Two school boards in Tennessee recently made decisions to pull particular books from their elementary and middle school curricula, stirring afresh the controversy that has historically revolved around banning books. As parents and people influencing young people, decisions like these are cause for pause and reflection. What is the best way to teach our kids about really tough topics like slavery and the Holocaust? What books are "age-appropriate" and whose responsibility is it to determine that? How can we help our kids navigate all of the information and stories they take in?

Dr. Kevin Brown sheds light on these questions and more in this conversation. Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D. and three master's degrees related to library science and English. He has authored three books of poetry, a memoir, a book of scholarship, and has also had several critical articles published. He taught and wrote at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, for 19 years, and he now teaches high school English at Ensworth School in Nashville, Tennessee.

RESOURCES

Frequently Challenged Books | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues

Digital, screen-based reading and learning have risen sharply over the last few years. With that, parent concerns over student comprehension and academic growth are also on the rise. Dr. Virginia Clinton-Lisell, Associate Professor of Education at the University of North Dakota, has conducted extensive research on reading comprehension and language development. In this episode, she shares insights on how screen-based reading compares to paper-based reading and offers encouragement for parents who are navigating digital reading and learning with their students.

RESOURCES

The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens

Interactive features of E-texts’ effects on learning: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Open pedagogy systematic review

Reading differences between narrative and expository texts 

The upheaval of the traditional educational system here in the U.S. over the last two years is causing many to re-think education as a whole. Now, parental support for school choice and educational freedom is at an all-time high. Yet only 37 states have some form of educational freedom. Even among those states, there are several legislatures considering additional policies for greater educational freedom. The state of Ohio currently has one such piece of legislation, known as the “Backpack Bill.” Veteran educator and current Executive Director of the Ohio Christian Education Network Troy McIntosh shares thoughts on educational freedom and the Backpack Bill.

Athletes, coaches, and sports fans alike frequent headlines because of displays of poor behavior. Are displays of unsportsmanlike conduct on the rise? What impact do these incidents have on young athletes? How can parents help their young athletes develop good sportsmanship? Former Penn State all-star and Super Bowl champion Jeff Hartings draws on his experience as a player and a coach to weigh in on these questions and more.

Mid-terms and final exams are a central component of higher education and are also often given at the secondary education level. These types of assessments are typically a significant portion of a course grade and include extensive amounts of study material. The weight and volume of such exams typically produce anxiety in students. Given the emotional and mental toll involved, what is the point of mid-terms and finals? How can students (and parents) navigate this process well? Veteran high school math teacher Kathy White shares her thoughts on the purpose and process of mid-terms and finals and offers practical advice on how parents can help students be successful.

RESOURCES

Worthington Christian School Affordability Guide

As an 11-year-old girl, Laura Lopez's passion for astronomy was sparked. The daughter of a piano teacher and a gas station owner, this was a completely new area of interest for her family. Yet, with the support of her mother and some encouraging voices along the way, Lopez now holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics and is an associate professor of astronomy at the Ohio State University. Drawing on her own experience, Dr. Lopez shares insights into ways that parents and educators can encourage girls--and all students--to pursue their dreams.

RESOURCES

Department of Astronomy at The Ohio State University

Worthington Christian School

As students grow into the middle and high school years, the ability to incorporate thoughts, words, and ideas into their schoolwork becomes increasingly essential. As students move deeper into the research process in language arts, social studies, and science, they must learn how to navigate citing sources and avoid plagiarism.

Language arts educators Emily Solinger and Joel Walton draw from their years of experience in helping students navigate these waters to provide parents with practical tips and philosophical insight on the topic of plagiarism. Modern students have endless amounts of information available at their fingertips, and so much of our world is shareable. Parents need to know how to encourage their students to grow as writers, thinkers, and researchers.

RESOURCES

TurnItIn

Plagiarism

Worthington Christian School Viewbook

Homework is not as easy as 1-2-3. It is a long-debated issue with passionate proponents and opponents. Should elementary students have homework? How much homework is appropriate for middle schoolers? How much time is the average U.S. high schooler spending on homework each night? What's the difference between busy work and homework that is meaningful? Few people in the United States know homework like Dr. Janine Bempechat of Boston University's Wheelock College of Education. She has spent her long and successful career researching homework and its impact on teachers, parents and students, schools and school systems, and educational policies. In this episode, Dr. Bempechat answers some of the most pressing questions about homework in today's world and offers parents practical wisdom on navigating the school years.

RESOURCES

The Case for (Quality) Homework

Challenge Success

Worthington Christian School Viewbook

Catherine Todd found herself in a surprising place as her oldest daughter began school some 20 years ago--her daughter wasn't like her classmates. Over time, her oldest daughter received an autism diagnosis that set in motion an unexpected journey for Todd and her family. Now the mother of four children--two of which have autism diagnoses--she has become a special education teacher, author, and passionate advocate for children who have special learning needs. In this conversation, she discusses the language we use to talk about special needs and some practical ways a heart for inclusion can be fostered in every home.

RESOURCES

Teach Bloom Grow

Hopeless to Hopeful: A Mom’s Guide to Raising Children with Special Needs and Staying Inspired

Worthington Christian School Viewbook

How should we as parents respond when our kids express questions about their faith? How do we parent our kids well in the midst of our own questions about faith? Author, professor, and pastor Dr. A.J. Swoboda speaks words of hope and encouragement for all of us from his latest book "After Doubt: How to Question Your Faith Without Losing It." His words are both challenging and comforting as he discusses the process of an individual's faith becoming their own, what it means for a child to differentiate from their parents, and the truth that God is with us in our doubt. In an era when words like doubt and deconstruction are commonplace, this is a critical topic in parenting the next generation.

RESOURCES

In Faith & Doubt on Apple Podcasts

Worthington Christian School Affordability Guide