The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio

Latest Episodes:

Closing the reading fluency gap Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

Reading fluency helps students unlock the world, whether they’re in kindergarten or a senior in high school. But for far too long, children from specific demographics have struggled to keep pace after moving on from elementary school. To get a handle on how to better address this systemic issue, NWEA conducted a study targeting middle schoolers from historically marginalized or impoverished populations. The findings, according to NWEA Director of Academic Services Laura Hansen, shed light on how certain intervention methods can help students and educators alike close some alarming gaps. Hosted by Matt Leon.

Read the report referenced in the interview: https://www.nwea.org/news-center/press-releases/new-intervention-shows-signs-of-improving-reading-fluency-in-middle-schoolers-says-latest-nwea-study/

Academic identity and the "invisible thread" Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Were you strong in math? How about English? Were there subjects in school you dreaded, and others you loved? According to Fenesha Hubbard, the way we view ourselves as learners shapes our academic identity, a concept the former teacher considers critical to getting all cogs in the educational ecosystem moving in the same direction to maximize performance for students and educators alike. Hubbard is now the lead professional learning designer for NWEA, and explains why academic identities are important to be in touch with. Hosted by KYW Newsradio’s Matt Leon.

From meds to mindset, tips on dieting and nutrition Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

Eat well? Of course we should! But actually following through on doing it is a completely different story. Guilty pleasures, genetics, and access to quality food are just some of the factors that make maintaining a healthful diet so challenging. Two nutrition experts - Rebecca Shenkman and Tracy Oliver, both from Villanova University’s M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing - share insights on how to combat and contextualize diet and nutrition-related issues like obesity, while offering strategies about how to improve your lifestyle. Hosted by KYW Newsradio’s Matt Leon.

The risks and new varieties of tobacco use Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

January 11th marked the 60th anniversary of the first Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health, a national announcement that revealed the dangers of smoking. In 2024, far fewer people are smoking regular cigarettes, but menthol cigarettes and vaping pose concerns, especially for Black communities and youth, and the Biden administration just put off a proposed FDA rule to ban menthol cigarettes. Yolonda Richardson, President and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, joins us to talk about how the Surgeon General’s report impacted American behaviors 60 years ago and what issues we still face today when it comes to tobacco and health.

Navigating the health insurance marketplace in 2024 Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

If you don’t get health insurance through your employer, signing up on your own can be a complicated and frustrating process. With the open enrollment deadline approaching, we wanted to explain how you can register and what to look for when choosing a plan. Kathy Hempstead is a senior policy adviser at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, an organization dedicated to health care access and equity that’s working to get more people enrolled in the healthcare marketplace. She joins us to discuss recent changes to the marketplace, how to understand your options, and where you can get help finding the best plan for you.

For more information and to enroll in your state:

Pennsylvania (deadline January 19) - Pennie
New Jersey (deadline January 31) - GetCoveredNJ

Forecasting a critical watershed’s uncertain future Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

The Schuylkill River is more than just a tranquil aesthetic along one of the most brutal highways into and out of Philadelphia. It’s a vital tributary within the Mid-Atlantic corridor of the United States, serving other key waterways as well. With ever-changing environmental factors acting as a backdrop, Drexel University Associate Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Dr. Mira Olson was one of the lead researchers for a recently-completed study that forecasts how the Schuylkill Watershed will behave over the next 20 years, and what the subsequent ramifications there could be on drinking, irrigation, transportation, energy, recreation, and ecosystem demands in the Philadelphia region and beyond.

It’s the economy, Swifties! Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Kathryn Bender wanted to give something a try. Knowing the subject matter she teaches at the University of Delaware can, at times, be a bit dense and complex, she decided to tap into the craze surrounding the world’s biggest pop star in hopes of reaching more students, especially women. Guess what? Her hunch was right. In the eight-part workshop “Data Enchanted: Transforming Numbers Into Knowledge,” Bender, an assistant professor of economics at Delaware’s Lerner College of Business & Economics, dives into the meaning behind Taylor Swift data - from album streams to ticket prices and the far-reaching impact of her concert tours. What inspired Bender to take this teaching approach? What has she learned and her colleagues learned from it? Host Matt Leon takes a look at what happens when Tay Tay mania makes its way into the classroom.

More than “thank you for your service” - Helping veterans struggling with mental health Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

People who serve in the military often go through traumatic experiences, or just have trouble adjusting to life back at home. The mental health issues they face are unique, and it can be hard to find someone who really understands what they’ve experienced - but we all can do more to help. The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania offers mental health services for post-9/11 veterans and their families. Clinic Director Dr. Leah Blain and Outreach Manager Pete Whitney - who’s a retired Army major - join us to explain what veterans deal with in and outside the military, why there’s a disconnect between our perceptions and the reality of the military, how veterans can get help, and what everyone can do to support our troops with actions, not just words.

You gotta have rizz to slay - How Oxford chooses its word of the year. Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

Every year, at least one dictionary picks a new slang term as its word of the year, and every year, older generations are baffled by it. For 2023, Oxford has chosen “rizz”, a term that’s gained popularity among Gen Z online. How did they land on that, and what does “rizz” even mean? Dr. Grant Berry is an assistant professor of Spanish and cognitive science at Villanova University, where he teaches classes on linguistics. He joins us to explain where “rizz” comes from, what Oxford looks for in their word of the year, and the role the internet plays in how languages develop.

Stressed at home? Here are some family mental health tips Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

It’s the most wonderful...err, stressful time of year? Gifts, trips, relatives. The holiday season has it all, for better or worse. But if you’re trying to stay sane and keep your house in order, life can get overwhelming. Dr. Maria Rodriguez is the founder and CEO of Care Counseling Center. From the perils of too much screen time and social media to the necessity of self-care, she offers pointers on how to improve your individual and collective family mental health.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected