Circle Time

Ah - Bu - Kuh - Du. How well do we actually know our ABCs, and how effective are we at teaching this critical first step in reading to our littles?

Today’s guest, Dr. Shayne Piasta, is an Associate Professor of Reading and Literature in Early and Middle Childhood in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the Ohio State University. She also is a faculty fellow at the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy. Her research focuses on early literacy development and how it is best supported during preschool and elementary years.

Dr. Piasta is an acclaimed scholar, and the reason I got into child development and early education. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to ask Shayne about alphabet knowledge and better understand how we can be more effective when teaching littles about letters.

Today’s guest co-host is a lifelong educator now tasked with a big mission for the future of our community. As executive director of Future Ready Columbus, Jane Leach is working with the public, private and community partners to ensure every child in Franklin County enters kindergarten ready for lifelong success. The Bright By Text service Jane mentioned truly is one of my favorite tools for families. By texting “futureready” that's f-u-t-u-r-e-r-e-a-d-y to 274448 you will receive periodic tips and resources tailored to your little’s age to help them grow into healthy, happy, and successful adults.

Riddle me this: if you want to set someone up for success in life, when is the most critical age to begin? From South Side Early Learning in Columbus, OH, gather round for Circle Time.

From South Side Early Learning in Columbus, OH, welcome to Circle Time.

In this episode of Circle Time, Colin and Yolanda explore the topic of discussing Santa Claus with young children and navigating holiday traditions with extended family. As parents and early childhood educators, they know firsthand the importance of being thoughtful and intentional about how we introduce holiday traditions to young children, and how to navigate the complexities of celebrating with loved ones from different backgrounds and perspectives.

Join us as we discuss Yolanda's family's tradition of honoring Saint Nicholas, and how to approach discussions about Santa Claus with honesty and sensitivity to wanting to tell the truth.

Whether you're a new parent, an experienced educator, or somewhere in between, this episode of Circle Time has something for everyone as we dive deep into all things little over the first five years. We hope that our discussion made the first five years just a little easier. Be sure to check the show notes for additional tips and tricks, and subscribe to Circle Time on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Circle Time is a product of SproutFive, a nonprofit that since 1922 has been working to reimagine early education. You can learn more about our work at sproutfive.org.