7 Practical Tools to Enhance Executive Functioning in the Classroom
CategoriesAs defined by Understood, executive function is “The ability to organize cognitive processes. This includes the ability to plan ahe...
Weaving Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into Your Teaching Practices
CategoriesMy grandmother, a former teacher, recently passed away (July 11, 2019) - living a full and active life of 105 years. She was my inspiration for becom...
Trust, Safety, Challenge, and Joy: Fostering a Classroom Culture Ideal for Collaboration
CategoriesAs teachers we’re encouraged to work together and share expertise, energy, and inspiration with the common goal of increasing student engagement and success in our schools. Research supports...
Social and Emotional Learning Part 5 of 5: Responsible Decision-Making
CategoriesResponsible decision-making is the fifth of the five components of social and emotional learning (SEL). (Click on the links for teaching strategies designed to support your students with the other...
Social and Emotional Learning Part 4 of 5: 5 Strategies to Improve Relationship Skills in the Classroom
CategoriesMaintaining friendships, asking for help, working cooperatively, etc. - interpersonal skills are a critical component of the development of children. When students demonstrate strong relationship s...
Social and Emotional Learning Part 3 of 5: Social Awareness Strategies in the Classroom
CategoriesWelcome to part 3 of our social and emotional learning (SEL) series - today’s focus: social awareness! (Head over to our blog archives for parts 1 and 2 which address
Social and Emotional Learning - Part 2 of 5: Self-Awareness Strategies in the Classroom
CategoriesWelcome to part 2 of our social and emotional learning (SEL) series. Let’s begin with a brief review. SEL involves teaching five core competencies to students in grades K–12: self-aware...
Social and Emotional Learning- Part 1 of 5: Self-Management Strategies in the Classroom
CategoriesHappy 2019! Are you staying on track with your New Year’s resolutions? As I type, I have a large glass of water next to my mouse, and I am resisting the strong temptation of the remaining Chr...
Promoting Positive Behaviors: There’s a Children’s Book for That
CategoriesWhen working with students on kindness, empathy, friendship, and other positive behaviors, sometimes the characters from children’s stories say it best:
“No act of kindness, n...
Addressing Back-to-School Anxiety: An Interview with a Veteran School Psychologist
CategoriesAs a teacher with summers “off”, August has always felt like a long Sunday. June is the excitement of a Friday with the whole weekend ahead. July is a Saturday with plenty of time to re...
3 Steps Educators Can Take Toward Suicide Prevention Among Youth
CategoriesSuicide touches everyone, in one way or another. Perhaps you welcomed Anthony Bourdain into your liv...
Mindfulness: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Classroom
CategoriesImagine coming to your neighborhood middle school one morning to find three dead bodies dumped in the schoolyard. This is exactly what students experienced one morning when coming to Visitacion Val...