Why Children Need To Learn About Death
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
04/25/22
•20m
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In this S1E11 interview, Parveen Shaikh, breaks the silence around one of education's most avoided topics: discussing death with children. After COVID-19 brought loss into countless families, educators worldwide are realizing that death conversations can't remain taboo in schools.
What You'll Learn:
✅ How to use bibliotherapy (picture books) to start difficult conversations
✅ The 4 key death concepts children need to understand
✅ Building stronger home-school connections during family crises
✅ Professional development strategies for teacher support
✅ Creating inclusive classrooms that address real-life challenges
✅ Effective teaching approaches for sensitive topics
Parveen shares her expertise in school leadership and creating supportive school culture. Learn how teachers can provide student support while maintaining classroom management during emotionally challenging times. This approach emphasizes whole child development and culturally responsive teaching.
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction to Parveen Shaikh
2:15 - Why Death Became a Taboo Topic in Schools
4:30 - The Power of Bibliotherapy in Education
7:45 - Four Key Death Concepts for Children
11:20 - Teacher-Student Relationships and Trust
14:10 - Home-School Connection in India vs. US
17:30 - Mental Health Stigma and Cultural Barriers
20:45 - Training Teachers for Difficult Conversations
24:15 - Building Inclusive School Libraries
26:30 - Addressing Other Taboo Topics (Gender, LGBTQ)
28:45 - Key Takeaways for Educators and Parents
Parveen’s Published Writing:
- (2019). Yet Another Milestone. K12 Digest-Independent International K12 Education Portal & Magazine.
- (2022). Having Those Difficult Conversations. Teacher Plus Magazine.
Parveen’s Recommended Resources:
- reading ages 3 -7
- Where Do They Go? by Julia Alvarez (2016)
- reading ages 4 - 8
- The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers (2010)
- Cry, Heart, But Never Break by Glenn Ringtved (2016)
- Gone Grandmother by Chatura Rao (2016)
- Boo: When My Sister Died by Richa Jha and Gautam Bnegal (2017)
- reading ages 7 - 9
- Duck, Death and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch (2011)
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
Why “We-Do” Writing Is Key to Independence
April 18, 2022
•21m
In this S1E10 interview, Leah Mermelstein reveals the revolutionary "We-Do" Writing method that's helping teachers nationwide solve two critical problems: shaky student independence and competing literacy theories.
In this expert interview, discover:
✅ Why traditional gradual release isn't working for writing instruction
✅ The 3 essential instructional strands every writer needs
✅ How 10-minute collaborative sessions transform student engagement
✅ Practical strategies for effective teaching that connect reading and writing
✅ Teaching tips that support both new teachers and veteran educators
✅ How to build student motivation through structured collaboration
Episode Mentions:
Leah’s Published Writing:
- Mermelstein, Leah. (2005). Reading/Writing Connections in the K-2 Classroom: Find the Clarity and Then Blur the Lines. Allyn & Bacon.
- Mermelstein, Leah. (2007). Don't Forget to Share: The Crucial Last Step in the Writing Workshop. Heinemann.
- Mermelstein, Leah. (2013). Self-Directed Writers: The Third Essential Element in the Writing Workshop. Heinemann.
- Mermelstein, Leah. (2021).“We-Do” Writing: Maximizing Practice to Develop Independent Writers. Benchmark Education.
- Mermelstein, Leah. (2021). 6 Qualities of a Strong Writing Curriculum. Benchmark Education.
- Mermelstein, Leah. (2021). Aligning Reading and Writing Instruction in Kindergarten-2nd Grade. Learning Without Tears.
Perfect for teachers, education coaches, instructional leaders, and anyone passionate about student success. Leah's research-backed approach creates thriving students while making teaching more manageable.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Leah Mermelstein
00:46 Leah's Teaching Background & Expertise
03:13 Inspiration from Professor Pearson's Gradual Release Model
05:33 Flipping Traditional Teaching Approaches
07:18 What is "We-Do" Writing?
08:19 The 3 Essential Instructional Strands
10:23 Interactive Writing Sessions Explained
11:30 Connecting Phonics to Writing Practice
12:31 Write Aloud: Building Language Composition
14:11 Writing Process: Bringing It All Together
15:08 Flexible Support Levels for Different Needs
16:05 Research Foundation: Reading Science Meets Writing
17:03 Making Time: The 10-Minute Solution
18:14 Real-World Application in Schools
20:09 Creating Comprehensive Writing Curriculum
21:22 Final Thoughts & Resources
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
Meet the Student Leaders Changing School! (Part I)
May 1, 2022
•20m
In this S1E12 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, discover how four Ithaca High School students, Adam Saar, Grace Lim, Aitan Avgar, and Kadek Nawiana, transformed their entire school district through authentic student engagement and advocacy. These inspiring student representatives share exactly how they got religious holidays added to the school calendar, implemented new grading policies during COVID, and created lasting change that benefits ALL students.
What You'll Learn:
✅ How students can effectively communicate with school leadership
✅ Strategies for meaningful student participation in district decisions
✅ Building bridges between students and school administrators
✅ Creating inclusive teaching environments through student voice
✅ Practical approaches to school improvement from the ground up
Perfect for teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, instructional leaders, and anyone passionate about student success and education transformation. These empowered educators prove that when we listen to students, we create thriving students and inspired teaching.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction: Meet the Student Representatives
02:30 - How Students Get Elected to School Board
04:15 - Why These Students Chose Leadership Roles
07:45 - What Being a Student Rep Actually Entails
11:20 - Engaging Disconnected Students Through Social Media
13:30 - Hot Topics: Universal Lunch & Schedule Changes
16:10 - Major Win: Getting Religious Holidays on School Calendar
19:45 - The Personal Impact of Calendar Changes
22:00 - COVID's Impact: Grading Policy Advocacy
24:30 - Sustainability: Training the Next Generation
28:15 - Creating More Opportunities for Student Voice
30:45 - Future Plans: Where These Leaders Are Headed
33:20 - Final Thoughts & Call to Action
Please (seriously, you must...) take the time to see these incredible students in action, speaking to issues from our interview via the two ICSD Board Meeting Video Clips Below:
- ICSD Board of Education Voting Meeting - Tuesday, March 22, 2022 (via Zoom)
- ICSD Board of Education Voting Meeting - Tuesday, April 26, 2022 (via Zoom)
#StudentVoice #EducationLeadership #StudentEngagement #SchoolImprovement #EducationReform #StudentAdvocacy #SchoolBoard #TeacherSupport #EducationEquity #StudentSuccess #SchoolChange #EducationTransformation #StudentLeadership #InclusiveEducation #ParentInvolvement #SchoolCulture #EducationStrategy #StudentMotivation #EmpoweredEducators #ThrivingStudents
👉 LINKED EPISODE SHOWNOTES:
Part I: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1890886/10494750
Part II: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1890886/10495450
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When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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