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Thats so not my job!

  Who Should Teach Children to Regulate Their Emotions? I n tod ay’s educat ional lands cape, th e emph asis o n soc ial- emoti onal lear ning (SEL) ha s gro wn signif icantly. Whi le the re's unden iable val ue i n help ing stud ents deve lop emoti onal intell igence, so me pare nts ar e begin ning t o ques tion whet her th e class room i s th e rig ht pla ce fo r th is instru ction. Aft er al l, ti me spe nt teac hing emoti onal regul ation i s ti me tak en aw ay fr om co re subj ects li ke ma th, scie nce, an d read ing. S o, i f teac hers ar en't respon sible fo r th is asp ect o f a chi ld’s develo pment, wh o i s? Th e ans wer i s cle ar: emoti onal regul ation i s a ski ll th at sho uld b e prima rily tau ght a t ho me— prefe rably somew here betw een break fast meltd owns an d bedt ime negoti ations. Why Emotional Regulation Starts at Home Le t’s fa ce i t: Pare nts ar e a chi ld’s fir st an d mo st influe ntial teac hers. Fr om th e earl iest da ys o f li fe, chil dren...
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Dyslexic Thinking Mindset

Does your school talk about Dyslexic Thinking?  I have always been a curious cuss. A big picture thinker. A  question asker. A connector . Details? Execution? Logistics? Those things often feel like the annoying fine print in a contract I never wanted to sign. But vision ? I can dream up ideas faster than I can write them down (which is saying something, considering how many notebooks I hoard). For most of my life I was the kid who had to work twice as hard to learn math facts, the one who could never quite follow along in school. Learning disabled and a pain in the ass, I'm sure. The student who felt like she had to game the system just to survive it. But as it turns out, my brain wasn’t broken. It wasn’t slow. It wasn’t lacking. It was just wired differently.  I was  the wrong kind of smart ...for the time. Dyslexic Thinking is often mistaken for a problem that needs fixing. But what if, instead, it can be developed, like a superpower —a way of seeing the world ...

Am I Too Late to Join this Game?

I recently stumbled upon a session by George Couros, the maestro behind "The Innovators Mindset" and a bunch of other fancy book titles. I first saw him in 2016, I think at ISTE. He was so inspiring, he was like the Gandalf of inspiration and I was interested to see if that is still true today. I wondered if I even still had anything to learn from him. But surprise, surprise, even in 2024, George is still dishing out nuggets of wisdom! I was so inspired that I found his podcast scrolled all the way back to the first episode which was released in 2016. It got me thinking...  In 2011, I became a full-time teacher. I taught three grade levels in this brand-new start-up virtual charter school. We were going to be like the nationally known K12, but oh so very different. In my first year with the school, I taught preK-1st grade. How you ask? I am really not sure. Like every first-year teacher, I was flying by the seat of my pants. Unlike every first-year teacher, I was not certifie...

My Nervous Breakdown...Check Yourself

Welcome to the wild world of nervous breakdowns! Yep, I’m taking a short pause on writing about leadership and education to bring you this very important message on stress. In case you're unfamiliar, a nervous breakdown is like a giant I-can't-take-it-anymore sign that your body and mind put up when things get too overwhelming. Only you don't know that that's what's going on. It's a sign that something needs to change, and quick. The important thing is to understand that it's not something to be ashamed of, and that seeking professional help is essential in order to get back on track. So, let's dive in and learn how to handle this little curveball life has thrown our way! When it comes to the symptoms of a nervous breakdown, your body is talking to you and is sending you a neon flashing sign that says, "HEY, SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT HERE." But you’re either too blind or too busy to realize it.. But don't worry. It's not always as dram...

Finding the Right Mentor for You

Ya'll, starting out in the world of education nobody had more imposter syndrome than me. I had the degree and the certificates, but I was a high school dropout. How would anyone want to listen to me when I quit doing what I am asking them to do? So immediately I find the most read educators and start diving into their tip and tricks and styles and flare. I found Ron Clark, Geoffry Canada, and Mark Barnes to be incredibly helpful in shaping the type of educator I wanted to be like. As I switch interests and move "up" the ladder, I continue to search out individuals who will shape me into the me I want to become. Finding a mentor can be a valuable step in achieving success in your career or personal life. A mentor is someone who has experience and knowledge in your field of interest and is willing to share it with you. They can provide guidance, advice, and support as you navigate the challenges and opportunities that come your way. Here are three simple steps to help you f...

Staying Focused with ADHD

  As a student with ADHD, it can be challenging to stay organized and focused in school. However, there are a number of strategies that can be helpful in managing ADHD symptoms and improving academic performance. A group of students at Epic Charter Schools was surveyed. Here are the six most commonly identified strategies that may be helpful for your student(s) with ADHD in managing their symptoms and improving their academic performance: Use a planner or schedule   Having a consistent schedule and using a planner can help students with ADHD stay organized and on top of their responsibilities. Take breaks and practice self-care This may include getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep.   Use assistive technology   There are many tools available to help students with ADHD stay organized and focused. These may include apps for tracking assignments, note-taking software and timer programs. Some favorites include Bionic Reader and the micr...

5 Apps I Cannot Live Without

  5 Apps I Cannot Live Without There is no doubt that apps keep us entertained, get more organized, and are there to generally make our lives easier. Recently I was asked what my 5 top used apps on my device…to which my answer was… which of my four devices? I use different devices for different jobs, but upon closer examination, I did notice there were a few that stood out as ambi tech trous. See what I did there? Now I am not planning to list my Gmail app which is probably the top app no matter the device I use. I imagine that anyone reading this probably doesn't need to be convinced to check their email or get an app to do so. I am also not listing my social media apps that are time suckers. Of course I have those and waste just as much time as the normal human in them. I am only listing the apps I use daily that are amplifiers of productivity.   Grammarly - Even as I write this post, it is working its magic. I only use the free version right now but have contemplated i...