Tuesday Talks!

What if we stopped choosing sides and chose students instead? We sit down with Dr. Jamila Singleton, executive director of Rooted School Vancouver, to trace the real work of educational change: expanding agency, centering family partnership, and building cultures where student voice moves adult practice. From her early days feeling unseen in school to leading a high school where seniors aim to gra...

What drives a parent to make such a significant change? For Danita, a mother who made the bold decision to withdraw her eight-year-old daughter from a public charter school in favor of homeschooling, it wasn't one dramatic incident but a pattern of concerning observations. The charter school's focus on behavioral compliance seemed to overshadow actual learning. The homeschool journey has...

Last week's episode got a lot of parents, teachers and administrators talking! Some in support of the shift and some opposed to it. We are continuing the conversation from last week's episode discussing the shift from parent-teacher conferences to student-led conferences.  Dr. Tiffany shares supportive and oppositional feedback from fifth-grade teachers to middle school admin offices to...

A tiny chair, a big shift. When a fifth grader leads his own conference, the room changes: honest reflection replaces guesswork, goals become concrete, and trust builds between home and school. We unpack that story and reveal the social dynamics that make conferences productive—or painful. We walk through the five interaction types you’ll feel at any meeting—exchange, competition, cooperation, con...

Big feelings don’t clock out when the bell rings. We sit down with Head Start family advocate Corey Green to explore how self-awareness and relationship skills can transform a school day—from a nervous kindergartner at the door to a high schooler who’s learned to earn trust and use their voice. This is a grounded, practical look at social emotional learning that skips jargon and goes straight to w...

When a student with an IEP injures a teacher, the room doesn’t just go silent—the whole system gets tested. We take you inside that moment and beyond it: the legal guardrails of IDEA, the hard questions of manifestation determination, and the daily realities of classroom safety that training days rarely fix. The episodes starts with the facts: how often threats and injuries occur, why special educ...

Conflict is everywhere kids go—classrooms, playgrounds, sports fields, and group chats—and the way adults handle it teaches them what “normal” looks like. In this week's episode, Dr. Tiffany unpacks how adult behavior becomes a blueprint, from viral meltdowns in school hallways to unexpectedly creative redirects that turn heat into humor and expression. Learn about research showing why constr...

What happens when school loses a day but keeps the promise of learning? We dive into the four‑day school week sweeping districts across the U.S and unpack the real forces behind it and talk about the very human ripple effects felt at home and in classrooms. From the teacher’s vantage point, a shorter week can be a lifeline: space to breathe, plan, and reset without the daily rush. On the student s...

Links to all episodes ➡️ https://linktr.ee/drtiffanyslp What drives a parent to make such a significant change? For Danita, a mother who made the bold decision to withdraw her eight-year-old daughter from a public charter school in favor of homeschooling, it wasn't one dramatic incident but a pattern of concerning observations. The charter school's focus on behavioral compliance seemed t...

Links for all episodes & free downloads ➡️ https://linktr.ee/drtiffanyslp A lively roundup of the best takeaways, aha-moments, and recurring themes from the last seven episodes. We look back at seven episodes that moved families and classrooms forward—from starting the school year off right to understanding IEPs and early developmental milestones to shaking up the school system, resources for...

As a teacher, when a student acts out or shuts down in your classroom, do you find yourself asking "what's wrong with this kid?" Trauma-informed teaching flips that question to "what has happened to this kid?" – a powerful shift that can transform your classroom environment and student outcomes. Today's students bear burdens far beyond what children should handle. Fro...

With the notion that teachers are using AI to make everything "easier", why are teachers are leaving the education field at an alarming rate? From burnout to lack of support, and overwhelming workloads, this episode captures teacher stories from the first few weeks of school revealing kindergartners running from playgrounds, students using profanity in class, and physical altercations -...

Grandparents raising grandchildren face unique challenges from financial burdens to educational obstacles while trying to provide stability for 2.5 million children nationwide. We explore the growing phenomenon of "grandfamilies" and how schools, communities, and support organizations can better serve these second-time-around parents. • Over 2.5 million children are being raised by grand...

What does it mean to be an "equity conspirator" in today's educational landscape? In this thought-provoking conversation, veteran educator Klarissa Hightower reveals how she leveraged her 18 years of experience—from classroom teacher to executive leadership—to transform school systems from within. Drawing on her powerful concept of the "privilege wheel," Klarissa explains...

Early intervention can change the trajectory of a child's life by addressing developmental concerns before they compound and affect a child's academic, social, and emotional wellbeing. • Developmental milestones serve as guideposts for tracking a child's progress from ages 2-5 • By age 2, children should use simple two-word phrases and be understood about 50% of the time • Age 3 mil...

Your child just got an IEP… now what? In this episode, I break down exactly what parents and teachers need to know to turn an Individualized Education Program into a real tool for student success. You’ll learn: ✅ How to understand each section of an IEP (without all the legal jargon) ✅ Questions to ask your IEP team to get clear, actionable answers ✅ Ways to build a strong parent–teacher partne...

The first week of school is in the books — and today, I’m sitting down with my favorite 10-year-old (and special guest!) to talk all about it. 🎒   In this fun and honest conversation, we cover:  ✅ What went well during the first week back  ✅ What didn’t go so smoothly (and how he handled it)  ✅ Goals he’s setting for himself this school year  ✅ How we’re getting back into the school groove as...

We celebrate our Season 2 finale reflecting on 41 weeks of educational insights spanning topics from cell phones in schools to the science of reading, classroom management to student self-accountability. • Sharing our personal connections, including our May birthdays just days apart • Highlighting key episodes such as classroom management, building community, and understanding the grading system •...

Dr. Tiff and Coach Val explore how children often listen for instructions rather than understanding, and why teaching kids to own their thinking is crucial for success. They share strategies for helping students become independent thinkers instead of passive instruction-followers. • Students are often trained to listen for what to do rather than listening to understand • Self-reflection is necessa...

The digital revolution has arrived in our classrooms, and it's transforming education in ways we're only beginning to understand. From fourth graders using ChatGPT for writing assignments to China implementing mandatory AI training for kindergarteners, artificial intelligence is no longer just a futuristic concept – it's reshaping how our children learn right now. Communication expe...

Step into the fascinating world of how children actually learn to read with our eye-opening exploration of the science of reading. This isn't just about different teaching methods—it's about understanding the fundamental neural processes that transform squiggles on a page into meaningful language in a child's developing brain. With special guest Ambria King, an early education advoc...

We continue our discussion about the literacy crisis in American schools and the problems with "cueing" methods that teach children to guess words rather than sound them out. • A real-life example of a sixth-grade student who struggled with reading due to being taught with picture-based guessing strategies • The critical importance of third grade as a reading benchmark and how falling be...

America is failing its children in the most fundamental educational task: teaching them to read. This eye-opening episode dives into the revelations of the "Sold a Story" podcast, exposing how millions of children nationwide have been taught reading through methods with no scientific backing. We unpack the controversial "cueing system" approach that encourages young readers to...

When a Tennessee high schooler with a 3.4 GPA graduated unable to read or write and successfully sued his school district, it exposed a devastating reality in American education. How can students progress through twelve years of schooling without mastering fundamental literacy skills? Dr. Nikki Anthony, special education advocate and dyslexia specialist, joins Coach Val and Dr. Tiff to unpack this...

What does the perfect summer look like through a child's eyes? We decided to go straight to the source and invited Parker and Uriah to share their unfiltered thoughts about summer break, camps, and what actually engages them during those precious months away from school. The conversation quickly revealed that while kids certainly appreciate the freedom from early morning alarms and rigid sche...