S1 E1: Intro to On Balance (Transcription)

Dawn Williams:

Welcome to On Balance, a podcast for parents created by Blue School educators. We know that even in ideal circumstances, finding balance at home and in life can be a challenge. And now, we’ve been called on to be 24 hour a day parents while balancing work responsibilities and our own emotions during this difficult moment in time. If you're finding it particularly difficult, we’re so with you.

Blue School is an independent school in New York City that has successfully pioneered a balanced educational experience empowering children to be joyful, creative, courageous and compassionate.  

I’m Dawn Williams, Blue School’s Director of Enrollment and proud parent of a Blue School Graduate. Every week I’ll be talking to an educator, Blue School Advisory Board member, or special guest about today’s ever-changing landscape and how we can help each other find our footing.

Whether you’re the parent of a toddler or a teenager, or anything in between, we’re here to partner with you. Together, we will find our way. 

Here is a just quick glimpse into what we’re planning for this podcast.  

Over our next couple of episodes, 

We will talk with Mollie McQuarrie, Blue School’s Pre-primary Studio and Materials specialist. With Mollie, we’ll discuss the possibilities for engagement and expression that exist in every one of our homes. Mollie will share thoughts about how to support children, even very young children in developing their sense of independence and how we can invite our children and teens to create, process and express themselves during these days of physical isolation. 

We will talk with Blue School teacher Annabelle Baylin. One of the hallmarks of Annabelle’s classroom is her care in bringing mindfulness into children’s daily routines and her commitment to conversations about social justice. We will discuss her mindfulness practice as well as what she’s learned from doing this work with children. And Annabelle will share tools that we can use at home to invite deepened presence and connection in our families.

We’ll talk Laura Winnick and Caitlin Barry who teach a timely media literacy course for middle schoolers. They will share their thinking about teens and social media, about ways to invite children to cast a critical eye and critical thinkings skills on the content they’re consuming. We’ll talk about FAKE news and the power in building counter narratives. 

Mollie, Annabelle, Laura and Caitlin are just a few of the incredible educators and thought leaders we’ll be speaking to on On Balance, and we can’t wait to share our conversations with you. 

If you share Blue School’s vision of a Balanced approach to learning and living so that children can be courageous and innovative thinkers, please take a moment to subscribe and listen-in on our weekly discussions. You can also follow us on instagram and facebook @blueschoolnyc or visit blueschool.org for more in depth content.

We’re sending support and strength to you and your loved ones as you endeavor to create Balance.