The Parent’s Guide to Public School

Making Waves For Science

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.

Counting Past 100

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
 
 

Sound It Out: Blending and Segmenting Letter Sounds

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/

Making Friends At School

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 

Confusing b & d

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

Family Field Trips

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

Little Bookworms: Reading Three Letter Words

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.
 

Pinching Pennies: Teaching Kids to Count to 100

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.

My Three Wishes: If I could change Standards, Standardized Testing, and Standardized Curriculum

In this episode, host Miriam Brown, a seasoned teacher with a background in psychology and curriculum instruction, delves into the intricacies of educational standards, standardized testing, and pre-made curriculum. Miriam clarifies the often-confused terms and explains their impact on students and teachers alike.
She discusses the Common Core standards, the rationale behind standardized tests, and the challenges posed by pre-made lesson plans. Miriam also shares her thoughts on the unrealistic goals set by current educational standards and offers practical advice for parents to help their children succeed in public school.
Whether you're a parent, educator, or just interested in the education system, this episode provides valuable insights on the complexities of public schooling.

How to Raise Great Listeners

In this episode, we dive into the challenges and strategies of teaching children to listen and follow directions. Evelynn Brown shares a humorous anecdote about her mom's unique way of encouraging tidiness, setting the stage for a deeper discussion on why kids have such a hard time listening.
We explore practical tips for parents to help their kids develop the ability to follow instructions, starting with simple chores at a young age. Special guest Erin Coppin provides insights Learn how routines and single-step directions can make a big difference, especially for children with auditory processing issues or ADHD.
Simple games like Simon Says and Red Light, Green Light that can also enhance your child's listening and impulse control.
Join us as we uncover the keys to helping your child become a better listener, setting them up for success at home, school, and beyond.