Dr. Kitty Shares Wisdom

By Dr. Kitty Shares Wisdom

Sharing wisdom in literacy, education, and mental health awareness.... more

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FAQs about Dr. Kitty Shares Wisdom:

How many episodes does Dr. Kitty Shares Wisdom have?

The podcast currently has 2 episodes available.

Dr. Kitty Shares Wisdom episodes:

August 06, 2026Episode 2
Show Notes
Overview
Episode 2 opens with Dr. Kitty sending well wishes to teachers and students preparing for the new school year, followed by a review of the homework assignment from Episode 1. She reflects on the distinction between “smart” and “wise,” emphasizing that true wisdom comes from her 53 years of experience in early childhood education. Dr. Kitty tackles key foundational principles of early learning, breaking down:
Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP): Understanding the physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and language domains of development, along with how boys and girls mature at different rates.
How Children Learn: The importance of hands-on, meaningful experiences, day-to-day social interaction, and nurturing environments over rigid testing and early academic forcing.
Language Acquisition: A breakdown of receptive language (listening and reading) versus expressive language (speaking and writing), highlighting listening as the primary foundation for early literacy.
She highlights influential works by Dr. David Elkind (The Hurried Child, The Power of Play) and Jim Trelease (Read-Aloud Handbook), stressing why play and daily read-aloud time are essential. Before moving to storytime, Dr. Kitty passionately speaks on the need for stronger national support systems for vulnerable populations and mental health resources. The episode concludes with a reading of Chapter 2 of The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill, as Fred and Bertha meet their strict, tea-drinking, pants-wearing new teacher.
Topics Covered
00:00 – Introduction & Homework Review
Back-to-school encouragement for educators and students.
Homework reveal: Charlotte’s Web and the origin of “Greetings and Salutations.”
02:24 – Defining Wisdom & The State of Education
Wisdom vs. knowledge; insights from 53 years in the field.
Advocate for public education, experienced decision-makers, and early childhood support (Pre-K to Grade 4).
08:42 – Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP)
The 4 core developmental domains: Physical, Social/Emotional, Cognitive, and Language.
Differences in development rates, gender nuances, and why age doesn’t equal developmental stage.
12:31 – How Young Children Learn Best
Day-to-day social interactions, rich experiences, and hands-on learning.
Addressing Dr. David Elkind’s The Hurried Child and The Power of Play—why play is the true textbook for young children.
17:28 – Language Development: Receptive vs. Expressive
Mapping language skills: Receptive (Listening, Reading) vs. Expressive (Speaking, Writing).
Why listening is the foundational, under-taught skill for the first two years of life.
Referencing Jim Trelease and the immense impact of early read-aloud routines.
24:35 – A Call for Compassion & Community Mental Health
Addressing systemic gaps in care, housing, and support for marginalized and mentally ill individuals.
28:33 – Storytime: The Year of Miss Agnes
Introduction to multi-age, one-room schoolhouse settings.
Reading Chapter 2: Fred and Bertha meet Miss Agnes, sample tea with milk, and learn about her native England.
Links & Resources Mentioned
Note: Some links below may be affiliate links that earn a commission.
The Hurried Child by David Elkind
The Power of Play by David Elkind
Thirty DO’s to Remember When Reading Aloud by Jim Trelease
https://readaloud.org
The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
Transcript
Download the Raw Transcript
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40min
July 23, 2026Episode 1
Show Notes
Overview
Dr. Kitty Shares Wisdom begins with Dr. Kitty explaining the purpose of her degree and career: that higher education isn’t about being “smarter,” but about being more responsible to help others. She details her background in early childhood reading and reflects on the shifting trends in education policies over her 53-year career. Dr. Kitty models her podcast structure directly after a school lesson format, consisting of:
The Hook / Anticipatory Set
Body of Information
Closing / Summary
She emphasizes the crucial role parents play in reading aloud to children for at least 15 minutes a day before kindergarten, noting how foundational oral reading is to developing phonemic awareness and vocabulary. The episode finishes with a story session reading Chapter 1 of The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill.
Topics Covered
00:00 – Introduction & Welcome
Launching Dr. Kitty Shares Wisdom.
What a PhD in Education truly means and responsibility in learning.
01:28 – Dr. Kitty’s Background & Experience
Focus on early literacy, beginning reading, and 53+ years in education.
Reflecting on political cycles, changing teaching methods, and literacy policy.
06:17 – Podcast Structure & Lesson Formatting
Modeling the podcast like a classroom lesson plan (Hook, Body, Closing).
09:31 – The Importance of Reading Aloud to Children
Why 15 minutes of daily reading before kindergarten shapes future academic success.
Building oral language, phonemic awareness, and reading confidence.
11:51 – Storytime: The Year of Miss Agnes
Introduction to The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill.
Reading Chapter 1: Meeting a dedicated new teacher in 1948 Alaska.
Links & Resources Mentioned
Note: Some links below may be affiliate links that earn a commission.
The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
Transcript
Download the Raw Transcript
...more
18min

FAQs about Dr. Kitty Shares Wisdom:

How many episodes does Dr. Kitty Shares Wisdom have?

The podcast currently has 2 episodes available.