The Paedeia Education Podcast

Given the topic, this podcast is being posted for both The Mental Breakdown and the Paedeia Education Podcast. We have taken a bit of a break with the Paedeia podcast, but we hope that it will be up and running again very soon. The new school starts within the next few weeks for most students. And having a clean transition back to school from their summer break is an important aspect to starting off the year on a positive note. In this podcast, Dr. Berney has a very special guest, Ms. Cassie. Ms. Cassie worked as an elementary school teacher for nine years and offers some important insight for parents and students as they prepare to return to school. The Parenting Your ADHD Child course is now loaded. Check it out at Paedeiallc.com! The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle! Get your copy today! The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube Channels, Paedeia and The Mental Breakdown. Please leave us a review on iTunes so that others might find our podcast and join in on the conversation! NEW!! The Mental Breakdown Podcast is now on Google Play Music!

As we approach the new school year, parents are encouraged to start the transition early to ensure a healthy and stress-free shift from summer vacation to the school schedule.  In this podcast, Dr. Berney talks about things that you can do now to start transitioning your child for the start of school. The Parenting Your ADHD Child course is now available at Paedeiallc.com. Check it out!! The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle! Get your copy today! The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation! NEW! We are now on Google Play Music!

This podcast is the audio from a forum sponsored by the Citizens for Better Educational Leadership (CBEL) and comprised of the candidates for the 2016 Polk County School Board election. Dr. Berney served as the moderator and nine of the 11 candidates for school board were present. While the candidate forum is specific to Polk County, many of the issues discussed are relevant to those living in other districts and states. As a result of the acoustics in the room,  the audio is not great. Nonetheless, we wanted to share it because the forum was a great way to learn more about the candidates and their positions on various issues. We want to thank Dr. Wendy Bradshaw and the Citizens for Better Educational Leadership (follow them on Facebook) for inviting Dr. Berney to serve as the moderator. CBEL is doing a wonderful job keeping the voters informed of educational issues affecting our local schools, teachers, and students. The candidates for the 2016 PCSB election include (all were present, unless otherwise noted): For the District 1 Seat: Mr. William "Billy" Townsend http://billytownsend.com Mr. Franklin "Ed" Shoemaker (not present in the forum) http://EdShoemaker.org Mr. Hunt Berryman (Incumbent - not present in the forum) https://www.facebook.com/HuntBerrymanForEducation/ For the District 2 Seat: Dr. Tim James http://www.drtimjamesdistrict2.com Mr. Kevin Kitto http://www.campaignkitto.com Ms. Lori Cunningham (Incumbent) No website listed on the Polk Supervisor of Elections site. Rev. Ronnie Clark http://clark4schoolboard.com For the District 4 Seat: Ms. Rebecca "Becky" Troutman http://beckytroutmanforschoolboard.com Ms. Sara Reynolds https://www.facebook.com/sarabethforschoolboard Mr. Edwin Smith No website listed on the Polk Supervisor of Elections site. Ms. Rebekah Ricks https://www.facebook.com/rr4pcsb/ The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle! Get your copy today! The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation! NEW! We are now on Google Play Music!

This brief update is posted to let our faithful listeners know that we we have not been able to record a new podcast in a few weeks. Dr. Richard is expected to return to the office next week, at which time we are eager to return to our regular podcast production schedule. In the meantime, while Dr. Richard has been out, Dr. Berney has been working to remodel our studio to improve sound quality and to allow us to begin recording video! That's right, we will soon be recording videos, which will be posted on our YouTube channel (click here to subscribe). Videos will include new podcasts as well as informational videos covering various mental health issues, psychological principles, parenting techniques, personal growth, and educational considerations. We are also in the process of uploading all of our past episodes (of both The Paedeia Education Podcast and The Mental Breakdown podcast) to YouTube as well (though there will be no actual footage of Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard, just a still shot of our logo). So we encourage you to subscribe so that you can stay up-to-date with all of those happenings and resources!   The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle! Get your copy today! The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation! NEW! We are now on Google Play Music!

The summer is a great time to create new habits for you and your children. One habit that most of us need to address is our tendency to consume too much sugar. Sugar is a silent factor that contributes to poor overall health, not to mention our mental health and our ability to learn. In this episode, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney talk about what sugar does to our bodies, why we confuse it as a "cause" of ADHD, and why sugar may be one of the reasons why some children have difficulty learning. Here is a link to the UCLA article mentioned in the podcast. Here is a link to the USC article mentioned in the podcast. Here is a link to a TedEd video about sugar's effect on the brain. The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today! The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation! NEW! We are now on Google Play Music!

The sad, but realistic truth is that we get into fights and arguments with our kids. We shouldn't, but we do. Whether we are arguing over what they should wear, choices they have made, or what they choose to do with their time, arguments happen. And the way we as parents handle those arguments influence the relationship we have with our children and their success/motivation to meet our expectations. In this episode, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney talk about the best ways to manage arguments with our kids. While there are many things to do over the summer (see Episode 22: What Did You Do This Summer), one great goal should be to learn how to better handle conflict between you and your child. How to Fight Right. Because if you can improve your ability to handle conflict in the summer, it will make struggles during the school year much easier to manage. The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today! The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation! NEW! We are now on Google Play Music!

When kids return to school in August, one of the first things that they will be asked is, "What did you do this summer?" In this podcast, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney discuss three new habits that parents should teach their children over the summer that will improve their academic performance next school year. And they are not what you think. While all kids should be reading and practicing their math over the summer, they should also build healthy habits with their sleep, diets, and exercise. Research consistently shows that these healthy lifestyle choices significantly improve learning, memory, and behavior. The Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Health Child Part 1: Behavior Management is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today! The Elimination Diet Manual is now available on kindle and nook! Get your copy today! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation! NEW! We are now on Google Play Music!

Whether we like it or not, policies are important. We need a set of guidelines that help us understand the decisions we should make to ensure equity and to protect resources that may otherwise be depleted. However, there are times when policy seems to trump rational thought and decision-making. And unfortunately, this happens far too often in education. In this podcast, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney talk about some of the unintended consequences that occur when policy drives decisions. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation! NEW! We are now on Google Play Music!

When we ask questions about standardized, high stakes testing or voice concerns about some of the practices associated with the use and administration of these tests, we often hear a familiar line, "We are just doing what we are told to do." Whether it is the test proctor who invalidates a student's test because she is sick and vomits on the papers, or the principal who flips the entire school day upside down to accommodate the test schedule, we want to know, where does the buck stop? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation! NEW! We are now on Google Play Music!

Though we would like to think of systems as being well-oiled machines, where each part integrates and works well with every other part, that is not always the case. This is especially true in education, where there seems to be a tremendous gulf between the beliefs and expectations of administrators - many of whom are not educators - and teachers/students. In this podcast, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney talk about this big disconnect and emphasize that there are options, despite the "company line" suggesting that it is "someone else's fault." In this podcast we mention a few articles written by our local colleague and friend, Billy Townsend. You can read those articles here and here. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation! NEW! We are now on Google Play Music!

A characteristic many parents and teachers struggle to create in students is motivation. Where does motivation come from? How do we foster motivation? Why do some have it and others don't? What are we doing that could be sabotaging motivation? These questions and others are addressed by Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney in this podcast. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation! NEW! We are now on Google Play Music!

This past week, the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, signed into law a bill that will allow students in Florida to transfer to any school in the state, regardless of where the child lives in relation to the school. The only stipulations are that the parents provide transportation, the destination school has space for the student, and the student is not under suspension or expulsion from another school. While many see this as a step in the direction of more choice for parents and students, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney discuss some of the other issues that are likely to result from this new bill. Read the press release about the new bill here. We also discussed a recent article about a lawsuit filed against the Florida Board of education regarding funding. You can read that news release here. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

Over the last few weeks, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney have been very critical of the current state of school reform. In fact, as we explore the internet and read others' views on school reform, most writers seem to be firmly planted on either side of the standardized testing debate. That is, they are either in support of standardized testing, or they are heavy critics, calling for a ban. Despite the many concerns that exist, the reality is that we are still left in the position of dealing with the current state of education. Most kids must and will take these tests. And most parents will have to figure out how to help their child navigate the system. As such, in this podcast, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney discuss perspectives parents should consider as they make plans for their child's future and how they should work to foster their child's healthy development. In this podcast we discuss some information about the Florida Graduation Requirements and an article about the current state of testing in different states. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

Last week, Dr. Berney sat on an education forum focusing on the use of standardized tests. The forum was very informative, as panelists opined on both sides of the argument. In this podcast, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney discuss many of the points made at the forum and offered some of their own thoughts and reactions to the information. All the while trying to avoid turning the podcast into "Stats Talk Radio." Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

In this podcast, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney focus on the relationship between legislation and educational decision-making. This was highlighted in a recent news report covering the state's requirement for a disabled student to take the state-mandated standardized tests. That is, despite severe disabilities, many students are required to take tests that they may be physically unable to complete. What is this requirement accomplishing and what does it mean for teacher accountability? Read the Washington Post article here. Read the Huffington Post article here. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

In this podcast, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney talk about a recent blog post by one of our heroes, Dr. Diane Ravitch, addressing the issue of how our schools have become an ineffective, and somewhat cruel, sorting machine. Through a lively discussion about the ways our schools create opportunities for some and restrict opportunities for others, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney review their concerns and the consequences this has for us and our children. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

In this podcast, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney talk about an underlying assumption that seems to influence a number of political decisions. That is, many legal decisions assumes that all children are "normal." What is normal, after all?!? Nonetheless, these LAWS are made with the idea that all children can be successful with them.  In this episode, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney discuss why this really is a major problem. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

In this podcast, Dr. Richard and Dr. Berney delve into yet another unintended consequence of our current school reform movement. School choice was born from the idea of offering students the opportunity to attend high achieving, charter, and/or magnet schools. Unfortunately, the concept of school choice has evolved into a major contributing factor to our current "two-tiered education system." In this podcast, Dr. Richard mentioned this article from the Harvard Magazine. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

In this podcast, Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard discuss some of the unintended consequences of the current school reform movement and our drive to test. Fueled by this article in the Houston Chronicle,  this podcast focuses on the long term consequences of an educational system driven by the need to find the "right answer" and neglecting the concept of critical thinking and decision making. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

In this podcast, Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard delve further into the issue of current school reform. Referencing several articles regarding our education system, they discuss concerns related to charter and magnet schools, and how the presence of these "elite schools" undermine the purpose of education in America. Washington Times Article: Why forcing kids to do things ‘sooner and faster’ doesn’t get them further in school Miami Herald Article: Florida Senate proposes reforming charter schools’ capital funding AP News: Despite problems charter schools could get more state money Tampa Bay Times Article: Romano: The topsy-turvy tale of charter schools and whom they really serve The Ledger Article: With 3 Polk Schools Becoming Magnet Programs, New Options Now Available, But Some Students Displaced Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

In this week's podcast, Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard talk in detail about the issue of the two-tiered education system we are creating in the United States. Thoroughly discussing the driving force behind the reason for this divide - MONEY - Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard delve deep into the issues related to our obsession with testing, the limitations we place on educators, and the developmental inappropriateness of our curricula! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

The culmination of the school reform movement that began in the 1980s has to be Common Core. The push for Accountability, a Standards Based Curriculum, and School Choice come together in this single approach to education. Common Core has permeated most of our vernacular and affects nearly every aspect of our children's schooling despite the fact that it is a relatively well guarded secret. There are a lot of opinions about Common Core - some favorable, some less so. However, for good or bad, Common Core is here and we must figure out how to adapt to it. In this episode of Paedeia, Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard review the history of Common Core, what it is, who (as far as we can tell) created it, what it is meant to do, and what will the impact of it be on our schools. It is a great discussion that seems to leave us with more questions than answers. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

In 1961, a now famous article was written in a journal called The Lancet. In the article, the author - a London-based pediatrician - wrote about six children with coughs. The purpose of the article was to help pediatricians-in-training understand the importance of appropriate diagnostic practices; after all, at that time in our history, a cough could have meant anything from allergies to tuberculosis. In this podcast, Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard take a similar approach to a modern day concern - school refusal. As was the case with coughs in 1961, school refusal today can be caused by many different things and it is imperative that parents, teachers, and mental health professionals thoroughly explore the cause of the refusal. We are often eager to jump to blaming the student for being lazy or careless. However, it is only through understanding WHY the student is avoiding school that we will come to the most appropriate intervention. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen to us on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

In Episode 3: History of School Reform, Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard reviewed how school reform has evolved over time. In that podcast, they discussed our current school reform mission and how it has shaped education as we know it today. There have been three primary missions derived from our current school reform movement: Accountability, School Choice, and Standards Based Curriculum.  In this episode, Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard discuss each of these missions and review how, though fundamentally sound, they have failed upon implementation. Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard talk about the importance of examining why these missions have failed and provide examples of how these important aspirations could be adequately implemented with a few changes in policy and perspective. We hope that you enjoy the podcast and join in on the discussion. If you have ideas or thoughts on this topic, you can contact us through twitter or Facebook. You can also follow us on iTunes and through our YouTube channel.

As you heard in Episode 3, the current round of school reform has resulted in massive changes to our education system. Along the way, there have been several unfortunate casualties. Namely, we have all but eliminated PE, Art, and Music from schools for the sake of increasing academic engaged time. In this podcast, in addition to addressing issues related to the elimination of PE, Art, and Music, Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard discuss the importance of Recess and why this unstructured "play time" is critical to overall healthy development and academic progress. We hope that you join in on the conversation! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. If you listen on iTunes, please leave us a review to help others find us and join in on the conversation!

School reform is not a new concept. The first round of school reform began in the 1800s, when our early leaders decided that our country would benefit from having educated citizens. Over the years, as social issues evolved in our country, so did our education system. With each change, came a call for school reform. In this episode of Paedeia, Drs. Berney and Richard review the history of school reform and discuss the current reform model. They review concerns that many have with our current movement and suggest some considerations for change. So have a listen and let us know what you think! We encourage you to write a review or rate us on iTunes. This helps others find us and join in on the conversation. Stay in touch with us on Facebook and on Twitter!

If you are on Facebook, watch the news, or know someone in education, you have probably heard something about Dr. Wendy Bradshaw. On October 23, 2015, Dr. Bradshaw posted her resignation letter from the Polk County School Board on Facebook. Since then it has been viewed over 80 thousand times and has led to Dr. Bradshaw being interviewed and quoted on almost every media outlet, including one in the United Kingdom! Dr. Bradshaw joined Drs. Berney and Richard for an in-depth conversation about the current state of education in our community. Together, they shared experiences and perspectives about what is happening in education and what we are doing to our children. The discussion, which lasted nearly two hours and covered topics from RtI to developmentally appropriate education, was a great way to initiate listeners to the purpose of Paedeia - To raise awareness about our education system and to bring more people to the table in discussions about education reform! Check out these resources: Paedeia - www.facebook.com/paedeia The Opt Out Florida Network - https://www.facebook.com/TheOptOutFloridaNetwork/ The Opt Out Florida Network blog - https://theoptoutfloridanetwork.wordpress.com/ Opt Out Polk - https://www.facebook.com/groups/OptOutPolk/

This is a repost of a podcast Dr. Berney and Dr. Richard recorded for The Mental Breakdown several months ago on school reform and education. Hope you enjoy it. New recordings for Paedeia will be up soon.