TL;DR: An awakening about what our students really need right now. Encouragement during this time of uncertainty. Coming back stronger and better because we cared. I miss you. Those words from my second graders this week on a video call went straight to my heart. Right now, we are all settling into a new “normal,” but one thing that we … Read More
It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
In This Post: The one thing every single person has in common! Schools are neighborhoods & communities. Ideas to build relationships with students & colleagues. Going the Extra Mile To say the weather here in New Jersey has been a roller coaster the past few weeks would be an understatement. Last weekend it was unseasonably warm, with temps hovering around … Read More
3 Ways for Educators to Make the Holiday Break More Meaningful
In This Post: The importance of using our holiday break time to recharge, professionally and personally. Three ways to have a more meaningful holiday break. Let’s face it. Teaching is tough, which can lead to stress — especially for teachers who are constantly striving to teach better. Studies show that burnout and trauma associated with teaching are so emotionally taxing that it … Read More
How to Fight Mental Illness Through Authenticity
In This Post: Authenticity is a growing necessity in education, for both teachers and students. A job may be just a job, but teaching is more than that; it’s a work of love and sacrifice. Although there are certain things we must temper when we are in front of our students, the inherent qualities that define who we are must … Read More
The Simple Way to Reach Behaviorally Challenging Students
In this Post: Managing behaviors in the classroom can actually be pretty simple. Every teacher is capable of managing behaviors in their classroom. When we think about behavior, we tend to think about rules and consequences, but it’s not about that. Our classroom expectations need to be generalized to the real world. Setting effective expectations is the one thing that … Read More