Media Advisory: UW–Madison experts can address back-to-school topics

As parents, students and teachers prepare for the upcoming school year, these University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty members are ready to provide expertise on a variety of subjects.

SOCIAL MEDIA USE

What’s the right age for a child to have a smartphone? What rules work best for parents and schools to guide young people to safe and healthy use of social media? When a child goes off to college, should parents still be Facebook friends or Instagram followers? Bradford Brown, a professor with the Department of Educational Psychology, can offer advice on tweens’ and teens’ use of social media. Contact: bbbrown@wisc.edu.

HIT THE BOOKS

Mitchell Nathan, a professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the School of Education, can talk about effective learning and which study techniques work best, including the benefits of taking practice tests and spreading study sessions out over time instead of cramming. Contact: mnathan@wisc.edu.

COUNTDOWN TO KINDERGARTEN (AND 4K)

As a parent, one day you’re changing diapers … and the next thing you know your little baby is ready to march off to school for that first year of formal education. It can be a bit of a scary time for kids — and their parents. Beth Graue, UW–Madison’s Sorenson Professor of Early Childhood Education, is a former kindergarten teacher and an expert on kindergarten and 4K practice, readiness and home-school relations who can offer tips on how to make this big transition go more smoothly. She directs the Center for Research on Early Childhood Education within the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. Contact: beth.graue@wisc.edu.

FAMILY-SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS

Parents and educators share essential roles in promoting children’s social, emotional and behavioral competencies. However, initiating family-school connections and navigating a collaborative family-school relationship can be challenging, and yet greatly rewarding. Andy Garbacz, an associate professor with the Department of Educational Psychology, can offer strategies for building collaborative family-school relationships that can support children in developing social, emotional and behavioral competencies. Contact: sgarbacz@wisc.edu.