TL;DR: Build trusting relationships at all levels of your school community by creating safe relationships for students, establishing advisory programs, encouraging parent volunteers, and checking in with teachers. Improve emotional health by starting each day with a welcoming or inclusion activity, embedding engagement strategies, and end with an optimistic closing and time for reflection. Every person in this country has … Read More
Relationships Matter
TL;DR: When you hold a leadership position, not only do relationships matter, but they are the most important thing. When we are stressed, we lean on those we trust. This is the first post in a new series: Better Coaching. “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything” – George Bernard Shaw. In … Read More
Ensuring Safety for Your Students
TL;DR: The pandemic has caused many challenges, making safety an issue for students in impoverished areas. Ensuring safety for our students is a necessary foundation for anything else we want to accomplish with them. It has been several months since we’ve been able to greet our students as they walk through our classroom doors. I think we can all agree … Read More
The Role of Socializing in Adolescent Development
TL;DR: Socializing is an important factor in adolescent development. Emotional health impacts one’s physical health. Technology has both positive and negative uses, so be mindful of how your students are utilizing it. It’s important for everyone to still socialize in a variety of ways, as long as staying safe is a priority. “Both/And” Thinking is a more positive perspective than … Read More
Toxic Positivity at School
TL;DR: Toxic positivity does more harm than good. Having a purely positive mindset is a privilege, and does not reflect everyone’s realities. It is important to be realistic about the situations and emotions that are present. Telling students to see the glass as half full will not wash away their anxieties. Welcome to Teach Beyond! A few weeks ago, I … Read More
