Jodie Maddox

I PARTNER with parents and schools.

I EMPOWER them to make decisions within their sphere of influence.

I PROVIDE reliable support, with effective strategies, to gain desired results.

Email jodiemaddoxicoach@gmail.com

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Dear Friends,

Fall is in the air. Bring it on! This is the time of year when pumpkin spice anything, football food, and early Halloween candy bowls tend to derail my desire to eat healthily. I am easily distracted by the sights, smells, and tasty treats associated with this colorful time of the school year.

In this month's Newsletter, I am sharing a small summary of the information I am privileged to present to parents and school communities regarding technology, brain health, and a child's developing executive function. This month, I had one school make the technology presentation mandatory for every family. I am sure I had at least a few reluctant participants in the audience. However, the next day, my email inbox was flooded with many grateful comments regarding having access to current, updated information and the importance of the topic.

There is no denying the impact technology has had and continues to have on our youth. Many parents feel pressured to conform to societal trends regarding lax guidelines with technology. Yet, they are keenly aware of its toll on their child's demeanor, motivation, anxiety, focus, and attention span. I applaud all schools trying to partner with parents; this topic unites us all and deserves a collective, unified approach. We can accomplish more if we take the journey and set the expectations as a team.

In her Health and Wellness Corner, Dr. Ross expands the technology conversation by sharing insight into the harmful effects of blue light from digital screens. Finally, in the School Corner, we will discuss the importance of grouping to promote intentional growth. If your school is interested in sponsoring an event for parents or teachers, let's connect. I am happy to support you in any way I possibly can.

With a grateful heart,

Jodie Maddox

Parent Coach and Education Consultant.

School has started, and technology is a large part of the learning process. When I present to parents about technology's damaging effects on brain health. I typically have at least one parent ask me if there is a difference in technology usage at school versus screen time usage at home. Gloria DeGaetano, the author of Patterns Over Time, looked explicitly at passive viewing outside of an engaging/interactive learning environment. She described passive viewing as screen activity involving entertainment, video games, social media, and other applications (apps) that do not require listening, talking, or comprehending.

In the classroom, technology-specific instructional tasks put cognitive demands on the brain to engage the brain constructively. Tasks such as problem-solving and critical thinking are involved, which are incredibly different from passive viewing experiences. In her book Patterns Over Time, she noted how passive viewing has been shown to slow down brain functions, making the brain lazy and unmotivated to engage in activities that build memory, require uninterrupted focus, control impulses, and encourage deep thinking. DeGaetano wrote explicitly about three areas in which passive technology has been shown to impact children directly: thinking and learning, feelings and behavior, and overall general health and well-being.

In a time when parents and educators are being asked to pay close attention to the mental health of our youth, it is essential to understand that mental health is not just about emotions and feelings. Good mental brain health includes cognitive development that fosters problem-solving, planning and prioritizing, organization, impulse control, critical thinking, emotional regulation, and working memory. DeGaetano talks about how too much or too early exposure to technology, primarily passive viewing, can have lasting side effects on brain health. Technology has been linked to depriving children of the necessary sensory experience for optimum development. It can deprive children of sleep and other brain development needed for brain growth, and it may distort essential sensory input, highlighting visual and auditory input, at the expense of kinesthesis and olfactory experiences.

In the Spring of 2024, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for technology use to help parents teach children how to have a healthy relationship with technology. "The 5 C's For Media Guidance" replaced the outdated approach of limiting screen time to a specific time limit, such as 30 minutes a day. The new guidelines encourage parents to take 5 things into account when teaching children about screen time: Child, Content, Calm, Crowding Out, and Communication. These new robust guidelines are much more considerate of a developing child's mental, physical, and social well-being.

To read more about "The 5 C's for Media Guidance," go to healthychild.org. The new guidelines do an excellent job addressing all stages of development from infant to teen. Additionally, ADDitude Magazine has published an Ethic's Manual for teens and young adults, a comprehensive guide for setting boundaries and expectations regarding technology. These resources provide the support and guidance parents and educators need to navigate the digital world and promote healthy technology use.

We live in a digital world. Technology is a big part of our homes and schools, and with the invention of the smartphone, the internet is readily available almost anywhere we go. As school begins, ensure your technology guidelines, expectations, and knowledge are up to date and helpful for the people in your care.

At night, the blue light of a digital screen tricks the brain into thinking it is daytime. Blue light (used in screens such as pads, televisions, and video games) causes the brain to stop the natural secretion of melatonin. This hormone prepares our brain and body for sleep when light (especially blue light) is no longer present in our environment.

This can cause changes in sleep quality, and your child may become restless, wake up in the middle of the night, have difficulty falling asleep, or wake up tired and lethargic. Therefore, it's essential to eliminate screens 3 hours before bedtime to allow the body to produce melatonin for a restful night’s sleep.

If your child is exposed to blue light, you can take actionable steps to reduce the effects of this exposure.

Tips to reduce blue light exposure:

• Wear blue blocking glasses when the sun goes down and when your child is exposed to screen time

• Get outside during the day to get natural blue light

• Avoid bright screens and lights when the sun goes down

• Use salt lamps or red light bulbs in your child’s room

Setting healthy boundaries with screen times and technology can make a world of difference in your child’s mood, behavior, learning, and focus.

Dr. Pahini Ross is a mother of two, the owner and operator of Flourishbund, a Doctor of Pharmacy, a board-certified clinical nutritionist, and a functional medicine practitioner with training in pediatric integrative medicine. For more information about Flourishbound and any other health needs you may have, please check out her website.

In education, we are constantly reminded to use data to help make informed decisions. Many schools have administrators, learning specialists, curriculum directors, and lead teachers eager to grab the data and dive in!!! However, this can be a daunting task for a teacher who is more drawn to connecting with kids rather than sorting digits on a spreadsheet.

Using information gained through formative or summative assessments to form small groups is a proven strategy. If you want to move scores forward, elect change, or foster a growth mindset, grouping students is the best way to see quick progress. Here are a few ideas on how to use groups to grow skills.

1) Form groups based on skills. Start by analyzing your screening data to identify skill levels. Group students with similar needs together to target instruction. Make some type of chart to track the specific skills. Even chicken scratch can count as data if you are tracking skills/content consistently.

2) When possible, add an adult leader to each group. This is an important step in providing the necessary support for your students. Whether it's your reading specialist, instructional coach, administrator, resource teacher, counselor, librarian, school psychologist, or any other available adult. If you don't have an extra adult, use classroom centers. Design two or three independent centers that children can rotate to and one center with a small group working with you. Independent centers can have items like headphones, worksheets, manipulatives, or books. Students can navigate independently while you instruct a small group of students.

3) Be consistent across tiers. Use the same small groups for Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 interventions. This consistency helps track progress and streamline instruction.

Research shows there are three important elements to differentiating instruction to ignite growth.

1) Ongoing assessment

2) Flexible Grouping

3) Student buy-in and motivation

Remember, motivation is simply about helping kids feel connected enough to engage. Kids will do anything they think they can do, and they will try new things if they "feel" safe or free from judgment. This atmosphere is easier to create in a small group where the playing field has been leveled.

References:

Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

Dr. Stephanie Stollar Ph. D.

I would love to come to your school and work with your team! Title funding can be used to pay for most services. Last year, I worked with over 20 different schools in over ten school districts. Don't miss out on these opportunities to support your community!

Professional Services Include:

Instructional Coaching

PLC Team Coaching (Grade Level Teams, Middle School Teams, and Intervention Teams)

Leadership Coaching

Strategic Planning

Group Professional Development Available In:

• Inclusion/Classroom Management
• Data Driven Lesson Planning/Using Pacing Guides
• Differentiated Instruction
• Science of Reading
• Multi-Tiered System of Support Training
• Social Emotional Support and Strategies
• Building Healthy Relationships
• Early Education and Early Literacy

Parent Workshops Offered Over the Following Topics

• Executive Functioning Skills
• Parenting Your Unique Child (Strength-Based Parenting)
• Helping Children Manage Anxiety
• Setting Healthy Boundaries
• The Effects of Technology On Brain Health, Motivation, and Behavior

Have questions? Let's connect, jodiemaddoxicoach@gmail.com

Parent coaching provides parents with comprehensive knowledge about ADHD, anxiety, and other neurodiverse abilities, including symptoms, causes, and effects on behavior. Parents learn easy strategies to help calm emotions and elect change. Sessions provide a strategic yet organic approach to helping parents understand and comprehend their children’s struggles, behaviors, and needs. If your child is neurodiverse, let's connect! I am here to help you empower your child to be their best, feel confident, and know their own strength.

For a free consultation, contact me today at jodiemaddoxicoach@gmail.com

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By recognizing and relying on your unique strengths, learning to manage the natural stages of child development, and focusing on what is important to you and your family, you can learn to parent your unique child and intentionally create the family you desire.

Prepare to expand your parenting toolbox, build confidence, and strengthen your child’s executive functioning skills. Learn to care for yourself, rely on your God-given strengths, and strategically create the family environment you’ve been dreaming of. To purchase a copy of my new book for $24.95, visit my website under the publications tab to order your copy!

Email: jodiemaddoxicoach@gmail.com
Website: jodiemaddoxicoach.com
Phone: (913)908-8220
Facebook: facebook.com/Jodiemaddox-ParentCoach&consultant