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September 9, 2025 4 mins

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In this heartwarming and humorous episode of Let’s Talk Teacher to Teacher, Dr. Gina Pepin shares the story of a second grader who proudly announced, “I have three dads!” after seeing a picture of their speech and language pathologist’s very tall family. What started as giggles about height turned into a powerful reminder of the diverse ways students define family.

Through this spontaneous moment of storytelling, Dr. Gina highlights how authentic connections spark literacy, belonging, and voice—without the need for a worksheet or prompt. Listeners will walk away inspired to honor student narratives, embrace family diversity, and recognize everyday classroom conversations as literacy in action.

✨ Takeaways:

  • Why listening matters more than prompting
  • How oral storytelling builds literacy skills
  • Ways to celebrate the families who shape our students

Check out more at www.ginapepin.com

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Welcome back to Let's Talk Teacher to Teacher,
where we share the real storiesfrom our schools, the ones that
remind us why we do this work.
I'm Dr.
Gina Pepin, a literacyspecialist and a proud collector

(00:22):
of these hilarious, heartfeltthings that kids say.
Today's episode is is titled, MyThree Dads.
Listening to the stories thatshape our students.
And yes, this one starts with avery tall twist.
So it all began with a picture.
We were looking at photos duringa morning meeting, pictures of

(00:43):
staff and their families.
One caught everyone's attention.
Our speech and languagepathologist was standing with
her husband and their twoextremely tall sons, both six
foot eight.
They were towering over her likegentle giants.
Naturally, the room explodedwith second grade commentary.

(01:04):
Whoa, that's like taller than adoor.
Can they fit in cars?
Do they eat like a hundredpancakes?
And then one student raised hishand and said, totally
unprompted, that's just like me.
I have three dads too.
The room got really quiet and Isaid, three dads?

(01:26):
Tell us more.
And this is what he shared.
I have my first dad, who is myreal dad, and he lets me ride
his four-wheeler.
Then I have my stepdad, wholives with us now.
He makes the best grilled cheeseever.
And my bonus dad is my mom'sfriend.
He's not really a dad, but healways comes to my baseball

(01:46):
games and he buys the bigGatorades.
And just like that, this studentcreated a whole narrative,
humorous, clear, and deeplypersonal, about love, belonging
and how he experiences hisfamily it wasn't part of a
formal lesson there wasn't nowriting prompt no rubric it was

(02:07):
just a moment where a child sawsomething a picture and made a
connection to his life that'strue literacy that's meaning
making and that is voice andhere's what I was reminded of
that day students don't alwayswait for a journal prompt to
tell their story They share whenthey feel safe, seen, and heard.

(02:31):
And if we listen, really listen,we learn more than any
assessment could ever show us.
This child was using orallanguage to shape a personal
narrative, define relationships,and organize his world.
All the building blocks ofpowerful writing and reading
comprehension.

(02:52):
So here's your takeaway thisweek.
Celebrate the family yourstudents come from, no matter
how many dads or moms or bonuspeople they have.
Let students talk.
Let them tell their stories outloud.
Recognize those spontaneousmoments as literacy in action.

(03:13):
And always, always honor theirvoices.
Whether it's four wheelers,grilled cheese, or Gatorade at a
baseball game, these storiesreally matter.
And so do the kids who tellthem.
Thanks for joining me on Let'sTalk Teacher to Teacher.
I'm Dr.
Gina Pepin, reminding you thatbehind every unexpected comment

(03:33):
is a story worth hearing, and ifwe take the time to listen.
Until next time, keepcelebrating the families who
shape your students, and maybekeep an eye out for those
quietly towering 6'8 teens inthose family photos.
Until next time.
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