Notes from the Backpack: A PTA Podcast

What goes into a school rating? School ratings often leave families feeling confused, wondering what a singular number tells them about the quality of a school. To get to the bottom of this, our hosts interviewed Jon Deane, CEO of GreatSchools.org who shares how families can use school ratings as a starting point for making informed choices for their child’s education.

Resources:

• Check out this Parents Magazine article, “What Do Public School Rankings Really Mean?”
• Learn more about GreatSchools.org and their college success award
• Follow GreatSchools.org at @GreatSchools

School transitions can be hard—and not just for the kids, but for parents, too! Our guest, child development expert and author, Deborah Farmer-Kris, has tips for making school transitions a little smoother. Whether your child is struggling to get out the door in the morning, experiencing anxiety in the classroom or melting down when they get home, Deborah has advice to ease your back-to-school transition.

Resources:

• Learn more about our guest, Deborah Farmer-Kris at parenthood365.com and enjoy her picture book series with your kids
• Check out the CDC’s tips for Helping Children Transition Back to School
• From the Archives: For those of you with a new middle schooler, check out our episode with Phyllis Fagell for helpful tips
• Read “Get Your Routine Back on Track” in PTA’s Our Children online magazine

Our nation is facing an adolescent mental health crisis. Teens are struggling in the classroom and at home. Our guest, Instructional Support Specialist and Social Emotional Learning Lead, Leona Fowler, shares her experiences navigating these challenges and what approaches can equip our kids with the coping skills they need. She discusses how mindfulness and other social emotional learning techniques can improve student wellness at school and at home.

Resources:

• Explore Educators for Excellence’s new report, Voices from the Classroom 2022: A Survey of America’s Educators, for additional insights on student wellness from educators
• Visit PTA.org/HealthyMinds to explore more resources related to student mental health and social emotional wellness
• Discover virtual learning materials brought to you by Phi Delta Kappa at the NSPDK E-Learning Academy
• Follow Leona Fowler on social media at @MizBossLady82

Since the pandemic began, the phrase “learning loss” has become a frequently used term in the education field. What kind of “learning loss” are teachers actually seeing in their classrooms and how are they working to address it? Angela Burley, sixth grade social studies teacher and a 2021-2022 Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellow, joins the show to share her perspective on the issue.

Resources:

• Read Angela Burley’s piece in the Dallas Examiner, “Students can’t help being absent because of COVID. We need to help them, not label them chronically absent.”
• Read another teacher’s perspective on the issue in the ASCD blog article, “Why ‘Learning Loss’ Is So Complicated (and How to Address It Constructively).”
• From the Archives: Listen to “How is Your Kid Really Doing in School?” featuring Learning Heroes’ Bibb Hubbard.

In the last few years, teachers have faced unprecedented challenges that have left a lot of them feeling burnt out. Experienced educator and activist, Sofia Gonzalez, shares her thoughts on teacher burnout and how systemic changes could make teaching a more sustainable profession.

• Read the National Education Association’s article, “Getting Serious about Teacher Burnout”
• Read the Brookings Institution’s article, “How much do teachers struggle with stress and burnout?”
• Visit PTA.org/ThankATeacher for teacher appreciation resources
• Follow Sofia Gonzalez on social media at @MrsG_P214 and learn more about her nonprofit organization, Project 214

Fostering motivation is an important part of a teacher’s job. Larry Ferlazzo, veteran high school teacher and Education Week writer, shares his insights on how to motivate students. Learn what teachers most want you to know about student motivation and get tips on how to get your child to do their homework, chores and more. 

Resources:

• Check out “4 Tips to Keep Kids Engaged in Learning” on PTA’s Our Children online magazine
• Read one of Larry’s many books, including  Building a Community of Self-Motivated Learners and Self-Driven Learning: Teaching Strategies for Student Motivation
• Follow Larry Ferlazzo on social media at @LarryFerlazzo and read more of his work on his blog

The college admissions process was stressful enough before the pandemic, now it’s more confusing than ever. Ffiona Rees, board chair of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), joins us to answer all of your questions. Listen to discover her top tips for supporting your teen as they navigate through the college admissions process.

Resources:

• Check out “College Planning: 6 Questions Every Family Should Ask” on PTA’s Our Children online magazine
• From the Archives: Listen to “How College Ready Are You?” featuring UNCF’s Sekou Biddle
• Explore more resources from NACAC at nacacnet.org 
• Share your ideas for next season in the 2022 Podcast Feedback Survey

What do your kids know about money? Jen Hemphill, host of the podcast, Her Dinero Matters, shares tips from her experience as an accredited financial advisor and as a mom. Learn how to talk about money with children of all ages and how you can help them to become financially responsible.

Resources:

• Listen Jen Hemphill’s podcast Her Dinero Matters on all major podcast platforms
• Explore Money As You Grow, a resource from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau to help parents and caregivers talk to kids about money
• Get more tips to help your child become financially responsible  in “Adulting 101: From Cooking to Credit Cards” on PTA’s Our Children online magazine

Most people can count on one hand the number of Black teachers they had during their schooling. Our guest Sharif El-Mekki is working to change that. Sharif discusses how underrepresentation of Black teachers has repercussions for all of our children, and for Black children in particular. 

Resources:

• Visit TheCenterBlacked.org to learn more about Sharif’s work, including opportunities for paid apprenticeships and other teaching experiences
• From the Archives: Listen to our podcast episode featuring Rodney Robinson
• Read “Diverse Teachers Matter,” from the National School Board Association
• Follow the Center for Black Educator Development and Sharif El-Mekki on social media: @CenterBlackEd and @SElMekki

Parents can often feel overwhelmed when they receive their child’s test scores. What do the scores mean and do they even matter? Dr. Andrew Ho, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, breaks down what you need to know about standardized testing so you can understand what really matters for your child’s learning and development.

Resources:

• Review Andrew’s helpful resource, Questions to Ask About Educational Tests
• Read “Take The Stress Out of Standardized Tests” on PTA’s Our Children online magazine
• Follow Dr. Andrew Ho on social media at @AndrewDeanHo