MSquared Books Podcast

From Childhood Trauma to Saving Lives: A Story of Purpose and Overcoming Adversity with Ilyas Muhammad

“What made me the officer, detective, and investigator that I am today - it was the trauma that I had yesterday.” - Ilyas Muhammad
Detective Ilyas Muhammad shares a glimpse into his traumatic childhood and how it made him a better police officer. Listen in to gain insight into how to help kids who may be dealing with trauma and hear some important safety tips. Prepare to be equipped and inspired!
Click here for full show notes and links: https://bit.ly/4eroAnM
**CONTENT WARNING**  Please note that this episode contains descriptions of violence and domestic abuse that some people may find disturbing. Substance abuse is also discussed. 

Harnessing The Power of Positivity to Navigate Dark Times with Lori Skala

"Your darkest times lead you to your brightest ones." - Lori Skala
Lori is a teacher, author, and cancer survivor who has harnessed the power of positivity. She learned how to turn her pain and adversity into something truly beautiful that would impact and be beneficial to cancer patients and rescue pups all over.
She tells the story of her cancer journey and how adopting a little pup named Rosie helped her (and others) through a very tough time. You will hear about little Rosie’s story of dealing with adversity as well and be inspired by how both Lori and Rosie truly embody positivity and resilience. 
Click here for full show notes and links: https://bit.ly/3PWiGAr

Finding Healing Through Art Therapy with Robyn Spodek-Schindler

Navigating grief is difficult at any age, but for kids, it can be incredibly hard to process. In this episode of the MSquared Books podcast, you will hear from counselor, author, and art therapist, Robyn Spodek-Schindler, on how to help kids process and navigate grief using art therapy techniques.
She discusses some of the misconceptions people have about art therapy and why it’s SO much more than what most people think. You will hear about how art therapy can step in as an extended branch on the mental health tree to help both children AND adults work through difficult thoughts and feelings.
Click here for full show notes and links: https://bit.ly/49PPdjA

Play is Essential to Greater Learning with Lynn DeSalvo

Play is essential to learning and helping kids see the play in every day. Lynn DeSalvo, owner of Play with Purpose and speech and language pathologist, joins the show to talk about the essential role of play! She is someone who has truly harnessed the ability to educate children through fun visuals and joyful play.
Lynn will be shedding light on how to put play to work when educating our little ones on important skills like problem-solving, organization, teamwork, and more. You will get tips on how to include play in your everyday routines and implement it into tasks. She also discusses the structure of play, the importance of shared attention, and how to use their specific interests to get them locked in and excited to play and learn.
Click here for full show notes and links: https://bit.ly/49f9yi4

Keeping Kids Safe on Social Media with Danielle Betines

In this episode, Danielle (Gasalberti) Betines, Author of Love Your Selfie, talks about some of the ways she has seen social media affect kids in negative ways. She shares some interesting insights into what we can be more aware of when it comes to what our kids are up to on social media. You will get tips on how to make social media more safe for them and also how to encourage them to share more with you.
Click here for full show notes and links: https://bit.ly/47mPbO2

Advocating for Multilingual Learners and Why You Should Become One with Dr. Denise Furlong

Knowing ways to advocate for multilingual learners isn’t just a job for teachers, it is something the whole community (even kiddos) can be involved in!
As an educator of over 25 years and an assistant professor at Georgian Court University in central New Jersey, Dr. Denise Furlong has been passionate about bridging the gap between what people don’t understand about multilingual learners. In this episode, she talks about how to engage the younger generations in ways that help them appreciate other cultures and the great strengths that come with being multilingual.
Click here for full show notes and links: https://bit.ly/49ZMO6B

How to Pass Down Generational Lessons and Cultural Appreciation to Children with Michelle Weinfeld

In this episode, Miranda is joined by fellow author, Michelle Weinfeld, who wrote an intergenerational memoir interweaving her experiences with antisemitism with the story of her grandfather, a Holocaust survivor. She shares some of the most valuable lessons she learned from her grandfather, including the value of being able to move forward from trauma and not let it define you. You will also hear about key experiences in her life that shaped her cultural identity and her relationship with her own religion and culture. Michelle discusses how kids deal with being different or what causes them to act out when seeing someone who is different or doing something they don’t understand. She shares insight into how we can cultivate kindness and better equip children to be appreciative of cultural differences.
She also gives us ideas of how to pass down valuable generational lessons through intentionally making time for family meals, traditions, outings and more. You are bound to be inspired by her grandfather’s story of resilience and her own thoughtful take on self-acceptance.
Click here for full show notes and links: https://bit.ly/3QkBUiI

Essential Safety Tips for the School Year with Miranda Mathis

Do you check your child’s phone? Do you know who is talking to them and what info they’re sharing? Navigating technology well and staying in tune with your child’s world while they navigate this school year and all the voices and influences presented is essential. In this episode, we’ll hear from author Miranda Mathis about some important back-to-school safety tips that will help your family deal with bullying and other safety concerns that may come up.
Miranda shares some key takeaways that will ensure that you are staying in communication with your children as well as gaining a better understanding of what they may be struggling with BEFORE things go wrong. She gives us some valuable insight into what to check in on and what tools you can use to create a good system with your child that helps them feel heard and SAFE.
You will also get a glimpse into what Miranda has been up to this Summer (Hint: A LOT) and what is coming down the pipeline soon at MSquared Books.
Click here for full show notes and links: https://bit.ly/46tU9t2

Teacher’s Cubby: Yoga Therapy For All Abilities and Ages with Beverly Davis-Baird

Yoga is for everybody.
In this episode, we welcome Beverly Davis-Baird, a retired elementary teacher and current yoga therapist. She is the founder and owner of Wisdom Tree Yoga in Shrewsbury New Jersey. 
“My goal is always to educate people. That’s who I am at heart. Even when I teach groups, I teach a class called Yoga for Arthritis and Chronic Pain. I’m always trying to educate my students about a particular topic, right now I’m teaching about flexibility and mobility and why those are important, and how we can use our yoga practice not only to bring that to our bodies but to our minds, spirits, to our emotions, to have that ability to adapt to situations.”
Beverly believes that yoga can be for everyone; for all ability levels and ages. She views yoga as more than just a physical pose or exercise, it is about also about connection, therapy, and healing. 
Hear Beverly's experiences of taking yoga breaks with her class as an elementary teacher and how a few minutes of intentional movement can improve the mood and focus of students. Learn about how she guides clients in her practice as a yoga therapist today. And don’t forget to check out her Youtube channel!
 
Beverly’s Resources: 
Wisdom Tree Yoga YoutubeFacebookInstagram @wisdom_tree_yoga 
Msquared Books Links: 
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Teacher’s Cubby: Bringing Bilingualism into the Classroom with Jenna Vislisel

More than a language.
Joining us this week is Jenna Vislisel. Jenna is a bilingual educator, blogger, and mom! She is passionate about bringing languages and bi-literacy to the classroom. She believes that language is more than just communication, it encompasses culture, heritage, and identity as well. Diversity should be celebrated in the classroom and students encouraged to share their experiences and unique identities. 
Jenna is currently a stay-at-home mom, sharing her passion for bilingualism on her blog Bilingual Balance. Parents and teachers can access her resources like printable activities, tips, and strategies for teaching and practicing languages. Jenna focuses on Spanish, but her methods can be useful for general language learning. 
“Bilingualism and multilingualism is a gift.”
Listen to hear why bilingualism is so important to integrate into schools.
 
Jenna’s Resources:
Bilingual Balance BlogInstagram: @BilingualbalanceFacebookAmity Institute 
 
Msquared Books Links: 
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