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Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor sits down with Anmarie Paul, Executive Director of Behind the Book, to explore how intrinsic motivation, belonging, student choice, and joyful literacy experiences help children become lifelong readers.

Together, they unpack how Science of Reading practices and reading engagement strategies must work together because children don’t just need to learn how to read, they need to want to read.

From expressive read-alouds to author visits, STEM-literacy integration, and identity-centered storytelling, this conversation offers practical insights for educators, librarians, parents, school leaders, and literacy advocates.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Motivation and Reading Instruction
• 04:14 Read Alouds That Build Engagement and Fluency
• 08:34 How Behind the Book Builds Reading Motivation
• 15:30 Literacy, STEM, and Creative Learning
• 18:40 Author Visits and Student Belonging
• 24:55 Leadership in Literacy and Youth Development
• 29:28 The Future of Reading: Engagement Meets Science of Reading

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why intrinsic motivation is critical to reading success
• How read alouds improve fluency, comprehension, and connection
• What makes literacy programs truly engaging for students
• How belonging and representation impact reading identity
• Ways to combine Science of Reading + engagement-based practices
• How literacy, STEM, creativity, and storytelling intersect
• Strategies for building sustainable reading ecosystems

🔗 Learn More & Get Involved

• Behind the Book: https://www.behindthebook.org
• Follow Behind the Book on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
• Download the Adventures in Learning 365 Day Picture Book Read Aloud Calendar

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

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When cold weather keeps kids inside, big feelings can spike—for children and the adults supporting them. In this uplifting conversation, early childhood expert Francine Prince shares practical, realistic strategies for indoor days, and reminds us that the best early learning happens when we stay intentional, flexible, and deeply connected.

In this episode, we'll discuss:

• How to plan indoor days so you’re not “teaching on the fly”
• What child-led really means (and what it doesn’t)
• Why teachable moments matter more than rigid timing
• Simple ways to communicate learning to families—without writing an essay
• The power of leading with the positive to build trust and partnership
• What early childhood can teach adults about conflict, adaptability, and routines
• Why burnout is rising—and what support teachers actually need

Timestamps

• 01:41 Indoor-day advice: movement breaks, intentional planning, and being “ready for anything”
• 03:27 Defining child-led for families (and how teachers still facilitate learning)
• 05:08 Teachable moments: what great teachers notice—and why it matters
• 07:10 Creating a climate where teachers feel safe to follow children’s learning
• 08:41 Making learning visible to families
• 12:18 “Everything we need as adults, we should’ve learned in preschool” (3 big takeaways)
• 15:23 Teaching empathy + conflict resolution through environment and facilitation
• 17:03 What empathy means—and how to meet families where they are
• 20:04 Coaching adults: empathy, communication styles, and partnering with parents
• 24:05 Francine’s story: Head Start roots, coaching, leadership, disability advocacy, and statewide work
• 29:28 Biggest challenges today: burnout, behavior, low pay, and support gaps
• 33:16 What effective professional learning should look like (practical, real, implemented)
• 37:24 Hope: why early childhood still matters—and why people in the field bring hope

Links & Resources

• Dr. Diane’s free 365-day Picture Book Read-Aloud Calendar
• Connect with Dr. Diane and book her to speak or lead professional development workshops at your next event
• Connect with Francine Prince on LinkedIn.

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

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What if the most powerful thing we could give young children is time to play?

Early childhood expert Rae Pica joins Dr. Diane for a candid conversation about why play, movement, and joy are essentials, not extras -- and how rushing children into academics is doing real harm.

🎧 Episode Summary

In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes author, keynote speaker, and longtime advocate for developmentally appropriate early childhood education Rae Pica.

Together, they explore what’s gone wrong in early childhood education—from scripted teaching and excessive seat time to the loss of play—and what the research actually tells us about how young children learn. Rae explains why play builds problem-solving, empathy, language, and executive function, how parents can become powerful allies, and why small acts of advocacy can help educators reclaim joy and reduce burnout.

This is a hopeful, practical conversation for educators, families, and anyone who believes childhood should be honored, not hurried.

⏱️ Highlights & Chapters

• 00:00 — Meet Rae Pica + why early childhood matters
• 02:22 — What’s gone wrong: rushed academics & ignored research
• 07:01 — Why play is “everything” to young children
• 10:32 — What block play teaches (SEL, STEM, critical thinking)
• 16:14 — Why movement fuels the brain
• 19:07 — Rae’s vision of a joyful early childhood classroom
• 25:16 — Research on play, joy, and how the brain learns
• 38:07 — Rae’s magic wand: follow child development
• 39:38 — Advocacy, burnout, and teacher empowerment
• 43:37 — Hope: signs the tide is turning

🔗 Links & Resources

• Rae Pica's free resources
• Rae Pica's online courses
• Rae Pica's books
• Dr Diane's 365 Day Picture Book Read Aloud Calendar

Support the show

Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.