Connection & Restoration: Helping Kids Learn from Mistakes with Bridget Johnson

Connection & Restoration: Helping Kids Learn from Mistakes with Bridget Johnson

What should parents do when a child makes a poor decision, gets in trouble at school, or feels like they do not belong? In this episode of What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, Peyten Williams talks with Bridget Johnson, founder and CEO of Dean’s Roundtable, about how parents and schools can help children learn from mistakes without rescuing them from consequences. Bridget shares insights from her experience as a school dean and explains why adults should lead with “connection before correction.” Together, Peyten and Bridget discuss how curiosity can transform difficult conversations, why parents should avoid immediately “coming in hot,” and how strong partnerships between families and schools support children more effectively. They also explore the pressures facing today’s students, including social media, overscheduling, lack of sleep, college admissions anxiety, sports commitments, and the constant drive to achieve. Bridget encourages families to pause and consider whether their goals reflect what their child truly wants—and whether children still have enough time and space simply to be children. You will also learn how restorative practices combine accountability with relationship repair. Consequences still matter, but children also need opportunities to understand the harm they caused, make amends, rebuild trust, and return to their community with dignity. In this episode: * How to ask questions that help children tell the full story * Why connection should come before correction * How to partner with teachers, deans, and school leaders * Signs that a child may be overscheduled or overwhelmed * How social media and achievement pressure affect belonging * What restorative discipline looks like at school and at home * How to hold children accountable with both strength and kindness * Why parents and children need more grace, reflection, and opportunities for a “do-over” Bridget Johnson is the founder of the Deans’ Roundtable, a professional development community for student life professionals. The Roundtable was created in 2012 after Bridget identified a significant void in professional support for those in student life roles. Since its inception, the Roundtable has hosted an annual conference that attracts student life professionals from across the country, providing them with opportunities to connect, learn, and share best practices. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/] INSTAGRAM: HTTPS://WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/DEANSROUNDTABLE/ [https://www.instagram.com/deansroundtable/] TIKTOK: HTTPS://WWW.TIKTOK.COM/@DEANSROUNDTABLE_ [https://www.tiktok.com/@deansroundtable_] YOUTUBE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/@DEANSROUNDTABLE [https://www.youtube.com/@DeansRoundtable] WEBSITE: HTTPS://DEANSROUNDTABLE.ORG/ [https://deansroundtable.org/]

How to Help Kids Learn Grammar Without Shame with Patty McGee

In this episode of What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, Peyten Williams talks with Patty McGee, traveling teacher and author of Not Your Granny’s Grammar [https://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Grannys-Grammar-Instruction/dp/1071941674?crid=3SL9XIVJG9QCT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Z7Jc7GA4pjhOH2lp24T95gz-PHxDx4YztSI50z5ZjDdKHAbZsfWzZDAJRptpCsa-Jbv_TSmIBtzJZOdrVvLMcv-g9t3bflLJL-qyojYZG7KzBbld7tbUNAv19wFYb-9u5007Wlr_iVazSpIKnGuCYHmWFKs8z1GtJZ2w9Pybg3YF915xjqJ-Zm9fb3Kx-g6G.xbASRplNHAR1FXYE1HHU79i5QvjEPiDMv2hIGIt5ZxE&dib_tag=se&keywords=not+your+granny%27s+grammar&qid=1781477383&sprefix=not+your+granny%27s+gramm%2Caps%2C286&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll2&tag=bowbend20-20&linkId=62c6a529972e1233465b734be03eec1d&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl], about how parents and teachers can rethink the way children learn grammar. For many adults, grammar brings up memories of worksheets, red pens, and feeling corrected or left behind. Patty offers a different vision: grammar as a creative tool writers use to build meaning, shape sentences, and communicate clearly. Peyten and Patty discuss why shame-based grammar instruction often does not work, how children develop as writers, and why grammar play can be more effective than grammar drills. Patty shares simple, low-pressure ways parents can support writing at home through sentence games, word cards, magnetic poetry, Mad Libs, and everyday conversation. They also explore early writing development, including invented spelling and “scribble writing,” and how parents can respond in ways that build confidence instead of discouragement. One of Patty’s most helpful strategies is to notice a strength, then offer the next step: “Because you can do this, you are ready to try this next.” That small shift helps children see writing as a path toward growth, not constant correction. This episode is especially helpful for parents, teachers, homeschool families, and anyone who wants children to become confident writers without fear, shame, or the grammar police. Patty McGee is a nationally recognized literacy consultant, speaker, educator, and author of Not Your Granny’s Grammar. [https://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Grannys-Grammar-Instruction/dp/1071941674?crid=3SL9XIVJG9QCT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Z7Jc7GA4pjhOH2lp24T95gz-PHxDx4YztSI50z5ZjDdKHAbZsfWzZDAJRptpCsa-Jbv_TSmIBtzJZOdrVvLMcv-g9t3bflLJL-qyojYZG7KzBbld7tbUNAv19wFYb-9u5007Wlr_iVazSpIKnGuCYHmWFKs8z1GtJZ2w9Pybg3YF915xjqJ-Zm9fb3Kx-g6G.xbASRplNHAR1FXYE1HHU79i5QvjEPiDMv2hIGIt5ZxE&dib_tag=se&keywords=not+your+granny%27s+grammar&qid=1781477383&sprefix=not+your+granny%27s+gramm%2Caps%2C286&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll2&tag=bowbend20-20&linkId=62c6a529972e1233465b734be03eec1d&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl] Connect with Patty: Website: www.pattymcgee.org [http://www.pattymcgee.org] Instagram: @pmgmcgee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-mcgee-36507926/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-mcgee-36507926/]

How to Have Difficult Conversations with Kids: Parenting Leadership with Rebecca Malotke-Meslin

In this episode of What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, Peyten Williams talks with leadership coach, speaker, and founder of Pleasantly Aggressive, Rebecca Malotke Meslin, about why parenting is not just teaching — it is leadership. Rebecca shares practical wisdom from her work coaching school leaders through difficult conversations, emotional regulation, and clear communication. Together, Peyten and Rebecca explore how these same leadership skills apply at home when parents need to talk with children about hard or awkward topics like friendship, technology, dating, school struggles, behavior, independence, and responsibility. This conversation will help parents learn how to prepare for difficult conversations, avoid procrastinating, stay calm when emotions run high, and communicate with both strength and kindness. Rebecca reminds us that parents cannot control how a child responds, but they can control what they say, when they say it, and how they say it. If you have ever avoided a hard conversation with your child because you were afraid of saying the wrong thing, this episode will give you practical tools and encouragement to lead with clarity, courage, and connection. BIO Rebecca Malotke-Meslin is a leadership coach, professional speaker, and the founder of Pleasantly Aggressive Coaching and Consulting [http://www.pleasantlyaggressive.com].   She specializes in helping early and mid-career women leaders in schools and nonprofits grow into confident, effective, and authentic leaders. Through one-on-one coaching, Rebecca supports her clients in building leadership skills, rediscovering their voice, and overcoming barriers to career advancement. Rebecca also works with organizations to deliver inclusive leadership training, aimed at reducing bias and fostering equity across all levels of the workplace. With a background in social research and over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, communications, and school leadership, she brings a strategic and empathetic approach to every engagement. Her workshops and keynotes are engaging and impactful.  Rebecca is also the co-host of the Confidently You: Women in Leadership Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/confidently-you-women-in-leadership/id1649233272], where she shares conversations and insights to support women navigating leadership roles across industries. Connect with Rebecca Instagram @pleasantlyaggressive Facebook @pleasantlyaggressive Twitter (X) @pleasantlyaggr1 TikTok @pleasantlyaggressive Websites LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/malotke-meslin/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/malotke-meslin/] Website www.pleasantlyaggressive.com [http://www.pleasantlyaggressive.com]  Confidently You Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/confidently-you-women-in-leadership/id1649233272 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/confidently-you-women-in-leadership/id1649233272]

Parenting with the End in Mind: Raising Children of Character with Chris Cleveland

In this episode of What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, Peyten Williams sits down with Chris Cleveland, President of Wesleyan School [https://www.wesleyanschool.org/]in Atlanta, to talk about what he has learned from more than three decades of working with students, parents, and families. Chris offers honest, practical wisdom for parents who want to raise children of character without falling into the trap of over-control, anxiety, or constant rescue. He reminds us that parenting is hard, children are resilient, and our job is not to manufacture perfect outcomes—but to guide, shepherd, and prepare our children to make wise decisions. Together, Peyten and Chris explore the difference between raising rule-followers and raising good decision-makers, why mistakes are valuable opportunities for growth, and how parents can shift from a “microscope” view of daily struggles to a “telescope” view of long-term character formation. This conversation is full of encouragement for parents who want to play the long game: investing deeply in who their children are becoming, not just what they are accomplishing. GUEST BIO Chris Cleveland has served as Wesleyan School’s head of school since 2014. He originally came to Wesleyan in 2002 to serve as middle school principal, became principal of the high school in 2004, and assumed the role of assistant headmaster for advancement in 2010. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Auburn University and a master’s in administration and supervision from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. A member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, Chris serves on the boards of the Georgia Community Foundation, the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program, the Cleveland Group, and the Executive Committee of the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA). Chris and Julie have been married since 1991, and they are proud parents of Kyle and Sam. 00:00 Welcome and introduction to Chris Cleveland 02:15 Why parenting is so hard 04:00 What parents can and cannot control 06:05 Parents as guides, not outcome-creators 07:37 Parenting in today’s culture 10:45 Helping children listen to trusted voices 12:15 Raising decision-makers instead of rule-followers 13:50 Letting kids make small decisions and experience consequences 17:42 How teachers help students learn from mistakes 19:37 “Never waste a mistake” 22:30 Disappointed in the decision, not the child 24:00 The microscope vs. telescope parenting metaphor 27:43 Building a parenting toolbox 29:26 The Graduation Game 31:00 Character over achievement 34:24 Parenting with backwards design 35:36 Closing To learn more about Peyten Williams and Bowbend Consulting, visit bowbendconsulting.com. [https://bowbendconsulting.com] For parent coaching, school workshops, or speaking inquiries, reach out through Bowbend Consulting and explore resources designed to help parents and educators become strong and kind adults in the room.

Autonomy, Not Pressure: The Secret to Motivated Kids with Chanita Jones

What actually motivates kids? And how do we help them develop a vision for their lives—without controlling or overwhelming them? In this powerful conversation, Peyten sits down with educator and consultant Chanita Jones to explore how parents can raise children who are self-directed, confident, and motivated from within. Drawing on her 20 years as a special educator, Chanita introduces her Liberation Equation™, a framework that helps kids move from being told what to do… to becoming young people who know who they are, what they want, and how to pursue it. Together, they unpack the tension every parent feels between protecting their child and empowering them—and offer simple, practical ways to build independence at every age. If you’ve ever wondered how to motivate your child without nagging, pushing, or pressuring… this episode is for you. * Why autonomy—not pressure—is the key to motivation * The difference between protecting your child and unintentionally limiting them * How to help your child develop a clear sense of identity and vision * Chanita’s Liberation Equation™: * Simple ways to build independence—from toddlerhood through high school * Why failure is essential for growth and confidence * How to use questions (not commands) to unlock your child’s thinking * A powerful 3-step tool for emotional regulation: ABC (Awareness, Breath, Conscious Choice) An educator by nature and by trade, Chanita is on a mission to bring liberation to education. A master special educator and NBCT, she has spent 20 years partnering with parents and communities to advance the education of youth ages 12–21 from marginalized backgrounds. Through her framework, The Liberation Equation™, Chanita equips parents and educators with a systematic, explicit approach to teaching self-mastery—growing youth from self-conscious to soul-conscious. https://www.teacherchanita.com/ [https://www.teacherchanita.com/] If this conversation encouraged you, share it with a friend, a parent group, or someone walking alongside kids.