Why is it that we feel so much comfort when someone says, “I feel your pain,” “I get it,” “I know what that is like,” or “I’ve been there. I know it’s hard.” These phrases transform our perception from ‘I am suffering alone’ to ‘Someone who cares about me understands this pain.’ Empathy is a dying trait and one the world desperately needs to have come back. How did we get here? And how do we bring...
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Have you ever had a class where, for whatever reason, you and the class didn’t feel connected like you’ve experienced before? Or perhaps you’ve taught at a school where the leadership and staff were not in sync? It’s not pleasant. What if you could intentionally create that “in-sync” experience with your class or staff? And what if you knew how to use it to improve student behavior, attitude, and ...
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Your Classroom Might Be Slowing the Learning! Where do you look for guidance on ensuring your classroom is set up for optimal learning? Pinterest will show you some really pretty classrooms, but the scientific research will direct you to the BIG 3 – the three factors in your classroom that significantly impact student learning. Lean in for the breakdown of TWO of these three factors. No matter wha...
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It’s that time again! Time to look in the mirror and see what impact YOU are making. No one likes to give their all to something and not know if their efforts were worthwhile. Not me, not you, and not even your students. Being able to look in the mirror and ask, “MIRROR, MIRROR on the wall, am I making a difference AT ALL?” is a HUGE gift-giving habit. It brings reassurance, confidence, and … well...
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Would Your Students Describe Your Classroom as Boring or Chaotic? “This month seems like a lost cause for learning.” Have you heard someone say something like that before? I’ve got an idea for you this month to keep you green and growing all the way till the school year’s over. It’s never too late to try something new that can boost student learning. This is a great time of the school year for an ...
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In the classic children’s TV series, Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, viewers are swept away to a Land of Make Believe – a utopian neighborhood created by their red cardigan-wearing host, Mr. Rogers. Before you take off your sneakers, slip into your slippers, and fully commit to his infamous question, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” there are some things you need to know about the impact your neighb...
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It’s Time to Do a Simple Experiment at Work; Have you ever tried to start a new exercise routine, only to quit a week or two into it? Or had the best of intentions to give students more frequent and specific feedback, but never got it jumpstarted? Believe it or not – even the best of intentions and motivation only get you so far … and in many cases it’s not very far. The key to successful habit fo...
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During the summer we celebrated our twins 13th birthday with an intentional trip to and around the Grand Canyon. Biking around the south rim, hummer riding through the red rocks of Sedona, and kayaking on Lake Powell through Antelope Canyon were highlights for each of us. Because we wanted this trip to be informative, inspirational and enjoyable, my husband, Doug, and I did research before we tr...
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If your sole source of information about the effects of marijuana use is pop culture (via YouTube, the media, and celebrity statements), it can be easy to assume that pot is simply a harmless drug that mellows people out. After all, how bad can it be if it is prescribed as medicine? Plus, there is a growing national trend to legalize recreational marijuana. All this can lead to the belief that ...
Read More »In a 2015 article for Time Magazine, college professor Tim Spiker listed his top 15 tips for high school graduates headed to college. Before I share some of his list, it is the idea behind the course I teach for 7th graders entitled Strategies for Learning, Research and Writing. The idea, in form of a question, goes something like this, “What skills do students need to thrive in academic settings?...
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