064: The Hidden Lesson in a "D" Aug 29, 2025

My middle son took Organic Chemistry (Orgo) 1 and 2 last year at Villanova. He’s a civil engineering major, but he loves chemistry, and he’s worked in the chemistry lab on campus for the past two years.

He got a C in Orgo 1 and a D+ in Orgo 2.

When...

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063: More Than a Feeling: Moving from Empathy to Compassionate Action Aug 26, 2025

It was February 2020. A dear friend and I had just settled into our seats on a New York City subway to see a Broadway show. Across from us sat a man, alone in the center of a nearly empty row. He was hunched over, his gaze fixed on the grimy floor be...

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062: Feeding the Right Wolf: Lessons from Karate Kid, Old and New Aug 13, 2025

I just watched the newest Karate Kid: Legends, and it instantly transported me back to my childhood.

I couldn’t help but remember when the original Karate Kid came out. Daniel LaRusso moved to Reseda, California, from Newark, New Jersey, while I onl...

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061: Grass Remembers: A Lesson for Life and Learning Aug 05, 2025

“How the patterns we create shape the way we grow”

When I was in college, summer breaks often meant working alongside my father, a landscaper. My brothers, sister, and mom placed bets on how long I’d last - manual labor, scorching heat, long pants, ...

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060: Micro-Resets, Macro-Impact: Teaching SEL Without Scripts Aug 05, 2025

When I taught 11th-grade U.S. history, one of the classes was deep in a primary‑source analysis about the Harlem Renaissance.

Halfway through, I could feel the room tilting. Two groups were quietly shutting down, one was off‑task, and tension was ri...

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059: You Don’t Have to Do It All: SEL and the Power of Small Steps Jul 27, 2025

When the Common Core literacy standards were first introduced, my immediate reaction was: No way.

I became a social studies teacher for a reason. I didn’t want to teach grammar. I didn’t want to focus on writing mechanics. That was for the ELA teach...

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058: Addressing the Cause, Not Just the Symptom Feb 08, 2025

How many times did I get irritated today because I had to wipe water off the back of my phone after setting it down on the sink... 

before I finally just dried off the ledge?

(Hint: TOO many!!)


How often do we get frustrated by the same recurring ...

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057: Helping Students Recognize When They Need A Brain Break May 03, 2024

As the testing season approaches, I partnered with the amazing @Jenny_Orr on a mini-project to help students recognize when they need a brain break.

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056: Re-grouping Students to Create a Connected Community of Learners relationship skills responsible decision-making sel Apr 01, 2024

 As educators, we understand the profound impact a sense of community can have on student engagement, learning outcomes, and overall well-being. A classroom environment prioritizes community-building and fosters collaboration, empathy, and a supporti...

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055: Unveiling Awe: Discovering the Depths of Human Experience in Normandy responsible decision-making self-awareness social awareness Mar 03, 2024

Dr. Barbara Fredrickson eloquently defines awe as an encounter where one is "overwhelmed by greatness." In the picturesque landscapes of Normandy, France, I discovered firsthand the transformative power of awe.

In 2007, I embarked on a memorable jou...

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053: Empowerment: Defining an Essential SEL Term c a s e l empowerment s e l words May 25, 2023

Lately, I’ve been thinking about impactful social emotional learning skills considered essential in human growth and development for a productive, healthy life - terms like respect, accountability, and empowerment. These terms are not listed in CASEL...

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052: Empowering Student Leaders: Building A Leadership Academy to Promote Student Voice and Agency behavior c a s e l developmental relationships leadership May 11, 2023

One of the things I'm most proud of during my teaching career occurred while I worked in the district was the opportunity to co-create a student leadership organization with two of my very dear friends. 

I served six years as a high school Student A...

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