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The Advocate Podcast: Amplifying Voices. Challenging Systems. Prioritizing Children.

The Advocate Podcast: Amplifying Voices. Challenging Systems. Prioritizing Children.

By: Dr. Kristi N. Love
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About this listen

The Advocate Podcast centers real stories from social media to help parents, educators, and communities advocate for children with wisdom, courage, and compassion. Hosted by Dr. Kristi N. Love, the podcast challenges harmful narratives while offering restorative, equity-centered perspectives that lead to understanding and change.

© 2026 The Advocate Podcast: Amplifying Voices. Challenging Systems. Prioritizing Children.
Episodes
  • Passing, But Not Prepared: The Truth About Grades
    Apr 29 2026

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    Are passing grades really a sign of success… or just a sign students are getting through?

    In this episode, we take an honest look at a growing concern in education:

    👉 Students who are passing… but not truly understanding
    👉 Grades that don’t always reflect mastery
    👉 And a system that sometimes prioritizes completion over comprehension

    Through real classroom experiences, personal reflection, and insights from educational theory, including the work of Paulo Freire, this episode explores the gap between performing in school and actually being prepared for life beyond it.

    You’ll hear:

    • Why compliance is not the same as comprehension
    • How students can “do school” without truly learning
    • The impact of rushed instruction and surface-level understanding
    • A powerful personal story about hidden gaps in learning
    • And why meaningful feedback matters—even when answers are correct

    This conversation is for educators, parents, and anyone invested in student success.

    Because at the end of the day…

    👉 The real question isn’t “Did they pass?”
    👉 It’s “Are they prepared?

    Connect With Me

    To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.

    • Facebook Group: TheAdvocate
    • Instagram: @TheAdvocateDr.Love
    • Email: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
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    16 mins
  • If Not Traditional Grading… Then What?: Making Sense of Fair Grading
    Apr 22 2026

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    What actually makes a grade fair, and what happens when we mix learning, behavior, and completion into one number?

    In this episode, we go beyond traditional grading debates and get into the real questions educators and parents are asking right now: Should students be allowed to retest? How do we fairly grade homework when access and home environments vary? And what role does AI play in whether homework even reflects true learning?

    We also explore why some schools are shifting grading scales (like the 50 minimum) and moving toward standards-based grading, and why changing numbers alone doesn’t solve the deeper issue.

    A major focus of this conversation is clarity: grades should reflect academic mastery, not behavior, effort, or circumstances outside of learning. So what does accountability look like if it’s not tied to grades?

    This episode challenges assumptions, invites reflection, and pushes us to ask a bigger question:

    Are our grading systems measuring what students know or everything around it?

    A must-listen for educators, parents, and anyone rethinking what fairness in education really means.

    Connect With Me

    To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.

    • Facebook Group: TheAdvocate
    • Instagram: @TheAdvocateDr.Love
    • Email: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • Grading or Gatekeeping? What Are We Really Measuring in Schools?
    Apr 15 2026

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    What if the way we grade students is not actually measuring what they know?

    In this episode, we take a deep look at traditional grading practices and ask hard but necessary questions about equity, accuracy, and student learning.

    From the 0–100 grading scale and how a single zero can distort achievement, to late penalties, extra credit, and assignments that don’t always reflect mastery, we explore how grades can sometimes measure compliance more than understanding.

    I also share a personal experience as a parent that challenged my perspective on grading and learning, along with reflections on how we support students who are struggling, and those who may be passing without being fully prepared for what comes next.

    We also talk about:

    • Why behavior and academic achievement should be separated
    • The problem with averaging scores over time
    • Why re-teaching and reassessing matters for true mastery
    • And how instructional decisions should be driven by data, not just grades in a gradebook

    This is a conversation for educators, parents, and anyone who cares about student success beyond the report card.

    Are our grading practices telling the truth about learning or are they gatekeeping opportunity?

    Let’s talk about it.

    Connect With Me

    To submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.

    • Facebook Group: TheAdvocate
    • Instagram: @TheAdvocateDr.Love
    • Email: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
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