How Does a Child Reach 8th Grade Still Struggling? Retention, Social Promotion, and the Support Students Deserve

Summer Growth Matters: Preventing Learning Loss and Building Life Skills

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568679/fan_mail/new] Summer break is a time for fun, family, and making memories, but it can also be a time of tremendous growth. In this episode of The Advocate Podcast, Dr. Kristi Love explores the reality of summer learning loss and shares practical, low-stress ways families can keep children engaged academically throughout the summer months. More importantly, she challenges parents to think beyond reading and math and consider how summer can be used to strengthen the behavioral, social, and executive functioning skills that children need to succeed in school and in life. Learn simple strategies to support:  📚 Reading and literacy development  ➕ Math skills through everyday activities  📝 Writing and communication skills  🧠 Executive functioning and organization  ❤️ Emotional regulation and self-control  🤝 Social skills and responsibility Dr. Love also shares free and affordable resources available to families and explains why behavior should be approached the same way we approach academics- with instruction, practice, feedback, and support. Because summer growth isn't just about preventing the "summer slide." It's about helping children return to school more confident, capable, and prepared for success. Resources Mentioned: • PBS Kids • Khan Academy & Khan Academy Kids • ReadWorks • National Geographic Kids • Scholastic Learn at Home • Local Public Libraries • NASA for Students Whether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, or advocate, this episode will help you make the most of the summer months without turning summer into school. Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. * Facebook Group: TheAdvocate [https://www.facebook.com/share/19m9FPAmwN/] * Instagram: @TheAdvocateDr.Love [https://www.instagram.com/theadvocatedr.love?igsh=dXJ6bWRydDR3M2J6] * Email: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

We Intervene for Academics, So Why Not Behavior?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568679/fan_mail/new] Some students struggle loudly. Others struggle silently while everyone assumes they’re fine. In this episode of The Advocate Podcast, Dr. Kristi N. Love explores why schools often treat academic struggles with intervention and support—but respond to behavioral struggles with labels, punishment, or assumptions. This conversation dives into the quiet behaviors educators and parents frequently overlook: * chronic disorganization * missing assignments * lack of follow-through * inattentiveness * inconsistent performance * “capable but not producing” students Dr. Love challenges the idea that these students are simply lazy or unmotivated and explains why behaviors connected to executive functioning, organization, and task completion should be addressed through Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 supports—just like academics. This episode is a powerful reflection on intervention, skill-building, accountability, and what students may truly need in order to succeed. Because sometimes the issue isn’t intelligence. It’s that students were never explicitly taught how to manage the demands school places on them. 🎙️ Perfect for educators, parents, school leaders, counselors, and anyone passionate about supporting the whole child. Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. * Facebook Group: TheAdvocate [https://www.facebook.com/share/19m9FPAmwN/] * Instagram: @TheAdvocateDr.Love [https://www.instagram.com/theadvocatedr.love?igsh=dXJ6bWRydDR3M2J6] * Email: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

How Does a Child Reach 8th Grade Still Struggling? Retention, Social Promotion, and the Support Students Deserve

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568679/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Advocate Podcast, Dr. Kristi N. Love tackles one of education’s hardest and most emotional questions: 👉 How does a child reach 8th grade still struggling academically? Through an honest and balanced conversation about retention, social promotion, intervention, attendance, special education referrals, and systemic gaps, this episode explores what happens when students continue moving forward without truly getting the support they need. Dr. Love discusses: * How grades can sometimes hide learning gaps * The emotional impact of both retention and silent struggle * What schools must consider before special education testing * Why attendance, interventions, and documentation matter * The importance of early intervention and honest communication * What real support for students should actually look like This episode is not about blame. It’s about reflection. It’s about advocacy. And most importantly, it’s about making sure students are not just passed along… but truly prepared. 🎧 If this conversation resonates with you, share this episode with a parent, educator, counselor, or school leader. Because every child deserves the opportunity not just to pass, 👉 but to truly learn. Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. * Facebook Group: TheAdvocate [https://www.facebook.com/share/19m9FPAmwN/] * Instagram: @TheAdvocateDr.Love [https://www.instagram.com/theadvocatedr.love?igsh=dXJ6bWRydDR3M2J6] * Email: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

Passing, But Not Prepared: The Truth About Grades

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568679/fan_mail/new] Are passing grades really a sign of success… or just a sign students are getting through? In this episode, we take an honest look at a growing concern in education:  👉 Students who are passing… but not truly understanding  👉 Grades that don’t always reflect mastery  👉 And a system that sometimes prioritizes completion over comprehension Through real classroom experiences, personal reflection, and insights from educational theory, including the work of Paulo Freire, this episode explores the gap between performing in school and actually being prepared for life beyond it. You’ll hear: *  Why compliance is not the same as comprehension  *  How students can “do school” without truly learning  *  The impact of rushed instruction and surface-level understanding  *  A powerful personal story about hidden gaps in learning  *  And why meaningful feedback matters—even when answers are correct  This conversation is for educators, parents, and anyone invested in student success. Because at the end of the day… 👉 The real question isn’t “Did they pass?” 👉 It’s “Are they prepared? Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. * Facebook Group: TheAdvocate [https://www.facebook.com/share/19m9FPAmwN/] * Instagram: @TheAdvocateDr.Love [https://www.instagram.com/theadvocatedr.love?igsh=dXJ6bWRydDR3M2J6] * Email: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com

If Not Traditional Grading… Then What?: Making Sense of Fair Grading

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568679/fan_mail/new] What actually makes a grade fair, and what happens when we mix learning, behavior, and completion into one number? In this episode, we go beyond traditional grading debates and get into the real questions educators and parents are asking right now: Should students be allowed to retest? How do we fairly grade homework when access and home environments vary? And what role does AI play in whether homework even reflects true learning? We also explore why some schools are shifting grading scales (like the 50 minimum) and moving toward standards-based grading, and why changing numbers alone doesn’t solve the deeper issue. A major focus of this conversation is clarity: grades should reflect academic mastery, not behavior, effort, or circumstances outside of learning. So what does accountability look like if it’s not tied to grades? This episode challenges assumptions, invites reflection, and pushes us to ask a bigger question: Are our grading systems measuring what students know or everything around it? A must-listen for educators, parents, and anyone rethinking what fairness in education really means. Connect With Me To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below. * Facebook Group: TheAdvocate [https://www.facebook.com/share/19m9FPAmwN/] * Instagram: @TheAdvocateDr.Love [https://www.instagram.com/theadvocatedr.love?igsh=dXJ6bWRydDR3M2J6] * Email: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com