play on words

In this jam-packed episode, Beth is joined by Brooke Boruff, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Infant Insights, to tackle all your biggest questions about baby and toddler development. From bonding and soothing to choosing the right preschool, Brooke’s expert advice will leave you feeling informed, confident, and ready to embrace this stage of parenting.

Here’s what we cover:
🎁 Do babies really need toys to thrive? (Hint: Less is more!)
🍼 Is it normal for a baby to roll at 3 weeks? What’s typical, and when should you seek support?
💡 What is an OT, and how can they help with everything from motor skills and sensory needs to bonding and beyond?
💬 Attachment: Can you be too attached? How much should I play with my baby?
😴 Sleep and soothing strategies: How to bond while helping your baby self-soothe.
🍼 Lactation, feeding, and how they connect to development.
📚 Flat heads, tummy time, and how to promote healthy growth while easing common concerns.
🏫 Choosing the right preschool: structured vs. unstructured, play-based learning, and what to look for when making your decision.
📖 Children’s books that are both adorable and thought-provoking—yes, even about death and the big questions in life.

This episode is packed with expert advice and practical tips to support your parenting journey, all while reminding you that you’re doing an amazing job.

Links mentioned in this episode:
👉 Connect with Brooke: Infant Insights on Instagram
👉 My Baby and Toddler Courses: bigcityreaders.com
👉 Send me your questions or thoughts on Instagram: @bigcityreaders

Don’t forget to subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review—it helps more families find the show! ❤️

In this episode of Play On Words, from Big City Readers, Miss Beth chats with pediatric occupational therapist Courtney English about the real reasons behind your child's behavior—from sensory needs to nervous system regulation—and what you can do to support them (and yourself!). They break down common parenting challenges like meltdowns at dinner, unexpected outburst biting and hitting and why your kid might be rolling on the rug or have trouble sitting still in school, while giving practical tips for emotional regulation and learning.

Key topics include:

• What is Sensory Processing? Understanding how your child's brain processes sensory input and how it impacts their behavior.
• When Your Kid Pushes Out of Nowhere: Why it happens and how to respond calmly.
• Minute 16: Should you tell kids to sit still in school? How to recognize when it's a sensory need versus a behavior issue.
• Regulating a Whole Classroom: What to do when your classroom is calm and how this helps everyone learn better.
• Is Deeply Feeling or Highly Sensitive Real? Exploring what it means for a child to be highly sensitive and how to support their emotional needs.
• Helping Your Nervous System Calm Down: How to teach yourself and your child to recognize non-threatening situations and reduce stress responses.
• Why Your Kid Throws Fits at Dinner: What after-school restraint collapse is and how it explains end-of-day meltdowns.
• Proactive Regulation: How to prevent meltdowns before they happen by supporting your child's sensory and emotional needs.
• Heavy Work: Why physical activities like pushing, pulling, or carrying heavy things can help kids (and adults!) regulate their emotions.
• Lizard Brain: Understanding your child’s 'survival mode' reactions and how to help them feel safe and calm.
• What Your Brain Likes: Learning how your child’s brain prefers to process information and how to use that knowledge for better behavior and learning.
• Minute 38: "Fire together, wire together"—how learning to write letters affects brain development and behavior.
• Does Letter Writing Matter?  Why teaching your child to form letters properly is key to their regulation and emotional control.
• Foundational Skills Matter: (Minute 47) Why early motor skills are the foundation for better learning, behavior, and emotional regulation.
• Boomer Mom Text: (Minute 50) A fun moment where Miss Beth reads a classic 'boomer mom' text, sparking a conversation about generational differences in parenting.
• How to Stop People-Pleasing as an Adult: Courtney and Miss Beth discuss the roots of people-pleasing behavior in children, how it affects us as adults, and strategies to break the cycle for good.
• ⁠Heavy Work Freebie⁠

Join Beth Gaskill and Courtney English for an honest, practical conversation packed with science-backed insights that will help you better understand your child’s behavior, meet their emotional needs, and stop the cycle of people-pleasing—for both you and your kids!

Originally from instagram Live, join Miss Beth from Big City Readers as she reads You Matter, When You Are Brave, Pass It On, If You Plant A Seed, The Rabbit Listened and shares life lessons about looking for hope and having courage. 

View it on instagram: Instagram.com/bigcityreaders

Purchase these books: amazon.com/shop/bigcityreaders

In this episode, Miss Beth sits down with her best friend and popular influencer, Just Me Rod, for a hilarious and nostalgic trip down memory lane. Together, they reminisce about the joys of Book-It and those coveted Pizza Hut personal pan pizzas, the strange traditions of 90s elementary school life, and the quirky things we all did as kids (remember Trapper Keepers and scratch-and-sniff stickers?). They also dive into a more serious question: did anxiety start with round robin and popcorn reading? Tune in as they discuss the trauma of being called on to read aloud, their favorite childhood books, and even those weirdly mesmerizing book covers from school. This lighthearted chat will have you laughing, cringing, and nodding along to the shared experiences of growing up in the 90s.

big city readers

Hear from Chicago School Board candidate Ellen Rosenfeld about what school board elections mean. Now, I’ll be the first to say that I’m not an expert on the financial management of public schools or all the ins and outs of policy-making, but what I do know is that the decisions made at the school board level have a huge impact on the education our children receive—especially in a city like Chicago.

I didn’t invite today’s guest, Ellen, because she has all the answers—no single candidate does—but because I want you to think critically about what it means to elect a school board that truly reflects the needs of our students, families, and teachers. My goal is to help you navigate who the right people are to create thoughtful, well-rounded policies that will move our schools forward.

At Big City Readers, we’re all about building strong foundations for kids’ literacy and learning, and part of that is making sure our education system is set up for success. So, let’s dig in, ask some questions, and think about what kind of leadership will best serve our kids and our community!

⁠https://www.chicagomag.com/news/this-is-exactly-who-johnson-is-mayor-ctu/⁠

⁠https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-teachers-union-demands-parents-be-kept-in-dark-on-curriculum/⁠

⁠https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/10/11/editorial-chicago-school-board-elections-endorsements/⁠

⁠https://jenguzman.substack.com/p/so-what-makes-a-good-school-board⁠

⁠https://www.wbez.org/elections/2024/10/22/november-general-election-chicago-public-schools-first-elected-school-board⁠

⁠https://chicago.suntimes.com/editorials/2024/10/21/chicago-school-board-election-education-budget-deficit-teachers-contract-editorial

In this part two episode with Principal Jon Arens, we continue exploring crucial topics that every parent and educator should know. We dive into lockdown drills, school transfers, and more, including:

• Lockdown drills and the tough realities of school safety.
• Transferring schools: What qualifies as a good reason to consider moving your child.
• School tours: Why security questions matter more than curriculum questions.
• The messenger matters: How the delivery of a message can be more impactful than the content itself.
• Bringing up concerns: Effective strategies for approaching teachers and administrators, ensuring that safety promotes risk-taking and learning.
• Who’s in charge of curriculum? The importance of having a designated expert managing curriculum decisions and how long to wait before assessing its effectiveness.
• Simple questions, big insights: How to ask the right questions to know if something isn’t working at school, and why involving multiple people on an email helps get answers.
• What do you do to support your teachers?
• Why are principals never at school?
• Does seating 'good' kids with 'bad' kids improve behavior?
• What’s being done to update outdated curriculum?

We also answer important questions like:Jon also gives parents actionable advice, from where to ask difficult questions to understanding the critical role of kindergarten teachers in shaping our society. Plus, why school board meetings are a must-watch for informed parents!

Check out ⁠bigcityreaders.com⁠ for more resources on these topics. ⁠Books: ⁠

In this solo episode, Miss Beth from Big City Readers answers parent question "what do I say when my child asks if this right and when do I start correcting their spelling?"

We explore how to support children, especially perfectionists, when they ask, "Is this right?" while using inventive spelling in their writing. We’ll dive into how to encourage confidence, focus on the learning process, and promote a growth mindset instead of emphasizing perfection.

1. What is Inventive Spelling? A natural part of early writing development where children use the sounds they know to spell words and why it’s important to let kids experiment with language without worrying about correctness at first.
   
2. Challenges for Perfectionist KidsPerfectionists may fear making mistakes or need constant validation and how focusing too much on being "right" can prevent them from growing as writers and thinkers.
   
3. How to Respond When They Ask, "Is This Right?"
   Tips for positive responses that encourage learning over perfection:Praise their effort and creativity and how asking guiding questions to help them think through their spelling will help.
   Reframing mistakes as part of the learning process.
   
   
4. Encouraging a Growth Mindset in Writing How to use growth mindset language: “You’re getting better every time you try!” or "You haven't learned that YET."
   Reinforce that mistakes are part of learning and that every attempt is progress.
   

Takeaways for Parents and Educators:

• Focus on effort, process, and creativity, rather than perfection.
• Create a supportive environment that builds confidence in writing.
• Celebrate small wins and encourage kids to keep trying without fear of making mistakes.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Share your own experiences with perfectionist kids or ask questions for future episodes. Stay tuned for more tips on nurturing confident readers and writers!

Courses mentioned in this episode:

Writing and Drawing (heavy mindset focus) for preschool and kindergarten 

Kindergarten Ready 

First Grade Bootcamp

Spelling Rules for second and third grade

Phonological Awareness Checklist

In this episode, we sit down with Principal Jon Arens, a special education teacher and dad to 3 little ones in the learning to read stages! We dive into the realities of education, parenting, and navigating the school system. This is part 1 of 2.

We cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Why Bluey beats Daniel Tiger as a favorite and how that choice says a lot about what we value in children's content.
• How failing in front of your kids (like taking them to a restaurant where you can't read the menu) is actually the best thing for their growth.
• The role language plays in learning to read and why "don’t be an expert" is actually great advice for parenting.
• The importance of representation in schools and why behavior charts should be banned—Jon would be shocked to see them in public schools today and didn't believe that teachers and parents reported their school uses them!
• What’s really happening in classrooms: Class Dojo, EBD, and even padded walls (as investigated by the Chicago Tribune).
• The big question: Is it more valuable to train teachers or invest in new curriculum? Spoiler: Curriculum often sits in a box.
• Why teachers might be too nice to speak up and how school boards may not fully understand what's happening in schools.
• Practical advice on how to support your kids at home, from asking the right questions to staying informed on curriculum decisions.

We also tackle red flag/green flag questions for schools, check-in check-out forms, equity audits, and how creating a safe environment for children enables them to take more risks and learn. Plus, why you should always watch school board meetings and who you should really email when you need answers.

Visit  bigcityreaders.com for more on these topics!

If you have more questions after this episode, stay tuned for part 2 where we dig even deeper!

In today’s episode from Big City Readers, I’m diving deep into one of the most debated topics in early literacy: the 3 cueing strategy and how it may be affecting your child’s ability to learn to read. If your child is struggling with blending sounds or progressing in reading, it’s essential to know whether they’ve been taught using the right strategies—and if those strategies are being used consistently.

We’ll explore key reasons why your child might be having a hard time, including:

• Are they using effective, research-backed reading methods?
• How does working memory play a role in learning to read?
• Why following directions is an important step in the process.

I’ll also explain why the 3 cueing system has been banned in many places and how its reliance on context and guessing can cause issues for children learning to read.

Plus, I’ll share more about my upcoming⁠ workshop for parents⁠, where I’ll provide tips, activities, and support to ensure your child is learning to read the right way. And stay tuned as I talk about what I’ve been reading lately and how it ties into the science of reading.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• What is 3 Cueing: An explanation of the 3 cueing system (meaning, structure, and visual cues) and why it’s no longer recommended by many experts.
• Why It’s Problematic: The drawbacks of 3 cueing and how it can lead to children guessing words rather than truly decoding them.
• Working Memory & Reading: How your child’s working memory impacts their ability to blend sounds, retain information, and follow directions while reading.
• Following Directions & Reading: Why learning to follow multi-step directions helps build the skills your child needs to read independently.
• Signs Your Child is Struggling: Common red flags that your child may not be using the right strategies to learn to read.
• Upcoming Parent Workshop: Details on my next workshop for parents, where I’ll break down how to support your child in learning to read using proven techniques.
• What I’m Reading: A quick update on the latest books I’m diving into that center on the science of reading and early literacy education.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

• ⁠upcoming workshop⁠
• Articles and research on 3 cueing and why it’s being phased out
• ⁠Books I’m reading⁠ on literacy and early childhood development

Connect with Me:

• Follow me on Instagram ⁠[@BigCityReaders]⁠
• Visit my website ⁠[bigcityreaders.com]⁠
• Sign up for ⁠my newsletter⁠ to stay updated on workshops, tips, and resources

This episode is a must-listen for any parent who feels their child is struggling with reading or who wants to understand how best to support their literacy journey. Tune in for practical insights, expert advice, and a chance to get involved in my upcoming workshop where we’ll dive even deeper into helping your child succeed in reading!

In this episode of Play On Words from Big City Readers, Beth Gaskill is joined by Naomi O’Brien, reading teacher, advocate and speaker, to talk about shaking things up in education and empowering both teachers and students to thrive.

Here’s what you can expect from this episode:

• Reflections on presenting at big conferences (and the fun moments, like talking Jonas Brothers and Boyz II Men).
• Answering your most pressing questions and the most frequently asked in both of our DMs (@bigcityreaders and @readlikearockstarteaching)
• How to share reading research effectively to support teachers.
• Helping teachers walk into the school year more confidently, especially when preparing students for important testing grades.
• Naomi’s insights on her Second Grade Reading Rescue and strategies for getting students ready for Grade 3 tests.
• Why teachers shouldn’t feel guilty—they were often misled by outdated or ineffective methods.
• Addressing the importance of critical thinking: Why some educators hesitate to question their practices.
• How to foster both urgency for students' success and empathy for teachers' challenges.
• Practical tips for stopping students from guessing words while reading and when to start formal reading instruction.
• Navigating inventive spelling: When should you correct it, and why spelling doesn’t always correlate with reading success.
• How to support emerging bilingual students and the role of speech in literacy.
• Answering questions from listeners about changing curriculum, teacher autonomy, and how to make a difference while ruffling some feathers along the way.
• Fun moments, like why babbling matters in early language development and Beth's hilarious TikTok impression.

Plus, we share Naomi’s biggest tip for getting kids ready for kindergarten and how to create a positive mindset around learning for students and teachers alike. Tune in for a conversation full of passion, practical advice, and a drive to push boundaries for the sake of our students!

Bonus Content: Download our ⁠phonological awareness assessment ⁠to help build a strong foundation for reading!