TL;DR: Teach problem-solving through engaging challenges in middle school career technical education. Daily prompts require students to restate problems in their own words before attempting solutions. Shift from large projects to 1 to 2-day mini-challenges, enhancing student engagement and managing activities more effectively. One of the skills I’ve noticed that many students struggle with is problem-solving. Often, when you give … Read More
Food for Thought: Brussels Sprouts and Change
TL;DR: Just as Brussels sprouts changed, so can people and ideas. Don’t be so quick to dismiss something or someone because of one bad experience. Give grace to students, staff, parents, and the community. It isn’t very often that I can pinpoint, to the exact day, the very first time I tried a particular food for the first time. But … Read More
Parent and Educator Roles in Smartphone Use
TL;DR: Encourage open conversations, set clear screen time boundaries, monitor content, and be role models for responsible phone use to support teens’ mental health. Establish classroom policies, engage students in discussions about these rules, provide non-screen alternatives, and consistently enforce the policies to create phone-free learning environments. Parents and educators working together can mitigate the negative impact of excessive phone … Read More
A Growth Mindset Transforms Educational Leadership
TL;DR: Principals are key to shaping school culture and fostering resilience, adaptability, and continuous improvement in their teams. Emphasizing learning from challenges boosts educators’ impact on students; strategies include leading by example and celebrating progress. Cultivating a thriving learning community relies on nurturing resilience, improvement, collaboration, and student success. As a school principal, one of your most influential roles is … Read More
Lost and Found: Honor and Remember Your Loved Ones
TL;DR: November 1st marks a special day for various groups to honor their loved ones who have passed away. Suzanne shares her personal experience with grief and how she’s found ways to honor and remember her loved ones. The key message is to bring the qualities you loved about the people you’ve lost back into the world through your actions … Read More