One of our students (who is non-binary and uses the pronouns they, them, theirs) liked to draw and color during the online group time to calm them down and help them focus. They were definitely paying attention to what was transpiring in the class as they offered input at all the right times. At first […]
Three Simple Ways to Become More Mindful
Now that mindfulness has become a ubiquitous buzz word, let’s break it down. Mindfulness is intentionally directing your awareness. Where your awareness goes, your energy goes. Your awareness is how you vote in this life; it’s how you spend your precious, limited energy. Yes to this. No to that. You become more of whatever it […]
Creating Joy with Children Through Improv
This pandemic is hard. But I know that in spite of a world in pain, there’s still joy to experience. Joy that has been pushed aside by so many challenges. Let’s go on a journey to expand it together. How? We grow it by paying attention to what brings us joy. What we pay attention […]
The Harmful Power of Labels
Labels help us categorize, arrange, identify, and find things. Applying labels to objects is quite useful. It’s less so when we use them to describe people. Words like “dumb” or “lazy” or “fat” are labels that hurt feelings and have no positive purpose. Labels become your idea about that whole person (or yourself). If someone […]
This is How Our Students Build Self-Esteem
Self-esteem and resilience go hand-in-hand. Why? Because when you have self-esteem, you judge yourself on your own set of standards and aren’t easily thrown from your seat when others behave badly. You bounce back from external adversity more easily when you know you can rely on yourself. We can teach our students that one of […]
Two Subtle Benefits to Online Learning
This new social landscape the pandemic ushered in really changed our interactions. In-person events have transferred onto a two dimensional screen. Many people aren’t enjoying the transition and I was hesitant at first, but now I’m seeing some interesting advantages in showing up online. We can become aware of the benefits and appreciate how these […]
How to Stop Hiding From Yourself and Start Living Your Truth
How wonderful it is to alter our future course based on our past experiences! Like an archer aiming for the target’s center, the little adjustments made after missing it over and over become the very pathway to the bullseye. I’m a student who teaches as she learns. I keep learning from my imperfections and mistakes. […]
Social Emotional Learning: A Path to Love
I had the opportunity to be on the Community Forum on Channel 23 Danbury and speak with Pamela Miles about social emotional learning and how it can be impactful for students. You can check out Channel 23 Danbury’s Facebook page here. I would love to hear what you thought of this conversation. Feel free to […]
How Teaching Mindfulness to a Student Impacts Families
Kids go through so much. Many bring their distress to school with invisible wounds that manifest in resistant or dysregulated behaviors. The behaviors continue until someone reacts, and then many kids enter a cycle of discipline and alienation. And their unattended needs remain unattended. Often children cry out for help with actions not words. And […]
Social and Emotional Learning
I was recently invited to be a guest on the Teaching Autism podcast, hosted by Nikki Robertson. We had a great conversation and I encourage you to check it out. Here is the episode description: I am so excited for today’s social and emotional learning podcast episode with Robin Fox from Social Eyes. Robin has […]