• Making Waves For Science
    Dec 18 2025

    Teach your child to be a careful observer and think like a scientist. With simple phrases, you can use everyday conversation to boost their critical thinking skills. You can also plan simple, free activities that help get them excited to explore the world around them.

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    13 mins
  • Counting Past 100
    Oct 28 2025

    Math gets more complicated in first grade, but it's easy to help your child at home so they will have an easier time at school. Listen to get ideas for activities to help them visualize quantities up to 120. Understand how to help them with place value using easy crafts and coins and get simple habits to do every day to help them learn to read and write 3-digit numbers.

    First Grade Journey (Game Board)

    https://publicschoolsuccess.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/1st-grade-skills-printer-friendly.jpg

    120 Acts of Kindness Chart

    https://publicschoolsuccess.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/120-acts-of-kindness.pdf

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    8 mins
  • Sound It Out: Blending and Segmenting Letter Sounds
    Oct 9 2025

    This episode, hosted by Miriam Brown, offers insider tips for parents of first-grade children learn how to read. Parents will learn how to use simple guessing games while traveling in the car to help children learn that will support their ability to hear the individual letter sounds that form words. Miriam coaches parents on simple, age-appropriate practices to use during their bedtime story routine to start applying knowledge of letter sounds to read short words. Short spurts of consistent, interactive practice will help children build phonemic awareness and unlock the world of reading.

    https://publicschoolsuccess.com/2025/10/08/__trashed/

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    10 mins
  • Making Friends At School
    Apr 16 2025

    One of most important reasons to send your child to school is so they will learn to get along with all kinds of people. In this episode, Miriam Brown talks about what can do to increase the chances that your child will be socially ready for elementary school. You will learn about how games, like high-low, and resources like "Mightier" video games, can help teach your child good conversation skills and good sportsmanship.

    Mightier Video Games: https://www.mightier.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqv2_BhC0ARIsAFb5Ac_3uZ9OAsHi6dsVBQiZkDp_5T1UlgeT8RpbhHmOp5S6EcuU-eLpjTAaAhwpEALw_wcB

    Deep Breathing: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/all-childrens-hospital/services/anesthesiology/pain-management/complimentary-pain-therapies/diaphragmatic-breathing#:~:text=Using%20your%20diaphragm%20also%20activates%20your%20vagus,body's%20stress%20response%20(or%20sympathetic%20nervous%20system).&text=Diaphragmatic%20breathing%20can%20help%20you%20deal%20with,may%20come%20from%20schoolwork%20or%20other%20situations.

    High, Low, Buffalo: https://sunshine-parenting.com/highs-lows-buffaloes/

    Helpfulness: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/09/616928895/how-to-get-your-kids-to-do-chores-without-resenting-it

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    15 mins
  • Confusing b & d
    Jan 17 2025

    Does your child get confused by the lowercase "b" and the lowercase "d"? This doesn't necessarily mean they have dyslexia. Find out when you should start to be concerned about it and how you can help them learn to distinguish between those tricky letters.

    References and Resources

    Engage and Inspire with Mrs. Sneider. (n.d.). B & D Reversal Posters, Student Desk Cards, & Student Stickers. Teachers Pay Teachers. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from B & D Reversal Posters, Student Desk Cards, & Student Stickers

    Kelly, K., & Margent, R. (2024, August 16). FAQs about reversing letters, writing letters backwards, and dyslexia. Understood.org. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://www.understood.org/en/articles/faqs-about-reversing-letters-writing-letters-backwards-and-dyslexia

    NOCO Dyslexia Center. (2022). Why the “Bed” Trick Doesn’t Work to Resolve b/d Confusion for a Dyslexic Student. NOCO Dyslexia Center. Retrieved 14 January, 2024, from https://www.nocodyslexia.com/post/why-the-bed-trick-doesn-t-work-to-resolve-b-d-confusion-for-a-dyslexic-student

    Treiman, R., Gordon, J., Boata, R., Peterson, R. L., & Pennington, B. F. (2014, March 11). Statistical Learning, Letter Reversals, and Reading. Sci Stud Read, 18(6), 389-394. National Library of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888438.2013.873937

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    12 mins
  • Family Field Trips
    Dec 21 2024

    Your child's background knowledge and vocabulary are key to helping them become proficient readers. Learn how family field trips and simple learning adventures can help them do well in school and develop critical thinking skills.

    References

    American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Disorders of Reading and Writing. ASHA.or. Retrieved 12 20, 2024, from https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/written-language-disorders/disorders-of-reading-and-writing/?srsltid=AfmBOoq7itDoISbJ6OIKUI44UGMGBt00PAB40OMCoJUWpZz31uK0Gw2U

    D’Angiulli, A., Runge, M., Faulkner, A., Zakizadeh, J., Chan, A., & Morcos, S. (2013). Vividness of visual imagery and incidental recall of verbal cues, when phenomenological availability reflects long-term memory accessibility. Frontiers in psychology, 4, 1.

    Reid Smith, Pamela Snow, Tanya Serry & Lorraine Hammond (2021) The Role of Background Knowledge in Reading Comprehension: A Critical Review, Reading Psychology, 42:3, 214-240, DOI: 10.1080/02702711.2021.1888348

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    10 mins
  • Little Bookworms: How bedtimes stories help your child become a successful reader.
    Oct 25 2024

    Join host Miriam Brown as she delves into the significant role bedtime stories play in developing children's reading and language skills.

    In this episode, discover how simple activities like reading aloud, counting words, and discussing story elements can enhance your child's reading comprehension and fluency.

    for transcripts visit my website publicschoolsuccess.com

    Citations

    Soto, C., Gutierrez de Blume, A. P., Rebolledo, V., Rodríguez, F., Palma, D., & Gutiérrez, F. (2022). Metacognitive monitoring skills of reading comprehension and writing between proficient and poor readers. Metacognition and Learning, 18(1), 113–134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11409-022-09317-8

    Stone, J., & Smollin, M. (2004). The monster at the end of this book. 1st Big Little Golden Book ed. New York, Golden Books.

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    10 mins
  • Pinching Pennies: Teaching Kids to Count to 100
    Sep 28 2024

    Miriam Brown shares how teaching her kids to handle money not only improved their financial responsibility but also helped them master the crucial kindergarten skill of counting to 100. Through real-life examples, she explains how counting money can help kids grasp the base 10 system and the concept of cardinality.

    Tune in to understand how these hands-on activities not only prepare your child for kindergarten but also foster a deeper connection between numbers and real-world applications.

    If you find this episode helpful, please share it with other parents and leave a review on your podcast player to help more families succeed in public school. Visit the website at publicschoolsuccess.com for transcripts and past episodes.

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    13 mins