Not Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children

Episode 79: Building a Blended PreK Model (with Machelle Scogin) Jan 19, 2025

This episode explores the transformative blended pre-K program at Prosper Independent School District in Texas, championed by Michelle Scogin, Director of Early Childhood and Learning Services. Discover how this program successfully merges special and general education along with joy, wonder, and compassion. Machelle and her amazing team are committed to building a developmentally appropriate environment where every child can thrive. Through purposefully designed spaces and a commitment to play-based learning, the Brenda Calhoun Early Childhood School stands as a model of innovative and intentional educational practices.

Michelle shares her inspiring journey from her early memories as a Head Start child to becoming a leader in early childhood education. Her story illuminates the universal challenges in early education and the vital role of visionary leadership in overcoming them. You'll gain insights into how strong leadership and community support have been pivotal in shaping this district's early childhood programs, encouraging a collaborative community that includes educators, paraprofessionals, administrators, school staff, board members, and parents.

As Machelle's commonly used hashtag reminds us, #allmeansall.

Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode79

Episode 78: We Could All Use the Science of JOY Nov 19, 2024

I had an experience a few months ago that began with a fantastic workshop with one of my favorite schools, and *seemed* to end with a broken down, broken into truck.

But the real ending came full circle when I found that what I had been teaching that early childhood team the day before, was *exactly* what I needed to remember in that moment.

File this one under – everything we ever needed to know in life, we learned in early childhood education.

We're talking about why joy matters and how to tap into a little bit more of it.

You can find this episode’s show notes, which are always full of links, tidbits, and resources, at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode78

Episode 77: Why Play? (With Rae Pica) Oct 29, 2024

Rae Pica has been a fierce advocate for children and childhood for over 40 years. And during that time she’s written a whole bookshelf full of books on the topic. Today, she’s sharing her latest addition to that bookshelf, it came out just last week, Why Play?: How to Make Play an Essential Part of Early Education.

In this newest book, Rae dives into the importance of play in early childhood education, how to partner with parents, why different modes of play are beneficial, and how to support each type of play. She even touches on some of the tricky topics associated with play, like rough and tumble play and gun play. It’s her latest and possibly her greatest, and she’s sharing it with us in today’s episode.

If you want to know how to better advocate for play in early childhood, this episode is for you.

Find shownotes, including a full transcript, at notjustcute.com/podcast/episode77.

Episode 76: A Play-Based Evolution (with Amber Unger) Aug 13, 2024

When Amber Unger (also known as the Cream City Teacher) began her career in education, she thought she'd be working with teenagers. As her path led her to a 4K public school classroom in the middle of a shift toward play-based learning, she discovered a new passion! Today, she helps other teachers on their own journeys to better understand and implement intentional play-based practices.

Get the show notes at :

https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode76

Episode 75: Empowering Parents as Teachers - Mobile Early Education Outreach Team (With Play Smart Literacy) Jun 08, 2024

In episode 74, I introduced you to Michele Dineen-White, the creator of Play Smart Literacy in Chicago. Play Smart Literacy is a truly mobile outreach program, meaning that rather than hoping parents can overcome the burden of traveling to a specific location to receive services, Play Smart Literacy goes out into the community, particularly in vulnerable areas, to contact families and meet them right where they are – both literally and figuratively. They teach workshops at laundromats, gas stations, and standing in line at the market.

The passion for this program - and what it does for children and families - is contagious! In fact, many members of the team were once on the other side of the program – they were parents learning for the first time that talking and playing with their babies could make a meaningful difference in their development. They saw the benefits of the program with their own eyes and in their own homes and decided they wanted to share that message with other parents.

In this episode, I talk with members of the Play Smart Literacy team, about why they're so passionate about their work, what that work looks like, and how they've seen it change lives.

Episode 74: Innovative Early Education Outreach that Actually Reaches the Children - Play Smart Literacy (With Michelle Dineen-White & Talmage Steele) Jun 08, 2024

Michele Dinneen-White was working in an early education outreach program when she realized something. The program wasn’t actually reaching out to the families who needed it most. Those families were still required to find the time and the means to get their child to the center in order to receive services. And for many, that barrier was just too much to overcome. So Michele decided to create something new. The program is called Play Smart Literacy and it serves families in the Chicago area. It’s a fully mobile outreach program, one that actually reaches OUT and INTO the most vulnerable communities. And what is their mission? To build language and relationships through play.

Michele and her parent play leaders go to where the families are – parks, shelters, mobile markets, Head Start and early care programs, laundromats, gas stations – and they build real relationships with the families they meet, while at the same time building the families’ understanding of the connections between play, talk, and child development …AND building their confidence as parents as well. Their message is clear: EVERY parent has the ability to have a strong positive influence on their child’s future.

Episode 73: Challenging Behaviors in the Preschool Classroom (with Prerna Richards) Apr 18, 2024

Challenging behaviors seem to be on the rise in preschool classrooms. Prerna Richards, of Together We Grow, specializes in supporting educators with a behavior coaching program. In this episode, she shares what she believes is behind this increase, and what can be done to better help our youngest learners.

Find Show Notes : https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode73

Episode 72: Fairy Tales and Resilience (with Stephanie Goloway, EdD) Apr 04, 2024

Once upon a time.....

...Happily ever after.

These are common fairy tale phrases. But they're more than just staid story stems. These common phrases -- and the stories in between -- hold not only a recipe for imagination and fantasy but also for resilience.

Stephanie Goloway (EdD) is a powerful advocate for the importance of imagination, play, and storytelling. As a now-emeritus professor, she’s taught young children as well as college students and has focused her research on how fairy tales align with and support child development. She’s written a book called, Happily Ever Resilient, where she shares how the ordinary magic of resilience is woven into the extraordinary magic of fairy tales, supporting all children as they face the challenges of life.

Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode72

Episode 71: Bringing Families to the Library with Play (with Tammie Benham) Mar 14, 2024

Most people associate the library with silence. But what if we associated it with play?

In this episode, I’m talking with Tammie Benham, Youth Services Consultant for the Southeast Kansas Library System. Tammie believes that where libraries, children, and families intersect, magic is possible. And she’s set out to make that magic through a family engagement program focused on using play to teach, encourage, and support families in the communities she serves.

Find Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode71

Episode 70: Why We Need Play for All Feb 29, 2024

We started this series with the overall argument for why play is essential for human development. The next three episodes dug deep into three main themes: Why we need play for mental health and wellness, for brain development and real learning, and for soft skill development. Then, we shifted to several shorter episodes, touching on specific types of play and how they contribute to development. In this final episode, I’m talking about why ALL children need play, even when others may think it’s time to help children “catch up” instead.

Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode70

Episode 69: Why We Play with Art Feb 27, 2024

What does fingerpainting have to do with the Space Race? In this episode, we're talking about art and creative play and their role in learning, thinking, and innovating.

Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode69

Episode 68: Why We Play Pretend Feb 22, 2024

This episode’s focus is the dress-up area and dramatic play. We’ll talk about the powerful developmental support that comes from preschoolers dressing up and playing pretend.

Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode68

Episode 67: Why We Play at the Sensory Table Feb 20, 2024

This episode’s focus is sensory play. We’ll take a look at why these bins full of rice, water, goop, and other media aren’t just a big mess waiting to happen, they’re a really important key to supporting healthy child development.

Find Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode67

Episode 66: Why We Play with Blocks Feb 15, 2024

This episode’s focus is the block area. We look at what’s going on in those busy building centers of the early childhood classroom, and why it’s important to keep those big spaces open for construction, even when there’s pressure to move the blocks out to make room for “real school”.

Don’t underestimate the simple nature of a collection of rectangles, squares, and triangles made out of hardwood maple. When children play with construction toys (which include the ever-present unit blocks, of course, but also other open-ended building toys like Legos, magnet tiles, bristle blocks, architectural blocks etc.) they get hands-on experience that simply can’t be replaced by virtual imitations.

Find show notes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode66

Episode 65: Why We Play for Soft Skills Feb 13, 2024

While some schools may claim they’re moving away from play and toward more direct academic instruction as a way to prepare children for their future careers, business leaders repeatedly share that soft skills are becoming increasingly relevant in the workplaces of today and of the future. In this episode, we’ll talk about how pushing out play also pushes out prime opportunities for building essential soft skills. Soft skills that not only enhance careers, but improve life.

FInd show notes at: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode65

Episode 64: Why We Play for Brain Development and Real Learning Feb 09, 2024

This is the third episode in a nine-episode series! (Find them all here.)

In this episode, we’re digging into why we play for brain development and real learning. There are many people who say they support play for young children, but question whether or not we need play in school, or who might argue that play is important, as long as we get the work of learning done first. So today, we’ll talk about why play and learning aren’t as separate as people might think.

Find show notes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode64

Episode 63: Why We Play for Mental Health Feb 07, 2024

In this episode, we’re digging into why we play for mental health. It’s not just something we think is true or that sounds nice, it’s a claim that’s backed up by science and statistics. There’s something about play that is essential to developing and maintaining our mental health. We’ll dig into those findings and what they mean for our youngest learners.

Find show notes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode63

Episode 62: The Why We Play Special Series Feb 01, 2024

I’m excited to be kicking off something special today. For years, I’ve been speaking at workshops and conferences about the power of play in the early learning environment, which sparked the series of parent letters I’ve written, called Why We Play. This month, I’ll be sharing a special podcast series with the same name: Why We Play. Every Tuesday and Thursday in February, you’ll find a new episode sharing the science and stories behind why we play, evidence that play is not just cute, it’s incredibly powerful.

This Why We Play podcast series is long overdue – I’m so excited to jump into a topic I’m SO passionate about and to share some fascinating, compelling research that I absolutely love nerding out on. I hope you’ll join me for the whole month of February.

Whether you’re a champion for play or a playful learning skeptic, this series is just for you.

Find Show Notes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode62

Episode 61: Getting Curious About PreK Research (with Dr. Dale Farran) Jan 03, 2024

Find Show Notes Here

Dr. Dale Farran has spent the better part of the last 50 years researching early childhood education. But some of her most famous research has come about rather recently, as she directs the evaluation of the Tennessee Voluntary PreK Program. This study is one of the most fascinating pieces of recent research in early childhood education.

With a randomly controlled trial, Farran's team found that after an initial PreK year, children who participated scored higher than children who didn’t. After the two groups converged for their kindergarten year, however, that difference disappeared. That’s not too surprising – a “fade out” effect is often observed in early childhood research.

Where this study really started making waves was with the follow-up data. After the participating children completed their third-grade year, Farran and her team found that the PreK group actually scored *below* the other children on the math and science sections of their standardized tests - and by statistically significant margins. By the sixth-grade year, more alarm bells sounded. The PreK participants were scoring below the nonparticipants on not only math and science (and by a greater factor than was seen in third grade) but now, also on English language arts as well. Perhaps more concerning, they were also getting in more trouble at school and receiving more expulsions.

While some may have been tempted to bury unexpected results, Dr. Farran and her team decided to get curious and ask what could be learned. The rest of us get to make the same choice – ignore the research, or get curious and find something to learn.

Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode61

Episode 60: Calm the Chaos (with Dayna Abraham) Aug 01, 2023

Challenging behaviors are nothing new in early childhood education. And yet, there’s something different going on. For a variety of reasons, challenging behaviors seem to be increasing both in intensity and frequency.

Dayna Abraham is no stranger to challenging behaviors. As a board certified teacher and a mom to 3 neuro-divergent children, Dayna has sat on both sides of the table when it comes to these challenges. She’s developed a compassionate approach based on science and experience to help bring peace and calm to homes and classrooms.

Dayna is the author of Calm the Chaos: A Failproof Roadmap for Parenting Even the Most Challenging Kids, which can be preordered now ahead of it’s release on August 15th. And I’m so excited to have her share what she’s discovered.

Find Shownotes at notjustcute.com/podcast/episode60

Episode 59: Preparing Preservice Teachers (with Kelli Barker) Jul 20, 2023

I’m talking to someone I’ve wanted to share with you for a long time. One of my best friends from grad school, Kelli Barker. She’s now the director of the Adelle and Dale Young child development lab school at Utah State University.

She’s sharing what a lab school is as well as what she’s learned about helping college students and preservice teachers understand human development and apply that to their personal and professional lives.

I think you’re going to love Kelli’s insight on preparing young professionals and on applying human development principles to life.

Find show notes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode59

Episode 58: The Science of Reading in Action K-2 (with Malia Hollowell) May 23, 2023

Malia Hollowell is the author of The Science of Reading in Action and the creator of the site Playdough to Plato. She’s a National Board Certified educator who’s helping to put the science of reading into action with playful, hands on experiences. Her book, website, and Instagram are full of fantastic examples and resources. Her primary focus is grades K-2, but depending on where your littles are skill-wise, you may find loads of great activities that are appropriate for preK as well.

Find show notes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode58

Episode 57: Science of Reading in Preschool? May 05, 2023

Have you been asked how your preschool room aligns with the Science of Reading? Or maybe you’ve seen videos of two year olds reading and the sales page headlines saying that simply applying the *science* can give all toddlers the advantage they deserve? Well, in this episode, we’re adding on to the basic background and history of the science of reading found in the previous episode, and digging deeper into what all this science means in the preschool classroom.

Show notes: www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode57

Episode 56: Exploring the Science of Reading May 05, 2023

I’ve talked and written a lot about early literacy over the years, but I’ve avoided one very popular term: The Science of Reading.

I decided to keep my head down and my work research-based and just stay out of the fray of nailing down the specific jargon. But with more and more states and districts requiring “Science of Reading compliant curriculum," it’s important for early childhood educators to know what that means, what it doesn’t mean, and how it impacts our practice.

If The Science of Reading is not a familiar term to you, no worries, we’re going to walk through it and some of the terms associated with it….and if you ARE familiar with the term, I hope you’ll bring whatever background knowledge you have and be ready to find some new perspectives here.

Shownotes: www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode56

Episode 55: Finding Your Voice for Advocacy & Writing (with Rae Pica) Nov 23, 2022

Rae Pica is a force. As a speaker, consultant, and the author of over 20 books in addition to articles in many popular publications, Rae Pica has been an outspoken voice for children and childhood for more than 4 decades. Constant in that career has been her passion for protecting childhood and calling others to action.

In this episode, she’s talking with me about her newest book on advocating for children and for the early childhood profession, and also giving us a peek into her writing process.

Whether you’ve been wondering about speaking up in your educational community or about taking your message to a wider audience in book form, you’re in the right place.

Find Show Notes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode55

Episode 54: Taking the Next Step for Your Program (with Shannon McGuire Bowman & Tara Beard) Oct 06, 2022

Childcare Resources of Indian River in Vero Beach, Florida began with three tenacious educators going out of their way to create something better for 25 children. Today, the ripple effect of their efforts has grown into something that impacts 3000 children and still growing.

In this episode I’m talking with Childcare Resources’ executive director, Shannon McGuire Bowman as well as the director of the school that has grown out of that early program, Tara Beard. They’re sharing how one simple idea has grown into a robust community effort to serve children and families who would likely otherwise slip through the cracks.

This is one big story about taking the next small step.

Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode54

Episode 53: Whole Child Solutions to Brain Based Challenges with Dr. Nicole Beurkens Sep 20, 2022

When holistic psychologist Dr. Nicole Beurkens attends to a brain-based challenge, she doesn't look only at the ways she could change the brain. She looks at the many things that impact the brain and starts there. Nutrition, sleep, environment, input. There's so much that contributes to the challenging behaviors we see -- and we have more control over many of them than we think we do!

If you're curious about how to create an environment that will help the developing brain work at its best, you'll love this episode!

Find Show Notes at: https://www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode53

Episode 52: Beyond the 30 Million Words (with Dr. Rachel Romeo) Jun 15, 2022

I'm talking with Dr. Rachel Romeo about her follow up research to Hart & Risley's famous 30 million word gap. She's sharing how language shapes development and why interactions matter beyond word counts.

Show notes and links at

https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode52

Episode 51: The Legacy of Fred Rogers (with Dr. Dana Winters) Jun 02, 2022

In this episode, I’m talking with Dr. Dana Winters, executive director of the Fred Rogers Institute about how the work of Fred Rogers continues today.

It's one of my favorites.

You'll want the show notes. Find them at:

https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode51

Episode 50: Rethinking the Entire Approach to Preschool (Diving into the NPR Article) Mar 14, 2022

Early last month, NPR published an article with the title, “A top researcher says it's time to rethink our entire approach to preschool”. Maybe you saw it, or like me, maybe you had several people send it to you because they knew you’d find it fascinating.

The article featured developmental psychologist and researcher Dr. Dale Farran and her reflections on the most recent round of startling outcomes from the Tennessee Voluntary PreK cohort, which she and her colleagues at Vanderbilt University have been studying for more than a decade. The article struck a nerve, particularly its last line which said, “We might actually get better results, … from simply letting little children play.”

In this episode, I’ll be diving into some of the context around this article and the study it references. We’ll talk about what we can learn from these results and why these lessons apply far beyond the scope of the popular article.

Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode50

Episode 49: Leaders Lounge with Beth Cannon Jan 05, 2022

Find Show Notes at notjustcute.com/podcast/episode49

This episode comes from a livestream I did with Leaders Lounge summit organizer, Beth Cannon.

We talked about her experience helping early education teams get clear about their purpose and about their process. We take on a topic that makes many educators uncomfortable – business – and talk about how certain business concepts, help us build better teams, have clearer communication with parents, and overall, simply improve the way we serve children and families.

Beth also gives the inside scoop on her upcoming summit, the Leaders Lounge. This unique online summit includes resources focused on both classroom teachers and program directors. Inside the summit, you’ll find value-packed presentation from an array of speakers on topics that will lead to true transformation for yourself and your team. You’ll learn about theory and practice, but also practical tips on how to implement systems that allow you automate, delegate, or eliminate some of the more redundant tasks and free up more time to the things that create a lasting impact. The Leaders Lounge offers inspiration, application, and connection for professionals who want to make a lasting difference. The summit takes place online Friday January 14th – Monday January 17th , 2022.

(Link to register in show notes.)

Episode 48: Connecting Through Music (with Laurie Berkner) Dec 20, 2021

If you’ve spent much time listening to children’s music, you’ve likely heard of Laurie Berkner. And if you haven’t, you’ll be thanking me for the introduction later. Laurie Berkner has a gift not only for creating engaging music that even adults actually like, but for truly seeing, hearing, and respecting children in the process. For her, each performance is really about connection first.

If you’re looking for new music in your classroom, you’ll definitely find that here, but you’ll also learn some surprising insights about how we show up for and connect with children in meaningful ways. Let’s jump in!

Find Show Notes at

https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode48

Episode 47: Supporting New Teachers (with Vanessa Levin) Nov 23, 2021

I'm talking with Vanessa Levin of PreK Pages and Teaching Trailblazers about how we can better support each other as educators!

Episode 46: The Power of Nature Play (with Meghan Fitzgerald of Tinkergarten) Sep 16, 2021

Meghan Fitzgerald has combined her many professional and personal experiences with her passion for learning, play, and nature, to create Tinkergarten, a program that supports caregivers in providing children with powerful outdoor play experiences. In this episode, she shares her insights on how and why playing in nature benefits every child’s development and supports healthier, happier growth.

Show Notes at:

https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode46

Episode 45: Getting Parents on Board with Play (with Rae Pica) Jul 29, 2021

I had a great conversation recently with my friend, Rae Pica, about how and why we should get parents on board with play-based, developmentally appropriate education.

Show Notes:

www.https://notjustcute.com/podast/episode45

Episode 44: Fairy Dust Teaching (with Sally Haughey) Jun 24, 2021

You may be familiar with Sally Haughey’s amazing work through Fairy Dust Teaching, a site committed to respecting the whole child, community, play, and education as a living, breathing art form.

She began the site in 2010, as a place to collect and share her own thoughts as an early childhood educator. In the eleven years since then, it has grown into a global community and has been the springboard for two books and multiple conferences and summits, all focused on the beauty and wonder and magic of early learning.

Sally is a brilliant balance of down to earth accessibility and enchanting inspiration. I know you’re going to love her as we talk about the importance of wonder, play, and building up great humans!

Show Note: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode44

Episode 43: "The Uncontrollable Child" (with Matis Miller) Jun 11, 2021

Matis Miller is the author of the new book, The Uncontrollable Child. He’s a licensed clinical social worker and therapist and the founder, director, and supervisor of The Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy of New Jersey. Certified in both cognitive and dialectical behavior therapies, Matis brings a unique perspective on the balance point between extremes – something that is often missing in conversations about challenging childhood behaviors.

If you’ve been wanting to show up to behavior challenges with more confidence and clarity, you are in the right place.

Find show notes at www.https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode43

Episode 42: Thrivers (with Dr. Michele Borba) Mar 25, 2021

Dr. Borba's newest book, THRIVERS: The Surprising Reason Why Some Kids Struggle While Others Shine, combines scientific studies, input from dozens of researchers/experts focusing on resilience, and interviews with more than 100 young people from all walks of life. Through all of that research, Dr. Borba found something surprising: the difference between those who struggle and those who succeed comes down not to grades or test scores, but to seven character traits that set Thrivers apart (and set them up for happiness and greater accomplishment later in life).

Find show notes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode42

Episode 41: Lessons from Remote Teaching (with Allison McDonald) Mar 10, 2021

One year ago, Allison McDonald was teaching preschool in the state of Washington and writing her popular blog, No Time for Flash Cards. Like many other teachers, her class was suddenly canceled when the pandemic hit and the world shut down. After the initial shock, her school began talking about how they could safely move forward and continue serving children and families. While working with her team to answer those questions, Allison was fielding similar questions from teachers in her online world as well.

Over the past year, she’s been innovating to serve her own students while also supporting teachers around the globe during this unique and challenging period. Through it all, she’s not only discovered tips and concepts to help teachers through a pandemic, but she’s also identified key questions that we can all use to guide us now AND as we move forward.

Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode41

Episode 40: What's New with DAP? Jan 07, 2021

Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode40

After the U.S.- based National Association for the Education of Young Children – or NAEYC – launched its national accreditation system for early childhood learning programs in the early 1980s, they made an interesting observation. While their accreditation criteria frequently referenced the term “developmentally appropriate practice”, when they met with different people across a variety of programs, they found little agreement about what that term actually meant. In response, the association released a position statement in the mid-80s to help create a more cohesive understanding and application of the term across the field of early education.

In the same spirit of responsive care that they endorse, NAEYC revises and updates their position statement about every 10 years to respond to the current state of research and social discourse, and to clarify misunderstandings.

The Fourth Edition of NAEYC’s Position Statement was released at the end of 2020. If you’ve been curious about what kind of changes can be found in this latest edition, I’ll be jumping into some of the main concepts and key changes in this episode.

Episode 39: Let's Play, America! (with Pat Rumbagh) Dec 11, 2020

Several years ago, Pat Rumbaugh was nicknamed “The Play Lady.” And the nickname stuck. After spending 25 years getting young people to play through her work as a PE teacher and tennis coach, she co-founded Let’s Play America and took on the task of encouraging people of ALL ages across the nation to prioritize play.

We’ll be talking about why play matters and how we can do a better job of setting aside time to play every day. In her TEDx Talk, Saving Play- One Playful Step at a Time, Pat not only shared her important message, but she delivered part of it while hula-hooping. Pat is clearly playfully passionate, and she has an important message to share today.

Find Show Notes At:

https://www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode39

Episode 38: Finding the Verbs and the Magic in Early Childhood Education (with Heather Jackson) Nov 24, 2020

I'm so excited for you to meet Heather Jackson, director of the Reggio-inspired Sunflower School.

In this episode she shares her thoughts on verbs as thematic units, slowing down to capture the true intentions of the children we work with, and the beauty and importance in the magical thinking of childhood.

Whether you aspire to teach specifically from the Reggio philosophy or not, you will find so much inspiration in this episode.

If you’ve been wondering how you could do an even better job of bringing a child-centered approach to your curriculum or if you’re looking to bring more of the magic of childhood into your teaching practices, you are in for a treat.

Show Notes:

https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode38

Episode 37: What if We Taught the Way Children Learn (with Rae Pica) Oct 15, 2020

Rae Pica is a force to be reckoned with. With her unapologetic straight-talk, she has been advocating for children and for whole child education for decades, filling shelves of books with her words and inspiring educators around the world.

Her latest book, What if We taught the Way Children Learn, fits the pattern, calling into question the many instances where our common practices seem to be at odds with what should be common sense about how young children learn and grow. In fact, Dr. Eric Jensen says: “Rae Pica’s powerful, thought-provoking book provides rare and uncommon. Our kids would be MUCH better off if we practiced the way this book suggests we do, and so would the educators around them.”

If you’ve ever questioned the status quo in early education or wondered how you could better educate the whole child – particularly during this time of unique regulations – you’re going to want to listen to what Rae Pica has to share.

Find Show Notes at: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode37

Episode 36: Resilience (with Dr. Nefertiti Poyner) Sep 18, 2020

Today I’m talking with Dr. Nefertiti Poyner of the Devereaux Center for Resilient Children and I’m going to to tell you right now, she is an absolute delight. Educators and the children they love and teach are being stretched in every direction, Dr. Poyner shares some of the principles that create the “ordinary magic” that helps us all to bounce back. She shares a fantastic script for building resilience and relationships in the midst of all the frustration that children are feeling as they navigate new restrictions in the classroom and helps us all to remember how to “live today well.”

Find show notes at https://www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode36

Episode 35: A Back to School Pep Talk Aug 14, 2020

It’s back to school time, and normally that means getting back to the structure of something familiar….but this year is totally different. And it’s different for each of you.

I’ve been thinking about how to kick off this new school year, with a pep talk of sorts, and somehow address all of the challenges and all of these differences in a way that applies to each of you in your unique circumstances.

Show Note: https://www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode35

Episode 34: Play, Standards, and Literacy (with Vanessa Levin) Jul 10, 2020

Today I’m talking with Vanessa Levin, experienced early childhood educator and creator of the wildly popular site Pre-K Pages, which is chock full of activities and resources for early childhood teachers. She’s an accomplished trainer and advocate who’s passionate about helping educators teach well AND save time. I asked her to talk with me today about the importance of play in early childhood education with some extra attention to how playful learning can go hand in hand with meeting objectives and promoting literacy.

Show Notes at: notjustcute.com/podcast/episode34

Episode 33: Grieving the School Year We Thought We'd Have Apr 22, 2020

As states and districts begin this trickling process of making final announcements about the school year, many closing -at least physically – for the remainder of the school year, I’ve seen heartbreak reflected over and over in educators around the country. These feelings of loss. Over the progress we were making. Over the plans we’d set out. Over the routine we loved – a hundred little precious things that happened every day. Over the work we love, and most of all, over these children we love. There’s a collective mourning over the school year we thought we’d have.

Jill Riley talks with me about how to acknowledge and process our grief and why we need to do that in order to get "unstuck" and move forward.

Find show notes at: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode33

Episode 32: How Interactions Build Young Brains Feb 21, 2020

In this episode, we’ll cover a quick review of what serve and return interactions are as well as what the newest research tells us about why they’re so important.

Find Show Notes at:

https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode32

Episode 31: Engaging Young Scientists, with Asia Citro Dec 12, 2019

Author of Zoey & Sassafras and creator of the publishing house, Innovation Press, Asia Citro is truly a woman on a mission to help young children think creatively and see themselves as scientists. You’ll want to catch what Asia has to say about helping children see themselves as scientists and how we can all learn to see that science is truly everywhere. I think she’ll give you a lot to think about as she challenges us to see failure as a necessity and to overcome our adult tendency to over-control the science experiences and instead invite more ownership from our youngest scientists.

Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode31

Episode 30: Kids in the Kitchen, with Tiffany Dahle Nov 13, 2019

Cooking can be a powerful activity for young children. From literacy skills, math skills, fine motor skills, and sensory and science experiences, along with the confidence that comes from taking risks, learning from failures, and sharing time and food with others, time in the kitchen with kids is time well spent.

I’ve invited my friend, Tiffany Dahle to talk with us about her experiences with teaching children to cook. She’s the author of two cookbooks for kids – The Ultimate Kids’ Cookbook, and The Ultimate Kids’ Baking Book -- and author of the blog, Peanut Blossom. (In the interview, you’ll hear her mention that the baking book hasn’t released yet, but it actually *just came out yesterday*.)

Tiffany and I have known each other for about a decade now, and as the online world often works – we’ve been emailing and messaging for years, but this is the first time we’ve finally be able to connect for a live conversation. She has some fantastic things to say about the importance of starting small, cooking and baking as a type of play, and why managing risk has everything to do with experience and practice rather than avoidance.

Get the show notes at:

https://www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode30

Episode 29: Acting Out (with Rae Pica) Oct 08, 2019

Why are there so many reports of children frequently falling out of their seats? Why is behavior becoming more and more of a challenge in the classroom? And why are delayed fine motor skills becoming more and more prevalent? One common thread, as my guest Rae Pica will explain, is movement.

In Rae’s new book, Acting Out, she addresses not only why a lack of movement is causing serious problems for our youngest learners, but also how we can get more movement into the classroom and what kind of payoff will result. Rae has been an advocate for movement and for developmentally appropriate practice for almost 4 decades now and has a wealth of experience to share.

Shownotes: https://www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode29

Episode 28: Second Read - Advanced Content at Kindergarten - What can we really learn from this controversial new study? Sep 17, 2019

Back at the beginning of 2019 a study made a bit of a splash as headlines claimed that it demonstrated that the increased academic expectations in the early years don’t compromise social and emotional development as some fear.

I felt like there may be a bit of stretch from the data to the headlines, so I decided to nerd out on the actual study and break it down for all of you.

https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode28

Episode 27: Planning a Parent Play Night at Your School Aug 23, 2019

Today I’m talking about how to get parents on board with play in your classrooms, right from the start. Just like the children, each parent in your classroom comes with a different set of life experiences and perspectives. For some, the concept that their child’s best learning will be through play is a new revelation. Some may be expecting more of a sit down and do worksheets environment. Others may be supportive of play, but still not exactly sure why it’s best for their children.

One of the items I recently shared at a conference was the idea of having a Parent Night or a Parent Playdate to get everyone on the same page. I’ve had some follow up questions since then, so today, I’m going to walk you through some ideas for structuring that event to make it more successful.

Find shownotes at https://www.notjustcute.com/podcst/episode27

Episode 26: The Artful Parent - Kids' Art and Creativity (with Jean Van't Hul) Jul 23, 2019

Today I’m talking with the Artful Parent, Jean VanHult. She is what she calls an “art enabler”, a term that I love! She’s also the author of the book, The Artful Parent.

You can find show notes for this episode at www.https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode26

Episode 25: Online Preschool- Panacea or Placebo? Jul 14, 2019

Online preschool options are growing in popularity.

Just this past spring, Ted Talk organizers created a bit of a stir in the early childhood community when they awarded a portion of their Audacious Project funding to an online preschool company, Waterford UPSTART. While proponents suggest this is an affordable and accessible option for families that may not otherwise have preschool options, detractors say the most valuable parts of preschool could never be packaged into a virtual program.

Even before this brouhaha boiled over, Amy Webb was writing about the misconceptions surrounding online preschool on her site, The Thoughtful Parent. I’m so excited to have her join me on today’s episode to break this topic down.

Is online preschool the panacea for early education inequality, or just a placebo we invest in to make ourselves feel better?

You can find show notes for this episode at Https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode25

Episode 24: Cribsheet with Emily Oster -- Making Decisions as a Parent May 16, 2019

There are many decisions to make as a parent.

Breastfeed or bottle? Cosleep or no? Where to find quality care?

And when you reach out for more information while making these decisions, the waters sometimes seem to only get more cloudy.

Emily Oster's new book, Cribsheet, tackles many common decisions make in the early years. But she's not here to tell you what to do. She's taking a different approach. Applying her experience as an economist (which, I've learned, is really the science of informed decision-making) to her role as a parent, she's sharing an approach that is equal parts, rigorous data and honest wholistic consideration.

Find show notes at: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode24

Episode 23: Brave Learner - Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life (with Julie Bogart) Feb 28, 2019

Julie Bogart is an accomplished writer and the creator of a popular language arts program, Brave Writer. She's also mom to five (now grown) children, whom she homeschooled for 17 years.

Her new book, Brave Learner – Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life, shares so many perspectives about inspiring wonder and engaging in responsive learning with your children. It’s written specifically for homeschooling parents, but I found that so much of it would be applicable to anyone who views their home as a place of learning – regardless of where their children officially “do school”.

So whether you’re homeschooling, considering homeschooling, or just looking to learn more about how you can incorporate more learning at home, this book and this discussion have so much to offer!

Find Show Notes at www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode23

Episode 22: Inspiring Wonder, Awe, and Empathy - Spiritual Development in Young Children (with Deborah Schein PhD) Feb 18, 2019

development can be talked about in an academic construct, I received Deborah Schein’s book (Inspiring Wonder, Awe, and Empathy- Spiritual Development in Young Children) and found confirmation for some of those things that I had found in the research as well.

That spiritual development takes us beyond ourselves and into something bigger. Wonder, awe, and a deeper sense of meaning in life and relationships.

I’ve been excited to bring Deborah Schein on to talk about what spiritual development looks like, and how it drives the other areas of development.

Find Show Notes at http://www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode22

Episode 21: Your Mistakes Aren't Ruining Your Kids - The importance of active repair. Dec 16, 2018

This episode was inspired by a real-life conversation with a friend of mine who was venting about not handling a parenting situation the way she WISHED she would have….the way she KNEW she should have. But the morning was just too much and she snapped. She didn’t handle the challenge the way she wished she had and the whole thing left her and her child feeling horrible. Now what? Sound familiar? I think we’ve all been there. So today we’re going to talk about why these meltdown moments WON’T ruin your kids and what the science of attachment tells us about how we can actually respond to them in a way that makes our relationships stronger. Find shownotes at www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode21

Episode 20: Second Read -- Play is Efficient! Nov 30, 2018

Play isn't what we do when we're done with the curriculum. Play IS the curriculum.

Listen to a second read of the post, Play is Efficient.

Learn more about the project, WHY WE PLAY >> www.notjustcute.com/whyweplay

Episode 19: Positive Discipline for Today's Busy (& Overwhelmed) Parent (Kristina Bill & Joy Marchese) Nov 06, 2018

I am so excited today to be talking with Kristina Bill and Joy Marchese, who, along with Jane Nelsen, co-authored the book, Positive Discipline for Today’s Busy (& Overwhelmed): Parent How to Balance Work, Parenting, & Self for Lasting Well-Being. Both women share wonderful insight in our conversation, as they talk, not only about the book, but how the principles they’re writing about have changed their own lives. You can find show notes for this episode at https://www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode19 You’ll also find a link there to get notified about my free parenting webinars. These webinars are live – not canned –I’m right there in the video chat box, and we even have time for live Q&As – they’re absolutely free, I share real, applicable tips that you can put into practice THAT DAY, and I have a new one coming up later this month. I’d love to see you there, so be sure to head over to the show notes, or go directly to: https://www.notjustcute.com/parentingwebinars to get on the parenting webinar email list and be among the first to get a personal invitation to register for our next free class.

Episode 18: Ten Minutes for Early Childood Education May 03, 2018

I was recently invited to speak for 10 minutes on the importance of early childhood education as part of a local private preschool’s annual fundraiser. I was more than happy to do so. But I’ll be honest – it’s harder for me to only speak for 10 minutes than it so for me to do a one or two hour presentation. What do you say to a room full of parents and community members? What’s the message you wish more people understood? What information would enable more people to support and defend childhood? You can find show notes at www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode18

Episode 17: Bounceback Parenting with Alissa Marquess Apr 19, 2018

Alissa Marquess is adamant that she is not a parenting expert. She’s a mom who makes a lot of mistakes like we all do – but she’s learned something along the way that has helped her step back from the emphasis on perfection in today’s parenting culture and focus on learning, growing, and connecting in the process. Even in the messy parts.

She's sharing her insight a new book to be released on April 24, 2018 called, Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection Not Perfection. I love the powerful shifts in thinking that Alissa shares in her book and in our discussion today. Even in seemingly simple ways, they can create an incredible amount of positive momentum for parents and for their families.

Find shownotes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode17

Episode 16: Advocating for Movement with Rae Pica Apr 08, 2018

Many of us are seeing that grief in the classroom as different policies and practices seem to forget that our children have bodies. As one of the foremost child development experts in education, Rae Pica has devoted nearly 40 years to advocating for more play and more movement. She's sharing what she's discovered about movement and whole child development throughout her career and giving tips for us to be advocates for movement as well. You can find show notes for this episode, at notjustcute.com/podcast/episode16

Episode 15: Discovering the Culture of Childhood (Conclusion) Mar 14, 2018

In today’s episode, I’m sharing the fifth and final installment in a series of conversations with Emily Plank, author of Discovering The Culture of Childhood. Instead of one broad overview, we’ve been diving in deep over the course of several months. You can get caught up with previous episodes by going to the podcast homepage at notjustcute.com/podcast or searching on iTunes or Stitcher. If you HAVE been following along, you’ll notice there’s been quite a gap since our last conversation. Along with the general struggle of scheduling two busy people in two different countries, Emily’s been having some pretty amazing adventures lately, that she’ll tell us all about at the beginning of our chat. In this episode, we discussed the conclusion of her book, and what she hopes the overarching takeaways from the book are. She also has a generous offer for those of you who may be using her book as a group book study. As always, Emily invites us to put on a new pair of spectacles and see childhood in a unique way, and what she helps us discover on our journey is truly fascinating. Find shownotes at www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode15

Episode 14: Finding the Right Preschool for Your Child with Deborah Stewart Feb 02, 2018

In this episode, I asked Deb to join me for a conversation about how to choose the right preschool for your child. My hope is that what we share will help parents have more clarity and confidence in making this sometimes overwhelming decision, and that it will also help schools to guide parents through that process as well. What should you look for? What questions should you ask? We'll dive into all of that in this episode! Find show notes and grab the free downloadable guide at www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode14

Episode 13: The Preschool Reading Dilemma Aug 11, 2017

Today, I’m taking on a couple of common questions about early education and reading. The questions seem to be opposites, but are really two sides of the same coin. In one form, I hear, “Why don’t you teach reading?” The other, “Isn’t it damaging to teach kids reading in preschool?” Both questions are well-intended, but hinge on some common misunderstandings I hope to address today. You can find the show notes for today’s show, at: http://www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode13

Episode 12: Discovering the Culture of Childhood with Emily Plank (Chapters 5 & 6) Jul 04, 2017

This is the fourth installment of my book talk with Emily Plank, author of Discovering The Culture of Childhood. It’s the read-along selection this year, for Not Just Cute readers. That means instead of one overview, I’ve been having several in-depth chats with Emily. You can get caught up with previous episodes by going to the podcast homepage at notjustcute.com/podcast . I’ve enjoyed all of our discussions, but I have to say that this one is my favorite. I know that sounds cliché, but this one is REALLY GOOD. In this episode, we discussed chapters 5 and 6, which address the topics of art and economics in the culture of childhood. Emily says parts of these chapters stretched her more than the others, but what came of that is really fascinating, in my opinion. She’s tackling touch concepts like whether adults commit a form of cultural appropriation when we approach art with kids as well as how belonging, attachment, separation, and security all fit into the economics of childhood and how we can make sure our kids are rich in all the right ways. As always, Emily invites us to put on a new pair of spectacles and see childhood in a unique way, and what she helps us discover on our journey is truly fascinating.

Episode 11: Second Read- Performance Hang Ups Jun 23, 2017

Performance is the currency of education today. While assessments will always be important, I can't help but wonder about the overemphasis on performance to the detriment of real assessment, and ultimately our kids. Today I'm sharing a Second Read and also talking about some things I've observed lately that leave me scratching my head. You can get show notes at www.notjustcute.com/podcast/episode11

Episode 10: Puzzling Out the Science of PreK May 16, 2017

Today, I’m talking about the Consensus Statement released by the Brookings Institute on the Current State of Scientific Knowledge on Pre Kindergarten Effects. Ten of the top scholars on issues of early learning came together and outlined what they agree is known and needs to be known about the pre kindergarten experience. They’re tackling questions like what outcomes can we expect in the long and short term from large scale preK programs, and what elements come together to make a high quality preK setting. This is a rigorously scientific discussion of early childhood education, the kind of thing that makes my nerdy heart go pitter patter.

Episode 9: Second Read - The Vital Importance of a Strong Foundation May 06, 2017

This second read goes back all the way to 2014, but it’s a concept I still use frequently when speaking to groups about the importance of the foundational work in early childhood, and how it can -unfortunately- often be overlooked. Just like the foundation of our homes, foundational learning may sometimes be hard to see, but is critical to supporting everything that follows.

Episode 8: Discovering the Culture of Childhood (Chapters 3&4) with Emily Plank Apr 30, 2017

Today, I’m talking again with Emily Plank, author of Discovering The Culture of Childhood. It’s the read-along selection this year, for Not Just Cute readers. That means instead of one overview, I get to have several in-depth chats with Emily. It’s been an eye-opener for me, and I know I’m not the only one because I’ve been hearing a lot of great things from listeners as well! In this episode, we’ll be discussing chapters 3 and 4 of her book. We’re looking, largely, at how play serves as the language of childhood, and what kinds of problems arise when adults begin to forget their native tongue. We'll discuss tricky topics like pretend violent play, dealing with childhood fears, and how to support truly rich play environments. As always, Emily invites us to put on a new pair of spectacles and see childhood in a new way, and what she helps us discover there is truly fascinating.

Episode 7: Kindergarten Redshirting Apr 21, 2017

Today, I’m talking about redshirting. You may know the term from college sports, where athletes can be redshirted for a year, keeping them out of the game but giving them an extra year of eligibility. Kindergarten redshirting is a similar concept, giving kids an extra year beyond their eligibility before enrolling them. I’ll confess, I personally cringe at the term because I think it conveys—to some – the idea that kids are being held back to give them an advantage at sports. Which, arguably, some are. But the reasons why parents give their kids an extra year before starting kindergarten reach much beyond that. Today, I’m joined by my friend, Allison Mac Donald, who writes at No Time for Flash Cards. She’s a teacher, a book author, a graduate student, a marathoner, and a mom to two rad kids. She and I are chatting today about why some parents choose to give their kids an extra year, what that means from a systems perspective, what factors play into the decision from a personal perspective, and some of the other options parents may not have considered. I have a lot of parents ask me about my opinion about kindergarten redshirting, and –like many parenting dilemmas--- it just doesn’t have an easy, clean answer. So I’m glad Allie’s here to help me sort through the information.

(A quick listener note: The audio equipment wasn’t functioning properly during this recording, so the quality isn’t what I’d like it to be. But the conversation was so good, I didn’t want to scrap it. While I hope future recordings meet higher expectations, I think you’ll agree this one is worth tolerating the imperfections!)

Episode 6: Second Read- A Tale of Two Studies Apr 06, 2017

Today, I’m revisiting a post from 2016, which I wrote at the beginning of last year’s read along, Rae Pica’s book, What if Everybody Understood Child Development. (You can find links to that read along in the original post.) In the post, I shared some striking contradictions I’d notice as I’d been going over a few different pieces of research from early childhood settings. Contradictions between what we know young children need, and the trends toward what we were actually delivering in early childhood settings.

Episode 5: Discovering the Culture of Childhood with Emily Plank (Chapters 1&2) Mar 31, 2017

Do we see childhood for what it really is? Are we ready to challenge our ideas and put on a new pair of spectacles? Emily Plank joins us for the second in a series of discussions about her book, Discovering the Culture of Childhood. In this episode, she talks about friendships in early childhood, the tricky task of entering play, and how adults can better support authentic social growth.

Episode 4: Reader Q&A - Redirecting and the Effects of Negative Emotions on Learning Mar 31, 2017

In this episode, I'm answering a reader's two-part question. First, what are some suggestions for redirecting children and second, what did I mean when I wrote that "teachable moments cannot occur when children are in an emotional state." With the first question, we'll examine what redirection really means, and how it differs from distraction. For the second question, I start by doing some clarifying as well. And even as I listen to the show again, I realize I could have made even more clarification: When I reference "learning" in this podcast I'm referring to "upstairs brain" learning. Logical reasoning, decision-making, etc. Secondly, when we talk about stress and negative emotion getting in the way of learning and performing, there's an argument to be made that (particularly for adults) some degree of stress actually enhances performance rather than getting in the way. This is true for healthy levels of stress and for people who have healthy coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety. Two people (children and adults) can experience the same stress in different ways and the brain's response will be different as well. Have I created more Q's than A's at this point? Join us in this podcast and it will soon become clear! Let's talk about redirecting behavior and the powerful influence of emotion on learning.

Episode 3: Discovering the Culture of Childhood with Emily Plank (Introduction) Mar 14, 2017

In this episode, I discuss the introdcution of the book, "Discovering the Culture of Childhood", with its author, Emily Plank. (This is the read-along book for NJC readers.) Emily tells us how she began to see childhood and child development through new eyes, and how that changed her as a teacher and parent. (Also, she tells us what the section heading "The Day My Three Year Old Brought Home a Condom" is really all about.)

Episode 2: Second Read- And the Award Goes To... Mar 14, 2017

Second Read: And the Award Goes To... Following the season of Hollywood award shows, I got thinking about who really deserves an award for making a difference in the lives of children. Regular moms, dads, teachers, and care-givers. (Maybe we'd let a few Hollywood elites in too....)

Episode 1: The Story of Not Just Cute Mar 14, 2017

Here's the story behind Not Just Cute -- how it got its name and how it got started. A quick look at what drives the focus on intentional, whole child development at Not Just Cute.

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