Ep. 210: Hugh Catts, Ph.D. - Reading Comprehension: Not a One-Size-Fits-All Skill
Send us a textReading comprehension isn’t a checklist skill. It’s an active process shaped by what students know and how they think. With the nation's attention laser focused on promoting literacy outcomes in K-12 education, too often, comprehension is treated as a skill to be mastered through activities such as finding the main idea or making inferences. Rather than viewing it as a one-size-fits-all skill, reading comprehension needs to be recognized as an active process that involves both the text and the reader and that emphasizes its complexity, context-dependency, and developmental nature. In this episode, Dr. Hugh Catts, professor at Florida State University School of Communication Science and Disorders, highly published researcher, prolific author, and leading investigator in literacy and language development, challenges the way we think about reading comprehension and shares insights from decades of research that have practical implications for educators, parents, and anyone invested in promoting student competence and confidence as readers and learners. Dr. Catts explains why comprehension actually is an active process and why strong executive function skills like attention, working memory, and self-regulation, together with robust language abilities, are critical for helping students move beyond decoding words to truly understanding texts. About Hugh Catts, Ph.D.Dr. Catts is Professor of the School of Communication Science and Disorders at Florida State University. His research interests include the early identification and prevention of reading disabilities. He is a past board member of the International Dyslexia Association and past board member and President of the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading. He has received the Samuel T. Orton Award from the International Dyslexia Association and the Honors of the Association from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for his career contributions in each of these disciplines. His current research concerns the early identification of reading and language disabilities and the nature and assessment of reading comprehension problems.Books:Language and Reading Disabilities (3rd Edition)About Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show
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Ep. 209: Mickey Smith Jr. - Students, You Matter to Me!
Send us a textChildren in general, and students to be specific, are incredibly sensitive to the expectations of the adults in their lives; particularly their teachers. A study by Rubie-Davies and colleagues showed that in two sets of 2nd through 7th grade students, in spite of the similar levels of reading achievement at the start of the year, the achievement results at the end of the year markedly differed ~ simply driven by one variable ~ the teacher's expectations. Those with teachers who overestimated the students’ ability outperformed those whose teachers didn’t have high expectations.In this episode, 2020 Grammy Music Educator Award Recipient, seven-time Teacher of the Year, Cannonball Saxophone Educator, Assistant Director of Instrumental Arts at The King’s Academy and author, Mickey Smith Jr., not only has high expectations from his students but has made it his mission to show his students that they matter. Mickey unveils his educational philosophy that modern day teaching is a relationship-based approach, and that more than ever, teaching cannot simply be about the subject matter, but also about showing students that they matter and good teachers help learners “know their sound.” About Mickey Smith Jr.Educator and Encourager. Those are two words that describe Mickey Smith Jr. The Louisiana-native is a 7-time Teacher of the Year and recipient of the prestigious GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Mickey inspires audiences across North America with his motivational mixture of music and message. Mickey is not only an international keynote speaker and presenter, but he is also a full-time teacher at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, FL. Mickey blends the roles of educator and entertainer to create a one-of-a-kind, dynamic experience that entertains, educates, and elevates everyone to excellence. No matter the challenge, Mickey encourages everyone everywhere to keep on going. Mickey lives in West Palm Beach, Florida with his wife of over 20 years and their two kids. Find out more at mickeysmithjr.comBooks:The Adventures of Little Mickey: Keep on GoingAbout Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show
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Ep. 208: Dr. Garry McGiboney - Reimagining Learning Engagement
Send us a textAs students get ready to return to school this fall, the post-pandemic norm of plummeted student engagement rises to the top as a deep and wide concern for teachers, parents, families, educational leaders, and policymakers. However, we should be careful about HOW we describe, assess, or remedy engagement. Stakeholders need to be cautious in not letting students’ behavioral engagement in the form of physical signals of attentiveness or compliance with class activities take precedence over their cognitive engagement in the form of love for learning, curiosity around challenges, and a willing exploration for personal satisfaction. In this episode, Garry McGiboney, Chief of Operations for Health Security Dynamics, Executive Director of Government Programs at Sharecare, consultant for the United States Department of Education and past Deputy State Superintendent for the Georgia Department of Education, discusses what gets students engaged and how educators and school leaders can reimagine learning environments by building relationships and modeling ways in which learners can become agents of their own success. We all play a role in improving educational outcomes in all children and we have to rise above the sentiment that ‘everything is falling apart’ or ‘nothing will have a lasting impact.’ Dr. McGiboney invites us to invest our effort in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the system, build on what works, and build on our strengths to move the needle forward.About Dr. Garry McGiboneyGarry McGiboney, Ph.D., is the Chief of Operations for Health Security Dynamics and Executive Director of Government Programs at Sharecare and a consultant for the United States Department of Education. He was Deputy State Superintendent for the Georgia Department of Education for 14 years. He serves on the Behavioral Health Reform Commission, State Juvenile Alternatives to Detention Committee, Council on Alcohol and Drugs, and Georgia Parent Support Network Board. Dr. McGiboney co-founded the Georgia Education Climate Coalition with a membership of over 80 organizations. He has several professional journal publications and several books. His book The Psychology of School Climate is referenced by the United States Department of Education and researchers. His book An Epidemiological Study of Leadership is used by graduate schools. He also authored an inspiration book, Leading Us Out of Darkness and a book of poetry, Timberline of the Mind. He has been interviewed by CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, NPR, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Le Devoir, Japan Press, and others. He has received state and national awards and was inducted into the Board of Regents Alumni Hall of Fame. The Dr. Garry McGiboney Outstanding Leadership Award is given annually by the Georgia Association of Positive Behavior Supports.Books:The Psychology of School Climate 2nd EditionAn Epidemiological Study of LeadershipTimberline of the MindThe Psychology of Leadership Principles, Practices, and PrioritiesAbout Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive FuSupport the show
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Ep. 207: Dr. Gene Kerns - Literacy, Background Knowledge, and Executive Function
Send us a textIf an American 10th grader is assigned to read the autobiography "Virat Kohli: Legend of a Great Player," about the world-famous Indian cricketer known as the best limited-overs batsman in history, they might read the pages, but would they truly grasp the meaning of Kohli’s remarkable accomplishments on the global sports platform? Americans who don’t play cricket, let alone know much about its rules, may struggle to comprehend due more to unfamiliarity with the context and meanings of terms such as "wicket," "innings," and "century" than an inability to read the words, sentences, paragraphs, or chapters. In short, knowledge matters when it comes to learning and deriving meaning through reading.In this episode, Dr. Gene Kerns, Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Renaissance Learning and co-author of the 2021 book "Literacy Reframed: How a Focus on Decoding, Vocabulary, and Background Knowledge Improves Reading Comprehension," returns to discuss the role of knowledge in building literacy competence and the urgency of making knowledge the cornerstone of learning. Once students have mastered the mechanics of reading, their literacy development depends on educators’ ability to enhance their background knowledge and expand their vocabulary. Executive function plays a crucial role in students’ ability to monitor comprehension and bridge knowledge gaps. Together, these skills enable students to become competent learners who understand how to persist and achieve their goals.About Dr. Gene KernsGene is a third-generation educator with teaching experience from elementary through the university level and K-12 administrative experience. He currently serves as Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Renaissance Learning. With more than 20 years of experience in leading staff development and speaking at national and international conferences including South by Southwest (SxSW) EDU, London’s Westminster Education Forum, the ASU/Global Silicon Valley (SGV) Summit, the 42nd Annual Mexico TESOL Conference, and the Global Education Technology Forum of China. His former clients include administrators’ associations across the country and the Ministry of Education of Singapore.Gene received his Bachelor's degree and Master's degree from Longwood College in Virginia, and also holds a Doctor of Education (Ed .D.) from the University of Delaware with an emphasis in Education Leadership. His most recent work has been focused on assessment and literacy. His first book, inFormative Assessment: When It’s Not About a Grade is published by Corwin Press in both English and Arabic. His second book, Unlocking Student Talent, was released by Teachers College Press in December of 2017. This newest book, Literacy Reframed, was released in 2021 through Solution Tree.Books:Unlocking Student Talent: The New Science of Developing ExpertiseAbout Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show
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Ep. 206: Dr. Gene Kerns - Unlocking Student Talent
Send us a textIndian-American author and wellness expert, Deepak Chopra, says, “Find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible.” The big challenge for educators and parents alike is how do developing brains become all that they have the possibility of becoming? Is this simply a mindset or is reaching one’s own full potential a story of building skills with practice? What are sure-fire ways for each and every child to tap into their own human potential and stretch themself to the limit to reach the pinnacle of their performance?In this episode, Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Renaissance Learning and co-author of the 2017 book, “Unlocking Student Talent: The New Science of Developing Expertise”, Dr. Gene Kerns, discusses guidelines to help teachers spot and encourage "all" students to attain their personal best despite all the odds and how best to promote greater motivation for learning and success in our young scholars. Since Executive Function skills are essential in enabling children to persist to achieve goals; students need skill building to learn to persist and these same set of skills go into unlocking their true potential. About Dr. Gene KernsGene is a third-generation educator with teaching experience from elementary through the university level and K-12 administrative experience. He currently serves as Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Renaissance Learning. With more than 20 years of experience in leading staff development and speaking at national and international conferences including South by Southwest (SxSW) EDU, London’s Westminster Education Forum, the ASU/Global Silicon Valley (SGV) Summit, the 42nd Annual Mexico TESOL Conference, and the Global Education Technology Forum of China. His former clients include administrators’ associations across the country and the Ministry of Education of Singapore.Gene received his Bachelor's degree and Master's degree from Longwood College in Virginia, and also holds a Doctor of Education (Ed .D.) from the University of Delaware with an emphasis in Education Leadership. His most recent work has been focused on assessment and literacy. His first book, inFormative Assessment: When It’s Not About a Grade is published by Corwin Press in both English and Arabic. His second book, Unlocking Student Talent, was released by Teachers College Press in December of 2017. This newest book, Literacy Reframed, was released in 2021 through Solution Tree. Books:Unlocking Student Talent: The New Science of Developing ExpertiseAbout Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show
Om Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive Function
Welcome to the podcast, Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive Function hosted by Sucheta Kamath. Executive Function is a core set of cognitive skills that allow humans to focus attention, block out distractions, plan ahead, stay engaged, temper emotions, and think flexibly while creatively solving problems to fulfill personal and social goals. The prefrontal cortex region of the brain, which governs Executive Function, is often compared to an air traffic control system at a busy airport. Much like an air traffic controller guides planes on different flight paths in the direction that each needs to go, the prefrontal cortex intercepts thoughts and impulses in order to direct them towards situationally appropriate and productive outcomes that serve the need of the future self. Significant research in the field suggests that developing strong Executive Function is critical for school-aged children and remains one of the most reliable predictors of overall success, shown to have profound life-long implications beyond the formal years of learning. On this podcast, host Sucheta Kamath will converse with neuroscientists, social psychologists, learning experts, and thought leaders who will illustrate how Executive Function is inextricably linked with mental health, physical health, school readiness, job success, marital relationships, and much more. On the path of self-development, we all experience a constant struggle between trying to optimize our talent and effort while still facing difficulty in mobilizing the inner tools and strategies that can lead us in the right direction. Tune in to Full PreFrontal to figure out how best to manage your thoughts, habits, and attitudes to enhance your self-awareness and future thinking and to achieve your best self.Sucheta Kamath is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed a personalized digital learning curriculum/tool (ExQ®) that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence. Outside of her business, Sucheta previously served as President of the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association, where she started a free Social-Communication and Executive Function Training program for inner-city men afflicted with addiction and homelessness—a program she continues to oversee as a coach and a trainer today. She is also a long-time meditator and is currently working on her Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification. A firm believer in the “Pause, Reflect, and then Respond” philosophy, Sucheta hopes to spread the word on how every person can reach higher levels of self-awareness and achieve lasting growth of their Executive Function.
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