Last weekend, I was in a circle of friends who gathered to honor a 17-year-old young man’s transition out of high school— into the great beyond. Over a two-hour period, I watched James move from initial discomfort to delight and relief as he was recognized for the passage he was making. As James was showered […]
In our world, there is a pervasive emphasis on achievement, outcomes, growth, and strategies. With school change work, we often see a kind of “turnaround” mentality— where there is an expectation that when we implement or “roll out” a program or initiative, we will see immediate results. As part of this approach to change, educators […]
We are currently living in a tense social and political climate, with a great deal of polarization within our communities. With so much change and daily turmoil in the news, students are not only managing their own personal stress about school, family, and growing up- they are also having to negotiate their questions and concerns […]
Modeling and teaching cultural responsiveness is an essential ingredient in creating an inclusive, relationship-based classroom in which all students thrive. With every student demographic, this approach develops critical skills and awareness that relate directly to learning outcomes and students’ capacity for success in a global culture and workplace. Geneva Gay (2000), in her book Culturally Responsive […]
The days grow shorter, the season shifts, and we turn now towards the final months of 2015. This time of year can be both joyous and stressful for teachers and students alike—as calendars fill with everything from holiday events, to mid-term exams, to semester end projects and report cards. Emotions can run high –as the […]
The beginning of summer is upon us! For many, this is a time of celebration and excitement—as we watch our students transition and graduate. As we prepare to take a break from the pace and rhythm of the school year, it is easy to simply go leaping into the summer without really intentionally closing the […]
One of the most challenging aspects of teaching is the ongoing practice of establishing respectful boundaries while cultivating and maintaining an open heart. I am reminded of a high school teacher in a workshop in the Midwest, who, when we described the foundations of Social and Emotional Learning exclaimed—“I feel like you are trying to […]
7 out of 10 teachers have a student currently in their classroom who is grieving Recently, I was working at a school that had been experiencing a tremendous amount of loss in their community—illness, the death of family members, divorce. On one of my consulting days, a 3rd grade teacher Sarah and I had planned […]
The new year can be a powerful time to intentionally address our classroom culture and “re-set” for the second semester. Part of our jobs as educators is to help students better understand their diverse identities and communities and become more comfortable and confident in interactions with others—especially those people they perceive as being different from […]
The end-of-the-year holidays are upon us! Along with the celebratory activities of this time of year come increased stressors and pressure—from finals and end of the year grades, to social events and family gatherings. Students and teachers alike can experience a complex set of emotions and states (agitation, joy, sadness, inability to focus) related to […]
