TL;DR: The game Beep Baseball is geared towards individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Beep Baseball is played with a 16-inch softball equipped with electronics that allow the ball to beep. The goal of the game is for the pitcher to get the batter to connect with the ball, not strike out the player. An interview with Dan Kelley, … Read More
Psychological First Aid: Needed Now More Than Ever
TL;DR: Psychological first aid addresses immediate needs and teaches coping skills, and is just as important as physical first aid. If you notice someone in distress, look, listen, and link are the three steps to follow. Tips for sleeping well and reducing anger are shared. Many of us have taken some kind of first aid class growing up, whether it … Read More
Finding the Slack to Unlock Upstream Thinking
TL;DR: Reflecting on a book study of Upstream: How to Solve Problems Before They Happen by Dan Heath, and the educational impacts of the book. Upstream thinking involves addressing problems before they even begin. When we focus all of our attention and energy on the problems right in front of us, our ability to plan and organize is diminished. Instead … Read More
We Are the Change
TL;DR: This post provides motivation for educators as they begin one of the most challenging years in their career. Your students need you. Let them motivate you to overcome any obstacles. Introducing the Essential Skills Better blog series! We Are the Change: Making the Year a Success As the new school year begins and we welcome our kids back, we can’t … Read More
The Dream Team: Finding Your People In Education
TL;DR: 10 tips to finding your people in education, including doing what is best for students, taking risks, being positive, planning and following through, and respecting others’ ideas. Having the support of colleagues can help encourage you to take more risks. The absolute last thing that someone wants is be involuntarily moved to a new grade level. Trust me, I … Read More