What if you could change your children's lives for the better by simply shifting your focus? Howard Glasser, the brilliant mind behind the Nurtured Heart Approach, joins Kaity and Adriane for a milestone celebration on our 50th episode of The KindlED Podcast. In this special episode, we dive deep into the Nurtured Heart Approach and its transformative power in fostering positive relationships and personal growth. What to listen for:The core principles of the Nurtured Heart ApproachActionable advice for establishing clear, positive rules and the importance of calmness and co-regulation in maintaining healthy relationshipsHow focusing on a child's strengths and building their inner wealth can empower them to tap into their true potentialThe importance of building a portfolio of positive moments to counteract past traumas and the role of personal adversity in sparking a lifelong love of learning and curiosityHow to create boundaries that support and enhance a child's ability to thriveTune in to uncover how the Nurtured Heart Approach can help children thrive by recognizing and igniting their inner greatness.  About the guest:Howard Glasser is the founder and creator of the Nurtured Heart Approach®. He is a voice of greatness for children so that they can ultimately find their own voice of greatness. Howard is the author of 15 books, including Transforming the Difficult Child, a longstanding bestseller on intense and challenging children. The Nurtured Heart Approach has been researched by Rutgers University, the University of Arizona’s School of Public Health, and New Mexico State University. He currently teaches at the University of Arizona’s School of Public Health and its Integrative Medicine Program. His upcoming book is an unfolding of the Nurtured Heart Approach from the ‘Inside Out’ Connect with Howard: WebsiteFacebookInstagramEmail: howardglasser@email.arizona.eduGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcast:The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Subscribe to The Sunday Spark• Get our free literacy curriculum Interested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

What if your teenager could excel in school and be happier and healthier, all by just getting more sleep? Lisa Lewis, a renowned parenting journalist, author, and advocate for adolescent sleep, joins Kaity & Adriane to explore the importance of sleep for teenagers' physical and mental well-being. Tune in to uncover how understanding and addressing the factors that impact teens' sleep can help them thrive.About the guest:Lisa L. Lewis is the author of The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired and How Parents and Schools Can Help Them Thrive. Her book is an outgrowth of her previous work on the topic, including her role in helping get California’s landmark law on healthy school start times passed. Lewis has written for The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times, among others, and has appeared on the TODAY show, “On Point,” BBC World Radio, and local radio and TV in Los Angeles, San Francisco and elsewhere. She regularly presents to schools and other organizations about the essential role of sleep. A parent of two, Lisa lives in California with her family.Connect Got a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcast:The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Subscribe to The Sunday Spark• Get our free literacy curriculum Interested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

Have you ever wondered about the hidden mechanisms of the teenage brain and how understanding them can shape a more empathetic and supportive environment for our youth? Dean Burnett, a neuroscientist and author, joins Kaity & Adriane to delve into the complexities of adolescent brain development and the critical role of parental influence.What to listen for:• Why teenage brains are wired for risk-taking and seeking new experiences• How practicing good phone hygiene and setting a positive example can impact teen behavior and emotional regulation• Why it's essential for parents to recognize and validate their teenagers' emotions, even when they seem exaggerated or trivial• The difficulties parents face in understanding and empathizing with teenage emotions• Insights into the development of the teenage brain and how this knowledge can guide parents in allowing teens to take calculated risks and learn from their experiencesSo, what are you waiting for? Tune in to uncover the secrets of the teenage brain and how you can better support the young minds in your life.About the guest:Dr Dean Burnett is a doctor of neuroscience, an experienced postgraduate lecturer in psychiatry and mental health, and a sometimes comedian. And, most prominently, an internationally acclaimed science author, producing many books such as The Idiot Brain, Emotional Ignorance and Why Your Parents are Driving You Up The Wall and What to Do About It. Dean is in much demand as a science communicator and pundit, but as several of his books are aimed at teens and young people, he has also spoken at many schools and is involved with numerous projects regarding the mental health and development of young people. He lives in Cardiff, UK, with his wife and their two children, a chaotic beagle and a sociopathic cat.Connect with Dean: • Website• Facebook• Brain Yapping BlogMentioned in this episode:• Brainstorm by Dr. Daniel SiegGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcast:The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Subscribe to The Sunday Spark• Get our free literacy curriculum Interested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

Have you ever wondered how the way we communicate can transform our relationships and communities? Morris H. Ervin Jr., an expert in Non-Violent Communication (NVC), joins Kaity & Adriane to explore the profound impact of empathy and honest expression in building meaningful connections.What to listen for:What is Non-Violent Communication (NVC), and why is it crucial for creating empathetic relationships?How can self-connection and self-awareness enhance our ability to communicate effectively?Practical examples of applying NVC in personal relationships to express needs and make clear requests.The transformative power of NVC in the classroom: using curiosity and empathy to address student behavior and needs.So, what are you waiting for? Tune in to gain insights into the art of nonviolent communication and how it can help you build authentic and empathetic connections.About the guest:Morris H. Ervin Jr. is the founder of Mansa Consulting and author of Reflections of a Troubled Black Man: A Teacher’s Quest Turning Fear into Strength and Pain into Passion. With over 20 years of experience, Morris has pioneered social and emotional mentoring programs, leadership seminars, mindfulness retreats, and community engagement initiatives. As a Social Studies Teacher in South Central Los Angeles, he developed a unique African American History curriculum and implemented Nonviolent Communication in the classroom, dedicated to keeping young boys off the streets, out of gangs, and away from prisons.Connect with Morris: WebsiteInstagramMentioned in this episode:The Message by Grand Master FlashThe Center for Nonviolent CommunicationNonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg Giraffe Language and Jackal Language | Nonviolent Communication explained by Marshall RosenbergGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcast:The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Subscribe to The Sunday Spark• Get our free literacy curriculum Interested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

Have you ever wondered if the current educational system truly harnesses the potential within each student? Tom Arnett, a senior research fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute, joins us to talk about the significant shifts from traditional learning environments to innovative, technology-enhanced systems that offer personalized education.What to listen for: • What do current parent sentiment and enrollment data tell us about the state of education?• What are the main reasons parents are exploring alternative educational options like microschools and hybrid schools? • Why is change so challenging within traditional education systems?• What does the future hold for education over the next 5 to 10 years?Overall, this episode offers a sneak peek into a future where education is tailored to fit the learning needs of each individual student rather than a one-size-fits-all experience.  So, what are you waiting for? Tune in to gain insights into the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.About the guest:Thomas Arnett is a senior research fellow for the Clayton Christensen Institute. His work focuses on identifying the enabling conditions for disrupting the conventional batch-processing model of schooling. He also studies the circumstances that lead teachers, administrators, and families to adopt new approaches to education.Thomas began his work in education as a middle school math teacher in Kansas City Public Schools through Teach For America and as an Education Pioneers fellow with the Achievement First Public Charter Schools. He has also served as an elected trustee and board president for the Morgan Hill Unified School District and currently serves as president of the board of Compass Charter Schools.For a full transcript of this episode, go here.Resources mentioned in this episode:• Christensen Institute — christenseninstitute.org • Follow Tom on LinkedIn — httpsGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcast:The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Subscribe to The Sunday Spark• Get our free literacy curriculum Interested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

This week, Kaity and Adriane chat with Melquea Smith, a New York-based children's book illustrator who is obsessed with children's media. Melquea shares her love of designing black characters for children's books and creating characters that children can relate to, from the curls of their hair to the unique patterns of their clothes.Melquea also shares the secrets of her craft, her approach to the process of creating authentic black characters in her illustrations, and how she's changing the game by redefining representation in children's literature. This episode also covers the significant shift towards inclusivity in children's books, the challenges illustrators face in the industry when it comes to depicting black characters, and just how important it is for children to see themselves reflected in the books they read.Melquea emphasizes the significance of portraying black joy in children's book illustrations, highlighting how crucial this is for fostering a sense of belonging and self-worth among young black readers. Plus, she even gives us some insight into how we can live in the "what if" and embrace our own authentic creativity in our day-to-day lives.This is an episode you don't want to miss! Tune in now.ABOUT THE GUEST:Melquea Smith is a New York based children's book illustrator with an obsession with children’s media. When not illustrating, you can find her watching cartoons and animated movies, learning all about Japan, practicing Spanish with her cat Kilala, and patting her other cat Bumblebee on her super fluffy tummy.Got a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcast:The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Subscribe to The Sunday Spark• Get our free literacy curriculum Interested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

This podcast discusses mastery-based learning, the risks of excessive screen time, essential features of educational technology, challenges of implementing mastery-based learning without technology, and the benefits of a mastery-focused approach. It explores the impact of technology in promoting mastery-based learning, the importance of personalized teaching methods, and optimizing screen time for effective learning in children.

This week, Kaity and Adriane chat with Natalie Wexler, an education writer and the author of "The Knowledge Gap," about the root causes of the pervasive knowledge gap, the unintended consequences of modern education, and actionable solutions for closing the achievement gap and igniting a love of learning in students.Episode 43 also explores: 🔥 the significance of explicit instruction, guided practice, and frequent retrieval practice🔥 the link between screen time, family dynamics, and academic success🔥 the importance of having a good curriculum🔥 the systemic challenges that teachers face 🔥 and so much more!So, don't miss out on this insightful conversation and learn how to improve student outcomes in education!KEY TAKEAWAYS:🔑 Building knowledge is crucial for student success, particularly in reading comprehension.🔑 Writing instruction can reinforce knowledge and develop analytical abilities.👤 ABOUT THE GUEST 👤Natalie Wexler is an education writer and the author of The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America's Broken Education System—and How to Fix It (Avery 2019). She is also the co-author, with Judith C. Hochman, of The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades (Jossey-Bass 2017) and the host of "Reading Comprehension Revisited," a six-episode series for the Knowledge Matters Podcast. Her articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The American Scholar, and other publications. She is a senior contributor to Forbes.com, and she has a free Substack newsletter called Minding the Gap. Got a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcast:The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Subscribe to The Sunday Spark• Get our free literacy curriculum Interested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

This week, Kaity and Adriane chatted with Ned Johnson, co-author of "The Self-Driven Child" and "What Do You Say?" about healthy brain development. Episode 42  explores: 🔥 the impact of school start times on brain development🔥 fostering genuine connections that inspire our youth to thrive in and out of the classroom🔥 the need for an ideal learning environment🔥 technology's double-edged sword in modern childhood🔥 the power of intrinsic motivation🔥 how happiness and engagement are crucial for effective learning🔥 and so much more!Tune in for a conversation that will equip you with the strategies you need to nurture a generation capable of facing anything with a self-driven spirit.👤 ABOUT THE GUEST 👤Ned Johnson is the founder of PrepMatters, an educational company that helps students find success in high school and get into and through college.  A professional “tutor geek" since 1993, Ned has spent more than 50,000 one-on-one hours helping students conquer an alphabet of standardized tests, learn to manage their anxiety and develop their motivation to succeed.  With Dr. William Stixrud, Ned co-authored The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives and What Do You Say?  How To Talk With Kids To Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home. He is the host of The Self-Driven Child podcast, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, BBC, and many others. Resources mentioned:Katey McPhersonLisa Lewis - The Sleep Deprived TeenPeter GrayLenore SkenazyLearned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from NeuroscienceGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcast:The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Subscribe to The Sunday Spark• Get our free literacy curriculum Interested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

This week, Kaity and Adriane chat with Norton Rainey, CEO of ACE Scholarships. Norton is all in on opening doors to top-notch education for every kid, no matter where they come from. In this episode, Norton dives into how ACE Scholarships is making a huge difference for families and just how important it is for parents to stand up for their kids' learning.Episode 41 also explores: 🔥 tax credits and Education Savings Accounts and what that means for public schools' cash flow🔥 how tech makes it a breeze to apply for scholarships🔥 the future of learning🔥 and so much more!Don't miss this eye-opening conversation on how school choice and education policy are changing lives 🚀✨*Correction: In the episode, Kaity says ClassWallet is the program manager for Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. However, the Arizona Department of Education administers the ESA program, and ClassWallet is the financial management platform for the ESA program.👤 ABOUT THE GUEST 👤Norton Rainey serves as the CEO of ACE Scholarships, leading the charge for education reform in America. ACE Scholarships provides K-12 scholarships to lower-income children, enabling them to attend private K-12 schools. In addition, the organization collaborates with state legislatures to advocate for school choice policies. KEY TAKEAWAYS:Zip codes often determine the quality of education a student receives, with lower-income neighborhoods having limited access to good schools.Education savings accounts (ESAs) and other school choice programs allow parents to choose the best educational environment for their children.Research shows that school choice programs have positive outcomes, including higher graduation rates, improved test scores, and increased parental engagement.🔗 LINKS 🔗  Learn more about ACE Scholarships and their work in the school choice movement.Follow Norton on LinkedInFollow ACE Scholarships on FacebookFollow ACE Scholarships on InstagramGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcast:The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Subscribe to The Sunday Spark• Get our free literacy curriculum Interested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool