Being ready to succeed in kindergarten and beyond is more than your child being able to write her name or being a particular age. In this episode of Navigating Your Child's Education, we take a deep dive into readiness. We also discuss full- versus half-day programs, whether or not attending preschool is advantageous, and the importance of play in your child's preparedness for school. 

Joining us on this episode are seasoned educators Jim Parrish, elementary principal, Jordan Berner, kindergarten teacher, and Jennifer Denorme, intervention director. If kindergarten is on the horizon, you won't want to miss this conversation. 

RESOURCES

Worthington Christian School Viewbook

Whatever your preconceived understanding is of skilled trades, we feel confident that after listening to this episode you will be enlightened to the numerous career options for your child. With growing demand and increased earning power, both college-bound and non-college-bound students are finding career success with a skilled trades background.

Our guests are Scott Laslo (M.S., MSM) the faculty program coordinator at Columbus State Community College, and Brad Dement, welding and sheet metal fabrication instruction at Delaware Area Career Center. During our conversation, we discuss misconceptions of trade skills, the profile of students finding their niche in a trade, the increasing demand for skilled workers in the marketplace, and how students and parents can explore whether this is a viable educational and career path.

RESOURCES

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Worthington Christian School Affordability Guide

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6.4 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  And the numbers are growing. To help us better understand ADHD and its impact on the child, family, and school, we sit down with three experts. Dr. Dale Richards, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, Samantha Leeman, a child psychologist, and Katelyn Geisler, a school intervention specialist discuss characteristics of ADHD, coping strategies, the use of medication, and more.

RESOURCES

ADDitude: Inside the ADHD Mind

Worthington Christian School Viewbook

A must-listen for dads and moms raising Generation Z—children born between 1997 and 2012. Pastor, author, and speaker Rich Nathan joins us for an in-depth look at generational differences and why it matters. Together we'll explore the impact of fear in our approach to parenting Gen Z. We, too, will discuss Gen Z's outlook on matters of faith. Filled with hope and practical take-aways, make sure to share this conversation.

RESOURCES

Worthington Christian School Affordability Guide

The proliferation of technology is here to stay. It's part of the fabric of our world, and education is no exception. Add in a global pandemic, and it seems that technology is now the lifeblood of education. Yet, all this technology in school raises questions and concerns for parents. 

 What's the proper role of technology in education? How has the role of teachers changed and stayed the same? Is online learning equal to in-person learning when it comes to cognitive function? 

In this episode of Navigating Your Child's Education, we'll delve into these questions and more with four experienced educators (and parents).  Joining us are Troy McIntosh, a private school administrator, Mark Mousa, a veteran teacher and administrator in a large suburban school, private school technology teacher, Pam Cain, and Kristen Brown, the associate dean at Northeastern Seminary who specializes in distance learning. 

RESOURCES

Worthington Christian School Affordability Guide

The internet defines multipotentiality like this: "an educational and psychological term referring to the ability and preference of a person, particularly one of strong intellectual or artistic curiosity, to excel in two or more different fields." Hence, a multipotentialite is a person who has many different interests and creative pursuits in life. Multipotentialites have no “one true calling” the way specialists do.

In this episode of Navigating Your Child's Education, we dig deeper into the concept of multipotentiality, the characteristics of multipotentialites at home and school, how to encourage curiosity, and the beauty of being a generalist. Our guest, Dr. Mark Eckel, is an esteemed educator with 35+ years of experience ranging from the high school ranks to graduate and doctorate students. 

RESOURCES 

Why Some of Us Don't Have One True Calling | Emilie Wapnick | TEDxBend

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

Worthington Christian School Viewbook 

In this episode of the Navigating Your Child's Education podcast, we discuss the school sports' landscape. How have athletics changed and stayed the same over the past 10 years? What impact has club teams and the decreased number of multi-sport student-athletes had on school sports? Will COVID-19 impact college recruitment?

Joining us on this episode to discuss these questions and more are Doug Ute, executive director, Ohio High School Athletic Association; Kevin Weakley, a 20-year basketball coach and athletic director at a private school; and Wes Elifritz, an AD at a 1,400-student public high school.

Whether you're new to the youth sports scene or rounding the bases and heading for home, you won't want to miss this enlightening conversation.

RESOURCES

Why The Best Are The Best by Kevin Eastman

Worthington Christian School Viewbook

We sat down with a small group of high school students to watch and get their reaction to the Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma. The 1.5-hour presentation takes a deep dive into the unintended consequences of social media including mental health, democracy, justice, and more. The Social Dilemma features the voices of technologists and researchers who were instrumental in developing Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other popular platforms. 

RESOURCES

The Social Dilemma Trailer

Setting Up Screen Time Limits on Apple Devices

Setting Up Screen Time Limits on Android Devices

Many significant changes have taken place in higher education institutions including the shift from in-person to online or hybrid learning models, on-campus student life, and athletics. The admissions process also looks different with limitations on in-person visits and even the requirements for being accepted. 

Hear from a veteran high school college counselor, admission counselors from The Ohio State University, and Grand Canyon University, as well as two high school seniors. A must-listen episode for parents and students who are starting the college search process or who are only months away from making their decision.

Welcome to Navigating Your Child’s Education, a podcast for parents, grandparents, and others raising or influencing young people, from preschool through high school. Together we will explore topics that matter most to us parents when it comes to the education of our children. We’ll hear from experienced educators, leaders in education, and school experts--ie students themselves--as we seek to learn what we don’t know and be informed to make the best decisions for our families. Our hope is that we come away from each episode empowered by what we learned, affirmed in what we already do know, and encouraged in knowing that we’re not alone as with wrestle through questions and issues.

Join us on the first and third Wednesday of each month beginning November 2020 for a new episode of Navigating Your Child’s Education. Subscribe and never miss an episode, and make sure to leave us feedback on future topics in education you’d like to explore.

This podcast, along with a blog by the same name, is a service of Worthington Christian School, Columbus, Ohio’s leader in K-12 Christian education.