Social-emotional and trauma-informed learning and teaching are at the forefront of education research and study today. The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) reports that nearly 50 percent of the children in the U.S. have experienced “at least one or more types of serious childhood trauma.” Therefore, ignoring emotions in the classroom can absolutely pose… Read More

There are a ton of education conference options each year and most of them aren’t cheap. Ticket prices, travel costs, and taking time away from work all make choosing the absolute best conference a must — because, despite the logistics, conferences can be so useful (even life-changing) for educators. Here’s a list of upcoming education-focused… Read More

It’s summer! You made it! Take a well-deserved break. Finally, there’s a little breathing room to catch up on all the amazing books and content out there. Here’s a great list of what to read, watch, and listen to this summer. Your summer reading list Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms: Designing and Implementing Child-Centered Learning Environments Suggested by… Read More

If you’re ready to advance but not sure where to begin, here are some fun, rewarding ways to grow your leadership skills beyond the classroom — and supercharge your professional development. Join a Professional Learning Community (PLC) If your school already has a PLC in place, you should definitely take part. You’ll meet regularly with… Read More

Recognizing where our students come from, what they’re facing, and how we can help them in different ways is a key component of responsive teaching practices. We discussed this and much more during a recent symposium. Guests included keynote speaker Lynda Coates with Communication Across Barriers and Dr. Jill Bryant of Portland Public Schools. Below… Read More

Ever wonder what’s happening in the classroom across the hall? Besides overhearing some Staff Lounge chatter or taking a cursory glance from the hallway while passing by, teaching can often happen in isolation, and we don’t always know what’s really going on in classrooms beyond our own. Why instructional rounds? Teachers get observed and evaluated… Read More

A report from MSNBC estimates that one in every six children is regularly bullied. This is an alarming statistic and it has led certain states to develop anti-bullying legislation and school districts to adopt zero tolerance bullying policies. Why are states and school districts doing this? Because bullying has very negative consequences on today’s youth…. Read More