The Power of Attention Contagion
Have you ever been in the middle of a lesson, fully immersed in teaching, only to notice that one distracted student has somehow pulled the whole class off course? You’re not imagining it—it’s real, and...
Read MoreWhy Behavior and SEL IEP Goals Take 700 Years to Write
There are some IEP goals I can write pretty quickly. If I have good baseline data and a clear area of need, I can usually figure out where I want a student to go with...
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Why Taking Away Recess is Not the Move
I know – we have ALL been there. A student acts out, disrupts the class, or just doesn’t listen. And you’re thinking, “No recess today. That’ll teach them!” It seems like a logical consequence, right?...
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Supporting Kids Understanding of Fairness
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Fairness matters to kids. You’ve probably seen it play out in your classroom countless times: a child gets a slightly smaller piece of paper for an art project, or...
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Flexible Thinking Made Fun
Ever had a student melt down because you changed the seating chart? Or seen someone freeze when a project didn’t go the way they expected? That’s where cognitive flexibility—or the lack of it—comes in. Flexible...
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10 Books about Anger for your Bookshelf
This post contains affiliate links. We all often encounter students grappling with big emotions, especially anger. Integrating thoughtfully selected picture books into our teaching can provide children with relatable scenarios and practical strategies to navigate...
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Supporting Students with the RAIN Strategy
It’s no surprise that students face a wide range of emotions and challenges that can make it difficult for them to focus on learning. For teachers, one of the most important tasks is helping students...
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5 Reasons to Use SEL Skills Presentation Decks
Classrooms are environments where students learn more than just math, science, and reading. Today, it’s about preparing our students to navigate reality, and that includes fostering emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and relationship-building skills. It’s about equipping...
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Vicarious Trauma: Understanding It and Practical Strategies for Teachers
I already know you’re more than just a teacher. You are a counselor, role model, mediator, and sometimes even a stand-in parent. You give so much of yourself to your students every day, and because...
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What is Trauma Informed Mindfulness?
It’s not hard to notice that we’re seeing more and more students carrying emotional and mental health challenges into the classroom. Whether it’s trauma from personal experiences, school difficulties, challenges from difficult home environments, or...
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Understanding Aggressive Behavior in the Classroom
We’ve all been there—dealing with that one student whose aggressive behavior throws the entire day off track. It’s tough, not just because it’s disruptive, but because it takes an emotional toll on everyone. When a...
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