Has your kid been recommended for testing for a 504 plan? In this episode, Ryan breaks down what it is, what it does and does not do for your kid, and some pros and cons.As usual, the concept is well-intentioned... but reveals some deep ...

There are some times in a nation's history in which events cause it to turn down a particular path... not always for the best.  The Russian space program inadvertently had a profound effect on Education in the U.S. and traces of that are s...

Oh...you are having a boy? How do you plan to deal with their ADHD?  Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration... but barely.  This episode breaks down how kids are actually diagnosed, the recommended treatments, and what is wrong with the wh...

Is it possible that things were done better, years in the past? Aware of the risk of placing unwarranted value on nostalgia, Ryan explains what a text book from the 50s revealed, as a potentially amazing way to present math topics to kids.

An easy justification for ineffective teachers, for years, has been "I'm not here to entertain the kids."  The fact is, to be a great teacher, you have to have the ability to inspire and entertain kids... and in this episode, Ryan articula...

There are pros and cons to any decision or situation, and choosing what to do after high school is no different.  As usual, it pretty much entirely depends on the kid!

While this is an obvious attempt at humor, and involves some hyperbole, once you hear the similarities between prison and large high school campuses, you can't "unsee" them.  Having worked in these schools, Ryan paints a funny picture of h...

Ask yourself, any kid you know, and anyone who you can corner... "Did you read the books assigned in high school?"  The resounding answer will be "No."  But why? We inherently love reading... don't we?Ryan breaks down the reaso...

For some of us, having our kids addicted to video games is our worst fear... but what if it is an indicator of a broader interest in computers and computer science in general? Ryan explains the pattern he's seen between kids that lo...

Before you celebrate the resumption of old policies and ideas about the benefits of a strict home or classroom, it might pay to give the potential outcomes of those policies some thought.  That is exactly what Ryan does in this episode.&nb...

It is hard to decide if we are in favor or against a particular bill without going deep on what it entails... which is exactly what Ryan does in this episode.  Ultimately, it seems to come down to what your perception of what homeschooling...

In this episode, Ryan explains how and why the majority of kids begin to dislike school in middle and high school, as opposed to elementary school.  Spoiler alert... it has to do with the innate development of kids, and how the system is d...

In a take on Robert Kiyosaki's book, "Why A students work for C students," Ryan points out how and why this is exactly true.  He also promotes the idea of eradicating the notion that A students in school are somehow "better" than C student...

People that are obsessed with their house plants will know that, by simply moving a plant to the spot at which it will do best, solves the majority of problems associated with growing flourishing plants. Well... the same goes for kids. 

It is nearly impossible that a group of kids would learn at exactly the same pace, so why do we do it that way in school? More importantly, is there any other way to do it, efficiently and effectively? Funny you ask... Ryan breaks down exactly ...

Rather than judging kids for cheating in school, Ryan suggests we look at the "why" behind it, and some possible solutions for eliminating the students' perceived need for it. 

In this episode, Ryan explains why districts can't afford to offer kids dozens of different electives, and how Nexbooks has solved that problem.  Now, you can literally allow each kid to follow their passions and interests, and to take ele...

The reason our schools vary so dramatically across districts, cities, and states is not from funding, or standards... it has to do with teacher talent.Imagine if only the best lessons were put in front of our kids, and everyone could acc...

Adolescence can be a hard time for both parents and kids to navigate, and this topic of "finding identity" is an important one.  How we respond to this pursuit, and how we help, as parents, is critical. 

Did you know that pediatricians banned homework for kids in grades k-8 at one point, in the history of this country? In this episode, Ryan explains how, apart from being entirely ineffective, homework really is a net-negative for kids developme...

This episode is an explanation on what constitutes success in high school, as viewed through a lens other than just that of academics.  Not only that, it offers ideas and tips as to how we, as parents, can help to facilitate that success, ...

In this episode, Ryan breaks down what the DOE is, what it does, and whether or not it would be missed. Just like accepting money from an overbearing parent, sometimes we have to measure freedom against support, and choose to take control of ou...

In this episode, Ryan points out how insane the logic is that every single kid needs to meet the same exact standards to graduate from high school... and how, if we extended that logic to adults, it would be a catastrophic failure. 

Offering teachers tenure, while likely having the purest of intentions, has been nothing but negative for kids and families.  This episode explains how we should reward excellence, energy, and creativity, over time in the saddle. 

There is nothing more human than the desire for choice, and education is not exempt from that reality.  In this episode, Ryan makes a case for school choice, and not just which school one can attend, but even down to which curriculum kids ...