On today’s episode of Play on Words from Big City Readers with Beth Gaskill I am diving into a recent consultation I had with a family about choosing a preschool. I asked a simple question: Why are you leaving your current school? The answer they gave me shocked me—and it’s one I know you’ll want to hear.

But this episode isn’t just about what can go wrong; it’s also about what parents love about schools that truly support their kids. I’m sharing insights from families on what makes a school feel like the right fit, along with my own BIG feelings about what kids really need to thrive.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

 * The one question I think every parent should ask when touring a school.
 * What parents say they love about schools that prioritize safety, connection, and growth.
 * Why aligned behavior policies across an entire school are critical for kids’ safety and ability to learn.
 * What happens to a child’s ability to learn when they’re in a disregulated state—and how schools can do better.
 * My own experiences as a deeply feeling kid in a Catholic school, and what those memories taught me about creating safe, supportive environments for children.
 * A little side note on leprechaun traps and why open-ended play should always take the lead in early childhood classrooms.

Whether you’re a parent wondering if your child is in the right school or just curious about what makes a truly supportive learning environment, this episode will give you practical insights and lots to think about.

💡 Bonus: If you’re considering my First Grade On-Demand Course, stay tuned for a special offer at the beginning of the episode! Enroll HERE [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/first-grade-bootcamp]

If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share it with a friend! And as always, you can find me on Instagram @BigCityReaders to keep the conversation going.

Choosing a School: What Most Parents Forget to Ask

In this episode of Play On Words from Big City Readers, Miss Beth dives into the Business Insider article titled, "For Gen Alpha, Learning to Read is Becoming a Privilege" and breaks down her frustration with its portrayal of the Science of Reading as “new” and “trendy.”

Miss Beth passionately addresses how the article overlooks decades of reading research, dismissing the rigorous, evidence-based approaches that are finally gaining ground in schools. She reflects on why labeling the Science of Reading as “trendy” is harmful, especially when it’s the key to unlocking reading success for every child, not just the privileged few.

Join Miss Beth as she explores:

 * Why the Science of Reading is not a passing trend, but the result of decades of research on how the brain learns to read
 * The impact of educational inequality and how access to effective reading instruction is tied to privilege
 * Her personal take on the conversation around Gen Alpha’s reading development and the gap between the haves and have-nots
 * What parents and educators can do to advocate for their children and push for evidence-based reading practices in every classroom

Get ready for a passionate discussion, because Miss Beth isn’t holding back when it comes to fighting for every child’s right to learn to read.

Find your class and get started on your child's reading journey today: ⁠bigcityreaders.com⁠ [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/on-demand]

The Myth of 'New and Trendy': Breaking Down the Business Insider Article on Gen Alpha and the Science of Reading

In this solo episode of the play on words from Big City Readers we’re diving into some hot topics that spark debates in classrooms, on playgrounds, and at the family dinner table. From controversial children’s books like The Giving Tree and I’ll Love You Forever to the polarizing tradition of the Elf on the Shelf, we’ll explore why these stories and traditions can feel tricky for parents and educators. We’ll also share practical tips for teaching kids about boundaries—both in their relationships and in the stories we share with them. Whether you’re a fan, a skeptic, or just looking for alternatives, there’s something for everyone in this discussion.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

 1. The Controversy Around Classic Books:Why some parents and educators hesitate to read The Giving Tree and I’ll Love You Forever.
    Themes of self-sacrifice, overbearing love, and their modern-day interpretations.
    How to approach these books thoughtfully or find alternative stories.
    
 2. Elf on the Shelf: Fun or Frustration? The pressure parents feel to participate in this growing tradition.
    Why the Elf is so polarizing—modeling mischief, behavior tracking, and adding to holiday stress.
    Should the Elf be in classrooms?
    Tips for balancing holiday magic without burnout.
    
 3. How to Teach Good Boundaries:Why boundaries matter for kids—and how to model them in everyday life.
    Using books and traditions to open conversations about consent, respect, and reciprocity.
    Alternatives to “behavior management” tools like the Elf and what they teach kids.
    

Why You’ll Love This Episode:
Whether you’re deciding how to handle a beloved (or dreaded) tradition or reflecting on the stories shaping your child’s world, this episode offers a compassionate, judgment-free look at how to navigate it all. You’ll leave with practical ideas for making choices that work for your family while helping your kids build strong, healthy boundaries.

Join the Conversation:
We want to hear from you! What’s your take on The Giving Tree, I’ll Love You Forever, or Elf on the Shelf? Share your thoughts and creative alternatives with us on Instagram @BigCityReaders [https://www.instagram.com/bigcityreaders] or send us a message!

Get my favorite books here: amazon.com/shop/bigcityreaders [https://www.amazon.com/shop/bigcityreaders?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_XECWR0R8WMFDM65EKSPR]

Rate & Subscribe:
If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us create content that inspires and supports you!

What Do The Elf On The Shelf, The Rainbow Fish, and The Giving Tree Have In Common?

In this jam-packed episode, Beth is joined by Brooke Boruff, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Infant Insights, to tackle all your biggest questions about baby and toddler development. From bonding and soothing to choosing the right preschool, Brooke’s expert advice will leave you feeling informed, confident, and ready to embrace this stage of parenting.

Here’s what we cover:
🎁 Do babies really need toys to thrive? (Hint: Less is more!)
🍼 Is it normal for a baby to roll at 3 weeks? What’s typical, and when should you seek support?
💡 What is an OT, and how can they help with everything from motor skills and sensory needs to bonding and beyond?
💬 Attachment: Can you be too attached? How much should I play with my baby?
😴 Sleep and soothing strategies: How to bond while helping your baby self-soothe.
🍼 Lactation, feeding, and how they connect to development.
📚 Flat heads, tummy time, and how to promote healthy growth while easing common concerns.
🏫 Choosing the right preschool: structured vs. unstructured, play-based learning, and what to look for when making your decision.
📖 Children’s books that are both adorable and thought-provoking—yes, even about death and the big questions in life.

This episode is packed with expert advice and practical tips to support your parenting journey, all while reminding you that you’re doing an amazing job.

Links mentioned in this episode:
👉 Connect with Brooke: Infant Insights on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/]
👉 My Baby and Toddler Courses: bigcityreaders.com [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/]
👉 Send me your questions or thoughts on Instagram: @bigcityreaders [https://www.instagram.com/bigcityreaders]

Don’t forget to subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review—it helps more families find the show! ❤️

Do Babies Need Toys? How Much Should I Play With My Baby? OT Answers on Attachment, Sleep, and Play Routines with Brooke Boruff @InfantInsights

In this episode of Play On Words, from Big City Readers, Miss Beth chats with pediatric occupational therapist Courtney English about the real reasons behind your child's behavior—from sensory needs to nervous system regulation—and what you can do to support them (and yourself!). They break down common parenting challenges like meltdowns at dinner, unexpected outburst biting and hitting and why your kid might be rolling on the rug or have trouble sitting still in school, while giving practical tips for emotional regulation and learning.

Key topics include:

 * What is Sensory Processing? Understanding how your child's brain processes sensory input and how it impacts their behavior.
 * When Your Kid Pushes Out of Nowhere: Why it happens and how to respond calmly.
 * Minute 16: Should you tell kids to sit still in school? How to recognize when it's a sensory need versus a behavior issue.
 * Regulating a Whole Classroom: What to do when your classroom is calm and how this helps everyone learn better.
 * Is Deeply Feeling or Highly Sensitive Real? Exploring what it means for a child to be highly sensitive and how to support their emotional needs.
 * Helping Your Nervous System Calm Down: How to teach yourself and your child to recognize non-threatening situations and reduce stress responses.
 * Why Your Kid Throws Fits at Dinner: What after-school restraint collapse is and how it explains end-of-day meltdowns.
 * Proactive Regulation: How to prevent meltdowns before they happen by supporting your child's sensory and emotional needs.
 * Heavy Work: Why physical activities like pushing, pulling, or carrying heavy things can help kids (and adults!) regulate their emotions.
 * Lizard Brain: Understanding your child’s 'survival mode' reactions and how to help them feel safe and calm.
 * What Your Brain Likes: Learning how your child’s brain prefers to process information and how to use that knowledge for better behavior and learning.
 * Minute 38: "Fire together, wire together"—how learning to write letters affects brain development and behavior.
 * Does Letter Writing Matter?  Why teaching your child to form letters properly is key to their regulation and emotional control.
 * Foundational Skills Matter: (Minute 47) Why early motor skills are the foundation for better learning, behavior, and emotional regulation.
 * Boomer Mom Text: (Minute 50) A fun moment where Miss Beth reads a classic 'boomer mom' text, sparking a conversation about generational differences in parenting.
 * How to Stop People-Pleasing as an Adult: Courtney and Miss Beth discuss the roots of people-pleasing behavior in children, how it affects us as adults, and strategies to break the cycle for good.
 * ⁠Heavy Work Freebie⁠ [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zvFeH8hKJXfU9xlYAGamF_lSrcxTRjyZ/view]

Join Beth Gaskill and Courtney English for an honest, practical conversation packed with science-backed insights that will help you better understand your child’s behavior, meet their emotional needs, and stop the cycle of people-pleasing—for both you and your kids!

Understanding Your Child’s Behavior: Brain-Based Parenting and Teaching Regulation Strategies with @CourtneyEnglish.OT

Originally from instagram Live, join Miss Beth from Big City Readers as she reads You Matter, When You Are Brave, Pass It On, If You Plant A Seed, The Rabbit Listened and shares life lessons about looking for hope and having courage. 

View it on instagram: Instagram.com/bigcityreaders

Purchase these books: amazon.com/shop/bigcityreaders [https://www.amazon.com/shop/bigcityreaders/list/2ZBCR68O69YVS?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d]

Story Time For Kids: How To Be Brave

In this episode, Miss Beth sits down with her best friend and popular influencer, Just Me Rod, for a hilarious and nostalgic trip down memory lane. Together, they reminisce about the joys of Book-It and those coveted Pizza Hut personal pan pizzas, the strange traditions of 90s elementary school life, and the quirky things we all did as kids (remember Trapper Keepers and scratch-and-sniff stickers?). They also dive into a more serious question: did anxiety start with round robin and popcorn reading? Tune in as they discuss the trauma of being called on to read aloud, their favorite childhood books, and even those weirdly mesmerizing book covers from school. This lighthearted chat will have you laughing, cringing, and nodding along to the shared experiences of growing up in the 90s.

big city readers



Nostalgia & Popcorn Reading Panic: 90s School Days with @justme.rod 

Hear from Chicago School Board candidate Ellen Rosenfeld about what school board elections mean. Now, I’ll be the first to say that I’m not an expert on the financial management of public schools or all the ins and outs of policy-making, but what I do know is that the decisions made at the school board level have a huge impact on the education our children receive—especially in a city like Chicago.

I didn’t invite today’s guest, Ellen, because she has all the answers—no single candidate does—but because I want you to think critically about what it means to elect a school board that truly reflects the needs of our students, families, and teachers. My goal is to help you navigate who the right people are to create thoughtful, well-rounded policies that will move our schools forward.

At Big City Readers, we’re all about building strong foundations for kids’ literacy and learning, and part of that is making sure our education system is set up for success. So, let’s dig in, ask some questions, and think about what kind of leadership will best serve our kids and our community!

⁠https://www.chicagomag.com/news/this-is-exactly-who-johnson-is-mayor-ctu/⁠ [https://www.chicagomag.com/news/this-is-exactly-who-johnson-is-mayor-ctu/]

⁠https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-teachers-union-demands-parents-be-kept-in-dark-on-curriculum/⁠ [https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-teachers-union-demands-parents-be-kept-in-dark-on-curriculum/]

⁠https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/10/11/editorial-chicago-school-board-elections-endorsements/⁠ [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/10/11/editorial-chicago-school-board-elections-endorsements/]

⁠https://jenguzman.substack.com/p/so-what-makes-a-good-school-board⁠ [https://jenguzman.substack.com/p/so-what-makes-a-good-school-board]

⁠https://www.wbez.org/elections/2024/10/22/november-general-election-chicago-public-schools-first-elected-school-board⁠ [https://www.wbez.org/elections/2024/10/22/november-general-election-chicago-public-schools-first-elected-school-board]

⁠https://chicago.suntimes.com/editorials/2024/10/21/chicago-school-board-election-education-budget-deficit-teachers-contract-editorial [https://chicago.suntimes.com/editorials/2024/10/21/chicago-school-board-election-education-budget-deficit-teachers-contract-editorial]

Building Better Schools: A Conversation with a Chicago School Board Candidate

In this part two episode with Principal Jon Arens, we continue exploring crucial topics that every parent and educator should know. We dive into lockdown drills, school transfers, and more, including:

 * Lockdown drills and the tough realities of school safety.
 * Transferring schools: What qualifies as a good reason to consider moving your child.
 * School tours: Why security questions matter more than curriculum questions.
 * The messenger matters: How the delivery of a message can be more impactful than the content itself.
 * Bringing up concerns: Effective strategies for approaching teachers and administrators, ensuring that safety promotes risk-taking and learning.
 * Who’s in charge of curriculum? The importance of having a designated expert managing curriculum decisions and how long to wait before assessing its effectiveness.
 * Simple questions, big insights: How to ask the right questions to know if something isn’t working at school, and why involving multiple people on an email helps get answers.
 * What do you do to support your teachers?
 * Why are principals never at school?
 * Does seating 'good' kids with 'bad' kids improve behavior?
 * What’s being done to update outdated curriculum?

We also answer important questions like:Jon also gives parents actionable advice, from where to ask difficult questions to understanding the critical role of kindergarten teachers in shaping our society. Plus, why school board meetings are a must-watch for informed parents!

Check out ⁠bigcityreaders.com⁠ [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/] for more resources on these topics. ⁠Books: ⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/shop/bigcityreaders/list/3UGTRRVHOHMSU?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d]

Lockdown Drills, School Boards and Transfers, and Asking the Right Questions: Part 2 of my Interview with the Principal

In this solo episode, Miss Beth from Big City Readers answers parent question "what do I say when my child asks if this right and when do I start correcting their spelling?"

We explore how to support children, especially perfectionists, when they ask, "Is this right?" while using inventive spelling in their writing. We’ll dive into how to encourage confidence, focus on the learning process, and promote a growth mindset instead of emphasizing perfection.

 1. What is Inventive Spelling? A natural part of early writing development where children use the sounds they know to spell words and why it’s important to let kids experiment with language without worrying about correctness at first.
    
 2. Challenges for Perfectionist KidsPerfectionists may fear making mistakes or need constant validation and how focusing too much on being "right" can prevent them from growing as writers and thinkers.
    
 3. How to Respond When They Ask, "Is This Right?"
    Tips for positive responses that encourage learning over perfection:Praise their effort and creativity and how asking guiding questions to help them think through their spelling will help.
    Reframing mistakes as part of the learning process.
    
    
 4. Encouraging a Growth Mindset in Writing How to use growth mindset language: “You’re getting better every time you try!” or "You haven't learned that YET."
    Reinforce that mistakes are part of learning and that every attempt is progress.
    

Takeaways for Parents and Educators:

 * Focus on effort, process, and creativity, rather than perfection.
 * Create a supportive environment that builds confidence in writing.
 * Celebrate small wins and encourage kids to keep trying without fear of making mistakes.


If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Share your own experiences with perfectionist kids or ask questions for future episodes. Stay tuned for more tips on nurturing confident readers and writers!

Courses mentioned in this episode:

Writing and Drawing [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/on-demand-ready-to-write] (heavy mindset focus) for preschool and kindergarten 

Kindergarten Ready  [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/on-demand-for-kindergarteners]

First Grade Bootcamp [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/on-demand-for-first-graders]

Spelling Rules [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/on-demand-for-second-third-graders]for second and third grade

Phonological Awareness Checklist [https://bigcityreaders.myflodesk.com/q5ss9r45hs]

When Do I Start Correcting My Child's Spelling?

Learning to read starts with learning to play. This is the podcast for parents and teachers of kids ages 0-8 who want to have FUN learning evidence backed early development and literacy strategies in a short amount of time. This is the podcast for the teacher who needs a bestie to ask questions to and the parent who wants to know the best developmental practices to implement in the 3 minutes a day they have. You're not alone. Ask your questions here. If I can't answer them, one of my friends will be on to help! There are so many confusing parts about the learning to read journey. Miss Beth is here to simplify it, affirm you are the best person to teach your child, and give you the confidence you need in the early childhood education years. This podcast is for fun, community and confidence making tough topics more bite sized for every parent teacher and child. 

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Miss Beth is known across the globe as a reading rockstar, disrupter of the education system and "like Taylor Swift and Mr Rogers."

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