Webisode 31: Optimizing Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-teacher conferences can be very stressful for both sides. Whether your child is an exceptional student or one of special needs, finding agreement with your child’s teacher about your child’s capabilities and needs is often difficult.

Nationally recognized and awarded principal, Robin Welch, will share some inside tips on how to take advantage of the parent-teacher conference to really learn and positively influence your child’s educational experience. Robin will discuss how parents can be helpful and not overbearing to often intimidated and overworked teachers. He’ll help you be more prepared and get more out of these meetings and the information will benefit you any time you have the opportunity to interact with your child’s teacher.

Principal Welch is a highly respected educator and administrator who has been involved with all aspects of childhood education and special needs. Among numerous other accolades, he is the recipient of the 2005 National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal Award and the 2005 Massachusetts Elementary School Principals’ Association (MESPA) Thomas C. Passios Award.





Sponsored by: StatKids- For parents trying to manage their child’s Food Allergies, Diabetes, Asthma, Celiac Disease or other health issues.

Webisode 30: Homework Help – How to best support your child

Helping your child with his/her homework is an important way to connect to and support your child. Yet, many parents don’t know the best way to do this. Some are frightened that they don’t know all the answers. Others wind up doing the homework for the child. Nationally recognized and awarded principal, Robin Welch, will discuss how parents can most help their children with their homework, and set up a practical homework station, making it fun and productive for all.

Principal Welch is a highly respected educator and administrator who has been involved with all aspects of childhood education and special needs. Among numerous other accolades, he is the recipient of the 2005 National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal Award and the 2005 Massachusetts Elementary School Principals’ Association (MESPA) Thomas C. Passios Award.

Sponsored By: Parents for Parents Magazine

Webisode 29: The Birds and Bees and why Money doesn’t grow on Trees. Teaching kids about personal finance.

Many kids believe money just comes out free from the ATM. So how do you teach them the value of money and how to properly manage it as they grow up? The topic of money is sometimes as hard to discuss as sex and religion so parents often skip it as their parents did to them. But like sex, talking appropriately to children about money and personal finance can help make them safe and more successful in a competitive and expensive world.

Jameel Webb-Davis, Founder of Start Money Smart, educates and trains adults and children about personal finance. She’ll discuss why and how to teach kids about money.




Sponsored by: Please Stop the Rollercoaster!

Webisode 22: Inside No Child Left Behind - Part 2

Our Part 1 webisode with nationally recognized elementary school principal, Robin Welch, was so popular, that we taped a second show to get even more into this truly controversial issue of No Child Left Behind.

Part 1 examines the question about what the policy is and how it is affects schools at large and actual classrooms. In this Part 2 piece, we’ll get more into the opinion about the effectiveness and issues at stake from one of American’s most respected administrators.

Sponsored By: Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten!

Webisode 21: Inside No Child Left Behind

With lofty and legitimate objectives, the Bush education initiative called, “No Child Left Behind” has become a major controversy among educators, parents and administrators. Is it working? Who is benefiting and who is being hurt?

Nationally recognized and awarded principal, Robin Welch, will help us to understand the intent and execution of the program. Robin will share his opinion on the merits and limitations of the initiative and what the future looks like with this program in a shifting political arena.

Principal Welch is a highly respected educator and administrator who has been involved with all aspects of childhood education and special needs. Among numerous other accolades, he is the recipient of the 2005 National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal Award and the 2005 Massachusetts Elementary School Principals’ Association (MESPA) Thomas C. Passios Award.

Sponsored By: Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten!

Webisode 19:" Shut Up About... Your Perfect Kid"

So, your child would rather catch real flies than be a star on the baseball field? What’s the big deal?

Gina Gallagher and Patty Konjoian, mothers of daughters with disabilities, sisters, and authors of a new book, Shut Up About…Your Perfect Kid!, join us to discuss the joys, challenges, and absurdities of raising “imperfect” children in a “perfect” world. With bumper magnets like “My Bipolar Kid Loves Me AND Hates Me,” they’re creating a Movement of “Imperfection” and inviting parents of disabled and other “imperfect” kids to come out of their messy closets and celebrate differences.

Sponsored by: Wander Wear - preventing kids from getting lost

Click below to view the show!

Webisode 10: The Super Parent Trap

The pressure to be a perfect parent is more overwhelming than ever before. Parents want to ensure their children are healthy, safe, educated and well-rounded. While children can easily be over-programmed, so can the parents - resulting in exhaustion, stress, and even feelings of resentment and depression. Nationally respected parenting expert Dr. Maureen O’Brien discusses how to avoid falling into the Parent Trap by looking for early warning signs and what to do if it's already happening. Dr. O’Brien is the founder of DestinationParenting.com, as well as the author of “Watch Me Grow I'm 1-2-3” books, and a parent magazine consultant. She is the mother of 13-year-old twins.

Sponsored by: Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten