From Classroom to Home

Why is reading independently such an important part of learning to read? In this episode, I’m joined by Serina Sota, a veteran first grade teacher, to talk about what children gain from reading on their own, what independent reading looks like in the classroom, and how parents can help make independent reading a joyful activity at home.

In This Episode

• How independent reading builds skills, stamina, fluency, and confidence
• How children choose books for independent reading in the classroom
• Why rereading books is valuable for beginning readers
• How families can encourage independent reading at home, including ways to support a child who is reluctant to read on their own

Guest Information

Serina Sota is a first grade teacher with over 20 years of experience in the classroom.  She has been an active member of her school community, serving on the STEM leadership team, School and District Equity leadership teams as well as serving as a facilitator for SEED.

Resources

For free K-2 reading and math activities, games, videos and parent resources, visit https://www.slamhomelearning.org/

About

From Classroom to Home is a podcast from Supporting Literacy And Math (SLAM) for parents of children in kindergarten through second grade. Each episode explores an important part of your child’s school experience, giving you a better understanding of what’s happening in the classroom and helpful ways to support your child at home.

Connect With Us

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave us a review, and share this episode with someone you think might find it helpful. 

What can parents do to help their child build friendships? In this episode, I’m joined by Katy Boucher, a certified school counselor and founder of The Accord School to talk about friendships during the early elementary years and how parents can support their child navigate them.

In This Episode

• What friendships typically look like in kindergarten, first, and second grade
• How different personalities can affect the way children approach friendships and social situations
• How teachers support children when friendship problems arise
• How parents can support friendship skills by managing their own emotions and coaching from the sidelines

Guest Information

Katy Boucher is a certified school counselor and has spent over 25 years working with children and their families.  She is currently the Founding Director of The Accord School and is a frequent public speaker.

Resources

For free K-2 reading and math activities, games, videos and parent resources, visit https://www.slamhomelearning.org/

About

From Classroom to Home is a podcast from Supporting Literacy And Math (SLAM) for parents of children in kindergarten through second grade. Each episode explores an important part of your child’s school experience, giving you a better understanding of what’s happening in the classroom and helpful ways to support your child at home.

Connect With Us

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave us a review, and share this episode with someone you think might find it helpful. 

What if one of the best ways to help your child learn math is to play a game?  In today’s episode, I’m talking with educator and math specialist Christine Chapuis about how games support math learning in K-2 classrooms and how families can play simple games to build math skills at home.

In This Episode

• How math games build foundational skills and confidence
• The skills children develop beyond math when playing a game
• How teachers use games in the classroom and what they learn by watching children play
• Simple math games families can play and how to help when children get frustrated or have a hard time losing

Guest Information
Christine Chapuis has been in education for over 25 years.  She has worked as a classroom teacher, school-based mathematics coach, and at the district level.  She has an endorsement as a K-8 Mathematics Specialist.  Her work has centered on supporting students and teachers in developing a love of mathematics. 

Resources
For free K-2 reading and math activities, games, videos and parent resources, visit https://www.slamhomelearning.org/

About
From Classroom to Home is a podcast from Supporting Literacy And Math (SLAM) for parents of children in kindergarten through second grade. Each episode explores an important part of your child’s school experience, giving you a better understanding of what’s happening in the classroom and helpful ways to support your child at home.

Connect With Us
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave us a review, and share this episode with someone you think might find it helpful. 

What do unpacking a backpack, organizing a desk, and working through a difficult task have to do with being ready to learn? These everyday skills are a critical part of helping children become independent learners who are ready to participate fully in the classroom. In this episode, I’m joined by Allie Richardson, a veteran teacher with 14 years of experience, to talk about what independence looks like in kindergarten through second grade, why productive struggle is an important part of learning, and how parents can build these essential skills at home without stepping in too quickly.

In This Episode

• Why it’s important for children to become independent learners
• How teachers help children develop independence in the classroom
• How everyday responsibilities and routines at home help prepare children for the classroom
• What parents can do if their child says “I can’t do it” or asks for help too quickly

Guest Information
Allie Richardson is a second grade teacher entering her 15th year of teaching.  She was also the former Program Manager for the SLAM After School Program that supported students in K-2.  

Resources
For free K-2 reading and math activities, games, videos and parent resources, visit https://www.slamhomelearning.org/

About
From Classroom to Home is a podcast from Supporting Literacy And Math (SLAM) for parents of children in kindergarten through second grade. Each episode explores an important part of your child’s school experience, giving you a better understanding of what’s happening in the classroom and helpful ways to support your child at home.

Connect With Us
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave us a review, and share this episode with someone you think might find it helpful.

Is your child where they need to be in reading? It’s a question many parents have, especially during the early elementary years. In this episode, I’m joined by Alexandra Needle, a Reading Specialist who now works as a Curriculum Designer with McGraw Hill Publishing, to talk about how reading typically develops from kindergarten through second grade, what teachers look for as children progress, and simple activities parents can do at home to support their child’s reading.

In This Episode

• What reading development typically looks like from kindergarten through second grade
•  Key reading skills children develop at each grade level
• What teachers look for when they have concerns about a child’s reading progress
• Simple ways to support reading development at home

Guest Information

Alexandra Needle is a Reading Specialist who currently works as a Curriculum Designer with McGraw Hill Publishing Company, where she helps develop reading curriculum and instructional materials used in schools.  Alexandra has over 10 years of experience in education.

Resources

For free K-2 reading and math activities, games, videos and parent resources, visit https://www.slamhomelearning.org/

About

From Classroom to Home is a podcast from Supporting Literacy And Math (SLAM) for parents of children in kindergarten through second grade. Each episode explores an important part of your child’s school experience, giving you a better understanding of what’s happening in the classroom and offering helpful ideas for supporting your child at home.

Connect With Us

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave us a review, and share this episode with someone you think might find it helpful. 

Welcome to the first episode of From Classroom to Home, a new podcast designed to help parents understand what's really happening in their child's kindergarten, first, and second grade classroom. Host Lisbeth Stone, a learning disability specialist with more than 25 years of experience supporting young learners, introduces the mission behind the show and why the early grades matter so much for a child's long term success.

Key Takeaways

• Lisbeth has spent over two decades working with children from preschool through fourth grade, with a focus on kindergarten through second grade as a critical foundation for learning.
• She co-founded SLAM (Supporting Literacy and Math), a nonprofit dedicated to building strong reading and math skills in the early grades.
• Lisbeth designed an after-school intervention program for at-risk K-2 students that felt like play rather than schoolwork, so effective that many kids didn't even realize they were getting extra academic support.
• Parents genuinely want their children to succeed, but busy schedules often make it hard to know what's happening in the classroom or how to help at home.
• Each episode of From Classroom to Home will feature short, focused conversations (15 minutes or less) with teachers and experts covering the skills kids are learning, what's developmentally appropriate, and simple ways to support learning at home.

About the Host

Lisbeth Stone is a learning disability specialist and co-founder of SLAM (Supporting Literacy and Math), a nonprofit focused on early childhood reading and math intervention. Her work centers on making learning support accessible and engaging for young students and their families.

Resources Mentioned

• SLAM Home Learning: free interactive reading and math activities and games at slamhomelearning.org

Subscribe and Share

If you're a parent of a kindergarten, first, or second grader and want practical tools to support your child's learning at home, subscribe to From Classroom to Home so you never miss an episode. Share this episode with another parent who could use some clarity on what's happening in the classroom.