Shows
What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseThe Parent Ecosystem: A Foundation for Your Child's Mental HealthIn this episode, we're joined by educator, author, and consultant Lori Cohen to explore a topic that is foundational to a child's well-being: the power of a parent's well-being. Drawing on her extensive experience as a teacher and her work with educators, Lori uses the metaphor of an "ecosystem" to help us understand schools—and how the adults (educators and families/caregivers) are a crucial part of their child's emotional landscape. Lori will share practical, proactive strategies parents can use to create well-being, from simple mindset shifts to everyday habits. This conversation is an essential guide for any parent who want...
2026-02-1526 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseParenting Teenagers: Boundaries, Consequences and Building Trust With High School Dean, Anthony ThomasIn this episode of What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, we sit down with Anthony Thomas, a high school dean, to explore how to discipline teenagers, set healthy boundaries, and build trust during the challenging high school years. Anthony draws from his experience overseeing student discipline, attendance, and wellbeing, and explains how the role of a dean often overlaps with that of a parent: acting as a mediator, counsellor, cheerleader, and crisis responder for young people navigating adolescence. Together, we explore accountability, responsibility, and the importance of clear rules, especially for high sc...
2026-01-3030 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseWhy Handwriting Still Matters: Brain Development, Literacy, and Learning with Holly Britton from Squiggle SquadIn this episode of What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, we’re joined by handwriting instruction specialist Holly Britton to explore why handwriting still matters, especially for elementary and middle school students growing up in a digital world.With children typing more than ever at school, it’s easy to assume handwriting is becoming obsolete. But research and classroom experience tell a very different story. Holly explains how handwriting plays a critical role in brain development, literacy, motor skills, and learning, creating a powerful connection between the hands and the brain that...
2026-01-1531 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseShy Kids, Big Hearts: How to Help Introverted Children Build Confidence and Connection – with Christine Devane, Author of Elephant BeachJoin us this week as I chat with former elmentary educator and children’s author Christine Devane about her new picture book Elephant Beach and how parents of elementary and middle-school-aged kids can support both shy and extroverted children. If you’ve ever wondered how to build empathy between introverts and their more outgoing peers, how to honor neurodiversity including autism and other temperament differences, or how to translate classroom strategies into home life — this episode is for you.We’ll explore why quiet kids aren’t broken, how extroverts can become connectors, and how tools from the classroom...
2025-12-1529 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseRaising Bilingual Kids: Why Dual Language Learning Builds Smarter, More Confident Children — with Katherine Hamilton of Ensemble LearningIn this episode of What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, host Peyten Williams of Bowbend Consulting talks with Katherine Hamilton, Vice President of Programs at Ensemble Learning, about how dual language and bilingual programs unlock opportunity, equity, and brain growth for children.Katherine explains how multilingual classrooms help students become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural—and why research shows that kids in these programs often outperform their peers academically. Parents will learn:What dual language and bilingual classrooms look like day-to-dayHow to support your child even if you don’t spea...
2025-11-1531 min
Founders FutureBuilding Bridges: How Schools and Parents Can Partner to Raise Kids of CharacterIn this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we meet Peyten Williams, the founder of Bowbend Consulting. Peyten shares her inspiring journey from a dedicated 16-year career in education to launching her own venture. She discusses the pivotal moment of realization that led her to leave the classroom and her mission to bridge the gap between parents and schools. Her company focuses on inspiring and equipping both groups to collaboratively raise thriving children of character through workshops, consulting, and coaching.Peyten delves into the three core arms of Bowbend Consulting: advising schools on...
2025-10-1622 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseProximal Zones, Play and Pressure : The Goldilocks Zones for LearningIn this episode, Ted Sadtler and Peyten Williams dive into a topic educators think a lot about: the learning zone. Or, as teachers call it, the Zone of Proximal Development. As parents, when you're trying to teach your child to tie a shoe, load the dishes, shake hands with your colleague, or remember to pack their violin for school the next day, you're working with children who are in the proximal zone. But what even is this fancy term? How can it help me parent better? And by the way, is pressure a bad thing...
2025-10-1528 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseUnderstanding 7th Grade: What Every Parent Needs To KnowSeventh grade can feel like a rollercoaster for both kids and parents. In this episode of What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, Peyten Williams sits down with Shazeen Porbandarwala, a seasoned seventh-grade math teacher and grade chair at The Westminster Schools, to unpack the unique challenges and incredible growth that define this pivotal year. With warmth, wisdom, and insight drawn from years in the classroom (and her own parenting journey), Shazeen shares what really goes on in the minds and hearts of seventh graders. You'll walk away with practical advice, developmental insights, and the...
2025-09-1530 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseIt Takes A Village: Your Child Needs You To Be An Effective School PartnerJoin us as we welcome Dr. Regina Nixon to the show to discuss a crucial and often overlooked part of a child's educational journey: the parents. We've all heard the phrase "it takes a village," but what does it really mean for the relationship between parents and schools? Dr. Nixon explains how parents are a vital component of the school community, and how a shared purpose—focusing on the child, the school's mission, and its core values—is the key to a strong partnership.In this episode, we'll dive into practical strategies for becoming an effe...
2025-08-1527 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseNo Shame, Just Growth: Helping Kids Learn from Their MistakesKids will mess up. They’ll lie, cheat, forget their homework, lose their lunchbox, and sometimes do something that makes you wonder, What were you thinking? But great teachers know: these are teachable moments, not final verdicts. In this episode, veteran educator Maryellen Berry from Whitefield Academy shares how the best teachers respond when kids fall short—not with shame or lectures, but with strategies that build accountability, trust, and character. If you’ve ever wondered how to hold your child accountable without crushing their spirit, this episode is for you. Real stories, practical tools, and a...
2025-07-1537 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseSurviving Sixth Grade: What Every Parent Needs to Know (from a Teacher Who Gets It)Guest: Lauren Davis, 6th Grade Teacher & Mom of Two TeensHost: Peyten WilliamsEpisode Summary:If you’ve got a rising or current 6th grader, this episode is your survival guide.Middle school teacher and mom Lauren Davis knows sixth grade inside and out—from the locker struggles to the lost homework to the friendship drama. In this high-energy, deeply practical conversation, she shares exactly what sixth graders are really like, how their brains and social lives are changing, and what parents can do to support growing independence without taking over...
2025-06-1532 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseNeurodiversity Isn’t a Detour—It’s a Different RoadRaising a child who might be wired a little differently? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to guess your way through it.This week on What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, I sit down with Wrenn Baldwin from the Wardlaw School at Atlanta Speech School to talk all things neurodiversity, particularly dyslexia and dysgraphia, and how early pink flags might be worth paying attention to.We cover:✔️ How to spot early signs of neurodiversity in preschool & early elementary✔️ How to support big feelings and reduce family stress✔️ Why coll...
2025-05-1525 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseUnderstanding 5th Graders: A Year in TransitionIn this episode of What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, host Peyten Williams of Bowbend Consulting sits down with expert 5th-grade teachers Tom Marine and Bria Pete to explore the pivotal—and often puzzling—year of fifth grade. From shifting social dynamics and growing independence to emotional development, character building, and the ever-evolving role of technology, this conversation offers invaluable insights for parents navigating this season with their children. Discover practical ways to support self-advocacy, encourage a love of reading, and help your child learn from mist...
2025-04-1532 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseWant Your Child to Succeed? The Power of High Expectations ExplainedWant to raise confident, capable kids? Great teachers know that setting high expectations leads to greater student achievement—and the same is true for parenting! In this episode, I sit down with Emily Gromoll, Chief Learning Officer of R.E.A.L. Discussion and mom of three young boys (ages 9, 6, and 4), to explore the research behind high expectations.We’ll break down:✔️ How to set high (but realistic) expectations for your child✔️ The balance between motivation and perfectionism✔️ Practical ways to scaffold your child’s experiences for successWhether you’re navigating school cha...
2025-03-1535 min
Teaching Channel TalksBuilding Stronger Schools Through Parent Partnerships (w/ Peyton Williams)What if strong parent engagement was the key to happier teachers and more successful students?In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, Dr. Wendy Amato is joined by education consultant, coach, and speaker Peyten Williams to explore how schools can foster meaningful partnerships with parents. Peyten shares why parent education shouldn’t stop after orientation and how ongoing communication and support can make a real difference for students. From strengthening communication to facilitating supportive school communities, Peyten and Wendy discuss practical ways schools can connect with families, improve conversations, and build a stronger school community for students, te...
2025-03-1221 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseFourth Graders: Friendships, Feelings, and IndependenceFourth grade is a big year—friendships deepen, independence grows, and social dynamics become more complex. But what’s typical for a fourth grader, and how can parents best support them through this phase?
In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Frame, a veteran fourth-grade educator and fellow elementary school mom, to break down what makes fourth grade unique. We dive into:✅ The social shifts and friendship challenges that define this stage✅ The growing independence of fourth graders (and how to encourage it)✅ What’s normal behavior for this age—and when to step in as a p...
2025-02-1526 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseThe Highs and Lows of Third GradeIn this episode with third-grade teacher Pia DeLeon, we discuss the highs and lows of being a third grader. From reading to social awareness, Pia covers the gamut of what parents can expect and gives some solid recommendations!
Mentioned in this episode:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Graphic Novels
The Week
Bridge to Terabithia
*Note, I earn a small commission from Amazon purchases if you use these links.
2025-01-1533 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseControlling the Chaos: Classroom Management SecretsHow do they do it? I can barely manage my one child, how does a teacher manage a classroom of eighteen or thirty or more?
In this episode, discover secrets of classroom management that every parent can steal. Expert educator, Kristin Orsini, shares top tips on building relationships, providing structure and routine, and not fighting nature.
Get ready for the holidays, and never fear when you've got a house full of children, Kristen's strategies will have parents ready for anything!
2024-12-1530 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseSuper Second GradersIn episode 6 of What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, second grade expert teachers, Anna Kate Foley and Ann Tedesco, share what's to love about the 2nd grade year. If you've got a second grader, or you've got one coming up, this episode will feed your soul!
2024-11-1532 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseHow Kids Learn: What Teachers Know About the BrainIn this episode, we’ll talk about the neuroscience of learning, what teachers know about kids’ brains, and what this means for you as a parent and how you can use it when you teach!
This episode features special guest, Cynthia Swanson, from Westminster's Middle School in Atlanta. Cynthia is the Director of Teaching and Learning and also teaches Latin.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-swanson-2540bb20b
https://www.westminster.net/
2024-10-1530 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseFirst Grade WisdomJoin expert educators Laura Arledge and Tiaya Daniels for a deep dive into who 1st graders are, what they need, and how parents can use specific strategies to connect with their children, help them thrive, and capitalize on this fun time of childhood learning.
For resources mentioned in this podcast, check out bowbendconsulting.com
Bios:
Until her recent retirement, Laura Arledge taught Pre-First and First Grade at The Westminster Schools for 25 years. After earning a BS-ED and MED – Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia, she be...
2024-09-1538 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseMaking the GradeJoining us in episode 3, "Making the Grade" is special guest Ashley Gayanilo, the Assistant Head of Middle School for Teaching and Learning at The Lovett School in Atlanta. Ashley shares with parents some helpful frameworks for thinking about your children's grades, how grading has changed over the years, and some key questions to ask as a parent that will help your child keep the focus on learning (and take off the pressure to perform).
Ashley is an Atlanta native who likes to call herself a global citizen. She has lived overseas 3 times in her life and constantly...
2024-08-1525 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseThe Kindergarten WhispererSometimes I just wish I had an expert in each of my children's particular ages whispering in my ear tips and tricks about how to handle that stage well.
In our second episode, Kindergarten teacher Laurie McRae does just that. Find out some great ways to set your kindergartener up for success.
2024-07-1530 minWhat Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can UseClassroom Secrets: 4 Power Tools for Managing BehaviorGreat teachers spent years learning how to manage behavior before they even stepped into a classroom, while as parents, we left the hospital without so much as an instruction manual!
Today's episode dives into four power strategies that teachers learn to proactively manage behavior. Add these four tools to your parenting toolbox and wrangle your kids like a pro.
2024-06-1029 min