Early childhood podcast series
Building bridges: Strengthening the educator-caregiver partnership
Welcome to the Building Bridges Podcast! We will be sharing best practices for K–12 educators and caregivers as you work together to guide and support children in their social, academic, and emotional development.
This podcast emphasizes positive relationship-building between families and all members of the K–12 education community. Our expert guests provide actionable advice from real-world experience, which educators can use in their day-to-day activities to bridge the gap between themselves, allied professionals, and caregivers.
In this three-part series, we will be focused on early childhood education with topics including social-emotional learning (SEL), speech and language delays, and kindergarten readiness.
Episode 1
Beyond the ABCs: How to integrate social-emotional learning into early childhood education
SEL skills build a strong foundation for success in school, both academically and socially. This episode will equip educators with ways to incorporate these skills early and include families in their efforts to support well-rounded student achievement.
We’re joined by Deb Grill, a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and Pearson assessment consultant. Together, we’ll discuss the difference between SEL and social skills development, why SEL is sometimes controversial, key developmental milestones, caregiver communication strategies, and the importance of educator wellness.
Episode 2
Say it with me: How to help children with speech and language delays
Speech and language delays can be confusing and upsetting, both for children struggling to communicate their needs, and for the parents trying to understand them. This episode will equip educators with ways to address these challenges in an empathetic and holistic way so children can get the support they need.
We’re joined by Patricia Ybarra, a certified speech-language pathologist and Pearson research director. Together, we’ll discuss speech and language milestones, educator and caregiver roles in supporting children with delays, how to talk with caregivers about delays, and complementary activities and resources for families.
Episode 3
Ready, set, go! How educators and caregivers can improve kindergarten readiness
Kindergarten is a vital time for the three Rs and a fourth: relationships. This episode will delve into how caregivers and educators can work together to make kindergarten the wonderful exploratory time for kids that it should be.
We’re joined by Selina Oliver, a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and Pearson assessment consultant. Together, we’ll discuss how educators can converse and collaborate with caregivers, the pros and cons of starting kindergarten at a later age, and the impact of early childhood education funding and national trends.
