Notes from the Backpack: A PTA Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Do My Child’s Test Scores Really Matter? Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

Parents can often feel overwhelmed when they receive their child’s test scores. What do the scores mean and do they even matter? Dr. Andrew Ho, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, breaks down what you need to know about standardized testing so you can understand what really matters for your child’s learning and development.

Resources:

Review Andrew’s helpful resource, Questions to Ask About Educational Tests
Read “Take The Stress Out of Standardized Tests” on PTA’s Our Children online magazine
Follow Dr. Andrew Ho on social media at @AndrewDeanHo

Families in Transition: Lessons from the Military Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

Whether your child is transitioning to a new school or a new country, change can be hard. We can learn a lot from military families who experience these types of transitions more frequently than most. Dr. Keith Mispagel, superintendent of Fort Leavenworth Unified School District, talks with our hosts about helping children adjust to new environments.

Resources:

Learn more about Keith Mispagel and his school district at usd207.org and follow Keith on social media at @KMispagel
Discover resources for military families at militaryfamily.org and militaryimpactedschoolsassociation.org

Cooking with Kids: Tips from Duff Goldman Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

Celebrity chef, Duff Goldman, joins the show to help you and your family have a blast in the kitchen. Duff shares tips for teaching your kids science while cooking and helping them develop independence and confidence using tools and appliances. The hosts also discuss his parenting style and cooking journey!

Resources:

Watch Duff’s Happy Fun Bake Time with the whole family and check out Duff’s cookbook, Super Good Baking for Kids
Read “7 Tips to Get Kids into Cooking at Home” on PTA’s Our Children online magazine
Follow Duff on social media @DuffGoldman

Our Culture is More than a Holiday with Sheetal Sheth Nov 24, 2021

Show notes

From people who mispronounce your child’s name to teachers who expect them to explain your family’s holiday traditions to the class, your child may be struggling with the pressure to represent an entire culture. Actress and author Sheetal Sheth joins the show to discuss how families can help kids embrace their identities and explains how she shared her own identity and experience as a mother in her children’s books Always Anjali and Bravo Anjali.

Resources:

Read Always Anjali and the sequel, Bravo Anjali, with your kids
Follow Sheetal on social media @SheetalSheth
Listen to Talking Race & KidLit with Kwame Alexander to learn more about diversifying your children’s library

Raising Kids Who Change the World featuring Marley Dias & Dr. Janice Johnson Dias Nov 10, 2021

Show notes

Help your child channel their frustrations into social action! This week, our hosts chatted with author and founder of 1000 Black Girl Books, Marley Dias, and her mom, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, who is an educator and author as well. They share how you can help your child develop their entrepreneurial spirit and enhance their problem solving skills—all while making the world a better place!

Resources:

Learn more about the 1000 Black Girl Books Campaign and how you can get involved
Watch Marley in the Netflix series, Bookmarks
Follow Marley on social media @IAmMarleyDias and read her book Marley Dias Gets It Done and So Can You
Follow Dr. Janice on social media @DrJaniceJohnsonDias and read her book Parent Like It Matters: How to Raise Joyful, Changemaking Girls

Supporting Students of Color Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

How can schools do a better job affirming children’s racial identities? Dr. Shawn Jones, psychologist and professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University, joined the podcast to offer guidance on creating schools that better serve students of color. He shares how families can help by talking openly and honestly about their own experiences with race. He also offers suggestions for how white families can be part of the effort to create more affirming schools for students of color.

For more advice on talking to your children about race, listen to our podcast episode Raising Kids Who Embrace Race
Learn more from Dr. Shawn Jones in Embrace Race’s webinar, “Managing Racial Stress and Teaching Kids to Do the Same”
Read “How To Talk To Your Child About Racism” on PTA’s Our Children online magazine
Follow Dr. Shawn Jones on social media @SCTJones and his podcast Our Mental Health Minute @OurMHM

Social Media & Cyberbullying 101 Oct 13, 2021

Show notes

From the cyberbullying risks to dangerous social media challenges, many parents feel terrified when their child enters the world of social media. How can families have proactive discussions about navigating the online world responsibly? Dr. Sameer Hinduja, director of the Cyberbullying Research Center joins the show to share practical tips and respond to some of your most commonly asked questions!

Visit cyberbullying.org for lots of helpful resources for parents, educators and students!
Learn more about our guest—and reach out to him directly with your own questions—at hinduja.org. You can also follow him on social media @Hinduja
Explore the SEL in Digital Life Resource Center from Common Sense Media
Have a conversation with your children about technology using tips from TheSmartTalk.org

Thanks to NortonLifeLock, a longtime Proud National PTA Sponsor, for supporting this episode.

What is Social and Emotional Learning Anyway? Sep 29, 2021

Show notes

What life skills does your child need to thrive? There’s a lot of learning happening in schools that goes beyond academics. Karen Van Ausdal joined our hosts to talk about Social and Emotional Learning. She shares what Social and Emotional Learning looks like, why it’s important and how families can support.

Resources:

Explore CASEL’s helpful tools including the SEL Roadmap, the CASEL Guide to Schoolwide SEL and the SEL Discussion Series for Parents and Caregivers (also available in Spanish)
Don’t miss CASEL’s videos, What is SEL and Schoolwide SEL: Authentic Family Partnerships
Follow CASEL on social media @CASELOrg
Read “Teaching Social and Emotional Skills at Home” in PTA’s Our Children online magazine
Check out even more SEL resources at PTA.org/socialemotional

Back to School with the CDC Sep 15, 2021

Show notes

As we enter our second Back-to-School season filled with COVID-19 safety precautions, it’s vital that you stay informed. We invited a special guest, Captain Erin Sauber-Schatz, community guidance subject matter expert for CDC's COVID-19 Response, to share the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Resources:

Watch National PTA’s Back to Class Virtual Town Hall hosted in partnership with the CDC.
Read through the CDC’s Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools, their Back to School Reminders and information about School Testing for COVID-19 .
Listen to the CDC’s five-minute podcast episode Transitioning Back to School or Early Child Education
Explore the CDC’s COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit available in English & Spanish
Follow the CDC on social media at @CDCgov

Are You Practicing Parent Self-Care? May 12, 2021

Show notes

Did your last power struggle with your child leave you feeling burnt out? What if we shifted our mindset around parenting, and stopped trying to make our kids happy all the time? Dr. Shefali, a clinical psychologist and author, whose work has been endorsed by Oprah, joins our hosts to discuss parent self-care. She shares her own parenting experiences and philosophy and offers advice on letting go and learning to live in the now.

Resources: