Notes from the Backpack: A PTA Podcast

How is the political climate shaping the curricula in schools today? From book bans to censorship, our guest Denise Forte, president and CEO of the Education Trust, delves into the tensions facing education today. Tune in to discover current challenges and bright spots and to explore where we go from here.Dig into EdTrust’s reports “Social, Emotional and Academic Development through an Equity Lens” and “The Search for More Complex Racial and Ethnic Representation in Grade School Books.” Read EdTrust’s article about state-level opposition to teaching honest history. Follow Denise at @Denise_EdTrust and @EdTrust on social media.

From supplemental instruction to grade skipping, there are options when it comes to challenging our most advanced learners, but these opportunities can be hard to access. Brandon Wright, editorial director at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute joins the show to share best practices in gifted education and what families can do if their child would benefit from a more advanced curriculum.Explore the Fordham Institute’s Report Building a Wider, More Diverse Pipeline of Advanced LearnersRead Failing Our Brightest Kids by Brandon Wright & Chester FinnLearn more from Brandon by following him on social media at @BWrightEd or subscribing to his substack here

How do teachers find the most effective ways to engage families? Teachers often learn from their colleagues and even their own experiences as students. In this episode, Dr. Soo Hong, researcher and professor at Wellesley College, highlights the lack of formal family engagement training and the systemic changes needed to support early career teachers.Explore the “Educator Preparation Framework for Family and Community Partnerships” from National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) to learn more.Check out Soo Hong’s books, A Cord of Three Strands and Natural Allies, and explore more resources on her website.From the Archives: Listen to episodes from our Teacher Talk Miniseries to learn more about educators’ lives in the classroom.

As new state and local laws target LGBTQ+ students, what can families do to ensure schools treat all students with care and empathy? Teen transgender activist Harleigh Walker and her father, Jeff Walker, join the show to share their advocacy experience. They highlight how harmful policies are impacting school life for kids around the country and what you can do to help.Listen to our previous episode, How to Help LGBTQ Youth ThriveFollow Harleigh Walker on Instagram at @harleighawalkerTune into Jeff’s podcast, Southern Pride ParentingExplore PTA.org/LGBTQ for more resources.

Friendships are a cornerstone of childhood, but some kids have an easier time making friends than others. We talked to psychologist, author and friendship expert, Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore to learn how families can support their children in building and maintaining healthy relationships with their peers. Dr. Kennedy-Moore shares how friendships change and develop as children age and how parents can coach from the sidelines.Check out “4 Ways to Help Your Child Create True Friendships” in PTA’s Our Children online magazine Explore tips from Understood’s resource, “Why Some Kids Have Trouble Making Friends” Follow Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore on social media at @DrFriendtastic and order her books for kids and parents here.

Many parents feel unsure when they should start talking to their children about addiction and even more uncertain about what to say. In this episode, author and educator, Jessica Lahey, offers practical tips and guidance for having conversations about drug and alcohol abuse. She draws on the latest research and her own experiences to share what families need to know to keep their kids safe.Check out “5 Things You Need to Know About Youth Vaping” in PTA’s Our Children online magazineExplore PTA’s newest grant opportunities including funding to encourage tobacco use prevention hereFollow Jessica Lahey on Instagram @TeacherLahey and on TikTok @JessLaheyRead Jessica Lahey’s books The Addiction Innoculation and The Gift of Failure

There is so much children can learn from the great outdoors! We spoke with Bianca Myrick, executive director of the Virginia Association of Environmental Education to learn how families can explore the environment together and raise kids who care for the planet. Bianca shares ideas on how you can replace screentime with green time at home and advocate for environmental education in your child’s school.

Choosing a summer program that is fun, educational and affordable is no easy task. Brodrick Clarke, VP of Programs at the National Summer Learning Association joined the show to help. He talks about the tools families can use to find high-quality summer programs and offers tips for finding a program that will be a good fit for your child.

When our kids talk about the latest social media trends, it can feel like they’re speaking a foreign language. Founder and CEO of the Social Institute, Laura Tierney, joined the show to help us understand how we can best support our children in navigating the current social media landscape. She highlights the importance of positive social media education and shares how technology can support our children’s mental health and even their study habits. Resources:  Explore the Social Institute’s family resources and watch recordings of their recent webinars For more information, check out Schools and Social Media: A Survey of NSPRA and CoSN Members from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Look back at our episode with Dr. Sameer Hinduja, Social Media & Cyberbullying 101  Follow the Social Institute on social media at @TheSocialInst and Laura Tierney at @SoLaur 

While segregation may seem like a thing of the past, it’s still a major issue affecting our schools today. We spoke with Stefan Lallinger, executive director of Next100, to explore why schools aren’t more diverse and how we can advocate for systemic change. He also shares his insight on the upcoming Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action and its implications for the future of K-12 education.Resources: Read the Century Foundation’s article, “The Benefits of Socioeconomically and Racially Integrated Schools and Classrooms” and explore School Segregation in Cities Across America MappedLearn about the Century Foundation’s Bridges Collaborative which is reigniting a nationwide movement for integrated schools and diverse neighborhoodsFrom the Archives: For those of you looking to dive deeper into issues of racial equity in education, listen to our episode with Dr. Shawn Jones Follow Stefan Lallinger on social media at @StefanLallinger