Nashville Education Hotline

What’s the best way to keep students engaged during story time? Children’s librarian Andrew Thompson shares lots of A-MA-ZING tips and best practices that connect children to effective story and learning sessions.

Andrew recommends the following online resources: library.nashville.org, ASLPro.cc, YouTube.com, lakeshorelearning.com, and kaplanco.com.

How do you add music education into the #classroom when you have a limited budget – or limited knowledge in this area? Julie, a music teacher, shares her experience with introducing instruments and avenues of self-expression in pre-K classes.

“Our behavior is determined by the outcome … so we’re teaching children how to navigate big feelings," says Melissa Binkley, director of the TN Dept. of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services Regional Intervention Program (RIP). Elandriel chats with Melissa about helping families shape children’s social and emotional learning. #parentingthatworks

Visit tn.gov/parenting-that-works to learn more about RIP. Check out United Way's weekly early childhood webinar series: unitedwaygreaternashville.org/rts-training.

“There’s just something different to being able to say to a family I’m not going to ask you to do anything that I haven’t done myself,” says Melissa Binkley. Elandriel chats the director of the TN Dept. of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services Regional Intervention Program (RIP) about how parents are supporting parents in fostering learning and behavioral skills.

Visit tn.gov/parenting-that-works to learn more about the RIP.

TN Voices provides a range of school-based and in-home services for families, many targeting early childhood development. Rikki Harris and Katherine Bell  dive into supports that foster healthy behaviors and help decrease Tennessee’s high suspension and expulsion rates.

Why do we have high suspension and expulsion rates in Pre-K education in our state? Katherine Bell and Rikki Harris share how TN Voices works collaboratively to empower early educators to do better for students across our entire community.

Nashville Public Library's Bringing Books to Life provides a range of free literacy-based curriculum, STEAM and math trainings for teacher. Learn all about these in-person and virtual trainings from Susan Frizsell.

“I loved anytime a child would be inspired about what they wanted to be when they grew up.”

Susan Frizsell kicks off the new year chatting with Mari Peptit, program coordinator for Nashville Public Library’s Bringing Books to Life program, who shares how she found support and invaluable resources as a preschool teacher.

“We have to find new ways and new methods of teaching…as educators we have to be open to getting information to our families and kiddos.” Elandriel chats with Natalie Koger about the benefits of head start, the power of technology in early childhood engagement and fostering the social and emotional needs of educators.

"If you have data, I think the most powerful thing you can do is hand that to a kid.” In this episode, host Elandriel Lewis chats with Clay Welch, a middle school educator, about the impact of everyday community involvement upon student success.

“Education does not begin when you’re a student in a classroom. It begins at birth.” In this episode, host Elandriel Lewis chats with Viva Price, Executive Director at Youth Encouragement Services, about her early education experiences and work in the academic, physical, spiritual and social development of K-12 students. 

“With this COVID world, we don’t know how long it’s going to last. But we do know that we can do whatever we want when we’re outdoors. We can lessen some of the barriers and let kids be kids again.” Susan Frizsell from Nashville Public Library’s Bringing Books to Life program chats with two pre-school teachers about their classroom aspirations and the creative adjustments they’ve made to teach our community’s smallest learners.

"Once we continue to incorporate equitable principles for the students who need more, we increase expectations across the board for everybody.” Ashford Hughes of Metro Nashville Public Schools shares the ingredients of advocacy, equity and and transformation.

"When you advocate for your child the whole family does better.” Elandriel Lewis chats with Inez Williams about the power of books and impact of advocacy.