Into your office stomps an obviously upset fourth grader: his fists are clenched, his face is as red as his shirt, and his body is trembling. What do you say? Here are some ideas for you. Behavior is communication, and it’s not uncommon for kids who have trouble handling emotions to lose control. Just like […]
I’ll never forget the phone call from my best friend, my precious student DeShawn’s kindergarten teacher. She explained, through tears, that DeShawn and his sweet older sister Deja had ridden the bus home from school like they did every day, expecting to see their mom waiting for them at the bus stop. When she wasn’t […]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Family time, cozy fires, hot chocolate, gingerbread houses, sledding…I’m here for all of it! Y’all know that I LOVE incorporating a seasonal flair into my counseling sessions and classroom lessons, and find that it leads to increased student engagement, buy-in, and fun! Just like us, our students […]
“Mrs. O, he skipped me in line!” “Mrs. O, she won’t share the purple crayon!” Sound familiar? I thought so! Teaching students to be peaceful problem-solvers who can confidently address issues themselves (rather than turning to a teacher, ugh tattletaling!) is SO. VERY. CRUCIAL! To empower students to solve small problems, use a two-step process: […]
After a long, hot, and buggy summer here in Nashville, we welcome the fall season with open arms! Y’all know that I LOVE incorporating a seasonal flair into my counseling sessions and classroom lessons, and find that it leads to increased student engagement, buy-in, and fun! Just like us, our students are excited about the […]
Growth mindset, for good reason, has become one of the biggest buzz words and theories in education today. The concept comes from Dr. Carol Dweck’s studies of thousands of children and their attitudes towards failure. In her research, Dr. Dweck noticed that, when faced with failure, some children felt devastated and helpless, and quickly gave […]
