled, "For Gen Alpha, Learning to Read is Becoming a Privilege" and breaks down her frustration with its portrayal of the Science of Reading as “new” and “trendy.” Miss Beth passionately addresses how the article overlooks decades of reading research, dismissing the rigorous, evidence-based...

In this solo episode of the play on words from Big City Readers we’re diving into some hot topics that spark debates in classrooms, on playgrounds, and at the family dinner table. From controversial children’s books like The Giving Tree and I’ll Love You Forever to the polarizing tradition of the Elf on the Shelf, we’ll explore why these stories and traditions can feel tricky for parents and educa...

In this jam-packed episode, Beth is joined by Brooke Boruff, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Infant Insights, to tackle all your biggest questions about baby and toddler development. From bonding and soothing to choosing the right preschool, Brooke’s expert advice will leave you feeling informed, confident, and ready to embrace this stage of parenting. Here’s what we cover: 🎁 Do...

In this episode of Play On Words , from Big City Readers, Miss Beth chats with pediatric occupational therapist Courtney English about the real reasons behind your child's behavior—from sensory needs to nervous system regulation—and what you can do to support them (and yourself!). They break down common parenting challenges like meltdowns at dinner, unexpected outburst biting and hitting and why y...

In this episode, Miss Beth sits down with her best friend and popular influencer, Just Me Rod, for a hilarious and nostalgic trip down memory lane. Together, they reminisce about the joys of Book-It and those coveted Pizza Hut personal pan pizzas, the strange traditions of 90s elementary school life, and the quirky things we all did as kids (remember Trapper Keepers and scratch-and-sniff stickers?...

Hear from Chicago School Board candidate Ellen Rosenfeld about what school board elections mean. Now, I’ll be the first to say that I’m not an expert on the financial management of public schools or all the ins and outs of policy-making, but what I do know is that the decisions made at the school board level have a huge impact on the education our children receive—especially in a city like Chicago...

In this part two episode with Principal Jon Arens, we continue exploring crucial topics that every parent and educator should know. We dive into lockdown drills, school transfers, and more, including: Lockdown drills and the tough realities of school safety. Transferring schools: What qualifies as a good reason to consider moving your child. School tours: Why security questions matter more than cu...

In this solo episode, Miss Beth from Big City Readers answers parent question "what do I say when my child asks if this right and when do I start correcting their spelling?" We explore how to support children, especially perfectionists, when they ask, "Is this right?" while using inventive spelling in their writing. We’ll dive into how to encourage confidence, focus on the learning process, and pr...

In this episode, we sit down with Principal Jon Arens, a special education teacher and dad to 3 little ones in the learning to read stages! We dive into the realities of education, parenting, and navigating the school system. This is part 1 of 2. We cover a wide range of topics, including: Why Bluey beats Daniel Tiger as a favorite and how that choice says a lot about what we value in children's c...

In today’s episode from Big City Readers, I’m diving deep into one of the most debated topics in early literacy: the 3 cueing strategy and how it may be affecting your child’s ability to learn to read. If your child is struggling with blending sounds or progressing in reading, it’s essential to know whether they’ve been taught using the right strategies—and if those strategies are being used consi...

In this episode of Play On Words from Big City Readers , Beth Gaskill is joined by Naomi O’Brien, reading teacher, advocate and speaker, to talk about shaking things up in education and empowering both teachers and students to thrive. Here’s what you can expect from this episode: Reflections on presenting at big conferences (and the fun moments, like talking Jonas Brothers and Boyz II Men). Answer...

In this episode of Play On Words from big city readers, we're diving deep into the world of school reading support with a reading specialist and a parent who's been through the process. If you've ever wondered what a universal screener is or how Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) work, this episode is for you. We’ll also explore: What happens if your child ne...

Today on the Play On Words Podcast from Big City Readers we are talking about supporting your toddler's language development and how it connects to learning to read with speech-language pathologists Katie and Carly of Wee Talkers.  We dive deep into the world of toddler speech development, reading foundations, and milestones—and what it really means when kids hit (or don’t hit) those mileston...

Miss Beth sits down with Jamie Kreiter, a therapist and Big City mom, to explore some of the most pressing issues in early childhood development and parenting like getting ready for your child to go to school, repair, and why some moms might hesitate about starting therapy.  Jamie and Beth tackle the bittersweet experience of sending a child off to kindergarten and the importance of naming an...