Lessons Learned
Mulling It Over
MULLING IT OVER with host, Bob Houghtaling EPISODE 3: Bob Houghtaling discusses how kids learn whether it is while at play or in a classroom setting. Special emphasis is placed on knowledge gained, in and out of school, as well as some of the challenges which can impede or delay learning.
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Important Connections
Mulling It Over
Building Connections Episode 43: Hosts Kathy Sullivan & Bob Houghtaling interview Cameron Kadek Cameron Kadek, Title 1 Family Facilitator, discusses her work in the City of Warwick, supporting underprivileged children and their families. Special emphasis is placed on building relationships that assist and augment school efforts. Text or call: 401-291-8288
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Mental Health Awareness Month
Mulling It Over
Episode 2: Bob Houghtaling discusses how awareness of Mental Health has increased while also pointing to challenges that lay ahead. Emphasis is placed on the importance of creating allies as well as the value of seeing young people as wonderful advocates.
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School Safety
Mulling It Over
MULLING IT OVERwith host, Bob Houghtaling Episode1: Bob Houghtaling discusses school shootings and how we need more than just police officers, social workers, buzzers/bells, and teachers with guns, to address this national plague. Special emphasis is placed on our responsibilities as well as the importance of hope, awe and possibility.
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New Perspectives
Mulling It Over
Building Connections Episode 42: Hosts Kathy Sullivan & Bob Houghtaling interview Kaia Marinelli Kaia Marinelli discusses her prevention work with the Kent County Prevention Coalition inclusive of conferences, presentations, Sticker Shock and a myriad of other initiatives. Special emphasis was also placed on her school experience, at The Met School, as well as insight into young people and mental health.
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Keeping A Promise
Mulling It Over
Building Connections Episode 41: Hosts Kathy Sullivan & Bob Houghtaling interview Emily Kendall Emily Kendall joins Building Connections to discuss her work with Sandy Hook Promise. Using her experience as a child, regarding a school shooting, she has become a powerful advocate for mental health and safety.
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A Journey Through Grief
Mulling It Over
Host, Bob Houghtaling with Ann Boulet A Journey Through Grief EPISODE 8: Ann Boulet discusses how the loss of her husband led to a journey and the writing of After Winter Comes Spring. Special emphasis is placed on how each individual has a unique grieving experience as well as how death is a topic which many have difficulty speaking of.
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RI Teen Institute
Mulling It Over
Building Connections Episode 40: Hosts Kathy Sullivan & Bob Houghtaling interview Jen Stevens Jen Stevens joins Building Connections to discuss her work helping to bring RI Teen Institute back. Emphasis is placed on how T.I. influenced her life as well as ways young people can benefit from this incredible initiative. Teen Institute will be held in August of 2023 and promises to develop many talented and informed youth leaders. RI Teen Institute contacts: 401-244-7386 email: website:
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Making Our Highways Safe
Mulling It Over
Episode 39: Hosts Kathy Sullivan & Bob Houghtaling interview Diana Gugliotta Diana Gugliotta, Director of Public Affairs for AAA, speaks to highway safety placing emphasis on impaired driving caused by alcohol and marijuana. Working closely with the court systems she looks to educate young people, helping them to make healthy and safe choices. 401-868-2000 ext. 2120
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A Powerful Perspective
Mulling It Over
Building Connections Episode 38: Kathy Sullivan & Bob Houghtaling with Elle and Xia Elle and Xia, representatives of the student-led club ASAPP, visit Building Connections to discuss mental health. Special emphasis is placed addressing eating disorders and those factors that help create them. ASAPP, and a middle school version ASAPP II, continue advocating for additional awareness regarding mental health in the East Greenwich community.
info_outlineSocial and Emotional Development
The Covid-19 Crisis has impacted students in many ways – one of the most salient being Mental Health. In addition to placing kids under stress and distancing them from supports, Covid has also led to situations that have delayed emotional maturation. In short, isolation appears to have negatively influenced how young people handle social interactions and challenges.
I have coined a pop diagnosis called Interrupted Community Engagement Disorder (I.C.E.D.) which attempts to detail how 18-20 months of stress, loss and isolation have affected child/adolescent development. While not an official malady I.C.E.D. is something many students, counselors and educators have seen and/or experienced.
A concern of mine, which has been exacerbated by the Covid situation, centers around young people’s diminished capacity to handle everyday stressors. Some of the reasons for this might be excessive computer time, separation from peers, academic pressure and a distorted view that says “you can’t make mistakes”. We need to enter into good and healthy discussions (preferably in person) which tells students it’s OK to risk a few errors on the way to greater understanding.
The recent release of the state’s RICAS scores indicates a significant drop in student’s Math and English skills mastery. Many reasons will be offered – distance learning, blended models, school closings, etc., etc. While these should all be factored in, so must social and emotional competencies. Kids who are unprepared in terms of normal maturation are most likely finding transitioning to a higher degree of school expectations somewhat challenging. I am worried that we will begin to ‘pile it’ on regarding schoolwork in an effort to catch up. The new fad seems to be addressing Learning Loss by adding more work. This could have negative effects.