Why Schools Need Trauma-Informed In-School Suspension

Johnathan CranfordBlog, Leadership

TL;DR: Traditional in-school suspension (ISS) remains ineffective, sharing negative outcomes with out-of-school suspension. It also correlates with a greater than 25% chance of standardized test failure. Trauma-Informed In-School Suspension (ISS) is proposed as a more successful alternative, emphasizing four pillars: safety, transparency, collaboration, and empowerment. This approach, seen in rare “unicorn” ISS programs, offers structured consequences while providing academic and … Read More

How Are Your EGBs?

Suzanne DaileyBlog, Leadership, Self-Care, Teach Happier

TL;DR: December marks basketball season for our family, with our son playing for multiple teams. A lesson in leadership from basketball benches: It’s not just about on-court performance; it’s about Energy Generating Behaviors (EGBs). Examples from UConn and Mizzou show how small actions, like supporting teammates, listening actively, and cheering create impactful leadership, applicable beyond the court—relevant for classrooms and … Read More

Kids Do Better When They Can

Bobbie FrenchBlog, Classroom Management, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Welcome to a new blog series to discuss which practices support students best. Let’s look at the social and emotional skills of our students. Kids do better when they can. Let’s explicitly teach them the skills they need to grow. Be consistent with expectations. Ask for clarification before correcting a student. I’m excited to begin this new journey with … Read More

Creating Norms with My Students Changed My Classroom

Carrie LaRueBlog, Classroom Management

TL;DR: Students really do want ownership in how their classroom runs. When they understand the why behind expectations, they can value those even when they don’t agree with them. Mutual trust is a necessary component before students can reliably set and follow their own norms. Creating Norms with My Students Changed My Classroom For 16 years, most of the students … Read More

Rule-Breakers & Risk-Takers

Sanam EdwardsBlog, Classroom Management

TL;DR: We’ve noticed recently how often adults don’t follow the rules. Treat students with compassion when they break rules. We ought to produce a generation of ‘risk-takers’ who understand how to analyze their decisions and understand consequences. Uncharted Territory School has just moved back on-campus for us despite a bloom of COVID cases. It feels like we’re entering unchartered territory … Read More