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PODCAST

play on words

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

education education for kids

All Episodes

21:48

What Your Child's Report Card Actually Means

play on words ·

2026/04/10

Episode 88: In this episode, Beth breaks down one of the most anxiety inducing moments for parents: getting a report card or teacher feedback that says your child is struggling with reading, but not really explaining why. She walks through what vague report card language actually means, the five questions every parent should ask their child's teacher, and simple at-home checks you can do right now to figure out exactly where your child is and how to help. What "declining" really means on a report

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21:51

Understanding Your School's Reading Curriculum

play on words ·

2026/03/20

Episode 87: In this episode, Beth answers one of the most common questions she gets from parents: What reading curriculum should I be looking for and how to I know what my school uses? She breaks down why reading is not a natural process, what phonological awareness really means, and what to look for in a strong reading curriuclum program (plus red flags that a curriculum may be doing more harm than good.) Why curriculum matters and the different types of curriculum schools can use What to do if

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22:01

Sight Words Aren't the Problem

play on words ·

2026/02/25

Episode 86: In this episode, literacy expert Miss Beth breaks down the biggest misconceptions about sight words and reveals what the science of reading actually tells us about how children learn to read.Beth explores orthographic mapping (the brain-based process behind how readers store and recognize words) and explains why phonics and phonemic awareness are non-negotiable foundations for early literacy. Whether you're a parent or teacher, you'll walk away with practical, research-backed strategies

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48:37

Is Your Own Nervous System the Secret to Happy,...

play on words ·

2026/02/13

Episode 85: In this episode, Beth is joined by Jennie Monness (@jenniemonness), early childhood educator and founder of Union Square Play, who shares insightful strategies for parents navigating big feelings, regulation, and self-compassion. We explore how understanding your own nervous systems, modeling vulnerability, and embracing imperfections can transform our approach to parenting and self-care.Key topics:• The importance of recognizing that parents and children are both "first-timers" in this

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22:59

Progress Over Perfection: When Spelling Errors Are a...

play on words ·

2026/02/05

Episode 84: A parent of a second grader recently asked a question I hear all the time:“Do I need to care that much about spelling if my child is improving—even if there are still lots of errors?”Her child recently started spelling MY correctly (it used to be MI), which is real progress—but the writing sample still includes plenty of misspellings. The child wrote it independently, without adult prompting, and that raised an honest question: Should we correct spelling every time? Or is there a moment

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36:53

Why Kids Can't Read

play on words ·

2026/01/23

Episode 83. In this episode of Play on Words, reading specialist and early childhood educator Beth Gaskill discusses overcoming perfectionism, rejection sensitivity, and learning to advocate for your child's education during America's literacy crisis.Beth explores the alarming statistics behind the U.S. reading crisis — 67% of fourth graders cannot read proficiently — and shares the success story of Mississippi's reading instruction reforms. Mississippi's evidence-based approach to teaching reading,

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36:39

Letting Kids Be Bored (Without Feeling Like a Bad...

play on words ·

2026/01/08

What do you do when your child says, “I’m bored” — and why does that moment feel so hard?In this episode of Play on Words, Beth Gaskill sits down with Lizzie Assa (@theworkspaceforchildren), early childhood educator, parenting strategist, and founder of The Workspace for Children, to talk about her upcoming book But I’m Bored! https://amzn.to/3NaKnHlTogether, they explore why boredom isn’t something parents need to fix, how independent play builds confidence and creativity, and what it actually

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42:22

Why is English so Confusing? Breaking it Down with KC...

play on words ·

2025/12/30

In this episode of the Play On Words podcast, host Beth Gaskill welcomes KC Rickerd to dive into the quirks and oddities of the English language, sparked by a viral TikTok video. They explore why certain words are spelled and pronounced the way they are, sharing humorous anecdotes and personal stories along the way. The conversation touches on topics like the origins of words, the science of reading, and the impact of language on childhood education. With a mix of laughter and insight, Beth and KC

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37:19

Why Does My Child Write Their Letters Backwards?

play on words ·

2025/12/18

Episode 80. This week, Miss Beth dives into a question she hears all the time from concerned parents: "Why does my child write their letters backwards?"In this episode, Miss Beth goes over backward letter writing in children, reversing letters and numbers, typical writing development milestones, and when to worry about letter reversals.If you've ever watched your child scribble their name with letters facing the wrong direction, you're definitely not alone! This is completely normal and part of your

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47:46

Big Feelings, Bigger Reactions: Parenting Kids with...

play on words ·

2025/12/11

Episode 79 - ADHD and motivation—let's cut through the noise. This episode breaks down why so many people get motivation wrong when it comes to ADHD, and what actually works to move the needle. Dr. Carrie gets real about the myths we need to retire (like motivation being some tank you can empty) and what actually matters: understanding what drives each person and building an environment that doesn't work against them. Miss Beth chats with Dr. Carrie Jackson about ADHD motivation in kids (and

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36:53

Elf on the Shelf Haters Club (Holiday Meeting Now in...

play on words ·

2025/12/05

EP 78: Beth and Susan host the first-ever meeting of the Elf on the Shelf Haters Club, a hilarious and heartfelt look at why this tradition stresses so many parents out. Using real listener DMs, we break down the surveillance storyline, comparison culture, mom mental load, and kid confusion — while offering alternatives, middle-ground solutions, and scripts you can actually use.Inside this 35-minute episode, we talk about: Why the elf’s surveillance storyline doesn’t align with many families’

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30:55

How to Correct Your Child's Spelling Without Crushing...

play on words ·

2025/12/02

Episode 77 In today’s episode of Play on Words from Big City Readers, Miss Beth breaks down one of the top questions parents ask: Should I correct my child's spelling? Spoiler: correcting isn’t the enemy… but how you do it absolutely matters if you want to protect your child’s confidence and build lifelong readers and writers.From invented spelling to letter reversals, from the dreaded sight word “said” to why she cannot stand the book The Rainbow Fish, Miss Beth gets real about what’s

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15:35

Season 3 Ep. 3: Is Tutoring Really The Answer? What...

play on words ·

2025/11/18

When a school or teacher suggests tutoring, it can feel confusing, triggering, or even alarming — especially if you don’t understand the school’s actual plan to support your child. In this quick episode, Miss Beth breaks down what to do in that moment and what every parent needs to know before hiring a tutor in first grade.You’ll learn: what schools are expected to do before recommending outside tutoring the key questions to ask when a teacher brings it up how to advocate for your child (even if

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20:40

Season 3 Ep. 2: CANCELLED! Sight Words, Letter Of The...

play on words ·

2025/11/06

In this episode of the Play On Words podcast from Big City Readers, host Beth Gaskill dives into the viral trend inspired by Taylor Swift's song "Cancelled," exploring the concept of a "betrayal list" in education. Beth shares her own list of educational practices she believes should be "cancelled" to foster successful readers, including behavior charts, memorizing sight words, and the "letter of the week" approach. She emphasizes the importance of connection, regulation, and adaptive teaching

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8:17

Story Time For Kids! Room On The Broom by Julia...

play on words ·

2025/10/15

Miss Beth from Big City Readers reads Room On The Broom, our Halloween favorite! Julia Donaldson is one of the best authors we love to promote. Find more Halloween stories ⁠here⁠!And Follow on ⁠Youtube⁠ for more story time for kids!Check out our ⁠on demand classes⁠ to raise readers- toddlers to third grade.

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33:44

Season 3 Ep. 1: Back-to-School Anxiety: Parenting...

play on words ·

2025/09/17

Welcome to Season 3 of Play On Words from Big City Readers! In this kickoff episode, Miss Beth dives into one of the most common challenges families face each fall: back-to-school anxiety.If mornings feel chaotic, drop-offs end in tears, or your child worries about school all weekend, this episode is for you. Drawing from her years of working with families, Beth shares practical, playful, and totally doable strategies to ease anxiety and help your child feel confident about school.What You'll Learn

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46:58

EP. 72: Kindergarten Redshirting Part 2: How Do I...

play on words ·

2025/08/04

The principal is BACK. Part 2 or 2 with principal, educator and friend of the pod: Jon Arens. We are answering all ALL your questions about learning to read and starting kindergarten.Questions YOU asked and we discuss in these two episodes:🧠 Decision-Making Factors What factors would make you consider redshirting as a good fit aside from age alone? Is it better to make the decision based on academic readiness or emotional/maturity? Does birth order influence the choice? Does research show it’s

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46:58

EP. 72: Redshirting Kindergarten Part 2: How Do I...

play on words ·

2025/08/04

The principal is BACK. Part 1 or 2 with principal, educator and friend of the pod: Jon Arens. We are answering all ALL your questions about learning to read and starting kindergarten.Questions YOU asked and we discuss in these two episodes:🧠 Decision-Making Factors What factors would make you consider redshirting as a good fit aside from age alone? Is it better to make the decision based on academic readiness or emotional/maturity? Does birth order influence the choice? Does research show it’s

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46:58

EP. 72: Redshirting Kindergarten Part 2: How Do I...

play on words ·

2025/08/04

The principal is BACK. Part 1 or 2 with principal, educator and friend of the pod: Jon Arens. We are answering all ALL your questions about learning to read and starting kindergarten.Questions YOU asked and we discuss in these two episodes:🧠 Decision-Making Factors What factors would make you consider redshirting as a good fit aside from age alone? Is it better to make the decision based on academic readiness or emotional/maturity? Does birth order influence the choice? Does research show it’s

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33:09

EP. 71: Kindergarten Redshirting Part 1: Can You...

play on words ·

2025/08/04

The principal is BACK. Part 1 or 2 with principal, educator and friend of the pod: Jon Arens. We are answering all ALL your questions about learning to read and starting kindergarten.Questions YOU asked and we discuss in these two episodes:🧠 Decision-Making Factors What factors would make you consider redshirting as a good fit aside from age alone? Is it better to make the decision based on academic readiness or emotional/maturity? Does birth order influence the choice? Does research show it’s

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