When your kid has been struggling in school and then something, hopefully, Clicks, it can feel like a miracle! Truth is- a lot goes into making the miracle happen. It's an imprecise mixture of teacher, student, attitude, context, and pedagogy. In this episode, Dr. Pressley shares a math miracle and dives into why and how her kid finally said, "I think I'm starting to like math!" Send comments, questions and ideas to: heather@therootcollaborative. Check out The School Whisperer blog here.

There are many concerns about students using Open AI and ChapGPT to cheat in school. But is that really the problem? What if it has more to do with teachers than students? In this episode, Dr. Pressley discusses the root causes of cheating in school and shares ways to engage students in thinking and creating instead of memorizing and repeating.

Kids can be impulsive and emotional which is part of growing up. Not to mention, the part of the brain that helps with long-term thinking has not yet developed. Kids also place significant importance on friendships and their developing social lives- outside the home and away from parents. Add a serving of technology to this recipe- an ever-present, instantaneous connection to friends, peers, and a larger audience and you get the potential for rash decisions with adverse consequences. So, how do we help our kids navigate this digital landscape? In this episode, Dr. Pressley shares a story of her 11-year-old and how she uses collaborative, parental guidance for peer-to-peer communication that teaches responsibility and fosters stronger bonds. For more, visit our blog here.