The transition from home to school is an interesting one. What messages do we give our kids about school, the school day and their place in school when we send them off? Simultaneously, what messages do our kids get about school, the school day, and their place in school when they arrive? In this episode, Dr. Pressley discusses the impact of last words and first words and shares how we can become more intentional in what we say to support our kids' positive attachment to school and how we can easily set them up to thrive. 

Every school year has a honeymoon period- the time when everything seems easy and right but then what seems like overnight, it ends. What's going on? The school year has its ups and downs- its ebbs and flows in somewhat predictable ways, but why do we think there's a problem when the honeymoon period ends? In this episode, Dr. Pressley talks about how students, families and teachers experience the honeymoon period, how and why they experience its end, and what we can do to make it an easier transition to a successful year. 

What lie do we believe and tell that is keeping students from thriving in school? It may not be clear to us that we believe or tell this lie, but most of us do! In this episode, Dr. Pressley dives deep into student failure from a systemic perspective and offers different ways to look at and address student struggles in school. 

Who wants to hear "I hate school" from someone you care about? NO ONE. So why do we hear it way more than we should? There's so many factors that impact a child's experience of school- and the one factor all students share is the school day itself. How does it FEEL to be in school? How are you challenged, supported, and seen by the adults and peers? How are you being taught, what, and why? In this episode, Dr. Pressley shares why her daughter's recent comment, "I like school"- impacted her so much and how going from too easy to too stressful to just right is monumental. 

When did being ready for the new school year become synonymous with long supply lists and materials? In this episode, Dr. Pressley shares three things she knows would benefit any and all students this school year so they can thrive- and they're absolutely free!

Do you ever wonder why our kids look forward to summer break and dread the school year? Well...it might be how we think about school during the year and how that sets us up for a "cheat day" mentality.  In this episode, Dr. Pressley compares summer break to diet cheat days and shares some easy ways to make school more sustainable and learning more a part of life.