Why Childhood Resilience is Ordinary Magic
We have all heard the quip that kids are “so resilient.” Usually this is said in a meeting right after you’ve watched a student go through something genuinely hard. And while kids are wired for...
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Ways to Teach Perspective Taking
Unfortunately, I am certain that you know that perspective taking is a skill that does not magically appear just because a child can recite the classroom rules. Thaaaat would be too simple. Some kids are...
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A Teacher’s Guide to Co-Regulation
Here is the honest truth about “self-regulation.” Children do not flip an internal switch and suddenly calm down because we told them to (unfortunately – ha). In early and middle childhood, regulation develops through co-regulation,...
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Has Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Been Debunked?
If you’ve ever sat in a PD session about motivation or behavior, you’ve probably seen the pyramid. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is everywhere! The color-coded layers stacked neatly from “basic needs” at the bottom to...
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The Incredible Power of Play in School
Something powerful happens when play shows up in a classroom. The mood shifts. Students relax, start talking, and connect in ways that don’t always happen during a typical lesson. When we lead with curiosity and...
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Supporting Students with Incarcerated Family Members
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,...
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5 Ways to Use Humming to Calm Your Classroom
If 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...
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When Entitlement Shows Up in the Classroom
If 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...
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The Martyr Teacher Myth
This 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...
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When a Student Says, “I Hate School”
This 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...
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