School Dazed: Help For Moms and Dads of School-Aged Kids

The One About Kindness

Some of our children's first social experiences are on the playground and in school where (hopefully) they put into practice what we've been teaching them at home. We all want to raise children who are kind and compassionate to their peers and to everyone they encounter. But, what are the best ways to teach kindness and to ensure they practice it, especially when we aren't around?

We sat down with Community Relations Commission Director for the City of Arlington, Texas,  Dr. Von Peaks and Certified Life Coach from Mending Clinic, Esther Scott.  They shared with us how Mayor Jeff William's Kindness Initiative is impacting the residents of the City of Arlington and their schools, as well as tips for raising kids who value and practice kindness.  

For more information about our show head to schooldazedshow.com

The One About Student Volunteerism

Volunteer work offers opportunity for students to prepare for the future as well as make a difference in the lives of those in need. Not only does it promote awareness of issues in the world making them more compassionate, but it can help them better understand themselves. Volunteerism is also a great resume builder for college applications.

In this episode we sat down with Marshell Kregel, TX/Oklahoma District Marketing Chair for Kiwanis and Brandon Lopez, faculty sponsor of Key Club at a high school in Arlington, TX. They spoke to us about the benefits of student volunteerism and ways to motivate your child to get involved. Kiwanis is a global community of clubs providing volunteer opportunities for people of all ages.

For more information about our show head to schooldazedshow.com

The One About Shared Custody and School

Separation and divorce takes a balancing act, when there are children involved. Getting on the same page regarding your children’s academic needs is vital to their well-being.

In this episode we welcomed Michael Flores and Brooke DeLuna from Brighter Possibilities Family Counseling in Fort Worth Texas. Both have extensive experience working with families experiencing separation and divorce and discussed how to navigate shared custody and school.

 

For more information about our show head to nogginfoundation.org

The One About The Power of Play

Education reform has caused an erosion of play and physical education from our schools. Research shows that play helps foster social, emotional, and cognitive skills as well as increasing creativity in children. But play isn’t just important for younger students. Giving students of all ages opportunity to learn through unstructured play helps with problem solving, independence and grit!

Today we welcomed creator and director of LiiNK Project at Texas Christian University, Dr. Debbie Rhea and research associate Dave Farbo. LiiNK Project has shown that children who engage in more physical activity and play do better academically than children who are sedentary. For more information about our show head to schooldazed.com.

The One When The Kids Took Over: Social Media Edition

Social media has become a normal part of our day to day. Kids (and parents) spend hours a day scrolling, liking, and posting about any and everything. In this Kid Takeover episode, we invited students to tell us about the impact social media has had on their lives.

The One About the Superintendent

The superintendent is the CEO of a school district and is responsible for using financial and human resources to meet the needs of students, teachers, and faculty. A school district's board of directors hires the superintendent and he or she is responsible for implementing the goals they set to ensure success for their students.

In this episode we welcomed Mansfield ISD superintendent, Jim Vaszauskas and Mansfield ISD school board President, Karen Marcucci who gave us an insider's look at how a school district is run and how decisions are made that impact the leaders of tomorrow.

For more information about our show head to https://schooldazedshow.com/

The One About Summer Learning Loss

Summer is a critical time for students. Many students lose 1-3 months of math and reading skills during the summer. With a little effort we can help our children make the most of summertime while still giving them a chance to recharge. In this episode we spoke to the CEO of the National Summer Learning Association and the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Irving Independent School District who gave us tips for avoiding summer learning loss.

 

For more information about our show head to schooldazedshow.com

 

 

The One About the State of Public Education

According to the The International Education Database which evaluates and reports the progress of educational goals around the world, the United States is ranked 26th. We hear stories about the education gap, teacher dissatisfaction, overcrowded classrooms, concern about standardized testing and wonder if our public education system is failing our children.

In this episode we welcomed Andrea Fields, an associate superintendent, and advocate for quality education with over 40 years of experience in the field.  Andrea shared with us about the state of public education in the United States.

 For more information about our show head to schooldazedshow.com

The One About Helping Your Child Fail Well

Most of us have heard of helicopter parents. They’re the parents who take an overprotective approach to parenting and discourage a child's independence. Now we have bulldozer parents. These parents forge ahead before their child, removing all obstacles and ensuring success at every turn. Recent headlines of celebrities paying large amounts of money to bribe their children’s way into college are perfect examples of this.

As parents we want the best for our children and we hate to see them disappointed. But, failure isn't a four-letter word. In fact, studies show that constructive experiences and even failure is crucial to help wire a child’s brain to make better decisions and cope well with adversity. If children (and adults) learn to handle failure well, it can be a stepping stone to greater achievement and a successful future.

In this episode we welcome licensed professional counselor, Jorge Gama, who is passionate about teaching parents how to help their children fail well.

For more information about our show head to https://schooldazedshow.com/

The One Where the Listeners Asked the Questions

What’s on your mind? If you could ask any education related question, what would it be? We put this episode in the hands of our listeners. David and I hit the streets and found out what you wanted to know.  Our expert guests, Buddy Bonner, Assistant Superintendent in Lewisville ISD near Dallas, TX and BeLinda Nikkel, education advocate and retired principal, have a combined 62 years of experience in education and answered common questions parents have about education.

For more information about our show head to schooldazedshow.com