Navigating Your Child's Education: A Podcast for Parents
By Worthington Christian School
A new episode is published on the first and third Wednesday from August to May. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
This podcast, along with a blog by the same name, is a service of Worthington Christian School, Columbus, Ohio’s leader in K-12 Christian education.
Navigating Your Child's Education: A Podcast for ParentsMar 15, 2023
Encouraging the Next Generation of Armed Forces
By trade, Captain Ryan McNeilly is a private pilot. He also devotes much of his time to giving back to the community by serving as the Director of Cadet Programs for the Ohio Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). In this conversation, he draws on his personal experience with the armed forces and his current role with the CAP to share opportunities available to youth interested in joining the military or exploring careers in aviation, cybersecurity, and more.
RESOURCES
Worthington Christian School Viewbook
The Pursuit of Excellence
Excellence is woven into every successful individual, business, and team. Yet, the temptation is strong to settle for mediocrity or fall prey to perfectionism rather than pursue excellence. With eleven years of experience as an NFL center, Super Bowl champion, and Pro-Bowler, Jeff Hartings has experienced and observed the pursuit of excellence and its pitfalls. He draws on this experience to share with parents what he feels is the meaning of, the measure, and the motivation for pursuing excellence. He also encourages parents to maintain a healthy balance as they encourage their children to pursue excellence.
RESOURCES
It Takes a Village
A child's holistic development includes physical, mental, emotional growth and spiritual growth. A loving, safe community of faith is vital to a child's spiritual development and can offer tremendous support to moms and dads on their parenting journey. Central Ohio-based pastor Zac Hess offers parents words of encouragement, challenging questions to consider, and insights from his own experience as a father to four in this conversation about the role of the local church in the lives of parents and children.
RESOURCES
Worthington Christian School Kindergarten Readiness Guide
Is faith-based education still relevant today?
Faith-based K-12 school enrollment is rising, while faith-based colleges across the country have declined in recent years. Educational choices at both the K-12 and college levels are critical in the overall development of children. What is the best environment for a child? What priorities make it to the top of a family's list? What is the true cost of faith-based education in comparison to its returns? Dr. Phil Cook, Executive Director of the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP), lends nearly 30 years of experience in the realm of faith-based education admissions to us in discussing these questions and more.
RESOURCES
Discipline in Schools
Each generation of students has unique characteristics, including how they relate to authority and respond to discipline. Bringing 23 years of perspective and experience to the conversation, educator and administrator Tim Kraynak offers insights into how school discipline has changed in recent decades. What is a healthy approach to school discipline? What is the role of parents in the process? Kraynak answers these questions and more.
RESOURCES
Raising Our Children to be Leaders
Whether a child appears to be a natural-born leader or more of a follower, each has unique gifts and abilities they can learn to leverage to influence others positively. Parents play a critical role in modeling healthy leadership and guiding their children into their ways of leading.
Are some children natural-born leaders while others tend to be followers? At what age can parents begin conversations with their children about leadership? How can parents guide their children to be positive influencers? Seasoned university professor and counselor Dr. Mike Hayes brings nearly 30 years of study and experience to speak to parents about student leadership.
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The Importance of Academic Rigor in the College Admissions Process
With the recent changes to the college admissions landscape, academic rigor is perhaps more important than ever. The movement toward test-optional admissions has made the process more qualitative than quantitative. University and college counselors are not simply looking to see if an applicant has a certain test score or has properly completed the application. They are now reading the essays and transcripts more thoroughly, looking to see if students have challenged themselves throughout high school. This reality may leave students (and parents) wondering, what classes should I take in high school? How can I show colleges that I have challenged myself and am college-ready? Private college counseling expert Dr. Bethany Schweitzer offers wisdom and insight into this question and more.
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Educational Freedom and the Nation's Report Card
Education in the U.S. continues to undergo massive shifts at the state and federal levels. In Ohio, a new state tax-payer benefit supports many private schools. There is also legislation that will greatly expand educational freedom in Ohio, similar to recent educational changes in Arizona and West Virginia. Additionally, the U.S. recently released its first post-shutdown report card, indicating significant learning loss in the last three years. Troy McIntosh, Executive Director of the Ohio Christian Education Network, shares insights into these topics and offers parents a word of encouragement as they navigate their child's post-shutdown educational needs.
RESOURCES
Raising Healthy 'Screen Kids'
Much of our lives are filled with screens, and parents hear an increasing number of alarming statistics, cautionary tales, and warnings about screen time and children. As a mother of three, author Arlene Pellicane has navigated raising her children in a technology-centric world. In the book she co-authored with Gary Chapman, Screen Kids, she offers insight and encouragement for parents. In this episode, she shares glimpses of her parenting experience and highlights key elements of Screen Kids. 'Digital vegetables' versus 'digital candy,' the pathway to screen addiction, and jumpstarting a family reboot are among the topics of this conversation.
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What Parents Need to Know about Standardized Testing
Dibels, MAP, PSAT, STAR, Terra Nova—there are so many tests in school these days! How can parents make sense of what standardized tests their child takes? What is a healthy approach to testing for both parents and students? What are the tests for, anyway? Veteran school administrator Tom Burns shares answers to these questions and more.
RESOURCES
The Art of Neighboring for Families
The familiar words of Jesus to "love your neighbor as yourself" seem so simple, but the pace of modern life—and parenting—makes it difficult for us to love our neighbors well and model this for our children. In this conversation, Dave Runyon speaks from the heart on the importance of being good neighbors and how this impacts our kids. What benefits (and challenges) arise when families endeavor to be good neighbors? Why would families choose to prioritize being present in their neighborhoods? What are practical ways that families can move together toward becoming better neighbors? With years of experience as a high school teacher, pastor, and father of four, Runyon provides insights from the book he co-authored The Art of Neighboring.
RESOURCES
The Latest in College Admissions
How has the college admissions process changed in the last few years? What is "test-optional" and what impact has it had on college admissions? What qualities are colleges looking for in applicants? What do high school students and parents need to know as they plan for the future? Austin Martin, Assistant Director of Domestic Recruitment at The Ohio State University, offers insight into these questions and more.
RESOURCES
Worthington Christian School Viewbook
More Than A Number: Holistic College Admissions
Demystifying Dyslexia
Though dyslexia is the most diagnosed learning disorder, it is often misunderstood. Perhaps you’ve noticed your young child reverse letters and numbers as they write. Maybe you’ve heard your older student consistently struggle to read out loud. Or it may be that you’ve witnessed your child face difficulties in reading fluency, spelling, or getting their thoughts out on a page. Which of these are “normal” parts of learning to read, and which signs indicate a child may need additional help? What do parents need to know about the reading process, and what should they do if they suspect their child is experiencing atypical reading challenges? Literacy expert Blythe Wood shares insights to address these questions and more.
RESOURCES
International Dyslexia Association
Academic Language Therapy Association
Journey of the Heart: A Discussion on Mental Health among Adolescents
In working with three generations of college students as a counselor and professor, Dr. Mike Hayes has seen significant shifts in how young people perceive and engage the topic of mental health. He has also seen one underlying current remain largely the same. Are students nowadays entering college with strong mental and emotional well-being? What mental and emotional impact are COVID and social media having on our youth? How can parents help to prepare their kids (of all ages) for the road ahead of them? Dr. Hayes discusses these questions and more, providing research-based data and personal, anecdotal insight into the current realities of young people and mental health.
RESOURCES
NY Times article on The Mental Health Crisis among U.S. Teens
World Health Organization journal on Mental Health and College Students
Learn more about Worthington Christian School
Healthy Relationships in Adolescence
"Healthy relationships" are probably not the first thing that comes to mind when we think about child sex trafficking, yet the two are powerfully connected. Serving in a ministry for child sex trafficking survivors over the last five years, Elisha McNeal has seen and heard countless stories of how young people end up in places of unimaginable pain--and very unhealthy relationships are so often the common denominator. Who is susceptible to trafficking? What do parents need to know about this topic? How can parents guide their children to develop and maintain healthy friendships and relationships with others? Elisha answers these questions and more in this insightful conversation.
Elisha is the Director of Community Engagement and Training at Gracehaven, a ministry of Central Ohio Youth for Christ that seeks to end child sex trafficking in Ohio.
RESOURCES
Healthy Relationships in Middle School
BONUS EPISODE: A Conversation with Dr. Mike and Angela Hayes
Famed college football coach Woody Hayes is known for saying, "You can never pay back. So you should always try to pay forward." And that is what Dr. Mike Hayes hopes to do at Worthington Christian School—not only pay forward but lead the school so that students live their lives paying forward the grace and truth of God.
As was announced in December of 2021, Dr. Hayes will join WC's rich history of leaders in July 2022 as the new Head of School. Coinciding with WC's upcoming 50th anniversary, this is an extraordinary time for the entire school community. As the person responsible for inspiring a shared vision and pathway for WC to move forward into the future, it's essential that we have an idea of who Dr. and Mrs. Hayes are and what story God is writing in their lives. The topics we'll cover in this episode include:
- Why move from Tennessee to Ohio?
- Why move from the university level to the K-12 level?
- What drew you to Worthington Christian?
- What elements of your previous work and education experience have prepared you for this new role?
- What kind of leader will you be?
- What plans and vision do you have for WC?
The length of this conversation (over 45 minutes) reflects the significance of this moment for WC and the Hayes family. We hope you can catch a glimpse of God's hand at work in and through them, both past and present. Join our excitement for what God has planned at WC in this next chapter.
Intentional Parenting
What does it mean to have synergy in parenting? What factors can contribute to a fragmented worldview? How can parents who feel ill-equipped to disciple their children take steps towards intentional parenting? Dr. Larry Taylor, President of the Association of Christian Schools International and author of the book "Running with the Horses," shares insights on these questions. He draws on many years of experience as a Christian educator and school administrator and his years of raising five sons.
RESOURCES
Running with the Horses: A Parenting Guide for Raising Children to Be Servant-Leaders for Christ
Learn more about Worthington Christian School.
The Power of Story
Margaret Peterson Haddix is a New York Times best-selling author. She has more than 40 published titles of children's literature and juvenile fiction, including The Shadow Children series and The Children of Exile series. In this episode, Haddix shares author insights on the power of story, changes she has seen in reading habits and books over the last 25 years, and offers wisdom to parents as they walk alongside young readers.
Weighing Educational Options: A Homeschool Mom's Perspective
Deciding what educational path is best for our children is one of the most significant decisions we parents make. Nowadays, there are many factors to consider in this decision—family values and priorities, each child's unique disposition and needs, available resources, and more. Add to those factors the myriad of public, private, and homeschooling schooling options. The decision-making process can feel overwhelming. Experienced home educator Abby Rettstatt offers a glimpse of her journey in making these big parenting decisions and provides wisdom and insight for parents on their own.
RESOURCES
"The Way They Learn" --book by Cynthia Tobias This is an excellent resource for helping parents "learn" their child's learning styles and strengths.
"Mama Bear Apologetics"--book by Hillary Morgan Ferrer This book is helpful for exploring all educational choices, especially high school.
Banned Books: Should My Child Read This?
Two school boards in Tennessee recently made decisions to pull particular books from their elementary and middle school curricula, stirring afresh the controversy that has historically revolved around banning books. As parents and people influencing young people, decisions like these are cause for pause and reflection. What is the best way to teach our kids about really tough topics like slavery and the Holocaust? What books are "age-appropriate" and whose responsibility is it to determine that? How can we help our kids navigate all of the information and stories they take in?
Dr. Kevin Brown sheds light on these questions and more in this conversation. Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D. and three master's degrees related to library science and English. He has authored three books of poetry, a memoir, a book of scholarship, and has also had several critical articles published. He taught and wrote at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, for 19 years, and he now teaches high school English at Ensworth School in Nashville, Tennessee.
RESOURCES
Frequently Challenged Books | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues
Screen-based Reading vs. Paper-Based Reading: What Does the Research Say?
Digital, screen-based reading and learning have risen sharply over the last few years. With that, parent concerns over student comprehension and academic growth are also on the rise. Dr. Virginia Clinton-Lisell, Associate Professor of Education at the University of North Dakota, has conducted extensive research on reading comprehension and language development. In this episode, she shares insights on how screen-based reading compares to paper-based reading and offers encouragement for parents who are navigating digital reading and learning with their students.
RESOURCES
The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens
Interactive features of E-texts’ effects on learning: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Moving Toward Greater Educational Freedom
The upheaval of the traditional educational system here in the U.S. over the last two years is causing many to re-think education as a whole. Now, parental support for school choice and educational freedom is at an all-time high. Yet only 37 states have some form of educational freedom. Even among those states, there are several legislatures considering additional policies for greater educational freedom. The state of Ohio currently has one such piece of legislation, known as the “Backpack Bill.” Veteran educator and current Executive Director of the Ohio Christian Education Network Troy McIntosh shares thoughts on educational freedom and the Backpack Bill.
Talking Sportsmanship with Jeff Hartings
Athletes, coaches, and sports fans alike frequent headlines because of displays of poor behavior. Are displays of unsportsmanlike conduct on the rise? What impact do these incidents have on young athletes? How can parents help their young athletes develop good sportsmanship? Former Penn State all-star and Super Bowl champion Jeff Hartings draws on his experience as a player and a coach to weigh in on these questions and more.
Tackling Mid-Terms and Final Exams
Mid-terms and final exams are a central component of higher education and are also often given at the secondary education level. These types of assessments are typically a significant portion of a course grade and include extensive amounts of study material. The weight and volume of such exams typically produce anxiety in students. Given the emotional and mental toll involved, what is the point of mid-terms and finals? How can students (and parents) navigate this process well? Veteran high school math teacher Kathy White shares her thoughts on the purpose and process of mid-terms and finals and offers practical advice on how parents can help students be successful.
RESOURCES
Reaching for the Stars
As an 11-year-old girl, Laura Lopez's passion for astronomy was sparked. The daughter of a piano teacher and a gas station owner, this was a completely new area of interest for her family. Yet, with the support of her mother and some encouraging voices along the way, Lopez now holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics and is an associate professor of astronomy at the Ohio State University. Drawing on her own experience, Dr. Lopez shares insights into ways that parents and educators can encourage girls--and all students--to pursue their dreams.
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A Close Look at Plagiarism
As students grow into the middle and high school years, the ability to incorporate thoughts, words, and ideas into their schoolwork becomes increasingly essential. As students move deeper into the research process in language arts, social studies, and science, they must learn how to navigate citing sources and avoid plagiarism.
Language arts educators Emily Solinger and Joel Walton draw from their years of experience in helping students navigate these waters to provide parents with practical tips and philosophical insight on the topic of plagiarism. Modern students have endless amounts of information available at their fingertips, and so much of our world is shareable. Parents need to know how to encourage their students to grow as writers, thinkers, and researchers.
RESOURCES
Worthington Christian School Viewbook
The Great Homework Debate
Homework is not as easy as 1-2-3. It is a long-debated issue with passionate proponents and opponents. Should elementary students have homework? How much homework is appropriate for middle schoolers? How much time is the average U.S. high schooler spending on homework each night? What's the difference between busy work and homework that is meaningful? Few people in the United States know homework like Dr. Janine Bempechat of Boston University's Wheelock College of Education. She has spent her long and successful career researching homework and its impact on teachers, parents and students, schools and school systems, and educational policies. In this episode, Dr. Bempechat answers some of the most pressing questions about homework in today's world and offers parents practical wisdom on navigating the school years.
RESOURCES
The Case for (Quality) Homework
Worthington Christian School Viewbook
Fostering a Heart for Inclusion in Every Home
Catherine Todd found herself in a surprising place as her oldest daughter began school some 20 years ago--her daughter wasn't like her classmates. Over time, her oldest daughter received an autism diagnosis that set in motion an unexpected journey for Todd and her family. Now the mother of four children--two of which have autism diagnoses--she has become a special education teacher, author, and passionate advocate for children who have special learning needs. In this conversation, she discusses the language we use to talk about special needs and some practical ways a heart for inclusion can be fostered in every home.
RESOURCES
Hopeless to Hopeful: A Mom’s Guide to Raising Children with Special Needs and Staying Inspired
Worthington Christian School Viewbook
Helping Our Kids Navigate Doubt
How should we as parents respond when our kids express questions about their faith? How do we parent our kids well in the midst of our own questions about faith? Author, professor, and pastor Dr. A.J. Swoboda speaks words of hope and encouragement for all of us from his latest book "After Doubt: How to Question Your Faith Without Losing It." His words are both challenging and comforting as he discusses the process of an individual's faith becoming their own, what it means for a child to differentiate from their parents, and the truth that God is with us in our doubt. In an era when words like doubt and deconstruction are commonplace, this is a critical topic in parenting the next generation.
RESOURCES
Raising a Strong-Willed Child
A strong-willed temperament is a God-given strength. This temperament often presents itself in one's earliest years of development and can feel challenging to parents in such a way that it is a strength, not a hindrance. Renowned educator and author Cynthia Tobias offers deep insight and practical wisdom for parents raising strong-willed children. Drawing from her expertise presented in books like her best-selling "You Can't Make Me (But I Can Be Persuaded)," Tobias explains the characteristics of a strong-willed child, the difference between defiance and strong will, and speaks hope for parents based on God's truths.
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The Cyberworld, Cybersecurity, and Parenting
As parents, protecting our kids in the physical world is often intuitive, but protecting our kids in the cyberworld is not. As the famous words of John Wooden go, "The true test of a man's character is what he does when no one is watching." With our young people often using personal devices, this is more true than ever. Teaching our kids how to navigate the cyberworld safely and with wisdom is a crucial part of modern parenting. On a broader scope, cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field with many opportunities for young people to explore and pursue. Dr. Seth Hamman, a leading expert in cybersecurity, discusses all of these topics and more.
RESOURCES
Cedarville University's Cyber Operations and Cybersecurity Programs
Connect with Dr. Seth Hamman--
Worthington Christian School's Affordability Guide
A Modern Education for the Modern Learner
Traditional education has largely relied on teachers relaying facts and information to students who passively receive the information, memorize it, then prove that they memorized it on a test. World-renowned author and educator Dr. Jay McTighe suggest that this way of education no longer meets the needs of the modern learner or modern workforce. Rather than rote learning, our modern world requires skills like effective communication, creative problem-solving, and self-directed learning. A modern education ought to reflect these needs. McTighe and his colleague Dr. Grant Wiggins developed a framework for learning that they believe equips the modern learner for the modern world.
RESOURCES
Parents' Powerful Impact on Young Children’s Brains | Psychology Today
Worthington Christian School Affordability Guide
Building Teacher-Parent Rapport
Teacher-parent rapport is vital to a young student's success and overall well-being in a school year. Open communication is key to the parent-teacher relationship, but how much is too much? And how does this change as a student grows older and becomes more independent? Middle school math teacher James Storey and elementary school principal Nanci Griffith tackle these questions and more. Drawing on 40 years of collective experience in education, they offer insight and wisdom to help parents establish open and maintain healthy communication with teachers. They also discuss ways to navigate difficult situations with teachers.
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Thriving in Middle and High School
Veteran middle school teacher Michael Clutz speaks to the current culture of middle school and high school, offering parents and students alike a deeper look at what truly matters in these formative years. With humor and personal anecdotes, he draws on 15 years of classroom experience to give parents a window into the inner world of tweens and teens in Gen Z.
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Is a Gap Year right for your student?
In this episode, we explore all things gap year-related with Ethan Knight, the Gap Year Association executive director, the only national non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the gap year movement. A gap year, dedicating some time for career exploration and work between high school and college, has grown in popularity in recent years. However, there are still many misconceptions about what a gap year is and who may benefit from taking one. Knight provides thorough, informative insights on who should take a gap year, what a successful gap year involves, common parent concerns, the importance of experiential learning, COVID's impact on gap years, and more.
The Navigating Your Child's Education podcast will take a break for the summer. Season two kicks off on August 4, 2021.
RESOURCES
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)
The Growing Demand for Trade Workers
Considering a Gap Year -- from Harvard University
Worthington Christian School Affordability Guide
**Brief strong language
Brain Development in the Tween Years
Neuropsychologist Dr. Andrew Colvin illuminates brain development in middle schoolers and what parents of young adolescents need to know as their tweens grow and mature. Dr. Andrew Colvin and his wife Dr. Cheryl Colvin lead their own private practice, Colvin Psychological Services, offering evaluations and therapy to children and adults in Columbus, Ohio. In this podcast episode, Dr. Colvin discusses the prevalence of drama in middle school, moving from concrete to abstract thinking, and why teen peer groups are critically important.
RESOURCES
The work and writings of Dr. Laurence Steinberg
The Equality Act
On this episode of the Navigating Your Child's Education podcast, we discuss the Equality Act—a legislative bill with far-reaching implications for all Americans. In addition to discussing the bill itself, we zero in on the impact on schools and school-age children.
Joining us to discuss the Equality Act are Aaron Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtues, and Troy McIntosh, the incoming executive director for the Ohio Christian Education Network and education veteran.
RESOURCES
- United States Congress - H.R.5
- The Ohio Legislature - House Bill 208 and Senate Bill 119
- Center for Christian Virtues - Press Releases
- Wall Street Journal - The Equality Act is at War with Reality
- Worthington Christian School - Affordability Guide
What makes a good coach?
We had the privilege of sitting down with Coach Jeff Hartings to discuss the characteristics of an effective coach. Coach Hartings was an All-American at Penn State and a Pro-Bowler and Super Bowl Champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Throughout his career, Coach Hartings played for many coaches with varying styles and now coaches a high school football team. Coach Hartings is a student of the coaching profession and is intentional about adjusting his methods to better reach and connect with this generation of players.
RESOURCES
Thoughts on Coaching—a blog post by Coach Jeff Hartings
Building Resiliency in Our Kids
In this episode, Dr. Parker Huston, clinical director of On Our Sleeves at Nationwide Children's Hospital, joins us to discuss building resiliency in our children. With practical suggestions, parents with children of all ages will be empowered to nurture their child's mental well-being in the same way they do their physical and spiritual health.
RESOURCES
Kindergarten Readiness
Being ready to succeed in kindergarten and beyond is more than your child being able to write her name or being a particular age. In this episode of Navigating Your Child's Education, we take a deep dive into readiness. We also discuss full- versus half-day programs, whether or not attending preschool is advantageous, and the importance of play in your child's preparedness for school.
Joining us on this episode are seasoned educators Jim Parrish, elementary principal, Jordan Berner, kindergarten teacher, and Jennifer Denorme, intervention director. If kindergarten is on the horizon, you won't want to miss this conversation.
RESOURCES
The Growing Demand for Trade Workers
Whatever your preconceived understanding is of skilled trades, we feel confident that after listening to this episode you will be enlightened to the numerous career options for your child. With growing demand and increased earning power, both college-bound and non-college-bound students are finding career success with a skilled trades background.
Our guests are Scott Laslo (M.S., MSM) the faculty program coordinator at Columbus State Community College, and Brad Dement, welding and sheet metal fabrication instruction at Delaware Area Career Center. During our conversation, we discuss misconceptions of trade skills, the profile of students finding their niche in a trade, the increasing demand for skilled workers in the marketplace, and how students and parents can explore whether this is a viable educational and career path.
RESOURCES
Does my child have ADHD?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6.4 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). And the numbers are growing. To help us better understand ADHD and its impact on the child, family, and school, we sit down with three experts. Dr. Dale Richards, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, Samantha Leeman, a child psychologist, and Katelyn Geisler, a school intervention specialist discuss characteristics of ADHD, coping strategies, the use of medication, and more.
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Parenting Generation Z
A must-listen for dads and moms raising Generation Z—children born between 1997 and 2012. Pastor, author, and speaker Rich Nathan joins us for an in-depth look at generational differences and why it matters. Together we'll explore the impact of fear in our approach to parenting Gen Z. We, too, will discuss Gen Z's outlook on matters of faith. Filled with hope and practical take-aways, make sure to share this conversation.
RESOURCES
Technology in Education
The proliferation of technology is here to stay. It's part of the fabric of our world, and education is no exception. Add in a global pandemic, and it seems that technology is now the lifeblood of education. Yet, all this technology in school raises questions and concerns for parents.
What's the proper role of technology in education? How has the role of teachers changed and stayed the same? Is online learning equal to in-person learning when it comes to cognitive function?
In this episode of Navigating Your Child's Education, we'll delve into these questions and more with four experienced educators (and parents). Joining us are Troy McIntosh, a private school administrator, Mark Mousa, a veteran teacher and administrator in a large suburban school, private school technology teacher, Pam Cain, and Kristen Brown, the associate dean at Northeastern Seminary who specializes in distance learning.
RESOURCES
Worthington Christian School Affordability Guide
Is Your Child A Multipotentialite?
The internet defines multipotentiality like this: "an educational and psychological term referring to the ability and preference of a person, particularly one of strong intellectual or artistic curiosity, to excel in two or more different fields." Hence, a multipotentialite is a person who has many different interests and creative pursuits in life. Multipotentialites have no “one true calling” the way specialists do.
In this episode of Navigating Your Child's Education, we dig deeper into the concept of multipotentiality, the characteristics of multipotentialites at home and school, how to encourage curiosity, and the beauty of being a generalist. Our guest, Dr. Mark Eckel, is an esteemed educator with 35+ years of experience ranging from the high school ranks to graduate and doctorate students.
RESOURCES
Why Some of Us Don't Have One True Calling | Emilie Wapnick | TEDxBend
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
Worthington Christian School Viewbook
The State of School Sports
In this episode of the Navigating Your Child's Education podcast, we discuss the school sports' landscape. How have athletics changed and stayed the same over the past 10 years? What impact has club teams and the decreased number of multi-sport student-athletes had on school sports? Will COVID-19 impact college recruitment?
Joining us on this episode to discuss these questions and more are Doug Ute, executive director, Ohio High School Athletic Association; Kevin Weakley, a 20-year basketball coach and athletic director at a private school; and Wes Elifritz, an AD at a 1,400-student public high school.
Whether you're new to the youth sports scene or rounding the bases and heading for home, you won't want to miss this enlightening conversation.
RESOURCES
Why The Best Are The Best by Kevin Eastman
The Social Dilemma: Reactions to the Netflix Documentary
We sat down with a small group of high school students to watch and get their reaction to the Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma. The 1.5-hour presentation takes a deep dive into the unintended consequences of social media including mental health, democracy, justice, and more. The Social Dilemma features the voices of technologists and researchers who were instrumental in developing Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other popular platforms.
RESOURCES
Setting Up Screen Time Limits on Apple Devices
Setting Up Screen Time Limits on Android Devices
The Changing Landscape of College Admissions
Many significant changes have taken place in higher education institutions including the shift from in-person to online or hybrid learning models, on-campus student life, and athletics. The admissions process also looks different with limitations on in-person visits and even the requirements for being accepted.
Hear from a veteran high school college counselor, admission counselors from The Ohio State University, and Grand Canyon University, as well as two high school seniors. A must-listen episode for parents and students who are starting the college search process or who are only months away from making their decision.
Navigating Your Child's Education Trailer
Welcome to Navigating Your Child’s Education, a podcast for parents, grandparents, and others raising or influencing young people, from preschool through high school. Together we will explore topics that matter most to us parents when it comes to the education of our children. We’ll hear from experienced educators, leaders in education, and school experts--ie students themselves--as we seek to learn what we don’t know and be informed to make the best decisions for our families. Our hope is that we come away from each episode empowered by what we learned, affirmed in what we already do know, and encouraged in knowing that we’re not alone as with wrestle through questions and issues.
Join us on the first and third Wednesday of each month beginning November 2020 for a new episode of Navigating Your Child’s Education. Subscribe and never miss an episode, and make sure to leave us feedback on future topics in education you’d like to explore.
This podcast, along with a blog by the same name, is a service of Worthington Christian School, Columbus, Ohio’s leader in K-12 Christian education.