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 […]
Using Improv to Teach Social Skills
I want to share with you a conversation I had with Sasha Long on The Autism Helper Podcast. Here is the episode description: Through her experience as a classroom teacher, Robin Fox developed a curriculum based around improv activities. Robin shares how these improv games can teach mindfulness, cognitive awareness, and social skills in an […]
When Virtual Teaching is Challenging
Virtual teaching is new to most teachers. It’s a challenge to learn another delivery system to educate our students. For me, it’s required logistical and emotional adjustments as I transitioned from in school groups to leading the SocialEyes Together® SEL groups via video on Google Meet. It wasn’t easy. Still isn’t easy. And it’s far […]
Helping Students Turn Negative Thinking into Positive Thinking
During a SocialEyes Together®SEL group recently, our third and fourth graders responded in a way that was not surprising. We asked them to think about this situation: “You’re late for recess because you had to finish some work. Some kids in your class are playing your favorite game. You ask if you can join them. […]
How a Disruptive Student Transformed into an Eager Participant
One of our 3rd graders, an animated, petite, dimpled boy named Nate (not his real name) had been physically restrained almost daily in his former public school. Nate is a disrupter. His file reads like a menu from the DSM-5. You can almost see his mind churning with turbulence as he moves throughout his day. […]