What’s the best way to keep students engaged during story time? Children’s librarian Andrew Thompson shares lots of A-MA-ZING tips and best practices that connect children to effective story and learning sessions. Andrew recommends the following online resources: library.nashville.org, ASLPro.cc, YouTube.com, lakeshorelearning.com, and kaplanco.com.

How do you add music education into the #classroom when you have a limited budget – or limited knowledge in this area? Julie, a music teacher, shares her experience with introducing instruments and avenues of self-expression in pre-K classes.

“Our behavior is determined by the outcome … so we’re teaching children how to navigate big feelings," says Melissa Binkley, director of the TN Dept. of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services Regional Intervention Program (RIP). Elandriel chats with Melissa about helping families shape children’s social and emotional learning. #parentingthatworks Visit tn.gov/parenting-that-works to learn more about RIP. Check out United Way's weekly early childhood webinar series: unitedwaygreaternashville.org/rts-training.

“There’s just something different to being able to say to a family I’m not going to ask you to do anything that I haven’t done myself,” says Melissa Binkley. Elandriel chats the director of the TN Dept. of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services Regional Intervention Program (RIP) about how parents are supporting parents in fostering learning and behavioral skills. Visit tn.gov/parenting-that-works to learn more about the RIP.

TN Voices provides a range of school-based and in-home services for families, many targeting early childhood development. Rikki Harris and Katherine Bell  dive into supports that foster healthy behaviors and help decrease Tennessee’s high suspension and expulsion rates.

Why do we have high suspension and expulsion rates in Pre-K education in our state? Katherine Bell and Rikki Harris share how TN Voices works collaboratively to empower early educators to do better for students across our entire community.

Nashville Public Library's Bringing Books to Life provides a range of free literacy-based curriculum, STEAM and math trainings for teacher. Learn all about these in-person and virtual trainings from Susan Frizsell.

Need literacy training hours? Who’s providing trainings in our community? Learn more about free local resources, curriculum lessons and on-demand teacher trainings from Susan Frizsell of Nashville Public Library’s Bringing Books to Life. Ready to connect with Bringing Books to Life? Reach out to [email protected].

United Way’s Read to Succeed program has trained teachers in 37 Tennessee counties, 47 states and 39 countries! In part two of our #podcast episode, Elandriel shares the impact of providing educators with a diversity of free training sessions. Visit unitedwaygreaternashville.org/rts-training to learn more about Read to Succeed and upcoming training sessions. Contact Elandriel: [email protected]

Every day our teachers are faced with challenges that seem impossible, but they find a way to become our educational superheroes. United Way’s Read to Succeed makes it super easy for educators to sharpen their skills. In this episode, Elandriel Lewis shares how area teachers can gain free training hours. Visit unitedwaygreaternashville.org/rts-training to learn more about Read to Succeed and upcoming training sessions. Contact Elandriel: [email protected] Contact Susan: [email protected]