KindlED Prenda

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.
🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST 🎙️
The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.

Powered by Prenda, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning today. 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 🔗
🔥 Want more KindlED content?
💙 Connect with us
💌 Subscribe to The Sunday Spark

💙 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 ➡️ Start My Microschool

This week, Kaity and Adriane discuss mastery-based learning and how technology is revolutionizing personalized instruction. 

Episode 44 also explores: 
🔥 the risks of excessive screen time
🔥 the need for digital tools that prioritize learning
🔥 essential features of strong educational technology
🔥 the challenges of implementing mastery-based learning without technology
🔥 the benefits of a mastery-focused approach 
🔥 and so much more!

This episode is a must-listen for anyone invested in children's educational well-being.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
🔑 The application of educational technology makes a huge difference in promoting mastery-based learning.
🔑 Digital tools should focus on learning and provide multiple ways of demonstrating mastery.
🔑 Implementing mastery-based learning without technology can be challenging, but elements of it can be incorporated in a non-digital setting.

🔗 MENTIONS 🔗
Episode 25 of The KindlED PodcastBenjamin BloomInquiry The research behind PrendaNWEAiReadySAMR Model Glow Kids by Nicholas KardarasLexiaMathseedsAleksZearnCTC MathKnowreKhan Academy🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST 🎙️
The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.

Powered by Prenda, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning today. 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 🔗
🔥 Want more KindlED content?
💙 Connect with us
💌 Subscribe to The Sunday Spark

💙 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 ➡️ Start My Microschool

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. 
🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST 🎙️
The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.

Powered by Prenda, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning today. 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 🔗
🔥 Want more KindlED content?
💙 Connect with us
💌 Subscribe to The Sunday Spark

💙 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 ➡️ 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 NeuroscienceRest Is Not Idleness: Implications of the Brain’s Default Mode for Human Development and Education.🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST 🎙️
The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.

Powered by Prenda, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning today. 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 🔗
🔥 Want more KindlED content?
💙 Connect with us
💌 Subscribe to The Sunday Spark

💙 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 ➡️ 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 Instagram🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST 🎙️
The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.

Powered by Prenda, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning today. 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 🔗
🔥 Want more KindlED content?
💙 Connect with us
💌 Subscribe to The Sunday Spark

💙 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 ➡️ Start My Microschool

This week, Kaity and Adriane chat with Matt Barnes, who works to help parents defend their children from hidden threats that are unique to the 21st century. In this episode, Matt uncovers three of those threats.

Matt also discusses the challenges faced by students in the education system and the importance of empowering parents to take ownership of their children's education. He highlights the impact of technology and AI on children and emphasizes the need for a more flexible and relevant education system. Matt addresses the growing issue of youth loneliness and advises parents and educators on how to support authentic learning and address mental health concerns. He even shares his vision for the future of education and the importance of continuous learning and growth.

Episode 40 also explores:
🔥 the importance of critical thinking and self-leadership in nurturing the next generation
🔥 the specific educational barriers faced by black boys
🔥 how we can overturn a system that too often leaves black youth behind
🔥 and so much more!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
🔑  The education system needs to adapt to the changing needs of students and provide more flexibility and relevance.
🔑  Technology and AI can have both positive and negative impacts on children, and parents need to be aware of the potential dangers.
🔑  Youth loneliness is a growing concern we need to address by fostering meaningful connections and relationships.

ABOUT THE GUEST:
Matt is the husband of one wife, three kids, and a rescue dog. Over the last 25 years, Matt has run an $18m hospital department, distributed $500m in philanthropy, led an education reform nonprofit, served on 10 educational boards, including a public and private college, started three companies, and has coached thousands of parents on how to grow learners in the 21st century. Matt's current project is an employee-owned bread company with formerly homeless residents at a local group home in Houston, Texas. Matt sits on several boards and is an Elder in his church.

LINKS:
🔗 Subscribe to Matt's YouTube channel
🔗 Follow Matt on LinkedIn
🔗 Check out Matt's website
🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST 🎙️
The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.

Powered by Prenda, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning today. 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 🔗
🔥 Want more KindlED content?
💙 Connect with us
💌 Subscribe to The Sunday Spark

💙 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 ➡️ Start My Microschool