The Advocate Podcast: Amplifying Voices. Challenging Systems. Prioritizing Children.

Dr. Kristi N. Love
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Education

The Advocate Podcast centers real stories from social media to help parents, educators, and communities advocate for children with wisdom, courage, and compassion. Hosted by Dr. Kristi N. Love, the podcast challenges harmful narratives while offering restorative, equity-centered perspectives that lead to understanding and change.

  1. 1d ago

    Before the First Bell Rings: Preparing Children for Success

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2 is here! As a new school year begins, are we preparing children for more than just academics? In this episode, Dr. Kristi N. Love explores what it truly means to prepare students for success before the first bell rings. From building routines and relationships to teaching emotional regulation and life skills, she challenges parents, educators, and communities to rethink how we support children. Because children don't just walk into school carrying backpacks. They carry hopes, fears, experiences, and unmet needs. What if the way we prepare for the school year could change everything? Join the conversation as we continue amplifying voices, challenging systems, and prioritizing children. In this episode, you'll learn:  Why emotional and behavioral preparation matters as much as academic preparation  Practical ways parents can prepare children before school starts  How educators can build relationships that set the tone for the entire year  Why behavior should be viewed as a skill to be taught, not simply corrected Whether you're a parent, educator, school leader, or advocate, this episode will inspire you to start the school year with purpose, empathy, and high expectations. Because every child deserves adults who won't stop fighting for them. Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

  2. Jun 3

    Summer Growth Matters: Preventing Learning Loss and Building Life Skills

    Send us Fan Mail Summer break is a time for fun, family, and making memories, but it can also be a time of tremendous growth. In this episode of The Advocate Podcast, Dr. Kristi Love explores the reality of summer learning loss and shares practical, low-stress ways families can keep children engaged academically throughout the summer months. More importantly, she challenges parents to think beyond reading and math and consider how summer can be used to strengthen the behavioral, social, and executive functioning skills that children need to succeed in school and in life. Learn simple strategies to support:  📚 Reading and literacy development  ➕ Math skills through everyday activities  📝 Writing and communication skills  🧠 Executive functioning and organization  ❤️ Emotional regulation and self-control  🤝 Social skills and responsibility Dr. Love also shares free and affordable resources available to families and explains why behavior should be approached the same way we approach academics- with instruction, practice, feedback, and support. Because summer growth isn't just about preventing the "summer slide." It's about helping children return to school more confident, capable, and prepared for success. Resources Mentioned: • PBS Kids • Khan Academy & Khan Academy Kids • ReadWorks • National Geographic Kids • Scholastic Learn at Home • Local Public Libraries • NASA for Students Whether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, or advocate, this episode will help you make the most of the summer months without turning summer into school. Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

  3. May 20

    We Intervene for Academics, So Why Not Behavior?

    Send us Fan Mail Some students struggle loudly. Others struggle silently while everyone assumes they’re fine. In this episode of The Advocate Podcast, Dr. Kristi N. Love explores why schools often treat academic struggles with intervention and support—but respond to behavioral struggles with labels, punishment, or assumptions. This conversation dives into the quiet behaviors educators and parents frequently overlook: chronic disorganizationmissing assignmentslack of follow-throughinattentivenessinconsistent performance“capable but not producing” studentsDr. Love challenges the idea that these students are simply lazy or unmotivated and explains why behaviors connected to executive functioning, organization, and task completion should be addressed through Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 supports—just like academics. This episode is a powerful reflection on intervention, skill-building, accountability, and what students may truly need in order to succeed. Because sometimes the issue isn’t intelligence. It’s that students were never explicitly taught how to manage the demands school places on them. 🎙️ Perfect for educators, parents, school leaders, counselors, and anyone passionate about supporting the whole child. Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

  4. May 13

    How Does a Child Reach 8th Grade Still Struggling? Retention, Social Promotion, and the Support Students Deserve

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Advocate Podcast, Dr. Kristi N. Love tackles one of education’s hardest and most emotional questions: 👉 How does a child reach 8th grade still struggling academically? Through an honest and balanced conversation about retention, social promotion, intervention, attendance, special education referrals, and systemic gaps, this episode explores what happens when students continue moving forward without truly getting the support they need. Dr. Love discusses: How grades can sometimes hide learning gapsThe emotional impact of both retention and silent struggleWhat schools must consider before special education testingWhy attendance, interventions, and documentation matterThe importance of early intervention and honest communicationWhat real support for students should actually look likeThis episode is not about blame. It’s about reflection. It’s about advocacy. And most importantly, it’s about making sure students are not just passed along… but truly prepared. 🎧 If this conversation resonates with you, share this episode with a parent, educator, counselor, or school leader. Because every child deserves the opportunity not just to pass, 👉 but to truly learn. Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

  5. Apr 29

    Passing, But Not Prepared: The Truth About Grades

    Send us Fan Mail Are passing grades really a sign of success… or just a sign students are getting through? In this episode, we take an honest look at a growing concern in education:  👉 Students who are passing… but not truly understanding  👉 Grades that don’t always reflect mastery  👉 And a system that sometimes prioritizes completion over comprehension Through real classroom experiences, personal reflection, and insights from educational theory, including the work of Paulo Freire, this episode explores the gap between performing in school and actually being prepared for life beyond it. You’ll hear:  Why compliance is not the same as comprehension  How students can “do school” without truly learning  The impact of rushed instruction and surface-level understanding  A powerful personal story about hidden gaps in learning  And why meaningful feedback matters—even when answers are correct This conversation is for educators, parents, and anyone invested in student success. Because at the end of the day… 👉 The real question isn’t “Did they pass?” 👉 It’s “Are they prepared? Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

  6. Apr 22

    If Not Traditional Grading… Then What?: Making Sense of Fair Grading

    Send us Fan Mail What actually makes a grade fair, and what happens when we mix learning, behavior, and completion into one number? In this episode, we go beyond traditional grading debates and get into the real questions educators and parents are asking right now: Should students be allowed to retest? How do we fairly grade homework when access and home environments vary? And what role does AI play in whether homework even reflects true learning? We also explore why some schools are shifting grading scales (like the 50 minimum) and moving toward standards-based grading, and why changing numbers alone doesn’t solve the deeper issue. A major focus of this conversation is clarity: grades should reflect academic mastery, not behavior, effort, or circumstances outside of learning. So what does accountability look like if it’s not tied to grades? This episode challenges assumptions, invites reflection, and pushes us to ask a bigger question: Are our grading systems measuring what students know or everything around it? A must-listen for educators, parents, and anyone rethinking what fairness in education really means. Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

  7. Apr 15

    Grading or Gatekeeping? What Are We Really Measuring in Schools?

    Send us Fan Mail What if the way we grade students is not actually measuring what they know? In this episode, we take a deep look at traditional grading practices and ask hard but necessary questions about equity, accuracy, and student learning. From the 0–100 grading scale and how a single zero can distort achievement, to late penalties, extra credit, and assignments that don’t always reflect mastery, we explore how grades can sometimes measure compliance more than understanding. I also share a personal experience as a parent that challenged my perspective on grading and learning, along with reflections on how we support students who are struggling, and those who may be passing without being fully prepared for what comes next. We also talk about:  Why behavior and academic achievement should be separated  The problem with averaging scores over time  Why re-teaching and reassessing matters for true mastery  And how instructional decisions should be driven by data, not just grades in a gradebook This is a conversation for educators, parents, and anyone who cares about student success beyond the report card. Are our grading practices telling the truth about learning or are they gatekeeping opportunity? Let’s talk about it. Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

  8. Apr 8

    From At-Risk to At-Promise: How Words Shape Student Outcomes

    Send us Fan Mail What if the problem starts with the labels we use? I’m your host, Dr. Kristi N. Love, and on this episode of The Advocate Podcast, we explore how the words we choose in education shape student identity, expectations, and outcomes. We’ll discuss the origins of the term at-promise, share stories of students who defy labels, and offer practical strategies for educators to raise expectations, nurture potential, and see students for who they truly are. This episode is for anyone ready to shift the narrative from risk to promise, and make a real difference in the lives of children. Let's Go! Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

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The Advocate Podcast centers real stories from social media to help parents, educators, and communities advocate for children with wisdom, courage, and compassion. Hosted by Dr. Kristi N. Love, the podcast challenges harmful narratives while offering restorative, equity-centered perspectives that lead to understanding and change.

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