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When you think of parent teacher partnerships, conferences and report cards might come to mind, but what if we made family engagement more fun? Colleen Ryan, 2019 Toyota Family Engagement Teacher of the Year shares her innovative approach to building partnerships with families. She offers advice for parents and teachers on how to work together to help kids get what they need to thrive. Resources: Read “6 Ways to Be Engaged in Your Child’s Education” in PTA’s Our Children online magazine Discover more about The Passage, the mobile classroom that Colleen and her colleague launched to bring learning to the neighborhood and follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram For more opportunities to learn at home with your kids, check out Wonderopolis a project of National Center for Families Learning

Raising a teenager can be difficult—even under normal circumstances—and COVID-19 has added new challenges. We talked to Dr. Lisa Damour, adolescent psychologist, and high school student Isaac Hurtado, co-host of the hit podcast, Teenager Therapy, to get tips. Isaac shares his experiences and what he’s hearing from other teens as they cope with all that 2020 has thrown at them. Dr. Lisa Damour offers her own professional perspective on these topics, covering everything from remote learning and social media use to anxiety and depression. Resources: Check out these relevant resources on Lisa Damour’s website, including strategies for managing COVID-19 stress and anxiety and tips for raising teenagers Read Dr. Lisa Damour’s New York Times bestselling books, Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls and Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood Follow Dr. Lisa Damour at @LDamour and listen to Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting  Follow Isaac Hurtado and Teenager Therapy on social media at @TeenagerTherapy and listen to Teenager Therapy

Parents dread getting a call from their child’s principal’s office. But maybe It’s time to shift our mindset and think of principals as partners who support our children’s development. We talked with Dr. Tayarisha Batchelor, principal of the Rawson STEAM school in Hartford, Conn., about how families and parent leaders can collaborate with their principal. She shares how she has supported families in her communities during the pandemic and how she helps her staff engage in meaningful family engagement practices.Resources:   The New Teacher Project (TNTP) has released two new resources, the COVID-19 School Response Toolkit, geared towards families, and the 5 Essentials for Engaging Families in Reopening Efforts for school leaders.   Watch our webinar Family Engagement in a Virtual World to learn more about connecting with families during distance learning Check out NAFSCE’s Family Engagement during COVID-19 Survey Results Follow Dr. Tayarisha Batchelor on Twitter at @TstoneTG

Do you want to talk to your kids about race and racism, but not sure where to start? We spoke to Melissa Giraud and Andrew Grant-Thomas, founders of EmbraceRace, to learn how to approach these conversations with young children. Using their professional expertise, and their own parenting experiences, Melissa and Andrew also share advice on raising advocates for racial justice. Resources: Explore the wealth of resources EmbraceRace offers. 16 ways to help children become thoughtful, informed and BRAVE about race is a great place to start! Check out National PTA’s diversity, equity and inclusion resources, including How to Talk about Race & Justice in America Read “How to Talk to Your Child about Racism” in PTA’s Our Children online magazine Follow EmbraceRace on social media at @RaceEmbrace

What can families do to address bullying and how can schools act proactively to prevent bullying altogether? We talked with Dr. Deborah Temkin, the vice president VP Youth Development & Education Research at Child Trends to get answers. She shares strategies for supporting children who are bullied and offers advice to parents who have learned that their child is doing the bullying. Resources: Visit StopBullying.gov for resources related to bullying, including cyberbullying and bullying prevention. Read “Life Lessons: How to Stand up to Bullying with Books” and “Helping Your Child Understand Cyberbullying” in PTA’s Our Children online magazine. Follow Deb Temkin on Twitter @DrDebTemkin 

You probably find yourself thinking a lot about your child’s academics, but what about their engagement in the arts? We interviewed Julian Bass, a two-time PTA Reflections winner, who has gone on to make a name for himself as a filmmaker and visual effects artist. He shares how his own parents supported his artistic journey and how families can encourage their children to follow their dreams. Resources: Get involved with Reflections today by coordinating with  your State Reflections Chair, registering your PTA to join the program or starting with some at-home arts activities! Celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month with National PTA and Americans for the Arts by sharing your artwork in the Show Your Art Challenge on social media using #ShowYourArt2020!  Read Jump-Start the Arts With the Whole Family in PTA’s Our Children online magazine Follow Julian Bass on social media at @TheJulianBass

If you’ve noticed your child is struggling with academics more than usual, but you’re not sure if it’s due to the pandemic or signs of a learning difference, we’re here to help. We spoke with Amanda Morin, writer and senior expert at Understood.org to learn strategies for supporting students with learning differences during online and hybrid learning. She offers advice on helping your kids stay organized, read social cues, manage distractions and more. Resources: Practice taking N.O.T.E (Notice, Observe, Talk, and Engage) of your child’s learning patterns with Understood.org’s Take N.O.T.E resources. Read through Amanda’s suggestions for making your child’s accommodations work in an online setting in her post “IEP Accommodations During Distance Learning” Listen to Understood.org’s podcast, In It: A Podcast on Raising Kids Who Learn and Think Differently, hosted by Amanda Follow Amanda on Twitter at @AmandaMorin and Understood.org at @UnderstoodOrg

With the presidential election less than a month away, how are you talking to your kids about civic engagement? We spoke to U.S. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, who offers wisdom from her experience in the classroom and on the Hill. She shares how families can help kids become active citizens and lifelong voters by encouraging them to contribute to their communities in meaningful ways. For more resources to teach your kids about the election, check out these tools from iCivics Read through the Congresswoman’s tips for families that she shared with National PTA as the 2016 National Teacher of the Year Follow Congresswoman Hayes on Twitter and Instagram at @RepJahanaHayes

Will school closures and distance learning be a temporary setback for kids’ learning or will it have a permanent effect on their education? We spoke with Ralph Smith, managing director of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading to get his perspective on the impact COVID-19 is having in the hardest hit communities. He offers suggestions for parent leaders looking to support the most vulnerable learners and their families during this challenging time. Resources: Learn more about COVID-19’s impact on families and children by exploring Learning Heroes’ report: “Parents 2020: COVID-19 Closures - A Redefining Moment for Students, Parents, and Schools” Keep your child on track this year with the help from these literacy & math Family Guides, created by Seek Common Ground and Student Achievement Partners Discover what COVID-19 recovery could look like in the Learning Policy Institute’s framework, “Restarting and Reinventing School: Learning in the Time of COVID and Beyond” Follow the Campaign for Grade Level Reading on Twitter at @ReadingBy3rd

Are you overwhelmed by all of the online resources available to your child but not sure where to start? During this unusual school year, we need to help our children find online resources that meet their needs. We turned to Merve Lapus of Common Sense Media who shared how families can set students up for success this school year. Listen to discover helpful learning resources and tips for establishing healthy online habits.  Resources: Visit Wide Open School for a daily schedule of educational activities curated by Common Sense Media Read Common Sense Media’s report, “Closing the K–12 Digital Divide in the Age of Distance Learning” Listen to our interview with Dr. Natalie Milman from Season 2, Online Learning during COVID-19, for more ideas Follow Merve Lapus on Twitter and Instagram at @MoLapus

How many books on your children’s shelves feature Black and Brown characters? The stories we read to our children should be mirrors to see themselves and windows to see others who are different from them. We spoke with Newbery Medal award-winning author, Kwame Alexander about the importance of representation in kids’ literature. He shared about his own writing process, how to inspire your kids to write and some of his favorite books! Resources: Explore the books published by Kwame’s own imprint, Versify. Pre-order Kwame’s next book, Becoming Muhammed Ali, via Barnes & Noble or Amazon Watch Lee & Low’s webinar, “Representation Matters: Strategies for Building an Inclusive Bookshelf” Check out National PTA’s Our Children article, “5 Great Kids’ Books that Highlight Diversity” Follow Kwame Alexander on Twitter and Instagram at @KwameAlexander

Mientras los distritos escolares planean una temporada de regreso a la escuela sin precedentes, el dinero está especialmente ajustado. Invitamos nuevamente a la Dra. Marguerite Roza, nuestra invitada de Finanzas de la Educación Básicas: El dinero habla, para que nos cuente las novedades. Ella nos cuenta qué está sucediendo actualmente en el mundo de las finanzas de la educación y cómo pueden las familias abogar por las necesidades de sus niños.

Hablamos con la Dra. Marguerite Roza, directora del Edunomics Lab, para aprender sobre el misterio de las finanzas de la educación. Ella nos brinda una guía práctica sobre cómo pueden las familias mantenerse informadas con respecto a las decisiones financieras de su distrito escolar y cómo pueden abogar por las prioridades que más les importan.

A medida que el año escolar termina virtualmente, las familias se preguntan, ¿qué viene después? Hablamos con Amalia Chamorro, Directora Asociada de Política Educativa de UnidosUS para obtener más información sobre el impacto de COVID-19 en nuestros estudiantes Latinos y su impacto potencial en el regreso a la escuela. Ella reflexiona sobre los cambios drásticos que las familias han enfrentado en estos últimos meses y cómo las escuelas y las familias continuarán teniendo que adaptarse para seguir adelante. Amalia ofrece consejos a los padres Latinos sobre cómo pueden mantenerse actualizados, involucrardos y asegurarse que sus voces sean escuchadas y consideradas mientras las escuelas construyen sus planes de reapertura para el otoño. Recursos: Descubra más recursos educativos de UNIDOS US en progressreport.co Vea los resultados de la reciente encuesta centrada en COVID-19 a la que Amalia se refirió Siga a UnidosUS en Twitter en @WeAreUnidosUS

As school districts plan for an unprecedented back-to-school season, money is particularly tight. We invited Dr. Marguerite Roza, our guest from Education Finance 101: Money Talks, back to the show to give us an update. She shares what's currently happening in the world of education finance and how families can advocate for their child's needs.

As the school year wraps up virtually, families around the world are wondering, what comes next? We spoke with Amalia Chamorro, Associate Director of Education Policy at UNIDOS US to learn more about COVID-19’s impact on our children and its potential impact on the back-to-school season. She reflects on the drastic changes families have faced these last few months and how schools and families will continue to have to adapt moving forward. Resources: Discover more education resources from UNIDOS US at progressreport.co Check out the results from the recent COVID-19-focused poll Amalia referred to Follow UNIDOS US on Twitter at @WeAreUnidosUS   Like this episode? Share your thoughts with us via social media @NationalPTA and by using #BackpackNotes. Be sure to visit NotesFromTheBackpack.com for more resources from this episode.

Whether it’s brushing their teeth or turning off the TV, all of our kids have something that sets off an emotional outburst. So how can we work with our kids to create less stress and conflict around daily routines? We talked with Dr. Ross Greene, psychologist and founder of Lives in Balance, about how to address a child’s toughest behaviors. He shares how taking a collaborative and proactive approach can improve your relationships with your children and bring peace to your homes! Resources: Learn more about Dr. Greene’s work on the Lives in the Balance website Lives in the Balance offers a variety of resources including podcasts, videos and more Follow Lives on the Balance on Twitter at @LITB_ For more advice, check out PTA’s Our Children magazine article, “Ask an Expert: How to Handle Your Kid’s Bad Habits” Like this episode? Share your thoughts with us via social media @NationalPTA and by using #BackpackNotes. Be sure to visit NotesFromTheBackpack.com for more resources from this episode.

Our kids seem to have endless questions about everyday life and sometimes the WHY questions can get a little frustrating. However, encouraging this curiosity is good for their development. We spoke with Dr. Carol O’Donnell, Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center, about how you can support your budding scientist. Dr. O’Donnell discusses how families can find science in the world around them and shares fun activities you can do at home! Resources: Explore The Learning Lab where families can access free resources from the Smithsonian’s museums, zoo, cultural and research centers & libraries. Check out the Smithsonian Science Center’s new learning module, “COVID-19! How Can I Protect Myself & Others?” geared towards students in 3rd-8th grade. Encourage the little inventor in your life with these hands on activities from our partners at the National Inventors Hall of Fame Read PTA’s Our Children magazine article, “Three Tips for Raising Curious Kids” Follow the Smithsonian Science Education Center on Twitter at @SmithsonianScie Like this episode? Share your thoughts with us via social media @NationalPTA and by using #BackpackNotes. Be sure to visit NotesFromTheBackpack.com for more resources from this episode.  

Reading is a fun activity for the whole family, but what should you do when your child struggles with words—or worse, if they declare they don’t like reading? We talked with Dr. Rebecca Silverman, professor at Stanford University, to learn how we can raise lifelong readers. She offered strategies for fostering a love of reading and guidance on what you should expect from your child at each age. Resources: Visit two of Dr. Silverman’s favorite reading websites: Colorín Colorado and Reading Rockets Families of children with special needs can explore Understood.org for helpful articles and resources Check out this special PTA portal via Reading is Fundamental for discounted books just for PTA families Learn more about Dr. Silverman’s work at LanglitLab.stanford.edu.

In this special episode our hosts sat down with National Teacher of the Year, Rodney Robinson, in front of a live audience at National PTA’s Legislative Conference. During this candid conversation, Rodney offered his insights into the teaching profession, issues of equity, school discipline and the importance of recruiting more black educators. Resources: Check out PTA’s Our Children magazine profile on Rodney Robinson and his work Learn more about Rodney Robinson on the CCSSO 2019 Teacher of the Year page Discover more ways you can support the teachers in your life on our Teacher Appreciation Week page Follow Rodney Robinson on Twitter at @RodRobinsonRVA Like this episode? Share your thoughts with us via social media @NationalPTA and by using #BackpackNotes. Be sure to visit NotesFromTheBackpack.com for more resources from this episode.