Reframe from Miami University

For many of us, drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is a daily ritual. But many public health professionals are now showing a growing concern over the consumption of these drinks, especially when it comes to children.

On this episode, two public health researchers discuss the changing cultural trends around how we consume and view sugar-sweetened beverages, as well as how parents can help their children make more healthier choices.

We visit special space where all children seem to find their place. The Wonder Lab at Lakota Local Schools is a STEAM-based classroom that sparks curiosity and critical thinking among our youngest learners by using the environment itself to nurture creative exploration.

Created in part with the Cincinnati Museum Center, The Wonder Lab also helps children build important soft skills like communication, collaboration, and a capacity for empathy.

Power and dominance are not always about physical force or political authority. On this episode, Dr. Lisa Weems, a Miami University scholar-activist-educator, explains how power dynamics can take on far more subtle forms.

In schools, across society, and in our daily lives, these power struggles often happen when certain dominant cultural values are privileged and reinforced, while others are marginalized or silenced -- especially around issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality.

These ideas are also expressed in her recent book, Staging Dissent: Young women of color and transnational activism.

Additional music: Lee Rosevere "Thought Bubbles" and Broke For Free "The Gold Lining."

Middle school can be an intense and challenging time. All the drama around social media. The pressure of getting good grades. Bouncing back from disappointments. These are just a few of the things that students face. But helping them transition through this awkward and confusing phase is what makes the work of Robin Beavers so meaningful.

As a middle school principal, an Ohio 2019 Educator of the Year, and the founder of a youth mentorship program, Robin talks about how to help impressionable students figure out who they are, and who they hope to become.

School mascots can create a shared identity and foster a sense of loyalty among fans and communities. But some mascots, especially those that may be viewed as stereotypical or insensitive to cultural subgroups, can also cause controversy.

This issue recently caused a deep rift throughout a local school district in Ohio, where a debate around a Native American mascot became a fascinating story that touched upon moral psychology, the importance of local politics, and the ways in which other schools can navigate similar challenges.

When we talk about health and wellness, we often talk about what we eat, how we move, and the personal choices we make. But our health and wellbeing, and even the health of entire communities, depends on more than just diet and exercise. It also has a lot to do with where we live and the spaces we occupy.

Music: Tech Toys by Lee Rosevere. Black Lung and Our Ego by Broke For Free.

Children who fail to read well by 3rd grade risk facing many long-term consequences. Low reading scores in elementary school have been linked to lower high school graduation rates, a higher risk of poverty, a lack of global competitiveness, and even less overall productivity as adults.

So Ohio has implemented the 3rd Grade Reading Guarantee to help all elementary-aged students get the support they need to read at grade level. On this episode, a school psychologist explains how this policy works, as well as how parents can help their children become better readers.

Music: Tech Toys by Lee Rosevere

When we talk about inequality and poverty, one issue is rarely addressed. Even though it is a natural part of life that affects more than 800 million people every day, the menstrual period can still be a source of financial hardship, shame, embarrassment, and even inequity. So at Miami, there is a new outreach project called Periods Rock! Which addresses issues such as period poverty, the pink tax, and the ongoing social stigma that still persists in many ways. Music: "Tech Toys" by Lee Rosevere.

What if we could recreate school all over again? What if there were no more lectures, or worksheets? What if school became a place where students could create their day as they saw fit? These were the kinds of questions asked by Sycamore High School, which set out to create the Synnovation Lab – a modern, self-paced learning environment that encourages students to take full ownership of their education. Music: Tech Toys and Let that Sink In by Lee Rosevere. Our Ego featuring Different Visitor by Broke For Free.

On this episode, we continue the conversation around youth sport. This time, by looking at the role that coaches play. And how their feedback and bias and expectations, can have an overwhelming impact on the performance and development of so many young athletes. Music: Tech Toys, Under Suspicion, and Swift Wind by Lee Rosevere.