Podcasts about parent communication

In this episode of the PowerTech Development Podcast, we welcome Matt Dumouchelle, creator of The Coaches Site's Hockey Factories Series, contributor to The Coaches Site Podcast, and Assistant GM of the Leamington Flyers. Drawing from years of global research into the world's best hockey development programs, Matt unpacks what great programs do differently.Whether you're a coach, parent, or program director, this conversation delivers deep insight on youth development systems, what it means to be aligned as an organization, and why the coach-player-parent triangle is more important than ever.

As the hockey season wraps up, it's time to hit pause—and look back.In this episode of The Ride to the Rink, Lee MJ Elias and Mike Bonelli team up to help young players reflect on their season the right way. Whether you hoisted a championship trophy or just gave it your all every day, there are key lessons waiting to be uncovered—if you take the time to look.Lee and Mike break down a coach-approved reflection process, including:• ✅ How to assess your personal growth beyond stats•

How should coaches, parents, and players truly evaluate a hockey season—especially when it didn't end with a trophy? This week on Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee and Mike (with Christie on assignment) take a deep dive into what it really means to have a successful season—and it's not just about the scoreboard.From fostering a positive team culture to navigating tough losses, they share strategies for reflecting on the year with purpose. They also discuss the importance of development, goal-setting, communication, and knowing when it's time for a break from the rink.In this episode, we cover:

In this episode, math educator and author Crystal Frommert joins to share tips for emailing families with some strategies from her book When Calling Parents Isn't Your Calling. You'll also hear Crystal's helpful traffic light system for deciding when to email versus call, plus tips for writing clear, positive messages. If you want to strengthen your school-home communication while maintaining professional boundaries, this episode is for you! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2025/02/04/tips-for-emailing-families-305/ Sponsored by my quick reference guide Using AI Chatbots to Enhance Planning and Instruction: https://amzn.to/42Xzds0 Follow Crystal Frommert on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-frommert/ Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

In this holiday episode of the ECE Classroom, host Susie Beghin addresses pressing questions from early childhood educators about managing challenging behaviors in the classroom, effective parent communication, classroom strategies and team dynamics. The episode covers challenging behavior topics such as aggressive behavior, tantrums, biting, speech difficulties and handling conflict between children. Susie discusses effective communication with parents while emphasizing the importance of empathy, understanding child development, and building trust with both children and parents to create a supportive learning environment and great relationships with parents. In this episode, Susie Beghin addresses key questions related to early childhood classrooms, focusing on managing transitions, the importance of messy play, fostering inclusion, effective team dynamics, addressing educator burnout, and the challenges of opening a daycare. She provides practical strategies and insights for educators to enhance their teaching practices and support their students' development. More information about Susie Beghin is available at www.susiebeghin.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Holiday Episode and Q&A Format 01:00 Strategies for Managing Aggressive Behavior 06:10 Strategies to Deal with a Tantrum 07:11 Strategies for Children who are Biting 11:08 Strategies to Support Children with Speech Difficulties 12:30 Supporting Conflict Between Children 15:05 How to Stop Children from Using Inappropriate Language 17:07 How to Support New Children in the Classroom 19:30 Lingering Parents at Drop-off Time 21:16 Effective Parent Communication 23:29 Managing Transitions in Early Childhood Education 26:33 How to Manage Messy Play 30:03 Fostering Inclusion in the Classroom 31:50 Team Communication and Celebrating our Differences 36:30 Addressing Educator Burnout 39:00 Challenges of Opening a New Daycare Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/fortune-cookie/golden-summer-lenny-b⁠⁠⁠⁠ License code: STFPDU3XL7ZR4CHA

In this episode, we're diving into one of the most important aspects of special education: building strong, positive communication with parents. We all know how much of a game-changer it is when families and educators work together as a team to support students with disabilities. That's why we're sharing five practical tips to help you foster trust, ease parent anxieties, and make sure families feel like valued partners in their child's education. From creating consistent communication routines to involving parents in the IEP process and celebrating student wins, we're talking about real strategies to build connections that truly make a difference. Tune in and let's talk about how we can create partnerships that help our students thrive!Resources Mentioned:Free training: 3 Simple and Powerful Ways to Cultivate Independence in Your Special Education Classroom Show Notes: https://chalkboardsuperhero.com/episode58

Grab your free Toddler Toolkit now and bring balance back to your toddler classroom. Click the link to download! https://memberships.kartra.com/page/toddlerclassroomtoolkit In this episode of The Teacher's Lounge, we explore how to handle teacher turnover and keep the classroom stable during staffing changes. You'll learn practical tips for effective communication with students and parents, supporting both children and teachers through transitions, and managing stress. Key topics include the effects of turnover, emotional support for kids, and leadership strategies for teachers.

Parenting feels like juggling on steroids! While jugglers balance balls, pins, and even fiery torches, parents are juggling much more — kids, jobs, school activities, aging parents, household chores, bills, and never-ending to-do lists. It's an overwhelming act that leaves us asking: How do we manage it all? And why does it sometimes feel harder than it needs to be? Join Gina and Don as they dive into the daily juggling act of parenthood. Let's tackle the chaos together and discover how to ease the stress of keeping all those balls in the air! #ParentingSupport #JugglingParenthood #StressOfParenting #GinaGrothoff #DonGrothoff #FocusedHealthyFamily

Welcome to the Healthy Teen Life Podcast with your host, Leslie. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the essential skill of listening and how it can significantly improve communication and relationships. Our special guest, Deb Porter, founder of HOLD (Hearing Out Life Drama), shares her expertise in active listening and emotional intelligence. Deb explains the concept of active listening and its importance for both teens and parents. She introduces her CORE framework—Calm, Outcome, Relate, and Empathy—as a structured approach to enhance listening skills. Throughout the episode, Deb provides actionable tips and resources to help listeners implement these strategies in their daily lives. Tune in to learn how to become a better listener, foster positive communication outcomes, and build stronger, more empathetic relationships. Check out the show notes for additional resources and links: Show Notes Today we discuss: 01:44  The Power of Active Listening 06:24  Listening Mistakes to Avoid 11:44   Building Trust Through Listening 13:02  The CORE Framework Explained 29:20  Breaking Negative Listening Patterns 37:37  Practical Tips for Effective Listening   Parents: Grab a copy of my FREE Parent Guide on spotting unhealthy teen eating behaviors and how you can help, click here! Website: leslierosecoaching.com teen/YA coaching. Instagram: @Leslierosecoaching - DM with comments, questions or guest requests. Before you go: Rate, Review and Follow on Apple Podcasts. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved about the episode. It helps us reach more parents and teens seeking relevant youth-specific health and wellness information. Spread the love!  

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 Thanks for tuning in to today's episode. We've got an important topic lined up: tips on managing tuition and fees. I know many of you have questions about when and how to address tuition increases with parents. Today, I'll share practical strategies for planning your budget, factoring in various expenses, determining the necessary tuition adjustments, and effectively communicating these changes to parents. We'll also touch on ways to add new revenue streams and ensure your child care center remains financially stable. Plus, I'll give you some pointers on how to handle the fear of losing families due to rate hikes. So grab a notepad, take some notes, and let's dive into making your center financially secure while maintaining high-quality care. Don't forget to check out the show notes for additional resources and rate the podcast if you find these insights helpful. Let's get started! Let's connect:www.thedirectorsclub.netCommunity:Join my FREE Facebook group and connect with other directors and me as we navigate leading a child care center together!  FB Group Child Care Center Owners and DirectorsPODCASTWe have a podcast for your Teacher's!  We take real life skills our teachers need and create podcasts to help them.  Use these to mentor your team, as part of your professional development, AND at your staff meetings! The Early Education Teachers Lounge LISTEN HERESocials:Facebook page, The Director's ClubInstagram, The Director's ClubWORKING WITH NOELLE AND THE DIRECTOR'S CLUB:The ClubDiscover more about The Director's Club, a mastermind group designed for child care center directors who seek support and expert guidance to maintain high-quality early education centers.   LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLUB HEREThe Teacher's LoungeDo you want to enhance your teachers' confidence in the classroom through a mentoring program tailored to their needs? Look no further than The Teacher's Lounge, a dedicated mentoring department that you've always wanted for your child care center. Don't hesitate, visit us now to learn more HERE   

WARNING - This episode does have some "spicy" humor and language.  Be aware if listening around children and/or small animals. Chris is gone, so Mark and Josh do their best to hold down the fort.  They take a listener email from James about prepping for extreme heat and keeping datacenters cool.  Mark and Josh play a version of Family Feud about the top uses for communication apps.  They also talk about a trending Linkedin post about how K12 IT is viewed by Private Industry IT.  They also talk about Clever's newly released Cyber Blueprint. Finally, they talk about newly published poll on k12 Tech Pro; which one of the three hosts has quit their job.  Yep that's right, one of the three will no longer be employed by their district within the next 30 days. NTP email David dwren@ntp-inc.com ClassLink - check out classlink.com Extreme - email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet - email fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com

Ever feel like communicating with parents is like trying to solve a Rubik's cube in the dark?

What will matter in 25 years? 50 years? 100 years? That your child forgot to take the trash out or the scars from your yelling at them. Stop the Yelling. This weeks Tues Tips with Gina and Don #talkingtokids #parentingcommunication #howtotalksokidswilllisten #tuesdaytipsforparents

✊ Check out the website for the Empowerment Ecosystem Summit for the schedule, locations, and details on how to register! Parent communication isn't the sexiest part of our jobs, but that doesn't make it any less critical. Natalie is joined by Crystal Frommert, author of “When Calling Parents isn't your Calling,” to discuss strategies to proactively partner with parents and how to assert ourselves when communication crosses into disrespectful territory. Show Notes: Whenever possible, we should lean towards verbal rather than written, digital communication. Many of us are nervous about talking to parents because of bad past experiences and deep fears of being exposed as a fraud. Parent communication in education is NOT customer service; we are professionals, not “yes” people. Strategies for proactive parent communication are meet-the-teacher nights, information nights about special events, or spontaneous positive phone calls home. A great question to ask when talking to parents about something tough is, “What suggestions do you have for me to support your child through this?” As we build our expertise, we can avoid talking about grades with parents altogether by sharing evidence of learning directly.

Welcome to the Director's Club podcast, where we explore ways to strengthen the bonds and connections within your childcare community. In this episode, host Noelle shares important insights on stepping outside the office to connect with parents, employees, and students. Drawing inspiration from her previous corporate experience and a memorable leader's influence, Noelle emphasizes the value of personal engagement and offers practical strategies for childcare center directors to build trust, foster a sense of community, and create a nurturing environment. Join us as we learn from her experiences and explore the significance of genuine connections in childcare leadership. Let's connect:www.thedirectorsclub.netCommunity:Join my FREE Facebook group and connect with other directors and me as we navigate leading a child care center together!  FB Group Child Care Center Owners and DirectorsSocials:Facebook page, The Director's ClubInstagram, The Director's ClubWORKING WITH NOELLE AND THE DIRECTOR'S CLUB:The ClubDiscover more about The Director's Club, a mastermind group designed for child care center directors who seek support and expert guidance to maintain high-quality early education centers.   LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLUB HEREThe Teacher's LoungeDo you want to enhance your teachers' confidence in the classroom through a mentoring program tailored to their needs? Look no further than The Teacher's Lounge, a dedicated mentoring department that you've always wanted for your child care center. Don't hesitate, visit us now to learn more HERE   

Parents are an important piece of the puzzle to a positive classroom community. Today I'm sharing 5 seasoned teacher tips to help you achieve a smoothly run classroom community made up of happy students and grownups!Episode Highlightspracticing patience and reassurancebeing firm but kindclear boundarieshow to handle FAQswhen to pick up the phoneResources and LinksThe Essential Classroom Community FREE Podcast SeriesBlog Post - Episode 29Let's Connect!Shop ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Love Chocolate? You'll LOVE this resource!Are you an upper elementary teacher looking to find a quality resource that covers the history of chocolate and how chocolate is made? Looking for minimal-prep and engaging lessons and activities to teach nonfiction, informational or expository text to your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students? You'll love this FUN 3-week unit all about chocolate! The Story of Chocolate Unit starts with an engaging fiction story about a chocolate bear. Students compare characteristics of fiction and nonfiction text before diving into the interesting history of the cocoa bean, how they are harvested and processed, and how they turn into the delicious chocolate treats we know and love! This 3-week unit includes lesson plans, digital slideshows, colorful and real photos, informational passages, vocabulary and comprehension questions, a project, unit assessment, and more.The Story of Chocolate Nonfiction UnitBlack History Month Unit for your Social Studies Curriculum Are you an upper elementary teacher looking to find a quality TEKS- and CCSS-aligned resource that covers important events and figures in black history? Looking for minimal-prep and engaging lessons and activities to teach social studies concepts to your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students? Look no further! Purchase the Black History Month Unit!

Gina and Don interview Cathy Adams from Zen Parenting Radio. Cathy talks about being a caregiver to both her aging parents over a long period of time. Her father with a stroke and failing health and and then her mother dealing with dementia.  Cathy is … a self-awareness expert, podcast host, & author focused on parenting and the personal empowerment of women and young girls. Along with her husband Todd, she co-founded Zen Parenting Radio Podcast. She's a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Parent Coach, Certified Elementary School Teacher, Certified Yoga Teacher, and she teaches in the Sociology Department at Dominican University and Elmhurst College. Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World  https://zenparentingradio.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting/ https://twitter.com/zenparenting https://www.instagram.com/zenparentingradio/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/zen-parenting-radio/about/ https://www.pinterest.com/zenparenting/ https://www.youtube.com/user/zenparentingradio #sandwichgeneration #agingparents #seniorparents #seniorcaregivers #dementia #alzheimers #lewybodydementia #vasculardementia #frontotemperaldementia #zenparentingradio #cathyadams #focusedhealthyfamily #ginagrothoff #dongrothoff

Connecting to another human being is really what life is about and it starts with parenting. Making connection with our kids and other adults is crucial to our development. One of the biggest ways to connect is through communication. How we talk to and respond to others makes a huge difference. Gina and Don talk about what is the best way to talk and make connections to build a better parent-child relationship. #parent connections #parent communication #coparently #parent connect #parent teacher communication #connected parenting #co parenting communication #communication with families in early childhood education #third party communication parenting #best way to communicate with parents as a teacher #communicating with parents in early childhood education #communication for divorced parents #effective communication with parents in early childhood education #connect with your teenager #communicating with families in early childhood #effective communication with parents #connecting with teenage   Reference Books: The Connected Parent by Kristen Oliver, MOT, OTR/L Parenting for Social Change by Teresa Graham Brett Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields Connection Parenting by Pam Leo How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Faber/Mazlish (Note: Click here for our upcoming How To workshop ) Keeping the Love You Find by Ph.D. Harville Hendrix Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix, Helen LaKelly Hunt Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

In this episode, the SLPs share their ideas about what has worked, what has not worked, and things they'd like to try to have better (and more frequent) communication with parents. Is it better to send home weekly treatment updates, or get a quick chat in at pick-up or drop-off? How do we make sure parents understand our evaluations? From IEP meetings, to assessments, to intervention updates, this conversation covers a lot of ground! Listen all the way to the end to hear our new segment: “an espresso to go” - a little tip to take with you. Do you have parent communication tips to share with us? Email us at info@coffeetea3slps.com or DM us on IG @coffeetea3slps. Related: check out Episode 6 - IEP Meetings: The Good, The Bad, and The Sweaty. ✨ Check out our merch at ⁠⁠⁠coffeetea3slps.com⁠⁠⁠! ✨

QUICKIE EPISODE this week! I'm sharing tips or “guardrails” that you can implement in your co-parent communication to make it less triggering and more empowering. Here's what I cover: 1) Emotional Regulation Learn how to respond thoughtfully rather than react emotionally. 2) Distinguish Text vs. Email Consciously decide what warrants a text and what should be communicated via email. 3) Timing is Everything Avoid the impulse to immediately read and respond to emails, especially if they trigger strong emotions. 4) Email Acknowledgment Decide whether to acknowledge received emails briefly. 5) Create a Co-Parenting Email Address Consider setting up a separate email address exclusively for co-parenting discussions. Listen in and see how these “guardrails” could help your communication feel a whole lot less stressful. // CONNECT WITH MEG To grab my Fearless Co-parenting resource or to learn about my 1-1 private coaching practice, visit: https://linktr.ee/meggluckmancoaching --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/welcometotheotherside/message

Join us in this episode as we delve into the topic of teacher-parent boundaries. As educators, it's crucial to establish clear communication and set boundaries with parents for a productive and positive school year. We'll share personal experiences, insights, and actionable strategies to help you build strong relationships with your students' families. Tune in and subscribe to our podcast for more helpful discussions on education.Want to see the show notes?-Click here!Visit the website by Clicking here!First Year Teacher Checklist-Download here!40 Self-care Ideas in 5 Minutes or Less-Get it here!Join the First Year Teacher Support Group by Clicking Here!Send me a DM on Instagram!Follow me on TikTok!Join the Mindset Monday Newsletter!

Join us in this episode as we explore the #1 mistake teachers make in parent communication and discover the powerful strategy to enhance connections. Learn how adopting a "We" mindset can revolutionize your approach to teacher-parent relationships, fostering collaboration and support for student achievement.Want to see the show notes?-Click here!Visit the website by Clicking here!First Year Teacher Checklist-Download here!40 Self-care Ideas in 5 Minutes or Less-Get it here!Join the First Year Teacher Support Group by Clicking Here!Send me a DM on Instagram!Follow me on TikTok!Join the Mindset Monday Newsletter!

Did you know there is an app for your phone called "Be Real"?  BeReal is the simplest photo-sharing app to share once a day your real life in photos with friends. It captures your real life in a moment of the day. Today Gina and Don talk about being real to your kids and others. Being authentic to them will be beneficial to your kids as they grow. We talk about a Zen Parenting Radio episode #722 where they interview Hunter Clarke Fields from the Mindful Momma podcast talking about being authentic with kids. Join us now... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zen-parenting-radio/id414414318?i=1000623038544  #beingrealwithkids #beingauthenticwithchildren #authenticwithkids #zenparentingradio #mindfulmomma #ginagrothoff #dongrothoff #focusedhealthyfamily

On this week's episode of The Teacher's Lounge, we talk with Mrs. Sheppard about being proactive with parent communication, and how this proactive approach can build equity and trust with the parents of your students. #NHAmazing

Ray and Bob make a valiant, sometimes misguided, attempt to talk about the underlying issues in communicating with your teen.  We even offer a few strategies for trying to reduce the "heat" in those conversations.  Sorry, parents, it's all on you.

What happens when your child comes how upset? How do you handle it? Gina and Don pose a scenario and then talk about different effective ways to deal with that parent scenario. This podcast has to do with feelings and what to do about them. Join us now for this lively podcast.  If you would like to see us you can find the podcast on youtube @focusedhealthyfamily #dealingwithkidsfeelings #howtotalksokidswilllisten #parenting #parenttalk #kidtalk #childrendealingwithfeelings

https://ndelish.com/ What did you get from your parents? Grandparents? Blue eyes. Brunette hair. Your personality. Were there other things that got passed down to you through the generations? What about the anxiety or trauma that your past generations experienced? Join Gina and Don as they talk with Bethany Gettis about anxiety and the past. https://www.facebook.com/nutritiousanddeliciouseating/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-gettis-a081a1113/ https://www.instagram.com/nutritiousanddeliciousmom/ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bethany-gettis #generationaltrauma #parentanxiety #parentalcoaching #parenttalk #howtohandlestress #howtofindrelieffromanxiety #stressrelease #nutritiousdelicious #bethanygettis #focusedhealthyfamily #ginagrothoff #dongrothoff #parenting #familynutrition

“In all communication, aim first to understand”. This is the first bullet from Leanne Page's Parent Training Checklist. Leanne is a BCBA, parent coach, author, continuing ed provider, and mom of 2. In this episode, she is sharing some impactful points on this step to step guide for Compassionate Parent Training.Did you know that a study showed just 40 seconds of compassion from a doctor drastically improved patient outcomes? Oftentimes communications with parents can occur only when problems arise or to update goals and IEPS but Parent Training is actually a monthly service usually covered by insurance. Not only can this provide better client outcomes but it can impact and support the whole family. Leanne uses thoughtful and clever tips in this checklist to dance the fine line of communication, covering goals and meeting them where they are at. Find yourself having trouble getting through a conversation with a parent. Use a pause wisely and remember, WAIT - Why Am I Talking? This gives you both a chance to reset.With Parenting with ABA, Leannae offers membership and CEUs through monthly training and book studies covering empathy, compassion, and other trauma information resources based on ABA research. You can find out more about her and Compassionate Parent Training through her website! #autism #speechtherapy What's Inside:What is Compassionate Parent Training?How can monthly parent training impact families?A Parent Training Checklist to help providers.Information on Parenting with ABA: Training, Studies, and CEUs.Relating a variety of empathy, compassion, and trauma-informed resources to ABA research.Mentioned In This Episode:Parenting with ABA ABA Speech: Learn About Current ASHA and ACE CEUs

What? I listen to my kid! And I always give him good advice. Of course, he doesn't listen and doesn't take my advice. Why is that? Does that sound familiar? Sometimes when we think we are listening we actually are not and it affects our relationship with our kids. Join Gina and Don as they talk about listening and acknowledging feelings. #parentalk #kidtalk #listeningtoyourkids #communicationwithkids #parentcommunication #ginagrothoff #dongrothoff #focusedhealthyfamily

Co-Parent Communication: Mom vs. Dad – Episode 229 of the Divorce University Online Podcast. Communication with your co-parent is a struggle for many people after a divorce or break up. Not only do we come at things differently as a mother or father, but we also must consider how the Court views our communication. In this episode, we'll share the top mistakes people make and how you can modify your communication to have peace with your co-parent and gain credibility with the Court. For more information, please visit www.divorceuniversityonline.com. Thanks for listening!

We are BACK with SEASON 3 of the Hot Mess Teacher Express podcast and we have a very special surprise for you... the show is adding a dear friend and hilarious comedian, Mr. Vinny Thomas (@MrThomasEnglish)! AND we've added all new segments this season, including: Hot Takes: where we talk about hot topics in education and teacher life US vs. UK: where we'll compare (and bicker) differences between teaching in the UK vs. US Grinds Our Gears: when you get to hear us (well, mostly Vinny) vent about the things that really make our skin crawl! Underdogs in Education: where we shine the spotlight on all the different pieces of the education puzzle that don't get enough recognition for what they do every day! In this episode, we dive into the hot take of whether or not teachers should use their students in social media content, and the perils of teachers having their school email on their phones. We compare how teachers handle parent communication in the UK vs. US. And get ready to laugh as Vinny gets strangely worked up by people who "woo" at fireworks. Finally, we shine a spotlight on parents who are also teachers, and why they deserve all the praise (and bottomless margaritas) in the world! All aboard the Hot Mess Teacher Express! Choo! Choo! Watch the full episodes on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram & Facebook! Support the show and get some MERCH!Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/hotmessteacherexpressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, I bring on Elizabeth Hepler. Not only does she rock her job as an SLP but she rocks being a mom of 4 to her neurodiverse family. Elizabeth brings her unique perspective to the conversation of effective parent communication. We chat lessons learned, speech homework, recommending evals for other specialists, and so much more. Connect with Elizabeth of Ausome SpeechInstagramAbout the host: Erin Larsen, M.S., CCC-SLPOwner of Speech Tea, LLC and founder of The Speech Therapy ToolboxWant to connect with Erin further?Instagram Facebook

If you've ever had trouble getting your kids to do the work, you might have heard the phrase, "Kids will do what they're told." We don't believe that. In this episode of our podcast, we talk to Cameron Smith, co-founder, and CEO of Bennett Day School. He said that BDS has taken a project-based approach to education, which has proven effective for many kids. This is in contrast to the conventional way of thinking, which suppresses children's curiosity. He believed that children have a purpose in life and are important community members. He stated that children must recognize the reasons behind their actions. #SchoolSuccess #SchoolSuccessMakers -- Every week on The School Success Podcast, digital marketing agency owner Mitchell Slater interviews school leaders and game-changers in the education sector. Never miss an episode and follow The School Success Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you enjoy podcasts. This podcast is powered by Slater Strategies, a marketing agency committed to helping schools grow their enrollment and connect better with the families in their communities. Find out more at https://schoolsuccessmakers.com. Highlights of the Episode [01:28] I'm the co-founder of Bennett Day School [02:22] its great trail called the 6 0 6 [03:07] McDonald's worldwide headquarters. [03:43] I do love Chicago sports as well [07:05] teachers and students is you know what's most important. [08:54] we have families that are sometimes very surprised [10:32] you're able to grow to 600 before [12:11] you see students and teachers collaborating [14:12] S A T A C T and Outscoring National averages [15:53] I discovered the Regio Amelia approach [17:27] We provide a digital portfolio of our children's work [19:50] underserved communities and students [21:48] So they were laser cutting and 3D printing [23:28] John Dewey credited with being the parent of progressive education [25:58] like a three year old is squeezing an orange [28:05] We had three FBI officers coming to school [30:42] 40,000 applicants and 8,000 YouTube Video Podcast Link: https://youtu.be/iirNdvS-JBM

On this week's episode of The Teacher's Lounge, we talk with Mrs. Sheppard about being proactive with parent communication, and how this proactive approach can build equity and trust with the parents of your students. #NHAmazing 

There comes that day, somewhere after the honeymoon phase is over when your students start to settle in and push their boundaries. You've tried to get them back on track, but it's not working. It's time to call in the calvary. It's time to make the phone call or send the email you've been dreading. It's time to contact the parent. In today's episode we will talk about why parent communication is so important to your success and tips in how to manage it. Don't forget, if you are interested in learning more about the New Teacher Success Network membership, visit newtsn.com. I would be honored if you would subscribe and leave a review. You can find me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EmilyMuccianti If you have suggestions to share with Emily, email readingdiva06@gmail.com

"I try not to be reactionary and the pivoting should be based off data, not off of random ideas from across the staff, not that those aren't valuable… So, I do think there is an important difference between data driven decision making and having very reactionary decision making." - Anna Murphy   While working at the Boys & Girls Club, Anna Murphy managed to land a marketing internship at an edtech company. She knew nothing about marketing, but she knew how to learn, so she set about studying every aspect of it. It didn't take long for Anna to realize that edtech was a decade or two behind every other industry. And it isn't because edtech buyers were different. It's because companies were complacent. Anna had a hypothesis: if you created great marketing programs, edtech brands could scale unlike ever before. So she set out to prove almost every edtech CEO out there wrong. And guess what: it's working. While she can't give away every secret, her favorite is quite simple, yet so underrated: hire teachers, y'all. In this interview, Anna Murphy discusses her experiences as a previous educator and how that shaped her journey into edtech and bloomed into a love for marketing.   Website: https://www.whyliveschool.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveschool/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-lillian-murphy/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getliveschool/

"I try not to be reactionary and the pivoting should be based off data, not off of random ideas from across the staff, not that those aren't valuable… So, I do think there is an important difference between data driven decision making and having very reactionary decision making." - Anna Murphy   While working at the Boys & Girls Club, Anna Murphy managed to land a marketing internship at an edtech company. She knew nothing about marketing, but she knew how to learn, so she set about studying every aspect of it. It didn't take long for Anna to realize that edtech was a decade or two behind every other industry. And it isn't because edtech buyers were different. It's because companies were complacent. Anna had a hypothesis: if you created great marketing programs, edtech brands could scale unlike ever before. So she set out to prove almost every edtech CEO out there wrong. And guess what: it's working. While she can't give away every secret, her favorite is quite simple, yet so underrated: hire teachers, y'all. In this interview, Anna Murphy discusses her experiences as a previous educator and how that shaped her journey into edtech and bloomed into a love for marketing.   Website: https://www.whyliveschool.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveschool/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-lillian-murphy/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getliveschool/

Welcome to The Teach Lead Coach Podcast! We are a show all about helping teachers learn to love their careers again. Whether you are a new teacher or a veteran, this show is for you. Each week, we discuss a topic that will help you become the best version of yourself. Our four pillars are: Mind, Body, Growth, and Teaching Practice. We believe teaching is the best job in the world, you CAN have life balance, you can find joy, you can be healthy and happy, and you make a difference everyday in the lives of your students. If you are a teacher, administrator, or paraprofessional, dive into our latest episode and enjoy! :)We would LOVE to coach you this school year if you need help hitting those goals and creating a healthier, happier version of YOU. We offer a free video chat to hear where you are at, and 1:1 coaching programs starting at just $199. Contact us on Twitter, Instagram, or via email for more information.Please leave us a review so more people like you can find us. :)Connect with us!Instagram: @tlceducatorsTwitter: @tlceducatorsWebsite: www.teachleadcoach.comDM us any questions or comments you have! You can also email us at: teachleadcoach.info@gmail.comThank you and “see you” next time!Taylor & Chad

Well, all that hot fun in the summertime that sly and the family stone sang about so long ago is coming to an end as the fall is upon us and we are getting back into the swing of things with our youth ministry schedules. The big question we're asking you today is this: What are you doing with parents? We've put together a roundtable of youth workers who talk about the importance of ministry to parents along with a host of parent ministry ideas and strategy, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

In this episode, I chat with Shelly Sanchez Terrell to discuss tips and tricks to help you communicate with parents. If you need to call or email a parent regarding something positive or negative, we've got a strategy for you!. Our conversation was recorded at Bakery Lorraine in the historic Pearl of San Antonio. Thank you Jen, for allowing us to record at Bakery Lorraine! And what dessert is best to eat while chatting parent communication? You guessed it. Fruit tarts! It's  great conversation and dessert with an even better guest. Buen provecho! Connect With Gabriel Carrillo EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com EdTech Bites Twitter: https://twitter.com/edtechbites EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQCZcyW4BkCFQ5P2BLK61xg About Shelly Sanchez Terrell Shelly Sanchez Terrell is an award winning digital innovator, international speaker, and author of various education technology books. She has trained teachers in over 20 countries as a guest expert, consultant, and ambassador for the U.S. Embassy. She was named Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women and received a Bammy Award as the founder of #Edchat. She has been recognized by several entities as a leader in the movement of teacher driven professional development as the founder and organizer of various online conferences, Twitter chats, and webinars. She is currently a teacher in Texas and is the author of TeacherRebootcamp.com, Hacking Digital Learning with Edtech Missions, and The 30 Goals Challenge for Teachers.  Connect With Shelly Sanchez Terrell Shelly's Website: https://www.shellyterrell.com/ Shelly's Blog: http://teacherrebootcamp.com/ Shelly's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShellTerrell Shelly's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shellyterrell Shelly's Books On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shelly-Sanchez-Terrell/e/B00L2Q8CV0?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1658877742&sr=8-1

      Laura Lyles Reagan is a parent/ teen communication coach and family sociologist with more than 30 years of experience in practical youth development. She holds a Masters in Sociology specializing in communication dynamics. She is a former instructor in Community Sociology and the Sociology of Childhood and Adolescence at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.      Laura's youth development career spans service in Mexico City as a youth substance abuse counselor to nonprofit management in Texas. She conducts workshops on hot topics such as family communication, substance abuse and recovery, bullying prevention and teen suicide prevention in English and Spanish.      Her award-winning, best-selling debut book, How to Raise Respectful Parents: Better Teen and Parent Communication is published by Moonshine Cove Publishing, SC. Most recently, it was awarded the 2020 Best Book Award for Parenting and Family. It has been translated to Spanish, Como Criar Padres Respetuosos. Her most recent release is self-published, The Quick Start Guide to Grant Writing for Authors, Coaches, and Social Artists. It hit #1 New Release on Amazon.      She is a frequent radio and podcast guest and can be interviewed in English or Spanish. She has published over 100 articles in regional parenting magazines throughout the United States and Canada. Most importantly Laura is the mother of two young adult daughters and a proud grandmother.  She loves to recount their adventures and read to her grandson.*Learn more about Laura and communication on her website: https://lauralreagan.comAbout Sarah K. RamseyJoin Sarah's  FREE Facebook Group “Finding Love & Success After A Toxic Relationship” Before trying Sarah K Ramsey's programs her clients were super embarrassed because on the outside these women appeared to have it all.  However, these women had a secret...they still felt mentally chained down by their toxic partner or parent.Most women think talk therapy is the only way to heal!  Unfortunately, these women waste years trying to figure out how codependency works or rehashing their past in an office week after week trying to pick apart their childhoods.  But, Sarah's clients aren't “most people.”  They know overachievers aren't just looking to talk about their problem, they are looking for an action plan to SOLVE their problems!Check out this FREE Presentation where Sarah reveals how she does it!Check out what others have said about Sarah

Catch us every morning, 5 days a week, for our Daily Drop-In live series at 7:00am Eeastern. Join us for interviews with educators from all around the world, valuable resources, motivation, inspiration, and a whole lot of fun! For more visit www.teachbetter.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/teach-better-talk/message

I talk about 3 different communication styles that parents may use, the pros and cons to each of these styles in language learning for children, and how to tweak your communication to help increase language learning. I mentioned this book at the end of the podcast. It covers research related to how children learn language best and how parents can use their language to help with building better communication skills. Thirty Million Words: Building a Child's Brain: Suskind, Dana: 9780525954873: Amazon.com: Books

Effective communication has been a concern for school districts for many decades. It is compounded by today's communication tools such as texting, email, voicemail and Zoom. Educators are asking how often to communicate, how can we be empathetic in our messages, and how do we ensure our messages are seen. LinkedUp Podcast guests Miriam Altman-Reyes and Eric Daniels of Kinvolved help listeners find the communication balance needed for powerful education. About our guests: Miriam started her career in education as an NYC DOE high school educator. Her front-line experiences working with students and families in the classroom inspired her to co-found Kinvolved, a certified Benefit Corporation elevating equitable K-12 student and family engagement in school. As Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Miriam's responsibilities include overall strategic development and execution, fundraising, revenue generation, growth, impact, board management, and more. Miriam is a Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation entrepreneur, a two-time Fellow at Columbia University, an Education Pioneers and Teach For America alumna, and has been named as an NYU Changemaker, a Top 100 Influencer in EdTech, and on Forbes' list of 30 Under 30. She earned an MPA from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at NYU, where she has also taught, an MA, Ed. from Lehman College, and a BA with Honors from Brown University, where she has been a Women's LaunchPad Mentor since 2014. Eric -With nearly a decade of experience in ed-tech, Eric is responsible for developing new District Partnerships. As a father of 2 children in the public school system, and having served as a member of the Nutley School District's pandemic task force, Eric knows how important attendance is. He also understands the trouble that comes as a result of chronic absenteeism, for the student, family, and school. Before joining Kinvolved last year, Eric served as Director of Sales Operations for The RTM Business Group for nearly 7 years. While there, he built a tremendous network of solution providers and senior level District Leaders, helping them connect and develop meaningful partnerships. When not at work, Eric enjoys spending time with his family (Wife Jennie, 13 year old daughter, 10 year old son, and a Chocolate Lab), He also enjoys most sports (watching & Playing), has a large sports card & Memorabilia collection, and hosts a channel on YouTube focused on Card Collecting (Called "Searching for Hits w/Eric")

Welcome back to the Sustainable Teacher, I hope your week so far is going as smoothly as possible, and that you have found this episode at just the right time, whenever that time might be for you.  This episode will be a conversation about EdTech, but more so on the technology that is teacher-facing, and less student-facing.   Oftentimes in conversation and professional development involving educational technology, the focus is on student-facing technology and what newest tool can be used to have impact in your lessons.  Although It's not bad that this is the main focus, it's not the only way that technology can benefit a teacher and a classroom.  So in this episode we'll be talking about teacher tech and how to leverage technology to make a part of your day more sustainable, and the part of your day we'll focus on in this episode is parent communication. Sure, technology, in most areas, is great.  It improves efficiency and even sustainability, but only if those are our intentions and goals in using the technology.  And using tech in those ways is often overshadowed by the “cool factor” - using technology just because it will wow our students.  So this episode, and the following two episodes, will be focused on what I call Teacher Tech - that is, how teachers can be using technology to streamline aspects of what they do or retune parts of their day or workload to be more efficient, for a three-part series on this topic.  Today we'll focus on, like I said, parent communication, next week we'll get into the specifics of digital planning (that's right, no more paper lesson plan books), and finally your calendar and project management system (that's a new one that I'm particularly excited about). So if any of these topics sound like something you want to tune into and learn more about, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and find our full length show notes on our website that's linked when you scroll down where you're listening.  Likewise, if you know a teacher-friend or two that would benefit from or find some interest in this Teacher-Tech series, find and click the share button where you're listening and send it their way, or take a screenshot and post it on social media tagging @teachonamission so your followers can find the podcast as well. Here we go for part one of our series on Teacher-Tech, Parent Communication. SUSTAINABLE TEACHER SHOW NOTES: https://www.teachonamission.com/blog/teacher-tech-series-part-one-parent-communication  SUSTAINABLE TEACHER FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sustainableteacher FLIPPED CLASSROOM WEBINAR: https://www.teachonamission.com/flippingwebinar 

How are you utilizing effective communication with parents? Parents, how are you effectively communicating with the educators in your child's life? Ria Reive from HiMama is a former early childhood educator. She shares actionable tips to improve communication with parents and teachers. As well as the overall benefit from effective communication in a school setting. You may not see how impactful parent engagement can be in the day-to-day, but down the road, there is going to be an immense benefit when both the parent and the educator have the knowledge on both sides.What are Ria's three big strategies for effective parent communication? It all starts with being yourself because you are starting the map of engagement from the get-go.Continue to be a source of knowledge for the parent. Be that stepping stone when a parent is ready for help, they may not be accepted right away, but if you continue to be that source, you may be surprised by what they are taking in. Seek professional development on communicating with parents, take the time to invest in yourself, and you will find those interactions and engagement are a lot more successful.So what kind of daily information are you providing parents on a day-to-day basis? For Ria in the classroom working with younger kids, that's going to be feeding, naps, diaper changes, etc., and then kind of how their day went, did it go amazing, or maybe they had a rough day and some of that daily info can clue in on that. So when she was in the classroom, that was translated via paper. However, we talk a lot about how parents do not need one more piece of paper, and that's where HiMama comes in. HiMama provides a digital piece of communication for efficient, direct, dissemination of information between teachers and parents.What happens when there may be a problem or disagreement? Ria and I talk about the benefits of creating an action plan. Decide how you're going to handle problems with parents and remain professional and supportive. Remember, there is a time and place,  during drop-off at the classroom door, probably isn't it. It takes a team to educate and support students with autism, and all students. Parent engagement and communication from both sides is a skill really integral to the success of the child at hand.#autism #speechtherapyWhat's Inside:The importance of effective communication with parents and teachers.Actionable tips for educators to improve communication.What kind of information should be communicated between parents and teachers?How to handle tough conversations.What is HiMama and how could it help your education communication?Mentioned In This Episode:HiMama - The Best Childcare App for Daycare CentersABA Speech: Home 

Parents are an asset! Make sure you are using them!  There are so many ways to stay in contact with parents, and a bunch of reasons to do so!  In this episode I will also share my tips for what to say and do while and after talking with parents and families.  Learn more about Parent Teacher Conferences in episode 38!  Grab the positive postcards! Check out the All Star Planning Masterclass!

Let's talk about one of the most important aspect of our jobs - communicating with parents.  This can make or break you as a coach.  This can be challenging for even the most experienced coaches.  This episode will touch on some ideas.  After the episode, lets meet back in our Facebook Group - Hoops Coaching A to Z Podcast, for more discussion.  

Some families want detailed updates on EVERYTHING...and others only want to be contacted for the most important stuff. How can you meet individual family needs WITHOUT burning yourself out? Listen in on my conversation with Erika Walther, a teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools. She shares how she's learned to differentiate communication for students' families and find ways to build relationships with them while still maintaining healthy boundaries for yourself. We reflect a lot on the specific challenges ahead for families and we enter what is now the third school year that's been impacted by COVID, beginning with a conversation about supporting parents in managing the abundance of new information, policies, and communication they receive from the school. You can read or share Erika's guest post on Truth for Teachers about this topic here. Or, join our podcast Facebook group here to connect with other teachers and discuss the Truth for Teachers' podcast episodes.

Let's talk about the importance of parent communication. In my years of teaching, parent communication has always been something I strive to get better at. Is that something that you would consider yourself good at? What are some ways you keep parents informed during the school year, especially now through covid? I'm thrilled to welcome our guest Ria Simon!Ria Simon is the Community Ambassador at HiMama. Prior to starting at HiMama, Ria was a Registered Early Childhood Educator and worked 7 years in the classroom. She taught all ages but mainly preschoolers. Ria lives in Toronto with her husband. In her spare time, she enjoys time with her niece and nephew and being on the water. What we cover:Why parents communication is an important subject to coverHow covid changed the way we communicate with parentsDifferent styles of communication that are effectiveTips to getting better at communicationFind HiMama at:https://www.instagram.com/himamaapp/www.himama.comSubscribe, Review, Rate, Comment, Do it ALL. See you next week for another episode of Shaping Little Minds Podcast!

All educators are tasked with communicating with parents at one point or another. Being in sync with your workflow and knowing the appropriate reasons for contacting parents helps the effectiveness of helping foster a child's development.   Often, we only contact parents if there is some sort of behavior problem and only if it is necessary. However, studies show that conveying “good news” to parents is just as important. Consequently, teachers cannot rely on parents contacting them. The benefits of regular communication will pay off ten-fold when we, as educators, take the extra time to keep parents involved and informed.   Like what you hear? Take a moment to support the show! SUPPORT HERE Show Notes

A problem hidden is a ticking time bomb! A problem shared is a problem solved. In this episode, We are going to talk all about quality parent communications and how that is the key to the success of your businessIt is essential that our team members fully understand that we need to work in a positive way with our parents for the benefit of the children we serve and the success of our business, in addition to their ability to receive a paycheck. It is our job to make parents feel welcome and involved in our programs.  And that providing a high quality experience for the child is the expectation of both the parent and the child. Relationship building with parents is the job of every team member in your school. This connection forms the foundation of mutually trusting relationships. We will discuss great examples of ideas to help you find as many ways as possible to establish, maintain, and encourage a strong relationship with your families like:Building trust before a family and their student even begins.Taking the time to understand the parents expectations and the child's unique characteristicsThe importance of professional team members and teachers. Finding ways to involve parents in your programs and school will allow parents to see firsthand the quality and how professional your team is.Maintaining a high level of professionalism in our communication with families is mandatory to ensure the success of your business.Establishing a parent communication strategy with your team will  help to ensure the situation is handled properly. A great tool to use when dealing with an upset parent is a process called LAYER Parent Communication. We will go over the following process that may help you resolve a parent's concern when handled in a professional manner. Teaching your team this process will help ensure things can be handled by anyone.Listen to the parent.Acknowledge the parents concern.You're…. repeat back what you hear.Earn their Trust demonstrate that you are on their side.Resolution discuss a possible solution together. Making certain that you provide quality experiences for your children all day everyday gives your families peace of mind and trust in your team.  You will leave parents feeling confident about their decision for choosing you!  We have created an example conversation of how this process would be used. Be sure to check them out on the podcast page of our Peake Creative website. We hope that this episode brought you some new ideas and reminders about how important parent communication and building family relationships is to the success of your early childhood business. A little time and effort in building these relationships will have a bigger payoff in the end.  You will be spending less time having to handle upset parents and can spend more time doing the things you truly enjoy. Focusing on the things that really matter, your top priorities, your key relationships, your most important projects, all the things that will bring you more joy and your business more success. Take care and have a great week!

During the pandemic, the ways educators communicated with parents and guardians changed. Guest speaker Nadia Tamez-Robledo of EdSurge explains how, for some parents of special education students, it was a change for the better.

Evelyn Kung, the Clinical Systems Manager for the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, joins us once again to discuss viewer questions. Check it out!   11:34 Reducing and Refraining Spitting: 3 year old non verbal son loves when you sing for him. He loves YouTube kids Cocomelon. He not given much screen time. When he does he spits on the iPad screen a lot. When you take it away from him and turn the show on TV he does the same thing. He does not always want chewy stixx or chewy necklace. He receives regular ABA, OT and speech services. Wondering if there other intervention procedures we could try to help him reduce or refrain from spitting? 17:48 Undesirable Tasks: Hello ladies.. how do I work on building the skill 'Sometimes I have to do things I don't want to do.' My 13 year old has it in his brain that except from school he doesn't need to do anything he doesn't like. For example, make his lunch, go outside and get fresh air, spend time with his family... We have let him have his way a few times and now he thinks that's how it always should be. He is very content sitting on the couch with his iPad. He is home schooled and doesn't have friends. He says no to almost every suggestion and we end up forcing him out of the house sometimes and he will say he had fun. We live in a beautiful state with lots to do! 29:51 Hand-Flapping: Hi. My son hand flaps only when he’s overly excited. What do I do for that? 32:39 Meltdowns: I have custody of my 11, almost 12, year old grandson. I'm having trouble helping him calm down when he's approaching meltdown. I see it coming and I start using my soft directive tone reminding him to breath and giving simple directions but he absolutely fights me and tells me he can't calm down. I sometimes walk away and give him space and time, or offer hugs but nothing is working. I try to catch it early but I'm failing. Any suggestions? 38:40 Meltdowns with Nonverbal Children: (In response to the answer to the previous question) What if child is nonverbal??? 48:37 FREE IBT Courses Available Online: Parents: E-learning Parent Communication and Socialization + RBT 2.0 Training course free to parents on a case by case basis Educators: The Social Environment 51:55 Finger Sucking: How do it get my child to not suck his fingers ??. He is 8 years old and this is a health concern. He sucks fingers for comfort . He does not like chewy . He is nonverbal. 57:10 Schedule Fixation: My son get fixated on schedules. Even if he is doing what he likes outside home. If he has to be home at a certain time he wants to go home. How do I make him change his mind?

Evelyn Kung, the Clinical Systems Manager for the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, joins us once again to discuss viewer questions. Check it out!   11:34 Reducing and Refraining Spitting: 3 year old non verbal son loves when you sing for him. He loves YouTube kids Cocomelon. He not given much screen time. When he does he spits on the iPad screen a lot. When you take it away from him and turn the show on TV he does the same thing. He does not always want chewy stixx or chewy necklace. He receives regular ABA, OT and speech services. Wondering if there other intervention procedures we could try to help him reduce or refrain from spitting? 17:48 Undesirable Tasks: Hello ladies.. how do I work on building the skill 'Sometimes I have to do things I don't want to do.' My 13 year old has it in his brain that except from school he doesn't need to do anything he doesn't like. For example, make his lunch, go outside and get fresh air, spend time with his family... We have let him have his way a few times and now he thinks that's how it always should be. He is very content sitting on the couch with his iPad. He is home schooled and doesn't have friends. He says no to almost every suggestion and we end up forcing him out of the house sometimes and he will say he had fun. We live in a beautiful state with lots to do! 29:51 Hand-Flapping: Hi. My son hand flaps only when he’s overly excited. What do I do for that? 32:39 Meltdowns: I have custody of my 11, almost 12, year old grandson. I'm having trouble helping him calm down when he's approaching meltdown. I see it coming and I start using my soft directive tone reminding him to breath and giving simple directions but he absolutely fights me and tells me he can't calm down. I sometimes walk away and give him space and time, or offer hugs but nothing is working. I try to catch it early but I'm failing. Any suggestions? 38:40 Meltdowns with Nonverbal Children: (In response to the answer to the previous question) What if child is nonverbal??? 48:37 FREE IBT Courses Available Online: Parents: E-learning Parent Communication and Socialization + RBT 2.0 Training course free to parents on a case by case basis Educators: The Social Environment 51:55 Finger Sucking: How do it get my child to not suck his fingers ??. He is 8 years old and this is a health concern. He sucks fingers for comfort . He does not like chewy . He is nonverbal. 57:10 Schedule Fixation: My son get fixated on schedules. Even if he is doing what he likes outside home. If he has to be home at a certain time he wants to go home. How do I make him change his mind?

For youth pastors to have a successful student ministry, communication needs to be very clear and consistent.  In today's episode, we go over 8 areas of communication which will help improve your youth ministry and establish excellent relationships with parents.  Some of the topics we will be covering are: gathering parent contact info, student info cards, email distribution lists, websites, calendars, info tables, flyers, how to add personal touches to win over parents and much more! This episode is also available at our YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/ministrycoachAudio Equipment:Microphoneshttps://amzn.to/3eWUWrkDigital Recorderhttps://amzn.to/3eXmvkjPop Filtershttps://amzn.to/2ApEz7MMic Standshttps://amzn.to/2Zrwat2Shock Mounthttps://amzn.to/2AvjhWwXLR Cableshttps://amzn.to/2VI4uiy*This episode is not sponsored. Some of the links are affiliate links which simply means, if you buy something, we will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) Thank you!*

Leh and Todd are excited to have author Bill Eddy back on the show to discuss his new book, BIFF for CoParent Communication. At the time of recording the show, it was  number 1 on Amazon under “Divorce & Separation Family Law.” Check it out by clicking here: BIFF for CoParent Communication.   There are some people that are simply high conflict personalities.  They are difficult to deal with and can make your co-parenting life a living hell, especially when you do not know how to communicate with them.  Apart from being an author and speaker, Bill Eddy is a lawyer, counselor, and mediator.  He started the High Conflict Institute and has written and co-authored sixteen books as of 2020.  In his informative and practical new book, he gives you practical advice on how to handle a high conflict co-parent and what you can do to improve your communication with that person.    If you would like a transcript of this show, you can find it on our website.     If you are enjoying the show, please take a moment to post a positive review about it.  Not sure how? You can read about it here.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Emma Haring and I discuss tips for teaching students with Multiple Disabilities. Emma has been a teacher in this type of class (we called it a medically fragile class in our district) for many years. She has a ton of experience and wisdom that she shares generously! In Part 1 (Episode 25), she gives a lot of tips on how to discover what your students like and dislike, how to care for them as people, and how to give them a voice (even if they are nonverbal). Pre-service, new, and even veteran teachers will want to have a paper and pen nearby to take notes!Then be sure to join us again for Part 2 (Episode 26), which will focus more on the daily schedule and some of Emma's favorite things to teach this population. Emma has also prepared a supplement to go with the episode, which includes sample schedules and other goodies.Get the full show notes here:https://LISAGOODELL.COM/PODCAST25

Are parent teacher conferences a struggle for you to plan and organize? Today on the Shared Teaching Podcast I'm sharing how in 6 steps I've formatted my conferences to fit a 15 minute time slot. Learn about how I make my conferences simple, easy, and as stress free as possible in this episode.Show notes available at: https://sharedteaching.com/organizing-parent-teacher-conferences/

“Hours!” she said. “I spent HOURS on my Sunday afternoon grading just late work alone, and then you want to know what I had to do the rest of the week?” I could almost guess what it was, “call parents” she said, exacerbated. My teacher friend went on to explain how as it was the end of the quarter and grades were due soon, it was that time of the year that comes around four times per year to communicate to parents whose child is near or actually failing a course. I squinted and turned my head to the side to lessen the blow of her answer as I asked, “how long did it take to contact parents?” Three days after school, she said, until well past 5pm. And I never got to them all. We've all been there. We've all been in a place where something in our teaching lives is taking up way more hours than we want it to, or than is healthy. Whether that's because we're new at it and haven't developed the processes to make it a quick process, or we just straight up don't like doing it. Either way, it's not helping you continue to love your job. In this episode we'll be talking about all things parent communication, and we are going to get very practical and even take you step by step through a particular system that I think will help you get a handle on it a bit more. Now, those steps may seem a bit much listening to it on a podcast, so I would encourage you to take notes if you're able to, but if you're driving or on your run and can't - no worries… be sure to catch the show notes where it's all laid out for you with pictures and everything at the link in our show notes where you're listening. Here we go. SUSTAINABLE TEACHER SHOW NOTES: https://www.teachonamission.com/blog/parent-communication-systems SUSTAINABLE TEACHER FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sustainableteacher   SUSTAINABLE TEACHER CHALLENGE: https://www.teachonamission.com/sustainableteacherchallenge

#41 Episode.  "ListenUP".  Parents, we always feel we are listening to our teens.  But, do our teens KNOW that?  In this concise yet detailed episode, find out how you can sprinkle in communication hacks and up your parent communication game and just perhaps...reduce stress at home as well.  This is a SPECIAL EDITION.  Pam interviews Bernardo Salcido of @connecting_with_teens and www.connectingwithteens.weebly.com.   It's a don't miss episode.  For video of this episode:  www.jellygeneration.com/blog/41

CULTIVATING POSITIVE PARENT COMMUNICATION Parent communication - positive or negative - has a direct impact on student learning. Are you struggling with your interactions with your student families? And does it really matter? I would say YES! Problems with a difficult parent can directly affect your interactions with that student. What you must ask yourself is: is that fair? And how can you avoid the bias that can creep in with dealing with that child of a difficult parent? The best way to bypass that unfairness is to take a proactive approach. A proactive teaching approach involves putting relationships first and initiating parent communication (instead of waiting for them to contact you.) Because the last thing you want is to be in the position where you are just reacting to things parents are asking, or (in extreme cases) complaining about. HOW TO BE PROACTIVE WITH PARENT COMMUNICATION (ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE NEW) Set expectations from the beginning. This goes back to last week and creating systems. Think through and communicate your classroom rules and expectations to students and parents. This takes planning and organization. If you’re new, YOU DON’T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL! Find a safe, experienced colleague who is comfortable answering your questions. Learn from them and ask them to share templates and examples of emails and letters home. (Don’t be afraid to ask for help - teachers are sharers!) Specify boundaries. Boundaries set limits...on your time, your emotions, how far you’ll extend yourself, etc.  Much of exhaustion/stress can be from a lack of boundaries. As a teacher, you must overcome any people-pleasing tendencies. One of the best ways? Create boundaries and stick to them. How can you incorporate boundaries into parent communication? Instead of being reactive (and telling a parent you can’t meet with them when they “want” an appointment,) let parents know your availability from the beginning. But what happens when someone steps over your boundary? HOLD THE LINE. You can be available without being taken advantage of. Parents will respect you for it even if they may be annoyed at the time. Also, have specific times of day when you address parent communication. Set times in your day and your week when you will address your messages and set time limits around it Show Up Consistently. Be prepared for your job. You don’t have to be perfect, but you do need to demonstrate that you have made an effort. You will feel more confident when you are doing your best, and the parents will have more respect when you demonstrate that you are making an effort.  Be optimistic. Assume the best of your students’ parents. (Refer to articles below.) Often families feel misunderstood about their involvement or their lack thereof. Don’t make snap judgments about why a parent is not more involved – seek to understand the situation. Invest the time. As Stephen Covey said, “...with people, fast is slow and slow is fast”. This is especially true with parent communication. Building relationships takes time, but it is worth it. Starting parent communication positively with clear expectations will help you when you must have harder conversations. Not only that, but your students will also sense the partnership. They will be more motivated to learn as you and their parents’ partner and support their learning. PARENT COMMUNICATION CREATES A BETTER CLASSROOM CULTURE Do positive parent-teacher relationships affect student learning and engagement? YES! As a new teacher, parent communication is intimidating. It can be hard to feel confident when you are learning this skill...but confidence comes with practice.  Don’t give in to the limiting beliefs that say parents should be kept at arm’s length or are going to criticize you. Teens need both their parents and teachers to be their mentors. They need to see those mentors working together. CONFIDENT PARENT COMMUNICATION Taking the initiative with parent communication and showing that you are professional and consistent will begin to build a strong foundation. It will also bridge the gap you may feel from being new to the job. In the process, you as a teacher become a more confident communicator. As your stress decreases about parent communication, more opportunities open up to connect with your students. You can do this! You aren’t expected to know it all though. It’s ok (and even necessary) to ask for help... I can help you! Be sure to join the Meaningful Mentor Workshop waitlist to be the first to get details.

Having parent engagement involves having relationships with parents--which is crucial for career and technical education teachers and maintaining and increasing enrollment.  No matter what level and program you teach, your parents have an influence on your current and future students because they talk to other parents. Because of this, we need to strengthen our engagement and communication with parents. We’ve all heard the horror stories about calling home and dealing with an uncooperative parent. While you still may have a negative experience with a very small percentage of your parent communication, there are ways to set you up for success from the beginning.    In this episode, Khristen discusses:   Deciding what type of relationship you would like to have with parents Developing empathy by putting yourself in the parents’ shoes   Being proactive with challenges and solutions Creating and implementing systems so that your communication is automated Links Mentioned ON YOUR PREP PODCAST COMMUNITY: http://www.facebook.com/groups/onyourpreppodcastcommunity/  WEBSITE: http://khristenmassic.com/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/khristenmassic/ ON YOUR PREP SHOW NOTES: http://khristenmassic.com/episode7/ PREVIOUS EPISODE SHOW NOTES: http://khristenmassic.com/episode2/

Eric and Chris talk parent communication and relationships with Mesa Grande Elementary principal and wood-working enthusiast Tom Kirk and Kingston Elementary principal/guitarist Ben Skinner.  We also have some fun with movie mashups.

If you're a special education teacher, you know that some parents are going to come to every IEP meeting and give good input...and other parents are going to be incredibly difficult to reach and getting them to attend, even over the phone, can be like pulling teeth. What can we do to get more involvement from that second group of parents?Today, let's talk about how we can get more parents actively involved in IEP meetings. In this episode, I'll be sharing several ideas I've used over the years to encourage more active parent involvement in IEP meetings. Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my podcast? If you're not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don't want you to miss an episode. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you're not subscribed there's a good chance you'll miss out on those. Click here for iTunes. Now if you're feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!Links Mentioned in the Show:https://teachingstrugglinglearners.com/Parent Surveys

Does the thought of calling parents and discussing your concerns about academics or behavior make you feel queasy? Do you feel uncomfortable talking to parents about your concerns? Hey, we have all been there….let's talk about what we can do about it!Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my podcast? If you're not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don't want you to miss an episode. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you're not subscribed there's a good chance you'll miss out on those. Click here for iTunes. Now if you're feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!Links Mentioned in the Show:https://teachingstrugglinglearners.com/

In this episode, I’ve got 3 ways that can help you easily, efficiently and effectively communicate with families. And hopefully to get information back from parents as well. Because we know that it needs to go both ways. Highlights of Effective Teacher Parent Communication So these three ways to communicate with families will meet share these characteristics. Easy to use Provide concrete information about activities, issues and performance Provide options for families to respond and share information Don’t require lots of time to complete on either side To help with all of this, I also have a free download in the Free Resource Library that I talk about in the episode. You can grab it by signing up or logging in below. This is a free Google form I created for the Special Educator Academy for the members to be able to edit and use with their families. Grab the transcript, your free download and pictures at http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode53 Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library... http://library.autismclassroomresources.com Want more information about the Special Educator Academy? SpecialEducatorAcademy.com Join the Free Facebook Group specialeducatorsconnection.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/autismclassroomresources/message

School is what we would typically rely on as a constant, we looked to our classroom for stability. Parents and students looked to the school, the teachers, and the classroom as a support, a constant. More now than ever, we need to establish strong lines of communication. It is important to find a way to communicate with our families that establishes and maintains trust. In this episode we dive into that 3-2-1 all about establishing and maintaining communication with the families of our students. We start with the 3 moves we plan to make as we establish strong lines of communication, the 2 common challenges (and possible solutions), and finally our one wonder! Like what you hear in today's episode? Check out www.differentiationdive.com for more ideas and of course, freebies! 

In this episode, Elisabeth and Jeremy discuss the power of communication and its ability to build or break trust with parents (i.e., the police show up in the church parking lot looking for a student on a youth trip.). They invite Michelle Craddock, a full-time staff member dedicated solely to parent ministry, into the conversation where she offers sound, proved, and practical tips. Also, a fan-favorite is back with another episode of “Parent Calls” with Helicopter Heath calling Amy Diller from Michigan.

Julia Muennich Cowell, editor of The Journal of School Nursing, and author Ariel Smith discuss the article, "Parent Communication and Bullying Among Hispanic Adolescent Girls". To view the article, click here.

Parent communication for teachers is so important. We need to build strong relationships with our parents so that we can maximize student success. Building a strong positive parent communication plan can help take away the stress from communicating with parents and help build that relationship with families. We also talk about strategies you can use if you do have to call a parent and discuss their child's behavior in your classroom. In this episode you will learn Several different strategies for increasing parent communication Several strategies for talking to parents about their child's behaviorVisit my website for more behavioral and social emotional resources for your students.Follow me on Instagram for daily content and tips as well!PS. If you visit my website subscribe to my email list and get a free calm down corner kit for your class as well as weekly emails and monthly freebies!

Today we wrap up our season long look at the traditional school! How does a traditional school communicate with parents? Are the kinds of parent teacher conferences that you find in these schools still meaningful and effective in 2020? Today we dig into the thorny topic of interaction with parents and discuss the strengths & weaknesses in the ways that Traditional schools go about it. We also talk about how students in a traditional educational system work with those in the local and global community. As with everything, there are babies and bathwaters! In our reverse sponsorships, we shout out the Circle Schools documentary & the book "The Conditions of Learning" by Robert Gagne. During the main part of the show, we talk about this study on parent involvement from the University Islam Indonesia, this article from "The Resilient Educator" on great parent teacher conferences and Robert Hart's "Ladder of Participation". Find us on Twitter or Email us at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode host, Rebecca Bass speaks with Buddy Pearson, General Manager of Premier Athletics Gallatin, about parent communication in the industry. Not just that, they dive into how to best communicate with parents during difficult, unexpected times like the COVID-19 pandemic we are facing right now. Here are a few takeaways from the interview: 1. Create a sense of community online the best you can - with your athletes and family. Make them feel like they did when they were able to come inside the gym. 2. Be creative! 3. Don't take negative responses personally - everyone is going through a hard time right now so remembering that most responses aren't personal can help with customer communication! 4. Use ALL platforms to communicate - this means not just email but email, Facebook, Instagram, live videos - whatever it takes, use it all! 5. Being transparent is key in situations like this - keep the parents in the loop as much as possible aka communicate even more than you would before. This helps them feel like you are doing your absolute best to keep things moving for their athletes! 6. Utilize Zoom - whether it be for virtual practices or communication with parents, this app will change your communication frequency while your facility is closed! Listen as Buddy speaks about what it's like to be the general manager of an all-star cheerleading facility through all of this and how his customers are reacting to it all. For any questions, you may have message us on our Facebook Page or Instagram account. Make sure to follow and like our pages (Tumble, Little Explorers, and Dance Academy) while you're there! Feel free to email us at info@180proforyou.com with any specific episode questions you may have. Visit us: http://www.180proforyou.com and be sure to follow our social media sites linked above! Listen and Subscribe on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/29pTVVGSchNbS8QuHeG7ja?si=GqV0xR_gQPG-ACpawCj1fQListen and Subscribe on Itunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/180-procast/id1487864021

In this episode Jen Spatz-Martin from "Kid Up and Go" joins the show to discuss her daughters online bullying incident. Snap chat is a crazy world sometimes and in this episode we'll share our take on having a open communication line with your teen. Rate & review our podcast show! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/pktalk/message

MiNE - Michigan New Educators Podcast - Parent Communication(Episode 4) by MiNE - Michigan New Educators

After semi retiring from coaching youth football this past season, I started thinking about all the great teams that I have coached and some of the Parent Communication Issues that I have encountered.  Here is the third part of my parent communication issues in youth football but could be used for any youth sports coach.  Parent Communication Issues - Part 3; Miscellaneous Parent Coach Conflicts / Issues For more info on Parent Communication head over to  https://coachparker.org/2016/03/22/parent-communication-youth-football-coaching-clinic/ Visit my Website at http://CoachParker.org for more free youth football coaching tips.   Buy my 62 Multi 8 Defensive youth football book at http://book.coachparker.org Buy the Beware of the Beast T-Shirt https://coachparker.org/youth-football-t-shirts/ Buy my Power Wing Beast Offense Playbook. http://playbook.coachparker.org Play for Fun and Winning is Funner! Coach Parker is a youth football coach in Keller, Texas. He has been coaching pee wee tackle football for over 20 years in football little leagues in Texas and Colorado. Coach Parker has written several coaching and drill books; youth football coaching playbooks on defense and offense. Stay tuned for more free youth football coaching videos from Coach Parker. Visit my youth football playbook store https://coachparker.org/youth-football-playbooks-store/ Join me on: http://www.facebook.com/youthfootball/ http://twitter.com/coachparker_org https://www.youtube.com/stephenparker Support me by visiting my Store http://store.coachparker.org Copyright 2020 - Stephen C Parker

After semi retiring from coaching youth football this past season, I started thinking about all the great teams that I have coached and some of the Parent Communication Issues that I have encountered.  Here is the second part of my parent communication issues in youth football but could be used for any youth sports coach.  Parent Communication Issues - Part 2; Parent & Player Demands For more info on Parent Communication head over to  https://coachparker.org/2016/03/22/parent-communication-youth-football-coaching-clinic/ Visit my Website at http://CoachParker.org for more free youth football coaching tips.   Buy my 62 Multi 8 Defensive youth football book at http://book.coachparker.org Buy the Beware of the Beast T-Shirt https://coachparker.org/youth-football-t-shirts/ Buy my Power Wing Beast Offense Playbook. http://playbook.coachparker.org Play for Fun and Winning is Funner! Coach Parker is a youth football coach in Keller, Texas. He has been coaching pee wee tackle football for over 20 years in football little leagues in Texas and Colorado. Coach Parker has written several coaching and drill books; youth football coaching playbooks on defense and offense. Stay tuned for more free youth football coaching videos from Coach Parker. Visit my youth football playbook store https://coachparker.org/youth-football-playbooks-store/ Join me on: http://www.facebook.com/youthfootball/ http://twitter.com/coachparker_org https://www.youtube.com/stephenparker Support me by visiting my Store http://store.coachparker.org Copyright: Stephen C Parker

After semi retiring from coaching youth football this past season, I started thinking about all the great teams that I have coached and some of the Parent Communication Issues that I have encountered.  Here is the first part of my parent communication issues in youth football but could be used for any youth sports coach.   For more info on Parent Communication head over to  https://coachparker.org/2016/03/22/parent-communication-youth-football-coaching-clinic/ Visit my Website at http://CoachParker.org for more free youth football coaching tips.   Buy my 62 Multi 8 Defensive youth football book at http://book.coachparker.org Buy the Beware of the Beast T-Shirt https://coachparker.org/youth-football-t-shirts/ Buy my Power Wing Beast Offense Playbook. http://playbook.coachparker.org Play for Fun and Winning is Funner! Coach Parker is a youth football coach in Keller, Texas. He has been coaching pee wee tackle football for over 20 years in football little leagues in Texas and Colorado. Coach Parker has written several coaching and drill books; youth football coaching playbooks on defense and offense. Stay tuned for more free youth football coaching videos from Coach Parker. Visit my youth football playbook store https://coachparker.org/youth-football-playbooks-store/ Join me on: http://www.facebook.com/youthfootball/ http://twitter.com/coachparker_org https://www.youtube.com/stephenparker Support me by visiting my Store http://store.coachparker.org   Copyright 2020 - Stephen C Parker

Todays topic is all about parent communication! We have a special episode this month featuring a new format in which the second half of the show will have a couple different educators giving short tips for parent involvement and communication. It's so interesting to hear how different programs welcome families into their settings so we wanted to highlight those for you to take inspiration from! The first half of the episode will feature our guest, Diana Ganger, who will talk more broadly about families in school environments and how we can best welcome and connect with them. Diana is a coach and consultant in education and organization management. She is also a co-founder of an intergenerational program called Ideal 18 - with she will explain more about during her interview.

Whether you are a special educator in a resource, inclusion or self-contained setting, this episode has tons of tips and ideas to make parent conference week go by as smooth as possible. The first half focuses on self-contained teachers holding conferences in their classrooms. Then the second half is for resource/inclusion teachers who need to attend conferences in a variety of general ed classes all over the school. In addition, the scheduling strategy described might also work for RTI or SST teachers, literacy coaches or administrators who need to attend conferences in many grades and classes. Some of the topics include:SchedulingWhat to say to parents/guardiansHow get parents to attendHow the student can participate (not quite a student-led conference, but our students with special needs can definitely participate!)Keep organizedTeacher and parent remindersGo to https://lisagoodell.com/podcast19 for the full show notes and links.

Full Course: SLPNow.com/rock In this course, Marisha shares practical strategies to help speech-language pathologists navigate the first few weeks of the school year and set themselves up for success. With a focus on facilitating more meaningful outcomes for students and streamlining the therapy planning process, SLPs will walk away with practical tips and strategies to "work smarter" in their speech therapy sessions.

In this episode we discuss how we connect with parents and how we are prepping for upcoming parent/teacher conferences.

Thanks for coming. I've asked you here today because we need to talk... about this episode of The Bolt Podcast! It's all about parent communication, and in this episode our hosts talk about parent conferences, sending messages home, and why Conor won't respond to emails on the weekend. Plus, find out how much meat should be in a praise sandwich, and how much of a praise sandwich you should have when you meet. (Fun with homophones!) Listen now, before we send a note home!

We know the elementary school media center is a safe, magical place for many kiddos to explore "Mirrors and Windows." We also know transitioning to Middle School can be pretty overwhelming at the start of the school year. We attempt to draw a Media Center Map for that new Middle School student who just forgot their locker combination, couldn’t find their 2nd hour class and is having a bad hair day (and now surprisingly cares)?Useful LinksTCAPS Online CatalogResearch in ContextEast Middle School Library Media Center Website   Show TranscriptMelissa Baumann  0:11  What do I need to know about a podcast? Larry Burden  0:13  If there's something that we don't want I go through and edit it. Larry Burden  0:16  Usually it's editing me. Larry Burden  0:20  It is episode eight of BiblioTech podcast, my name is Larry Burden and she's more than ready to delve into the awkward preteen phase, it's Stephie Luyt with our special guest, the better Baumann, Melissa Baumann,  Melissa Baumann  0:32  Appreciate that. Thank you.  Larry Burden  0:33  We know the elementary school Media Center is a safe magical place for many kiddos to explore mirrors and windows. We also know transitioning to middle school can be pretty overwhelming at the start of the school year. Can we draw a middle school map for our new middle school students who just forgot their locker combinations, couldn't find their second hour class and are having a bad hair day, and now surprisingly, actually care. So, you know, I was thinking about this and I was going way way back into my days in middle school which, you know, it's kind of hazy, and there's kind of a sepia tone. And I remember going from that elementary school library which is so safe and so comforting and you know is the place to go into middle school and already panicked about everything and then there's a huge space, and where do I start, where do I go. What does that look like for for a sixth grade student? Maybe this isn't the direction you're going but that was the first thing that I thought about.  Melissa Baumann  1:27  Well, one thing that I'm doing this year is focusing on the sixth grade students so that they feel more comfortable so I've spent the last couple weeks having orientation for the sixth grade classes I just finished up at West Middle School, all the students came down with their teacher we went over the policies and procedures and then I had a scavenger hunt that was created for them, and they worked with a partner to explore the different spaces of the library, to examine how the collection, collection is arranged. And then we'll follow it up with the online resources, during their second visits to the library which will happen in two weeks. So I hope that they feel more comfortable already.  Stephie Luyt  2:04  And those, you know the move from our elementary spaces, yes smaller space, let fewer kids but our middle school libraries are just as welcoming and just as friendly and working on those same things mirrors and windows and once our kiddos get acclimated with the schedule and find feel comfortable with their classes and all that the library is just another wonderful place with lots of amazing resources both middle schools. So we're excited to have our sixth graders up in the middle schools and really excited to have Melissa in the middle schools. Melissa is new with us last year into the middle school but if you want to just tell us a little bit about what worlds you came from.  Melissa Baumann  2:42  Sure, I am definitely very familiar with middle school. I spent seven years in Chicago teaching at the middle school level, then I took some time off and then when I came back, and was hired by TCAPS I was doing a little bit of elementary Spanish, and then made my way back to middle school, because that's where I feel happiest. So I spent seven years teaching Spanish at West Middle School and then when the position in the library opened up I was extremely intrigued by that and wanted something new. And now I'm working on my degree so I think it's been the perfect choice for me. Stephie Luyt  3:16  And Melissa is splitting time between both schools so kiddos will see her in both buildings east and west and. As well as our LMP's that are in both buildings who are there to help students with all sorts of check-out, check-in, book recommendations, anything. Those libraries are really top notch and functioning, really, with students needs first and doing an amazing job so.  Melissa Baumann  3:39  Absolutely. Stephie Luyt  3:40  We're thrilled. Melissa Baumann  3:40  Completely agree about that.  Larry Burden  3:41  So what are the, what are some of the differences between that elementary school library, and the middle school library? What can they expect that's maybe, maybe the same that will comfort them in, and what are some of the differences that might expand what they expect from a library. I think in terms of what would be the same, the access to all the literature and all the nonfiction and all the resources that kids would be looking for for their own exploration and interests and personal learning as well as in school learning. The logistics of how they visit the library has changed when they move into middle school they are much more individual focused in terms of they're going on their own time more often. Sometimes they're visiting with classes. But in elementary they're always for the most part accessing the library with their classes with exceptions they do go down a little bit, but I would say that they are more independent users with, and I would say that's the same for a lot of middle school, I mean they become more independent students, they're visiting classes you know, switching classes, making that switch. So it falls into that same sort of shift that they make in middle school. But I think all the things that they love about the library, are there, and even multiplied when they move up into the older grades.  Melissa Baumann  4:53  And I think that, especially the ELA teachers are committed to having those library visits with their students at the middle school, it just might not be as frequently. I think most of them are on a bi-weekly visit. But I have already started working with those teachers that have been coming in. And they do tend to bring their students in for maybe the first half of the period or the second half of the period so maybe a little bit shorter visit as well, when they come into the class but they are still committed to bringing their students down. Larry Burden  5:20  I have these questions so I'm just going to float them out there and feel free to say Larry I've got my own and I would like to actually throw those in there to. Larry Burden  5:27  So what are you guys doing to promote the middle school library?  Melissa Baumann  5:31  Yeah, that's a great question, um, the first thing that I noticed when I arrived on the scene last November was that there really wasn't an online presence for the library. So I followed the model of both of the high schools and worked with ReaAnn to create a web page for both East and West Middle Schools. It has access to the online catalog and the students can have access through the, to the databases. It has other great resources that are available on the web for them. And it also showcases what's coming up in the library so we're featuring the author visit that will be happening on the 30th at East Middle School, and at West Middle School we have a display going on to honor Banned Books Week,  Stephie Luyt  6:11  And it looks fabulous.  Melissa Baumann  6:12  Oh, thank you.  Stephie Luyt  6:13  Finding that online presence, is it in the cloud? Is it on the TCAPS web page?  Melissa Baumann  6:18  Right, so I wanted to make it as simple as possible for the students. So when they come to the cloud, they have a tile that they can access the online catalog specifically, or they have a tile that will take them to the web page for each Middle School. So it's, it's one click.  Stephie Luyt  6:34  I have a question just going back a little bit. When the kids are coming into the middle school and as we're talking about they're accessing the library sometimes more independently. When are the middle school libraries available for kids to use?  Melissa Baumann  6:45  Yeah, we covered this during orientation, and it's exciting because most of the sixth graders have already been utilizing the space, even though they didn't really know how to navigate the space. So pretty much around 7:15 in the morning, they're welcome to come in before school. Both libraries stay open for about 15 minutes after school, and then the students are welcome to come in during lunch, as long as there isn't a class that has the space checked out. They can stay for the entire time after they've been in the cafeteria, eating.  Stephie Luyt  7:13  So there's lots of access.  Melissa Baumann  7:14  Yes, and then of course, if a teacher independently wants to send a student down as long as they have a pass they're welcome to come in and use the space.  Stephie Luyt  7:22  And just because I know they'll be listeners who may not have been in our middle schools. This space can be used in lots of different ways but both sites have like, a really comfortable, like welcoming reading area, kind of like a bookstore. You know that feeling of some really neat comfortable chairs, some reading spaces, some learning spaces, some whole group learning, you know, there's this, this space accommodates lots of different needs, and I think there's a spot for everybody in the library. Melissa Baumann  7:48  I full y agree, yes.  Larry Burden  7:50  If you were marketing to a student right now. What would a student not expect going into a middle school library. If they have the traditional mindset of what a media center, a library is, you had mentioned one thing already, the kind of book storey type of feel.  Stephie Luyt  8:05  yeah,  Larry Burden  8:06  What else, what else would they be surprised, maybe, or would surprise them?  Melissa Baumann  8:09  I think many of the students during the orientations have expressed that they're just surprised at how many books there are. They're not, they're just not used to having a collection that's as large as what we have at the middle schools.  Stephie Luyt  8:21  Maybe they'd be surprised to find the number of PlayAways, that some of the sites have. The PlayAways are another format to listen to an audiobook. It's everything's right there it's kind of like an mp3 player, which is kind of a fun technology for, for as a little bit like, I would say almost vintage a little bit. Melissa Baumann  8:37  Yes. Stephie Luyt  8:38  It's kind of like a Walkman. That's not for the middle school kids to know what I'm talking about. But East in particular has a really large collection of PlayAways, which have been very popular with students. I think our students would be pleasantly surprised to find all of the extra activities that happen through the library. I know that the book clubs have been really popular. Lots of contests and reading motivation and the author visit. I mean there's, they would be surprised by all the activities that, and would fit different niches, and kinda like some maker activities, puzzles, all sorts of things that you can, you can explore in the libraries.  Melissa Baumann  9:16  Yeah, East Middle School, last year, purchased a button maker. So on Wednesday, students can come down to the library in the Maker Space area and create buttons. They're 50 cents each, but that's been extremely popular. The book groups, at West we call it a book group at East we call it a book club. But those have been extremely popular. So much so that this year at East we have to have three separate groups rather than just one that we had last year. So we're going to do those by grade level. And at West, I've already had quite a few entries, especially since I was advertising the Book, Book Group during the orientation, so many students signed up while they were in the library, and I feel that that's going to be extremely popular as well.  Stephie Luyt  9:58  I have peeked at some of those Book Group titles and they are some amazing books that were selected for those groups and it's pretty exciting. I have a question and it's kind of a just from like looking at your side of the day. Is there a typical day for you, at all? Melissa Baumann  10:15  I haven't found it Stephie Luyt  10:16  I didn't think so, no two days are the same, right?  Melissa Baumann  10:19  No, in fact, not at all. Maybe a little bit these past couple weeks because I've really been focusing on the orientations with the sixth graders but other than that, I would say no. I'm in the classroom a lot doing presentations on the databases. I'm doing book talks in the library for classes that come down that complement the unit that they're working on in their ELA class. I'm working on behind the scene projects like the web page and Overdrive. So, I, I pretty much just am doing whatever I need to do on a daily basis to tackle about 20 different things.  Larry Burden  10:53  How do we or do we tie what happens in the media center to the classroom. And I'm guessing the database, the databases are that answer. So how does that communication take place?  Melissa Baumann  11:04  Well, prior to last year, nobody really was using the databases because they weren't aware that they were available to them so. Larry Burden  11:11  That's a problem. Melissa Baumann  11:12  That's a problem. That's why I wanted to make sure that we knew what resources were available and we had an easy place for them to be, all be stored. So now that the, most of the teachers are aware, because I spent a lot of time in the history classes last year, the language arts classes, some of the sixth and seventh grade social studies classes. So I think that now there's just this general awareness of the database and people are hungry for it. So I spent a lot of time in the classroom because showing the students the tools that are available when they use the research database. And they are extremely slick, they're awesome. I mean they align with our Google Drive, they can take notes right in the database, they can highlight, they can send things directly to their Google Drive. So I think that most have been extremely impressed with how easy it makes the research process. And it's all vetted materials so students don't have to take those necessary steps when they're just doing a search online to prove the authenticity, check the author's credentials, and, which are steps that they're unfortunately not taking on their own. So I feel they are extremely happy to have somebody doing that job for them. Stephie Luyt  12:20  And then, and also you mentioned but integrating what choice books the kids are reading in alignment with their units for ELA.  Melissa Baumann  12:27  Right,  Stephie Luyt  12:27  So when they're making a choice book selection there's options that are given that have similar themes that complement what they're learning in ELA. So ELA is a main focus and, in terms of working with the library, but getting into all the other subject areas as well through the databases and through research projects that the kids are working on.  Larry Burden  12:45  So is the database available, just within the TCAPS network or does it kind of go with you with your Chromebook.  Melissa Baumann  12:53  Actually it's available. Two of the databases are funded by the district, and then I made the decision last year to purchase one specifically for the two middle school sites. And that one is called Research and Context, and it is designed for middle school students. So all of the content is very age appropriate, and the topics go along with the curriculum that is generally studied in the middle schools. So there's people, cultures, government, history, literature. It's just, there's a wide variety.  Larry Burden  13:22  We've talked about this on many of the EdTech Loop podcasts in the past and BiblioTech as well, curation is so important because when you have all that information out there, it's really is overwhelming. And as we were mentioning earlier in the open, middle school students don't need to be more overwhelmed. They're plenty, they're plenty overwhelmed so...  Melissa Baumann  13:42  Totally agree.  Larry Burden  13:43  To have a database that's, that sounds super user friendly and you guys have vetted it well. That's got it, just make their lives a little bit easier.  Stephie Luyt  13:53  It's a fabulous research... Melissa Baumann  13:54  You know I'd like to think that they know how, how wonderful of a gift it is but I don't think they really remember like doing the stacks of note cards where you had to put the author, and highlight, and organize them by topic. So unfortunately I just don't think they they realize what a gift it is.  Larry Burden  14:09  I think, I think it's not only a gift, they don't have that perspective...  Melissa Baumann  14:13  Right. Larry Burden  14:14  of that. But going into the online environment, and just doing research there where you have so much information and to not have some level of curation and vetting before you step into it, it stops people's research there, or their research is just poor because... Melissa Baumann  14:32  Right  Larry Burden  14:32  You know, they're going to sites that have maybe less than credible information. It really can send somebody down the wrong path.  Melissa Baumann  14:39  Right.  Larry Burden  14:40  Or stop them immediately to have some vetted research and curated research for them, where they can go and just kind of do a one stop shop, really simplifies that process.  Danelle Brostrom  14:52  Absolutely. Stephie Luyt  14:52  It takes out that whole element of, the need to doing all those steps, that making sure that the information is valid, and...  Melissa Baumann  15:00  I think the students are surprised, because one of my slides in my presentation is showing them the checklist of what they're supposed to be doing if they're going to do research just doing a Google search. And they're surprised to see how many steps they're supposed to be taking. And they fully admit, "I never do this, I never do this," and I, my follow-up is, okay, if you're not going to do that then, in order to be somebody who is doing good research, you need to rely on the database.  Stephie Luyt  15:26  You know, just being able to even know to access the database and to select the database so it's a good fit for your research and having those available to our kids. Like it's just setting them up for those research skills moving into high school, and then into college. And, and, and accessing the database which is so user friendly, but being able to access those tools so you're not having to do all of the, by hand making out, in writing out the way the resource needs to be cited and all of that. Like it, it really simplifies the process.  Larry Burden  15:55  Almost feel like we should have a different name the database for Middle School students. We're like, database, database, middle school kids going...  Stephie Luyt  16:03  Super Cool Research Tool.  Melissa Baumann  16:04  Yes, that looks like some of my students in my presentation. I can't say it's the most lively presentation to talk databases with middle school students, but I try to throw in some jokes when I can.  Larry Burden  16:14  I like the Super Cool Research Tool. Can we find some alliteration in there. Melissa Baumann  16:18  I'll try and work that into my next one.  Larry Burden  16:21  The other aspect of this, the other partner in this, is the parent, is the parents. Do they have access to that, that slide show? Are we sharing that information? So when the student actually does get home with their Chromebook, again, because that's the great thing about these, these tools, is they can bring it home. If the parent isn't there to prompt, necessarily, those students, that's that's a partner that we were missing. So, are we communicating with them on the database on the Super Cool Research Tool. Melissa Baumann  16:53  I think at this point, Most of the students would probably have that responsibility simply because they would be able to show their parents through the cloud, how they access those. I know that when I do the presentation, I'm always clear with the students that they can access this off site, they do not need to be on a TCAPS property. They might be prompted with a password, but it's clearly stated what that password is. And hopefully that their teachers are requiring them to do the research outside of school as well. And the parents would then come in contact with it. I don't think that we're necessarily putting anything out there directly to the parents at this time. But that would be a great, a great way to move in that direction.  Stephie Luyt  17:31  Share all of that with what's you know, all the resources and all the libraries. Melissa Baumann  17:34  I would assume that their daily updates or their weekly update communication with parents might include, we had a research presentation over the databases this week, and so forth. Stephie Luyt  17:44  Right, and if you know, if parents are accessing assignments in Powerschool and can see something like that coming up, they may prompt them to ask their student about, you know, what does this entail? And what are you using for research and hopefully, the students will remember that they have this great resource, and they're already using it at home to share. Larry Burden  18:01  The super cool research tool Melissa Baumann  18:03  That's the one. Stephie Luyt  18:03  Yes. Larry Burden  18:03  I'm patenting that by the way, it's trademarked. Stephie Luyt  18:03  Trademarked, yes Melissa Baumann  18:07  Yeah, I'm switching the title on my web page right now. Larry Burden  18:13  You need like a little character, an avatar. Stephie Luyt  18:17  I can see it. Melissa Baumann  18:17  Superhero. Larry Burden  18:17  I may have gone too far, I apologize. Stephie Luyt  18:17  My only other question was, I mean, you know, your days are very full and no, two days are the same. But are there any upcoming events or projects or anything that you're excited about or that you want to share? Melissa Baumann  18:29  Well, we do have the author visit that I mentioned that's taking place on September 30th at East Middle School. We were lucky enough to secure a couple of times in Peter Lerangis's afternoon. So he'll be coming and speaking to two different groups of students. We're going to host that in the library. Students were made aware of books that they could purchase, that they could get signed copies of his work any work, not just the one he's promoting, which will be coming out in October, which is Throwback. So I hope that that communication went out to the families and that students are making those purchases and can actually have a conversation with him when they go to get the book signed, following the presentation. So that's taking place on the 30th. The book clubs are gearing up. We have East Middle School, the preliminary meeting will be this week. And then West, we will be doing our first meeting mid October. We are looking at perhaps Girls Stolen, for the East Middle School selection for eighth grade. And for the selections that's West Middle School, I have to, I have to figure that out yet, because I just need to know what the numbers are to see how many we're going to have and how many copies I can secure, so.  Stephie Luyt  19:40  I know you have great choices.  Melissa Baumann  19:42  Yes. Oh, yes, I'm not gonna have any problem selecting a book. Larry Burden  19:45  Do you have a Tech Tool of the Week? Tech Tool of the Week  19:50  I would say our Tech Tool of the Week is the, the databases and specifically Research and Context that is Middle School specific and not subject specific. And that can be accessed on the cloud through the tile. And it is a resource for all subject areas in the middle school and very, as Melissa said, Middle School specific. So we'll include the link and more information about the Tech Tool of the Week in the show notes. Larry Burden  20:16  To close it out. Updates, Latest EdTech Loop podcast was out, I think Wednesday it dropped, on Parent Communication, which is kind of nice, that's why I brought up the parent communication thing. Stephie Luyt  20:28  Yeah, Perfect.  Larry Burden  20:28  We're recording a new one On Thursday. And then the TechNollergist has one I think next week as well. David Noller. He also dropped a tutorial on YouTube on the TechNollergist YouTube channel, TCAPS Communication Protocols. So, very district specific if you're interested in how a large district like ours or any small district communicates and manages keep all the craziness under control, we try, there's some good ideas there. So I think everybody use that. In closing Follow us on Facebook, Twitter @TCAPSLoop  Stephie Luyt  21:01  @StephieLuyt Larry Burden  21:04  Subscribe to the podcast on Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher, the Google Play Store, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, leave reviews, love the feedback. Exercise your mind, read a book. Melissa Baumann  21:18  It was fun. 

In Episode 6, learn about a number of tools you can use to improve parent communication in your classroom. Newsletters, communication booklets, check-off lists, phone calls, emails, and apps are all discussed in Lisa Goodell's interview with Petra Albaza, a middle school special ed teacher. Go to https://lisagoodell.com/podcast to access the show notes and links for everything mentioned in the conversation.Patra also explains why good communication between teachers and parents is so important, not only with nonverbal students but verbal as well. Plus Patra gets her students involved by having them complete a daily activity that is sent back and forth from school to home, which she offers as a freebie!! Extras: Hear the answer to Kaylene's question about why the first year of teaching is the hardest. Many teachers answered her question!Take Lisa's Communication Challenge and be encouraged in the process. If you take the challenge please let Lisa know on Instagram (her handle is @lisagoodellequip) or in the Facebook Group (Called "Help for Special Educators Podcast").

In this week’s episode, Craig and Robby dive deep into ways to make parent communication easier using technology. Robby gives helpful tips, and Craig goes off the JavaScript deep end. Canvas Synergy Drafts 5 Drafts Episode Ulysses Byword Squarespace Remind Band Drafts Action To Automate or Not Episode Textexpander TextCase PopClip Email Episode of TCN Scriptable Scriptable Script for Saving Contacts to Contact Group on iOS Spark Cardhop FileMaker Episode Subscribe Apple Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS Follow The Class Nerd - Blog RSS, Micro.blog, Twitter Craig - Micro.blog, Twitter Robby - Twitter, Blog

In this episode we talk about the various ways to connect with parents and keep them informed, why you should volunteer on your campus and how to be a great team member who still retains his or her own identity. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/new-teacher-talk-with-pablo-and-wes/support

This episode highlights Mrs. Sullivan's use of the SeeSaw app to maximize communication with families in her Kindergarten class. We also touch upon Mrs. Sullivan's flexible seating classroom design.

This is an interview with a teacher who does an outstanding job of communicating with the parents of her students.

The episode of the Truth for Teachers podcast featured here is a free coaching call I conducted with a graduate of the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club. Her name is Kristen, and she’s a year 4 teacher in Australia, which is equivalent to 4th grade in the U.S.  Kristen is in her sixth year of teaching and feeling like she’s spending way too much time communicating with parents and answering emails, and also feeling nervous about what cutting back on the amount of time she spends on these things and other tasks might do to her reputation in the school. Listen in today to the second half of this conversation where we’re focused on email communication and giving yourself permission to stop correlating hours worked with effectiveness. Click here to read this podcast online or download it to listen on the go.

Samantha and Michael share their secrets into what parents are looking for in terms of communication.

On episode 34 of The Preschool Podcast, we discuss the role of parent communication technology in preschools with Tiffany Torres, Chief Creator of Opportunities for the Preschool Marketing Group.  We talk about the importance of showing parents the hard work that goes into teaching young children.  Tiffany emphasizes the importance of using available tools to build relationships that increase parent satisfaction and teacher appreciation in order to earn advocates for your school.  

In this episode, Mindy and Jonathan review a number of online sites that are aimed at helping improve classroom communication with parents. Remind, Class Dojo, Fresh Grade, Bloomz and more were discussed. The new Google Sites is here and there is some new follow up for Skype & YouTube. This week's spicy tech nuggets include asessment apps, a book, and an educational YouTube channel for elementary kids. Email the show, or send a voice memo to podcast@gwaea.org, and see show notes with all the links from this episode at www.dlgwaea.org/podcast. You can follow Jonathan (@jonathanwylie) and Mindy (@TeamCairney) on Twitter, and see all the tweets from the Grant Wood AEA Digital Learning Team at @DLGWAEA. If you enjoy the show and would like to leave us a review on iTunes or Google Play, we would very much appreciate that!

Today the guys have a great Back-To-School show planned for you. Everything from Parent Communication solutions to coding for the classrooms and their HUGE impact on current education. Don’t miss their rundown of “Who to Follow…” this next year. Music from Nick Flora (@nickflora) and Shane Howard (@shanehoward).

Connecting and communication with parents are among the biggest challenges new teachers face. Join us as our guest offers strategies and tools to help you get started on the right path. Follow: @teachwithsoul, @KleinErin @bamradionetwork Shelly Sanchez Terrell is a teacher trainer, elearning specialist, and the author of The 30 Goals Challenge for Teachers: Small Steps to Transform Your Teaching, and co-founder of #edchat. Lisa Dabbs is an educational consultant, author, blogger, and speaker. She is an Adjunct Professor in the field of Child Development. Her passion to support new and pre-service teachers led her to create New Teacher Chat #ntchat on Twitter in 2010. She is author of Standing in the Gap: Empowering New Teachers Through Connected Resources.

Laura Martin. Photo courtesy of Laura Martin. Episode 6 features Laura Martin, expert parent, mom blogger at Joseph at Home, and the Director of Parent Communication and Engagement at Graham’s Foundation—a non-profit organization that supports parents of premature infants. During the episode, Laura shares her son Joseph’s story of prematurity and survival including his near fatal bout of late-onset NEC and the multitude of life-long complications that have resulted. She discusses: The extremely premature birth of her twin sons, Joseph and Campbell, at 24 weeks—four months early, and Campbell’s passing at 23 days of life, How Joseph developed late-onset NEC and lost two-thirds of his small intestine, Several of Joseph’s secondary diagnoses including Short Bowel Syndrome, Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, and multiple food allergies—all resulting from NEC, How hers and her family’s experience with prematurity led to her work at Graham’s Foundation, Her personal blog where she documents her daily life as an expert parent of a child with special needs. Copyright © 2015 The Morgan Leary Vaughan Fund, Inc. This episode was produced in part by the TeacherCast Educational Broadcasting Network. [powerpress] STEPHANIE VAUGHAN, HOST: Welcome to Episode 6 of Speaking of NEC—a free, audio podcast series about Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Produced by The Morgan Leary Vaughan Fund, and funded by The Petit Family Foundation, Speaking of NEC is a series of one-on-one conversations with relevant NEC experts—neonatologists, clinicians and researchers—that highlights current prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for NEC, and the search for a cure. For more information about this podcast series or The Morgan Leary Vaughan Fund, visit our website at morgansfund.org. Hello, my name is Stephanie Vaughan. Welcome to the show. I’m the Co-founder and President of The Morgan Leary Vaughan Fund. NEC is the leading cause of Short Bowel Syndrome or Short Gut Syndrome. The amount and location of intestine lost can result in life-long medical complications. Up to now, we’ve discussed NEC and its most common complication from the perspective of the neonatologist or surgeon. However, I feel that it is equally important to share the parent’s perspective. I’m privileged to have one such expert parent as my guest today. Laura Martin is the mom blogger at Joseph at Home, and the Director of Parent Communication and Engagement at Graham’s Foundation. She is also the parent of a fellow surgical NEC survivor. Laura will share with me today her son Joseph’s story of prematurity and survival including his near fatal bout of late-onset NEC and the multitude of life-long complications that have resulted. During our conversation, she will discuss in varying degrees: The extremely premature birth of her twin sons, Joseph and Campbell, at 24 weeks—four months early, and Campbell’s passing at 23 days of life, How Joseph developed late-onset NEC and lost two-thirds of his small intestine, Several of Joseph’s secondary diagnoses including Short Bowel Syndrome, Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, and multiple food allergies—all resulting from NEC, How hers and her family’s experience with prematurity led to her work at Graham’s Foundation, Her personal blog where she documents her daily life as the parent of a child with special needs. With that in mind, let me introduce my guest today. This is Laura. Hi, how are you? LAURA MARTIN, GUEST: Hey, good. How are you? STEPHANIE: Good. Thank you for joining us. And Laura is a blogger at Joseph at Home and the Director of Parent Communication and Engagement at Graham’s Foundation. So I will let you introduce yourself and talk to me a little bit about your experience with prematurity and Necrotizing Enterocolitis. LAURA: Yeah. Our twin boys were born at 24 weeks gestation on Halloween morning in 2009. It came as a big surprise. It had been a perfectly clean, normal pregnancy. I had just had an appointment three days before, woke up with a dull backache about midnight. And Joseph was born first at 7:41 and his twin brother Campbell at 7:42. No rhyme or reason for the prematurity. It just happened. Campbell, unfortunately lost his battle to prematurity after 23 days of life. He just had a lot of complications from prematurity that he just couldn’t have overcome. Joseph went on to spend 228 days in the neonatal intensive care unit before he came home. He is now five and a half. He just started kindergarten. But it’s been a long journey to get here. We were two days from coming home when he was 5 and a half months old. He was about eight weeks adjusted. We had everything set up at home. We had oxygen. We had G-tube equipment. We had everything. We were ready. His room was ready. All of the clothes were washed. Two days before discharge, we got a call from the NICU that he was gray and bloated. And they were putting him on a ventilator. Let me back up a little bit. A few days prior to that, he had been showing some signs of infection. But nobody really knew what it was. He just had vaccines. He was running a little bit of fever. We contributed it to that. This pushed discharge back a little bit. But just two days before the initial discharge, when they called and said he’s gray and bloated, and they were putting him on a ventilator. You need to get here immediately. Our world kind of turned upside down, because we thought we were two days from home. And here we were not knowing what was going to happen. This was a Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday, 2010. And we didn’t know what was going to happen. The doctors kind of watched him throughout the Saturday, were taking X-rays every few hours. A little bit after lunch that day, one nurse practitioner came and said, his X-ray looks a little bit like NEC. Do you know what that is? And we said, of course, we know what that is. We’ve been in the NICU five and a half months. But he’s eight weeks adjusted. Why would be looking at NEC? We’ve been told once you get to your due date, you cross that off your list of things to worry about. And so, as the day went on, the night went on, it became very evident that he had Necrotizing Enterocolitis. They had seen this one other time in the NICU with a baby this old. He went through Saturday night. Things were not looking good. And on Sunday morning, the surgeon came to us and said, I’m going to take him to the OR. I’m going to open him up. And I’m going to see what happens. We don’t know what we’re going to find. So, on Palm Sunday, 2010, the surgeon took him to the OR. He was gone for several hours and came back halfway through surgery and sat us down in a room and said, here’s what I found. He has 41 centimeters (16 inches) of salvageable intestine. He said, he has 28 centimeters (11 inches) below his stomach, and he has 13 (5 inches) above his colon. Everything else in the middle is completely gangrenous. He said, we can take out the gangrenous intestine. And he’ll have two stomas for a while. Then we’ll go back in and reconnect. But he also looked at us and said, we don’t know what life for him is going to be like. It’s probably going to be very rocky. He may die before the age of two waiting on a liver transplant, because he’s going to be TPN dependent. If you want to close him up and let him go, I’ll respect your wishes. And, of course, we looked at him and said, no way, we’ve gotten this far. We’ve already lost one kid. We’re not doing this again. Go in there. Do what you have to do and save his life. So he went back. He was gone for several hours, came back to us. We saw Joseph, and it was amazing. Even though he had stomas, and he had just lost two thirds of his small intestine, he looked so much better than he had right before he went, because the infection was gone. A few days after that, they went in and placed a central line, because he was, of course, totally TPN dependent. He already had a G-tube before NEC, because of aspiration to his lungs. So we were fortunate with that that he already had the G-tube. But, as the weeks wore on, they were able to slowly decrease TPN, increase feeds, and decided after four weeks, he was ready for intestine reconnect, which was shocking. Nobody expected after four weeks he would be ready for intestine reconnect. So four weeks later, they went in, reconnected the intestines, told us we would probably be in another two to three months. He again amazed everybody—came off TPN very quickly, increased G-tube feeds to the point that they pulled his port before he came home. He never came home with a central line. And four weeks after his reconnect surgery, he came home—after 220 days in the NICU. STEPHANIE: That’s amazing. LAURA: So that’s how NEC came to be. Again, the hospital had seen one case of that. And it had been years and years and years. And people say, are you sure it’s NEC? Are you sure it was NEC? Yes, pathology confirmed that it was NEC. But who knows? Who knows why he had it at five and a half months old. STEPHANIE: Right, right. So just to back up, I’m curious what you knew about NEC before his surgery. You know, you had said that you had been in the NICU for now almost five months. And he reached his due date, so you were crossing it off the list. So I’m just curious, in general terms, what you knew up to that point. LAURA: NEC was one of those things that I remember learning about really early on in our NICU stay. Having 24-week twins, we knew that it was a very rocky journey. They both had less than 50% chance of survival. But my husband and I were the type that we wanted to know everything. We wanted to know what are things we have to look out for. What are things we need to be worried about? What are things that we don’t have to worry about? And it was within the first 24 to 48 hours that the nurse said there’s a thing called Necrotizing Enterocolitis. It doesn’t happen a lot. But it’s one of these things we watch for. We stay on top of it. So we knew about it from the beginning, but we had always been told that once you reach the gestational due date, you didn’t have to worry about it anymore. And while that is so true 99.999% of the time, there is a very small chance that it can happen later. And it’s almost one of those things I wish we had never been told—oh, yeah, you don’t have to worry about it when you hit 40 weeks. Because we did—we had completely crossed it off Right. So we know about it. And we knew what the warning signs were. We knew what to look for. Yet, again, when we look back on it, he had some of these warning signs two to three days before he got really, really sick. But why would—none of us thought it could be NEC. We thought, well, he’s had some GI issues. He has the feeding tube. He’s had his vaccines. It could be any other bug he’s picked up. He’s still in the NICU. But we knew what it was, but it was still just a huge shock that—I mean, he was 13 pounds at that point. He was a big kid, you know, for being in the NICU. STEPHANIE: Right, right. So he came home now, you said, four weeks after he had been reconnected. So talk to me a little bit about, I guess, those first days and first months when he was coming home—you know, again, sort of thinking from the perspective of things that we want to let parents and caregivers know, questions to ask, sort of things to look out for—so anything that you want to talk about, you know, his transition home and getting settled. LAURA: Yeah, he came home on complete continuous feeds via G-tube. So he was on feeds 24 hours a day because, of course, having NEC left him with short bowel syndrome. So he had a lot of dumping episodes, where it was out of control at times. We couldn’t really go anywhere because of the dumping syndrome. As the days went on, the weeks went on, the months went on, that got a little bit better. We were in and out of GI every 8 to 12 weeks, just checking in, making sure he was gaining weight. But a lot of doctors also didn’t really know what to do because he wasn’t TPN dependent. A lot of kids who come home with short bowel syndrome are TPN dependent. But here you have this kid who has only a third of his small intestine, but for the most part he’s tolerating formula well. He’s tolerating G-tube feeds. He’s gaining weight. He’s not going to need a port. Everybody was convinced he would have to have his port put back in. He never did. So that was actually, to be honest, a frustration for the first several years, is finding doctors who understood that, yeah, he is doing well. But he’s also not doing well. He only has a third of his small intestine. His weight gain is very slow. He still has periods of severe pain even today, from school. He still has periods where his belly is very distended. It took some time to find doctors who really wanted to help and say, yes, there really is still a problem here—with a kid who only has a third of his small intestine. That first year that he was home, he was rehospitalized five or six times, most of those with a GI bug. If he got any sort of stomach bug, we were in the hospital, because his body just couldn’t handle it. And so we were back in. Usually it would lead to a respiratory infection. He would spend a good week, 10 days, in the hospital. That was the first year. After that, I quit my job teaching, because we knew he had to stay home. He had to be healthy. And he had to grow. And as he’s gotten bigger, he’s gotten healthier. He has not been in the hospital for a GI bug in 3 and 1/2, 4 years. It’s been awhile. STEPHANIE: Oh, that’s great. LAURA: Yeah, now his body can tolerate it. You know, it’s not pleasant still. But we know what to do. But, as he’s gotten bigger, it’s gotten better. So, yeah, that was the first few years out of the hospital. STEPHANIE: We don’t have nearly the after-effects, but I remember Morgan’s transition home was pretty chaotic. LAURA: Yeah. STEPHANIE: His brother came home after 85 days, and I’m guessing was a much simpler transition, even just holding him in hands-on care and changing diapers. Morgan was very traumatized, I think, from being in the hospital and having the surgery. And we saw a big, big difference between him and his brother. So it was very scary as a parent that even simple things that you have to do was traumatizing to him. LAURA: Right. And then they can’t communicate with you to tell you that. And that’s what was so hard to watch early on, was you knew he was hurting. You knew he was in pain. But I didn’t know what to do to help, you know. So that was hard. Yeah. STEPHANIE: So, I guess, now that he’s getting a little bit older—you said he started kindergarten. That’s great. So how is he doing, I guess, developmentally? And are you seeing anything—you know, secondary diagnoses, I guess, maybe, strictly because of NEC or because of the short bowel or other issues that he’s having? LAURA: Yeah, he has several things that are going on. He did just start kindergarten. He’s in a special needs kindergarten. As a result—well, when he had NEC, he had to receive Gentamicin, which of course is an ototoxic drug. And the surgeon said, if we give this to him, he will probably lose all of his hearing. But if we don’t give this to him, he’s not going to live. Well, of course, it was a no-brainer decision. Before that, he had not passed his newborn hearing screening. But a lot of preemies don’t. So we kind of thought, well, we’ll get out of the NICU, he’ll pass it. He never did. While he was still in the NICU—this was in between NEC and the reconnect surgery—he was diagnosed with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder, which is a hearing loss that comes and goes. It’s almost like you’re trying to tune a radio and there’s static. And that was what his hearing was like. So he received his first cochlear implant when he was three—three months after he turned three—because his hearing was rapidly deteriorating in his left ear. Just, not even two weeks ago, he received his second cochlear implant in his right ear. And we always go back to say, his hearing probably would have never been that great. But it’s definitely a lot worse post-NEC, because he had to receive the Gentamicin, the ototoxic drug, in order to kill the bacteria. Some other things that he has—July of 2014, he was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis, which has been in question for several years. And we could not get the GI doctor to agree to do an endoscopy. He hated to do the endoscopy, because it meant putting him under sedation. Due to asthma, he didn’t want to do that. But at the same time, we’re battling with this increased amount of food allergies, knowing that that has to be a problem. Finally, they agreed to do the endoscopy. And it was clear that he had Eosinophilic Esophagitis. As a result of that, he has 15 food allergies. I’m happy to list them all if you want. But it includes all of the top 8 plus beef, chicken, rice, potatoes, watermelon, strawberry, pineapple, and a whole slew of medications. And I always tell people asking—it’s hard to know whether he would have had that regardless. Probably not. But having the Short Bowel Syndrome made it worse. He would not have had Short Bowel Syndrome if he didn’t have Necrotizing Enterocolitis. So to me it’s all sort of related. STEPHANIE: Right. Right. There’s definitely a domino effect. LAURA: It’s a domino effect. One thing has led to the other, which has led to the other. So it’s hard to know, some days, if you’re battling GI issues because of Short Bowel Syndrome. Or are you battling GI issues because of the Eosinophilic Esophagitis? Or are the white blood cells growing because he’s eating something he’s allergic to? Is there a new allergy? So some days we really struggle knowing what is what. And then you’ll have periods where he does great. And he’s like a normal kid. He does still have a G-tube. We were told he would lose the G-tube by two. But here we are almost six, and we still have the G-tube. Many days I wish we didn’t. But there are many days we couldn’t do without it. And if he doesn’t feel like eating or he’s in pain, we have the G-tube. And it’s literally been a lifesaver. And if he’s been sick, we can always get fluids in him. I would love to see it go. But I don’t see it going any time in the future. He doesn’t know life without it. He’s had it since he was four months old. To him it’s second nature. He gets his G-tube feeds at school. He gets them at home. They travel with us. But it’s truly a lifesaver for him. But it helps him gain weight. It’s what helps him actually be on the growth chart as a short-bowel kid. Many short-bowel kids, I think, are failure-to-thrive. He has never even been remotely considered failure-to-thrive, which is huge. So, yeah, there’s a lot of complications as a result—what I feel like, had he not had NEC, wouldn’t have led to X, Y, and Z probably. He does have development delays. But a lot of it is that he spent so much time in the hospital. Then there was the hearing issue, but he could not get a cochlear implant because he wasn’t healthy enough to have surgery. So it was just sort of this domino effect, and a spiral of getting out of it, and getting him healthy enough to be able to have surgery. And then you’re trying to catch up. You’re trying to catch up with language, fine motor, gross motor, it all, as well. But the kid we were told would never walk or talk, walked into kindergarten last week. So there’s so many things to be thankful for, and so many things that he’s doing so well on, that those are the days you really have to hold onto on the days he’s feeling really, really bad. You have to know that he’s going to get through it. Life will turn around, and it will get better. It’s just going to be interesting to see as he continues to grow, how much of this is just going to continue to get better. Will there be a decline at some point? We don’t know. Nobody really thought he would even make it to this point. STEPHANIE: Now, I’m just curious, sort of, personally, but also as a fellow parent of a NEC baby, have you talked to him at all about being in the NICU? Has any of that come up yet? I mean, I know he’s still sort of young. But I’m just curious. LAURA: Yeah, he knows he was in the hospital. When we drive by the hospital where he was born, he’ll say, that’s where I was born. That’s where my sister was born. He has seen pictures. He’s seen videos. But I don’t think he quite cognitively wraps his head around it. When he had a cochlear implant put in 10 days ago, it was at the hospital where he had NEC. And so we were able to kind of say, you were in the hospital here when we are a baby. A couple of the nurses stopped by to see him—they took care of you when you were a baby. But the cognition is just not quite there too. He sees his pictures. And he’ll say, I was very sick. And, yes, you were very sick—because he knows that his baby pictures look very different from his sister who was born full term. So he knows. He knows he has a G-tube. She does not. And so he’s starting to really realize those differences. STEPHANIE: Right. Yeah, I don’t think we’ve quite reached that yet. Shaymus deals with asthma. So he gets his puffs and he has, you know, different things. But I don’t think they’ve really lined up and taken notes on, you know, your picture has this. And my picture has that. Or you have this and I have that. But, yeah, sort of, it’ll be interesting to talk to them about it when they start to ask. Like, they just figured out that they’re twins this year. LAURA: Oh, that’s so funny. And my husband and I have talked about it. Gee, at what point in their life are they going to realize everything that they went through as a baby. And all these odds that were stacked against them. And all the times that they shouldn’t have lived. And will they be teenagers? Will they be adults? Will it be when they have their own children? My husband and I talk about this a lot. It’s just going to be interesting to see at what point do they kind of go, oh, wow, yeah, that really was what mom and dad went through and what I went through. It’s just fascinating. STEPHANIE: Yeah. So I would also like to let you talk about the work that you’ve done now because of having preemies and Joseph’s diagnosis. So you are the Director of Parent Communication and Engagement at Graham’s Foundation. So I’m happy to let you plug them away, and also to talk about your blog, which is Joseph at Home. LAURA: Yeah, I'll start with Graham’s Foundation first. I started working for them, gosh, about three and a half years ago in a different capacity. And it was one of those things that I was staying home with Joseph. And I was trying to figure out a way that I could give back to the preemie community. But I knew I couldn’t go into the NICU, because here I was with this child who got sick easily. And I knew that that couldn’t happen. So I started working for Graham’s Foundation, which was such a great outlet to be able to connect with other preemie parents, and sort of share stories—share stories with families who lost their child, with families who went through a long-term NICU stay, families who went through a short-term NICU stay. People will say, well I was only in the NICU 10 days. You were in seven and a half months. One day is one day too long for anybody to be in the NICU. And that’s what I always say to people. Nobody should have to go there. And if I can provide any sort of “it’s going to be OK,” I would love to do that. And so now, I serve as the Director of Parent Communication and Engagement. I do a lot of the writing for the blog for Graham’s Foundation, which is something we’re really trying to get off the ground. And through that, I also serve as a NEC mentor. So if parents come across our website and are looking to talk with someone who has experienced NEC, in no way am I a medical professional but I'm able to say: This is what we experienced. This is what we’re experiencing now. These are some questions you might be able to ask the doctor. And it’s been really nice to connect with people. Also, being five years out, to say, I promise you are going to get through this. When you’re dealing with, all along, doctor’s appointments, and you feel like you’ve got 18,000 things going on in one week. I’m here to tell you that I promise you, it gets better. The appointments get less and less and less. And it’s been so nice to connect with parents, and to offer that support from home, while I can still stay home with my kids and be able to work from home. And then also I have my personal blog, josephathome.com, which I started when I found I was pregnant with twins. I didn’t even share the blog address with anybody. My husband and I thought, oh, this will be great. We’ll update it. We’ll send it to friends and family. So as the pregnancy rocked along, I would sort of update it. I could never send out to anybody. And then when they were born Halloween morning, 2009, at 24 weeks gestation, I knew I didn’t have the energy to tell the same story over and over and over about what was happening. The texts were too long to send the information of what was going on. We had two of them, and I just couldn’t do it. And I was, like, oh, I’ve got this blog. This will be a great way to update people, so the long days of sitting in a hospital, my husband worked on our family tree. And I worked on the blog. That is just what we each sort of did to take our mind off of what was going on. And it was a great way, if somebody asked me a question, I would just say, read the blog. It’s on the blog. Just read the blog. I could share pictures—it just—because I wasn’t really in the mood to talk. We would talk to family, immediate family, and share with them what was going on. But it was just—it was so draining to tell the same story over and over and over. And if I just wanted to get something out there quickly, I would put it up. So, when Joseph came home, and I thought, well, I’ll keep it going. We’ll see what happens. It’ll probably die by the wayside. Well, five and a half years later—it’s almost six years later—it’s still going. And I write a lot now just about, of course, about prematurity, but also raising a special needs child and what that looks like, because we’re in this short-bowel world. We’re in the eosinophilic world. We’re in this hearing-loss world. We’re in the cochlear-implant world. We’re in the vision-impaired world. We’re in the mild cerebral palsy world, food-allergy world. And it’s just been nice to be able to connect with other parents and just to write about our real life and what it’s like. What it’s like. How do we deal with insurance? How do we deal with medical supplies? How do we travel? How do we do this, that, and the other? And it’s just a great outlet, too, just for venting, you know. And if I don’t want to talk about it, I can write about it. So we’ll see where it goes. It’s been a really nice outlet. But it’s also a great way to show Joseph, hey, this is where you started. This is where you are now. And it’s almost like a scrapbook, really, of his entire life, because it started the day he was born, and has everything. I just hit my—over 1,100 entries on it. STEPHANIE: That’s great. I commend you on that. I attempted, when I first came home from the hospital, to start recording things. And, I think, honestly, it was just too hard. I sort of thought to myself, I don’t want to remember this piece of it, so I sort of stopped. And I had scraps of paper where I would write down stats every day. You know, they gained this, and literally had, like, a pile two inches thick, by the time they came home, of daily weights and charts and things. Yeah, I mean, I’ve seen many of your posts. And I think they’re great. And I think it’s a great outlet. And, again, sort of that you’re not alone. And, you know, people are better off than you. People are worse off than you. And everybody’s sort of on their own journey. And I know preemie parents tend to minimize amongst other people, but your struggle is really your struggle and your family’s struggle. And no one should have to struggle. LAURA: No. And that’s what I’ve always said to people is, somebody out there always has something worse going on. Like, on Joseph’s worst day, somebody else has something worse going on. And that’s what I always say to people is, yeah, this is just our life in a little nutshell. But we’re so thankful for what we have. And, again, it could always be worse. You can just turn on the news every day and see that. But if it’s just, you know, if it can help one parent to say—and even sometimes I think people don’t like to say, well, this is not fair. You know what, sometimes it’s not fair. And it’s OK to say that and have a little pity party and then move on. And I enjoy being able to say to people sometimes. STEPHANIE: That’s great. So, I guess, is there anything else that you would want to mention if you had somebody in your position, however many years back, thinking to ask the doctors about, or transitioning home—coming home—how you sought out your specialists, if you’re not getting the answers that you think you should, how you proceeded, any sort of big-sisterly advice. LAURA: Yeah, I know, really. I think the big thing is to trust your instincts if you know that there’s something not right. We’ve gone through our fair share of doctors. Because if I feel like my child’s not getting the care that they need—and any parent would feel this way—I’m not going to settle for mediocre. I’m not going to settle for “he’s going to be fine” when you know in your heart that there’s still a problem. We were having some issues last year around the whole eosinophilic diagnosis. And I felt like we had run out of options where we live. And so I reached out to a doctor eight hours away. And he said, if you’re willing to travel, I’m willing to see him. I said, of course, we’re willing to travel. And so we did. He got us in. And we made the trip. And it was so nice to just connect with somebody who was a specialist in that field of Short Bowel Syndrome, to be able to say, yeah, he’s doing OK. I see that there are some problems. But you’re doing the right thing. And I think that’s become sort of my mantra is, don’t stop until you have the answers that you need. And there may not be answers. But I am not going to rest until I know that we have the answers we need. Like, we’re having some eosinophilic issues, so we’re working on getting into a top eosinophilic clinic. I don’t care how far we have to travel, because that’s what Joseph needs and it’s what’s best for him. And that’s what matters. It matters him feeling good. It matters him being healthy. It matters him growing. And he deserves to have the best life absolutely possible. And that’s what I would tell somebody if you’re just coming home. If you feel like something is not right, keep going and keep going and keep going. Yes, it’s exhausting. I think there are many days I’m asleep before my head even hits the pillow. But you have to do what’s best for your kid, because they can’t do it for themselves. You are their advocate. And that’s one thing that the NICU nurses taught us really, really early on—is you have to advocate for your child. Nobody else is going to do it for you. They can’t do it for themselves. You just have to keep going. And, again, it’s hard. You may hit brick walls here and there. Because goodness knows we’ve had our fair share with doctors. And it’s OK with doctors to speak your mind and say, you know, I don’t think you’re right on this. I think there’s more to it. You may upset them a little bit, because there’s no doubt I’ve upset a few. But it’s OK. It’s OK. Yes, they’re doctors. But they don’t have all the answers. You’re the parent. You live with your child day in and day out. You know their idiosyncrasies. You know what’s right and what’s wrong with them. And I think standing up for yourself is so important. And that’s what I would tell somebody coming out. You can’t be shy when it comes to advocating for your child who has special needs. STEPHANIE: I would agree. Yeah, we’re transitioning through preschool. And the boys were kindergarten eligible this year. But they’re actually being given an extra year of pre-K. And we had sort of that, uh, I’m not sure about this. I’m really not sure about it. I’m really not sure about it. And in the end they saw that—their teachers agreed with us. And the educational system agreed that, yeah, they’re a little bit immature. And probably going to kindergarten isn’t the best idea for them. And they really need the extra year. You know, they’re smart. Yes. But good enough isn’t good enough. We don’t want them to sort of eke by. We want to give them the best opportunities that they can have. So I agree with you wholeheartedly. LAURA: And it’s tough as a parent. I’ve had this conversation with a lot of people. My husband’s a teacher. I’m a teacher also. I’m not teaching right now. Hopefully one day I will be again. But it’s hard as a parent. It’s hard as a parent-teacher to have a child who has special needs and who needs that IEP (Individualized Education Program). It’s tough to sit on that end of the table as a parent. I mean, I’ve sat on the other end of the table as a teacher countless times. But, as a parent, it’s a tough pill to swallow, to say—and we know—I mean, Joseph started kindergarten. But we know full well he may need to repeat kindergarten. And while that’s tough to say, it’s a reality. We hope that he does great. But he may need to repeat. And if that’s what’s best for him, then that’s going to be what’s best for him. It’s tough to sit in an IEP meeting and hear how far behind he is. Or these are all the goals. And up to 21 pages now of his IEP. But it’s what he needs. And it’s what’s best for him. But I always go back to the day when one of our favorite NICU nurses—this was a long time ago—said, you know, one day he’s going to pull out a picture of him with all those tubes and wires and on a ventilator and say, see, mom, you remember this. And I have to think back to that, because, yes, it’s hard. And I kind of want to wallow in self-pity about, oh, I wish he was just in a regular ed class. He shouldn’t even be here. And that’s what I have to remind myself is, we had many days where we weren’t even sure we would see pre-K. And I know you’re the same way. We weren’t even sure he would see kindergarten. But here we are. And let’s just make the most of it. He’s loving every second of it. And that’s what matters. And so, being a preemie parent, as you know, it’s a journey that I never expected. But at the same time, I’m grateful for it, because it’s opened my eyes to a whole new area of life. STEPHANIE: Right. Well, I really appreciate you talking to me. And I think you’ve given some great advice—preemie parents or not, and NECs parents or not—on advocating for your child, and in every facet. So I really appreciate your time. And thank you so much. And if there’s anything else that you want to add, feel free. LAURA: If anyone wants to contact me personally, I’m happy to answer questions if there’s something that anybody wants to know more about. STEPHANIE: So great. Thank you. Thank you so much. LAURA: Thank you. STEPHANIE: For more information about Laura or to follow her blog, visit: josephathome.com. A direct link can also be found in this episode’s show notes. You can also email Laura directly at: laura [at] grahamsfoundation [dot] org. In closing, I’d like to share a few thoughts about today’s conversation with Laura. According to Dr. Besner, with whom I spoke about Short Bowel Syndrome in Episode 1, “if we estimate that a newborn baby has approximately 200 centimeters (78.74 inches) of intestine, they have to be left with at least 40 centimeters (15.75 inches) in order to be able to nourish themselves and get off TPN.” As a result of his bout with NEC, Joseph had only one centimeter (0.4 inches) more remaining. So first, I would like to take a moment to celebrate Joseph’s survival, courage, and strength. And that of his family. Both Joseph and his parents have shown remarkable resiliency while dealing with the daily effects of his bout with NEC. Second, I would like to reiterate that I strongly believe that a cure for NEC, once found, will have a far reaching impact not only on Gastroenterology (the digestive system and its disorders) as a whole, but also all of the patients like Joseph, and families like Laura’s. Show your support for our smallest and most fragile babies, those who have the greatest risk for developing NEC. Show your support for continued research in NEC. And join our effort to raise awareness about, and funds for research in NEC by making a donation to Morgan’s Fund at morgansfund.org/donate. If you’ve had a personal experience with NEC and would like to share your story, or have a question or topic that you’d like to hear addressed on our show, e-mail us at feedback@morgansfund.org. We’d love to hear from you! Copyright © 2015 The Morgan Leary Vaughan Fund, Inc. The opinions expressed in Speaking of NEC: Necrotizing Enterocolitis (the Podcast series) and by The Morgan Leary Vaughan Fund are published for educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as a diagnosis, treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. 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