"Send me a Text Message!"

Feeling lost in the alphabet soup of educational terminology? You're not alone. In this illuminating episode, I break down the secret language of education that often leaves parents feeling confused and powerless during school meetings.

The power dynamic shifts dramatically when you understand what educators are really saying about your child. I share my personal journey from corporate manager to education researcher after frustrating experiences with her own children's education. Now she's on a mission to help parents decode educational jargon and use it to advocate effectively.

Through an enlightening conversation with Kami Wanous of the Freedom Scholar podcast, I demystify crucial terms like IEPs, 504 plans, RTI, and Common Core. I reveal the truth about accreditation (it's not what most homeschool parents think!) and explain why understanding grade-level designations matters for securing appropriate support services.

Most importantly, this episode transforms how you'll approach educational conversations. Learn how mastering educational vocabulary gives you the confidence to request services, specialized programs, or accommodations your child deserves. Discover how properly using educational terms in meetings instantly commands respect from teachers and administrators.

Whether your children attend public school or you're homeschooling, this episode provides practical knowledge that transforms you from confused observer to empowered advocate. Download my free resource (https://liberationthrougheducation.com) with 24 essential educational terms and start speaking the language that gets results for your child's education.

Check out my 24/7 interactive expert on my website! There are some great questions being asked and insightful conversations happening there… Go to https://liberation through education.com/ask-me-anything

Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.

Support the show

• Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationuntangled.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com
• Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode
• You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family
• Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

"Send me a Text Message!"

Digital devices have transformed our classrooms, but at what cost to our children's learning? This eye-opening exploration reveals how smartphones and tablets are quietly reshaping the cognitive landscape of K-12 education, creating generation-defining challenges that parents and educators can no longer ignore.

The numbers tell a troubling story. American teenagers consume approximately nine hours of entertainment media daily on their smartphones. National test scores began plummeting in 2013 after 25 years of growth, coinciding suspiciously with the rise of Instagram (2010), Snapchat (2011), and Facebook's acquisition of Instagram (2012). Meanwhile, the average student can focus for less than six minutes before technology pulls their attention elsewhere. The cognitive implications are profound - chronic media multitaskers demonstrate diminished capabilities in exactly the types of thinking required for deep learning.

Perhaps most concerning is how this digital transformation is affecting our youngest learners. More than half of kindergarteners now have personal tablets, and one in four children possess smartphones by age eight. These children arrive in classrooms wired for instant gratification, struggling with the delayed rewards that genuine learning requires. Their reading rates are declining sharply, dropping from 63% reading daily in 2020 to just 52% in 2024. As I explain, "Technology has provided necessary upgrades in how education is presented, but traditional teaching elements still need to be maintained."

What can concerned parents do? This episode offers practical, actionable strategies to counterbalance technology's downsides while recognizing its benefits. From monitoring educational app usage to promoting imagination-driven play without screens, you'll discover concrete steps to strengthen your child's attention span and learning capacity. Subscribe now to join our community of parents and educators committed to giving children the advantages they need in an increasingly digital world.

Check out my 24/7 interactive expert on my website! There are some great questions being asked and insightful conversations happening there… Go to https://liberation through education.com/ask-me-anything

Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.

Support the show

• Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationuntangled.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com
• Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode
• You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family
• Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com

"Send me a Text Message!"

Ever wondered how students can develop the skills they need to thrive in our rapidly changing world? Design thinking might be the key we've been overlooking. This powerful approach to creative problem-solving isn't just changing how students learn—it's transforming how they engage with real challenges in their communities.

What makes design thinking particularly powerful is its focus on abductive reasoning—exploring possibilities rather than asserting truth. This approach has led to remarkable student achievements: fifth graders helping refugees access healthy food, third graders shutting down drug houses, and high school students tackling dropout rates on Native American reservations. These aren't hypothetical exercises but real impacts that demonstrate how young people, when equipped with design thinking skills, can create meaningful change.

As parents and educators, we can support this approach by asking schools about their problem-based learning strategies and reinforcing these concepts at home. When students begin to see that everything from choosing what to wear to planning their day involves solving design problems, they develop a mindset that serves them well in all aspects of life.

Ready to help your child develop the creative confidence and problem-solving abilities they'll need for tomorrow's challenges? Subscribe to K-12 Education Untangled for more insights on how to navigate the evolving educational landscape and give your children the advantages they need to succeed.

Check out my 24/7 interactive expert on my website! There are some great questions being asked and insightful conversations happening there… Go to https://liberation through education.com/ask-me-anything

Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport.

Support the show

• Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationuntangled.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com
• Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode
• You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family
• Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com