When working with educators on infusing SEL, many often tell me, “I already do this.” What they mean, more specifically, is that they infuse social emotional learning via their SOCIAL INTERACTIONS with students. 

When asked if they explicitly tell their students which SEL skills...

When I was a classroom teacher and had heard of social emotional learning, my original thought was that it was all about relationships with students. The more I investigated the research, specifically from CASEL, the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning, I realized there were...

As educators, we know that when there is an extended break from the classroom, it is wise to spend time the first day back re-acclimating to our class routines, norms, and each other. It is also helpful as this may be when new students enter your classroom while others may move out. 

If...

This past weekend, I revisited my favorite location for an acupuncture treatment. During the conversation with the doctor, I mentioned that I had visited Hawaii. In the months since I had last been there, for “whatever” reason, I was incredibly creative after my return. 

Since...

In October, I facilitated a session on Reaching Students Who Are Experiencing Poverty in Illinois. We discussed how poverty impacts the brain and learning. We explored ways teachers can foster positive relationships with families and students experiencing poverty. In addition, we examined...

Three days ago, one of my teenage boys asked me if I had heard that Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) was a guest on InfoWars. This far-right-wing political site espouses conspiracy theories and promotes non-factual news.

I had not known this, but I knew that Ye had been using his platform to...

Last week, I worked with educators in Illinois on “Reaching and Teaching Students Experiencing Poverty.”  As with every session related to topics that ask participants to share and reflect on their own experiences, I explained four agreements that I felt would enhance our ability...

We all know that one of the foundational characteristics of a healthy relationship is trust. But how often do we talk about it - especially with students? We want to know that we can trust our students to

• - act appropriately when there is a substitute teacher,
• - make good decisions in the...

Three weeks ago, Craig and I had the great pleasure of interviewing Jodi Friedman for the SELinEDU podcast. I admire Jodi’s work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as an assistant principal, and our conversation centered around taking care of those around us. We also discussed personal...

One of my kiddos is writing his essay for the Common App for colleges.

He came out of his bedroom to tell me that the app recommended that they not end with "...and they all lived happily ever after."

I laughed and said, "Learning doesn't always end with, 'and they all lived happily ever.'"

And...