Cultivating Excellence Podcast

Dr. Jonathan Singer's Loyola University of Chicago Website https://news.luc.edu/stories/faculty-experts/jonathan-singer/ Here's the link to his wonderful podcast, The Social Work Podcast https://socialworkpodcast.blogspot.com/ Dr. Singer's book, Suicide in the Schools is a MUST READ for everyone who works with kids or works in a school https://www.amazon.com/Suicide-Schools-Practitioners-Intervention-School-Based/dp/0415857031 If you're looking to start an evidence based suicide risk reduction program in your school, here's a link to information about the Signs of Suicide (SOS) program https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/about-us/collaboratory/mental-and-behavioral-health/sos

Dr. Shreya Hessler, Licensed Psychologist, is owner of the Mindset Center in Bel Air, MD (just north of Baltimore) https://mindsetcenter.com/shreya-hessler-psy-d/ Dr. Hessler is a nationally recognized specialist in anxiety disorders, evidence based treatment, and wellness. She and her colleague, Casey Giovanazzi Kutner, founded Person Before Player, a nationwide consulting practice promoting the mental health and resilience of student athletes. Through PBP, she and Casey support schools, athletes, coaches, and parents in their shared goal of helping athletes thrive. Her book, Bianca Finds Her Bounce, is a beautiful, optomistic children's book about coping with anxiety https://www.amazon.com/Bianca-Bounce-Psy-D-Shreya-Hessler/dp/0998681148 Dr. Hessler is also a widely sought after speaker and provider of continuing education to psychologists and other healthcare providers.

Ever wondered what elite college admissions coaches teach their student clients? Join expert Katherine Howitt as she gives you the inside scoop on how she helps her clients become more independent, select extracurriculars, and prep for standardized tests on their journey towards selective college admissions.Katherine Howitt, Academic Coach Website: https://www.katherinehowitt.com/academic-consulting

Join me for a deep dive into how gifted and high achieving kids learn, early signs of giftedness, characteristics of gifted learners, and specifics about what these kids need to thrive at school. I also get you up to speed on key vocabulary you'll need to know for successful advocacy. Plus, I alert you to common obstacles you're likely to encounter from people who don't grok giftedness!

Raising gifted children comes with unique challenges and rewards, so how do we help them thrive without letting their potential become a burden?In this episode of the Cultivating Excellence podcast, Dr. April Foreman, Director of Technology and Innovation at the Veterans Crisis Line of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, talks about her passion for giftedness and her experiences raising gifted children. Dr. Foreman shares how being gifted impacted her own childhood and how she navigated the challenges of raising neurodiverse children, including advocating for their educational needs. She emphasizes the importance of creating environments where gifted kids can thrive academically and socially while ensuring they receive proper support. The conversation explores topics like acceleration vs. enrichment, the emotional struggles gifted children face, and the role of structure and parental guidance. Dr. Foreman encourages parents to trust their instincts, seek professional support when needed, and avoid pathologizing gifted traits unless they cause genuine distress.Tune in as Dr. April Foreman shares her powerful insights on parenting gifted kids, advocating for their needs, and fostering both their intellect and well-being in a world that often misunderstands them! 

Is your child intellectually gifted? What does it mean to have a high IQ? In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Resnik, Licensed Psychologist, gives you the insider scoop on what IQ tests measure, what it means to be intellectually gifted, and how to make sure your child in the best position to shine when they take an IQ test.IQ testing has a controversial reputation, but they are actually great predictors of general problem solving ability when used appropriately. Individuals across cultures and all over the world recognize the concept of giftedness, and IQ is an essential aspect of assessing for giftedness. IQ scores over 132 fall in the gifted range, and then there are highly gifted ranges above that score that correspond to being in the 99th or even 99.9th percentile. Having scores in the gifted range is predictive of all sorts of positive outcomes for a person's life, such as academic achievement, creativity and even life span. Dr. Resnik also notes the importance of avoiding companies that prey on parental anxiety around testing, and gives you trustworthy advice on how to prepare a child for IQ testing.

What if the key to academic success wasn’t just about studying harder but about learning smarter?In this episode of the Cultivating Excellence podcast, Steve Feldman, Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Private Prep, shares insights on tutoring, academic coaching, and standardized test preparation, emphasizing the importance of both subject expertise and student motivation. He advises parents to involve their children in the decision to seek academic support, ensuring they are invested in the process while also developing strong study habits and executive functioning skills. Regarding standardized tests, he highlights the shift in the test-optional movement post-COVID and recommends taking full-length diagnostic tests to determine the best fit between the SAT and ACT. Steve also discusses making math engaging through real-world applications and encouraging students to develop a growth mindset rather than focusing solely on grades. Ultimately, he stresses the importance of maintaining a positive parent-child relationship by celebrating effort and progress rather than just high scores.Tune in for expert insights on tutoring, test prep, and how to help students build confidence, motivation, and long-term academic skills! 

As college admissions become increasingly competitive, understanding the role of standardized testing can give students a crucial edge. In this episode of the Cultivating Excellence podcast, Jared Friedland, founder of The Playbook, discusses the evolving role of standardized testing in college admissions and how students can strategically navigate the process to improve their chances of acceptance. He helps students navigate the challenges of standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, and PSAT while also guiding them in finding colleges where they can thrive academically, socially, and culturally. With two decades of experience, Jared has worked as an admissions reader at Dartmouth and UCLA, gaining deep insights into how colleges evaluate applicants holistically rather than simply rejecting them based on numbers. He emphasizes that the admissions process, though often stressful, doesn't have to be overwhelming and that strategic planning can significantly improve students' chances of success. Jared highlights that a strong application involves more than just grades or test scores, it requires showcasing a student’s character, achievements, and potential fit for a school’s unique academic and cultural environment.Tune in for expert insights on how students can strategically approach standardized testing to maximize their college acceptance chances! 

Parenting in the 21st century feels harder because it is harder, but what if you had the tools to navigate it with confidence?In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Resnik, founder of Rebecca Resnik and Associates Psychology Care, introduces Cultivating Excellence, a podcast for professional parents navigating the challenges of raising Gen Z and Gen Alpha children in a rapidly changing, post-pandemic world. She acknowledges the stress and uncertainty parents face and challenges negative stereotypes about modern parenting. Today’s children grow up in a complex environment shaped by digital saturation, societal instability, and educational disruptions from COVID-19, making parenting more difficult than ever. Despite these uncertainties, Dr. Resnik reassures parents that they have the power to shape their children’s character, curiosity, and resilience through intentional choices. Using the metaphor of parenting as gardening, she emphasizes that small, consistent efforts over time cultivate excellence and help children thrive in an unpredictable future.Tune in to Cultivating Excellence with Dr. Rebecca Resnik for insightful, practical guidance on raising resilient, thriving kids in today’s complex world!

Welcome to Cultivating Excellence, a podcast for smart professional parents who are passionate about their children's education, future success, and happiness! Join Dr. Rebecca Resnik, Licensed Psychologist, for practical advice and inspiration from renowned experts in parenting, education and psychology.