When a student has a parent or family member who’s incarcerated, the emotional ripple effect can be huge. As teachers, we might not always know what’s happening at home, but we can usually feel it,...
Read MoreIf you’ve ever caught yourself humming while tidying up, driving, or grading papers, you’ve probably noticed something. It feels good. You might not realize it, but that tiny act of humming is actually a built-in...
Read MoreIf you’ve been in the classroom long enough, you’ve probably encountered a moment where a student’s sense of entitlement makes your head spin. Maybe it’s a child who insists on a different set of rules...
Read MoreThis post includes affiliate links. If you’ve been teaching for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard some version of this message: “Good teachers give it all.” Stay late. Spend your own money. Answer emails...
Read MoreThis post contains affiliate links. If you’ve been in the classroom longer than a week, chances are you’ve heard it: “I hate school.” Maybe it’s whispered under the breath after a rough math lesson. Sometimes...
Read MoreOur teacher hearts have all broken from this all too familiar sight – the student sitting alone at lunch. The one wandering the edge of the playground during recess. The one who never seems to...
Read MoreEvery school has students who need time and space to regulate before they can return to learning. The problem is that too often, “taking a break” looks like wandering the halls or being sent out...
Read MoreThis post contains affiliate links. If you’ve ever tried to get a student to open up after a tough moment, you know it rarely works to sit them down and ask, “So what happened?” Most...
Read MorePicture this: a huge piece of paper stretched across a hallway wall, filled with black-and-white outlines of animals, nature scenes, or doodles. Throughout the day, students stop by with a crayon in hand, color in...
Read MoreSocial and Emotional Learning (SEL) isn’t new, but lately, the conversation around it has gotten loud, political, and, frankly, confusing. What used to be widely seen as common-sense teaching (helping kids manage emotions, work with...
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