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In many ways, the kindergarten experience builds the foundation for a child’s future success in school and in life. Unfortunately, as we move beyond the pandemic, and our “pandemic babies” reach kindergarten age, we’re finding that the readiness for structured schooling of some of our youngest learners has been affected by limited social engagement in their earliest years of life. 

But kindergarten readiness comprises many different skills, and by working together, educators and caregivers can close gaps in children’s readiness. I had the chance to discuss this topic in-depth on the latest episode of Pearson’s podcast, “Building Bridges: Strengthening the Educator-Caregiver Relationship.”

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), I work with children to overcome language and speech challenges, and I’ve been fortunate enough to watch many of them make important developmental advances. I know how crucial it is to work together with families and caregivers to understand those challenges and address them in a way that best benefits the child and their family. So, I was delighted to have the opportunity to share my experience on the latest episode of Pearson’s new podcast, “Building Bridges: Strengthening the Educator-Caregiver Relationship”.

We started the conversation by defining developmental expectations in language and speech. Language skills involve being able to listen to and understand others and to express oneself, while speech skills involve producing all sounds in words. There are many different manifestations of delays in both of these areas, and they can occur for various reasons, such as the child experiencing hearing loss or physical issues.

The wide variety of causes and different developmental paces that children experience makes it vital for SLPs and other diagnostic staff to conduct well-rounded assessments and work with caregivers to understand what they’re seeing and hearing at home.

We all know the rejuvenating effect of stepping into the warm sunshine and breathing deeply. There’s something about being outside that just makes us feel refreshed and inspired — and there’s no better time than spring for educators and students alike to take a welcome respite from the confines of the classroom (and the ubiquity of screens) to embrace outdoor education. 

The great news is that being outside doesn’t just feel good; it’s also good for us. That’s why spending time outside should be an integral part of a school’s or district’s comprehensive approach to holistic student health. 

Here are some tips for getting your class out of the classroom and taking advantage of nature’s nurturing power. 

The world today can be a tumultuous place for the younger generation, who are often bombarded with daunting visuals and discussions of global conflicts, the implications of climate change and political division in their own community. The result is that close to two-thirds of kids and teens say that things are going just fair (36%) or poorly (28%) for kids and teenagers in the U.S. today, according to the “State of Kids and Families in America 2024” report.

While news filtering strategies may work for younger children, adolescents are at a developmental stage where they need a more nuanced approach to help them process information and articulate their concerns. Today’s teens struggle with a range of everyday challenges that can include grades, peer or societal pressures, family issues and more. Some are naturally resilient and can work through these hurdles and anxieties; however, it’s not innate for everyone, and equipping teens with different ways to tackle these big feelings will support mental health and overall well-being. 

Recognizing that not all students have access to supportive role models at home, schools can proactively take the lead in providing these essential lessons, with the aim to work collaboratively and reinforce any wraparound work done by student caregivers and families. At one campus where I worked, it was the expectation that the first 10 minutes of every day was spent on a mini-lesson that spurred conversations and helped kids learn coping skills to help set them up for success.

I encourage all educators to consider how they can play a role in empowering students by incorporating SEL lessons and other activities to help them practice navigating uncertainty and overcoming obstacles. Below are some suggestions on how you can get started.

We are proud to announce the new Call for Research published by Pearson Clinical Assessment. Our goal is to ensure that Pearson assessments comply with the highest standards of quality and support research that investigates the validity or efficacy of our products. We are inviting United States-based faculty members, graduate students, and qualified researchers to submit their proposals no later than August 16, 2024.

Literacy is the cornerstone of academic achievement, career success and lifelong learning. Yet, despite its undeniable importance, access to quality reading education remains inequitable, plagued by systemic issues and barriers that can hinder educational opportunities. In many cases, a student’s success is determined by the school they attend or who governs their school board.

But reading is not merely a skill: It is a fundamental right every citizen deserves, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status or individual challenges. 

Ask most educators about recent changes they’ve seen in the classroom, and one that is sure to come up is an increase in disruptive behavior, the type commonly attributed to ADHD. Yet a key challenge educators currently face is how to determine whether a student has ADHD or if they are behaviorally appearing as such for reasons that may be related to other issues, such as those tied to the lingering effects of the school closures and routine disruption caused by the pandemic.

That’s where conversations with caregivers should take center stage. After all, they might just think their child is acting out and be unaware of how to help them. When educators and caregivers align around strategies and work collaboratively, they can help a student successfully navigate the ADHD-related challenges they may be facing at home and at school.

Here are some actionable strategies you can implement to help students operate more successfully in both the school and home environments.

“Teamwork makes the dream work” is a common refrain among us. In education, we see examples of teamwork in every aspect of the school community​ ​—​ ​administration, staff, and families.