What if one of the greatest gifts a child can receive is simply more people to love them?

In this warm and meaningful conversation, Jenny and Kristine sit down with devoted father, proud grandfather, and beloved school volunteer Peter Palmer to explore the powerful role that grandparents and other caring adults play in children’s lives.

Together, they reflect on family, legacy, and the research-backed truth that kids thrive when surrounded by a strong village of support.

Big Little Lesson: Sometimes the most powerful thing we can give a child… is simply to show up.

Research:

NIH/PubMed: Grandparent relationships and mental health outcomes

CDC: Protective role of caring adults and strong support networks

CDC ACEs Prevention Resource

We welcome your feedback.  Please email us at [email protected]

Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

https://www.instagram.com/teachbiglittlelessons/

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What if the behaviors we struggle with most are actually the body asking for support?

In this episode of Big Little Lessons, we sit down with occupational therapist Dani Leon, M.S., OTR/L, founder of Sprout Children’s Therapy Center, to explore how regulation, sensory experiences, and nervous system support impact how children (and adults) learn, connect, and function in everyday life.

Dani helps us understand what occupational therapy really is and how it supports daily participation, independence, and quality of life. We talk about common signs a child might benefit from OT, including sensory sensitivities, difficulty with transitions, fine and gross motor challenges, and regulation struggles — and why these are often connected to how the brain and body process the world.

She shares Sprout’s holistic, relationship-based approach, where building trust, supporting regulation, and partnering with families create a strong foundation for growth. We also discuss how OT can support teens and adults navigating stress, anxiety, and executive functioning challenges.

Dani offers a simple, practical takeaway for families: creating a “Feel Better Kit” to help children (and parents) recognize what helps them feel calm, grounded, and ready to engage.

Big Little Lesson:

We welcome your feedback.  Please email us at [email protected]

Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

https://www.instagram.com/teachbiglittlelessons/

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What if parenting felt more intentional — not perfect, not rigid, but calmer and more grounded?

In this episode, we’re joined by parent coach and former classroom teacher Andrea Scopp-Robbins to explore what intentional parenting really looks like in everyday moments — and how clear, compassionate boundaries actually help children feel safe, confident, and supported as they grow.

Andrea shares insights from her years in the classroom, her own parenting journey, and her work coaching families to better understand behavior, regulate emotions, and respond with purpose rather than reaction. Together, we talk about how parenting has shifted across generations, why today’s parents feel so overwhelmed, and how shared values can act as a compass during hard moments.

You’ll hear practical examples, reassurance for parents who are trying their best, and a powerful reframe of boundaries as acts of care — not control.

Big Little Lessons:

This episode is for parents who want to slow down, trust themselves, and build strong, connected relationships that grow with their children.

Learn More About Andrea & Parenting Vistas

Instagram: @parenting.vistas

We welcome your feedback.  Please email us at [email protected]

Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

https://www.instagram.com/teachbiglittlelessons/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it really mean to find your voice — and why does it matter at every stage of life?

In this episode of Big Little Lessons, kindergarten teachers Jenny and Kristine sit down with speech-language pathologist Amy Wachsberger, M.S., CCC-SLP, for a thoughtful, reassuring conversation about communication, confidence, and connection.

Together, they explore how speech therapy is not about labels or deficits, but about supporting growth, helping people feel understood, and building strong foundations for learning and relationships.

In this episode, we discuss:

Big Little Lesson:

This conversation is for parents, teachers, caregivers — and anyone who has ever struggled to feel heard or wants to better understand how communication shapes learning at every age.

We welcome your feedback.  Please email us at [email protected]

Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

https://www.instagram.com/teachbiglittlelessons/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

February in the classroom is magical… and completely exhausting.

From Groundhog Day and Lunar New Year to Valentine’s Day, the 100th Day of School, Presidents’ Day, curriculum pacing, assessments, conferences, and everyday teaching — February somehow manages to pack twelve mini-months into twenty-eight days.

In this episode, Jenny and Kristine explore why February feels like so much, what research tells us about teacher burnout, and how educators can protect classroom joy without sacrificing wellbeing, routine, or meaningful learning.

You’ll hear about:

When teachers are regulated, supported, and grounded, classrooms thrive.

This episode is for every teacher who loves creating magic — but also ends February feeling completely spent.

Big Little Lesson:

Skaalvik, E. M., & Skaalvik, S. (2018).

Center on the Developing Child — Harvard University

Ostermeier et al. (2023).

We welcome your feedback.  Please email us at [email protected]

Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

https://www.instagram.com/teachbiglittlelessons/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Big Little Lessons, Jenny and Kristine sit down with Dr. Toya Holiday for a rich and thoughtful conversation about identity, belonging, and the wisdom that shapes who we become.

Together, they explore how identity is formed through personal experience, family foundations, and community connections, and how learning to “see through someone else’s eyes” deepens empathy, understanding, and leadership. Dr. Holiday reflects on her childhood, her faith, her journey into education, and the values that have guided her life as a leader, parent, and mentor to young people.

Listeners will hear about Toya’s Three Pillars of Wisdom — Personal, Family, and Community — and how each one informs her work in schools, her approach to parenting, and her commitment to equity and belonging. She also shares insights from her role as Director of DEIJ, offering practical wisdom for students, educators, and families who are doing the ongoing work of understanding themselves and others more deeply.

She is also a former collegiate and professional basketball player and the proud mom of four collegiate and professional athletes, including NBA Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Jrue Holiday. Toya speaks about her family with humility, warmth, and perspective, offering beautiful insight into intentional parenting and the values that have shaped her children’s lives.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen well, and reflect on how our stories — and the stories of others — shape who we are.

We welcome your feedback.  Please email us at [email protected]

Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

https://www.instagram.com/teachbiglittlelessons/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Flexibility is more than stretching — it’s a life skill. In this episode of Big Little Lessons, Jenny and Kristine sit down with special education teacher and author Lisa Konstandt to explore how flexible thinking helps children and adults navigate change, manage big feelings, and build resilience.

Lisa shares how her personal journey through breast cancer reshaped the way she listens to her inner voice and approaches life with greater intention — a journey that led her to write her memoir, Flat as a Pancake. 

Drawing from both lived experience and her work in special education, Lisa explains how flexibility is taught through modeling, language, and repeated practice. She shares practical strategies for supporting students — especially those with special needs — when routines shift, plans change, or emotions run high. 

Key Takeaways

We welcome your feedback.  Please email us at [email protected]

Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

https://www.instagram.com/teachbiglittlelessons/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As we step into a new year, it’s easy to feel pressure to rush growth—both for ourselves and for the children we care for. In this episode of Big Little Lessons, Jenny and Kristine slow things down and invite parents and teachers to take a developmental pause.

Through classroom stories and lived experience, they explore:

This episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t happen by skipping stages—it happens when we notice, nurture, and trust the process.

We welcome your feedback.  Please email us at [email protected]

Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

https://www.instagram.com/teachbiglittlelessons/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The first year of teaching is full of learning, growth, and moments that quietly shape who we become as educators. In this mid-year reflection, Jenny and Kristine look back on their own first-year experiences and welcome special guest Katelyn Abernathy, a first-year speech teacher supporting over 40 students. Together, they share honest insights about surviving the early months, finding rhythm and routine, and discovering that growth is happening—even when you can’t see it yet.

If you have questions or suggestions, please email us at: [email protected]

We welcome your feedback.  Please email us at [email protected]

Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

https://www.instagram.com/teachbiglittlelessons/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the messiest moments are the most memorable ones?  We know that the holidays are rarely perfect—and that’s exactly what makes them memorable. In this joyful, laughter-filled episode, Jenny and Kristine celebrate the perfectly imperfect holiday moments that unfold in kindergarten classrooms and at home.

From holiday shows that go off-script to kids falling asleep on the risers, we reflect on the small, hilarious bloopers that often become our favorite stories.

Together, we explore three big little lessons: noticing the funny moments, letting go of “perfect,” and creating space for joy in the unexpected. Because the magic of the season usually shows up when things don’t go as planned.

We welcome your feedback.  Please email us at [email protected]

Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.”  We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences. 

https://www.instagram.com/teachbiglittlelessons/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.