Notes from the Backpack: A PTA Podcast

What does it really mean to be “engaged” in your child’s education? For busy parents, it is impossible to do it all: attend and volunteer at school events, check the backpack and help with homework, drive to after school activities—while also planning meals and maintaining your home. Kwesi Rollins from the Institute for Educational Leadership gives us a realistic view of the barriers families face when trying to engage with their child’s school. He also shares how school districts across the country are making family engagement more meaningful and inclusive for families who aren’t involved in the traditional ways.

We discuss why recess is important for students’ physical health—as well as their social and emotional development—and take a look at what schools and families are doing to protect and enhance recess time at school. Researcher and dad, William Massey, explains the benefits of recess, what high-quality recess looks like and how parents can get involved in recess. PTA leader and school board member, Angie Gallo, also shares how you can become a recess advocate in your community.

We dive into parents’ top concerns about middle school with Phyllis Fagell—school counselor, therapist, author and mother of three. She gives us a deeper look at what is going on with middle schoolers developmentally and how families can address adolescent friendship issues, social media use and bullying. We also offer practical tips and ways both families and schools can best support our tweens.

We sit down with Bibb Hubbard—a mother and founder of Learning Heroes—to explore the research around what families and kids think about student academic achievement, how schools and districts can improve the way they share information with families, and what families can do to gauge if their child is on track and advocate for a more accurate picture of their progress. Liz Goshorn gives a mother’s perspective on how you can better understand your child’s academic progress in school and identify their academic strengths and areas for growth.

Get the inside scoop on school discipline in America from former U.S. Secretary of Education and President of the Education Trust John B. King, Jr. We discuss the dangers of policies that keep children out of regular classroom learning, and what approaches schools can use to help students become responsible, thriving adults. King shares lessons learned from his personal and professional experiences and gives us insight into how disciplinary actions can affect self-esteem and bias and speaks to how we can build more “windows” and “mirrors” to help all children succeed.

Find out what Notes from the Backpack is all about! Hosts LaWanda Toney and Helen Westmoreland give listeners a preview of what they can expect when they tune in to National PTA’s new podcast series.