What’s the Most Valuable Currency for Kids?
The currency for our country is the dollar. But the currency for kids is time. And when we invest time into kids, they start to realize how much they really …
Schools Don’t Need Another Stinkin’ Program!
Schools don’t need more programs. Programs have agendas. And when everything has an agenda we start forgetting about the purpose. Programs aren’t the solution. People are! Schools don’t need another: …
Build Rooted Relationships in Schools with These 20 Ideas
People often say education is broken, but I don’t think that’s true. I believe education is simply evolving into something beautiful. No longer are reading, writing, and arithmetic the foundations …
Do Kids Need More Information or Do Kids Need More Love?
Do kids need more information or do kids need more love? Because, I don’t know about you, but I always enjoyed learning information from people I loved. There is a …
Bring Classroom Camaraderie and SEL to the Next Level with This!
Looking for fun, engaging SEL activities? Searching for ways to get kids talking and participating? Wanting to be strong relationships with your students? Exploring ways to laugh while you learn …
The Best SEL Curriculum for Your Students & School
Make Your SEL & Morning Meeting Planning SO much Easier! To be honest, sometime SEL feels like “one more thing” even though we know in our teacher hearts that it …
THIS is What Kids Need More (The Answer May Surprise You)
Sometimes kids need our hugs and high-fives more than our advice and opinions. SEL isn’t complicated. SEL is about connections. High fives have changed this year. Hugs have changed this …
Is School Really About Curriculum and Content?
School isn’t all about learning content. It’s about having students figure out what the content will mean for them in their lives. And in order for that learning to take …
The Real Reason Kids Come to School
Here is a big, bold, beautiful reality about why kids come to school: Kids don’t enjoy going to school because they love information. Kids enjoy going to school because they …
The 3 Pillars of SEL: Social-Emotional Learning
If this year has proven anything it’s that our kids are not connected to buildings, they are connected to people. But our kids need more than just connection. They …
March Madness REMIX For Relationships
March Madness isn’t just about basketball! I’ve got a list of question for you teacher friend! Looking for fun, engaging SEL activities? Searching for ways to get kids talking and …
SEL- Not Just Another Educational Acronym
There have been lots of questions about what I’m teaching this year. In the midst of everything going on last spring a big announcement happened during a big pandemic. So …
Bosco Sticks: The Building Blocks of Schools
Bosco sticks. Bosco sticks the building blocks of schools and I truly mean that. You might be thinking, “Wait girl! I don’t even know what a Bosco stick is…” And …
Episode 18: Wilkie Law
Episode 18 features Wilkie Law, a beat dropper, fire dancer, and a champion teacher. Check out Wilkie’s awesome ideas as he dishes out two quick tips on consistency, student voice, …
The TED Talk of My Life
On Saturday, November 10th I gave my very 1st TED Talk. This has been a dream of mine for years and I still can’t believe it really happened. In one of my …
Episode 8: Luke Davies
Episode 8 is with Luke Davies, an awesome dude all the way from England. He is a learning mentor whose number one job is to support students! Check out Luke’s …
Beanboozeled: The Ultimate Way to Bring People Together
‘Tis the season for school morale to decrease. Most educators would describe this time as crazy and chaotic. Maybe it’s because of the weather. Maybe it’s because of standardized tests. …
Game Shows Aren’t Just For Grandmas
I LOVE game shows! Maybe that makes me 65 years old, but I just can’t help myself. A bucket-list item for my life was to appear on a game show. …
RtI: Relationships Totally Influence
With the start of 3rd Quarter comes the start of a new enrichment cycle. The word enrichment or RtI often causes teachers to cringe, roll their eyes, moan, or a …
School is like a Box of Chocolates
I have a confession to make… I re-gifted something FROM a student TO my students. Is that bad? …. Upon further reflection, I don’t think it’s bad. In fact, I …
Tying Us all Together
Schools are created to be a tremendous learning environment. Schools teach math, science, reading, and so many other great subjects. But my favorite thing to teach is life. I LOVE …
The Holiday Family Dinner
Food brings people together. It doesn’t really matter if it is a feast or a snack, when people share conversations over food something really special happens. One of the most …
The Epicness of White Elephant
Nothing says happy holidays quite like a Ziploc bag of ketchup packets. This past week my advisory family celebrated the end of 2017 with a little white elephant gift exchange. …
Field Trips Can be Wonderful
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit through a movie in a dark theater with 132 middle school students? I can explain that situation in one …
If You Really Knew Me: Thankfulness
I have a huge extended family. It consists of 130 7th graders. We don’t sit around a dinning room table and eat turkey together. That kind of meal makes tummy …