EducatingMe

  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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

  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 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...

We all want students to learn what we teach. We really want it to stick. As educators during this "new normal" pandemic world of teaching and maintaining professional goals, the "hours of operation" have decimated work-life balance. I see so many people on my social media feeds posting about their day with kids hovering around and the hours being so much longer, and their work space being spread all over the place. I get it. I have been working from home for almost 9 years now. My husband too. There are so many mistakes to work-life balance that I thought I would write a few down to keep others from the same time wasting traps I fell into. Working into the evening goes both ways. It can be a blessing and a curse. I will often wake up at 5 AM during the work week to answer emails and I will also sneak in more at 9 or 10 PM as well, But I also get to walk to the mailbox holding hands with my husband...everyday. About 2 years ago we made a pact to do this simple 1 min...

Are you home? You should be... Are you bored? Really, bored is a state of mine.  I have seen so many things. All the "things" people have been doing to pass the time. You should have click on that link to see them too. If you do #5 send it to me and I will pass it through the webiverse. In this time I have binge-watched the television show Alone. After watching I felt the need to walk into the wood in my backyard and build a teepee. I have refined a few skills in videography...I am no master of this skill, but I am trying to get better. I have written. I have finished a book and began another. I have finished a plan on the Bible app. I have downloaded an app to learn a new language. I found a way for our church to come together in worship during the first Sunday morning in isolation. Oh, and I still have a full-time job. Here is a pic of that teepee. I am been super impressed at my own kids. They have spent most of this time outside. We run a one-r...

I heard the announcement in the church over the last several Sundays, the talk about a new type of small group, but maybe a small group on steroids. Elliot Freeman had mentioned it and Ricky Bowlin told me as someone heading up the social media, that I just had to go. Now, I am a busy gal. I have a full-time job and I have about 4-5 side hustles. This one thing was going to be ANOTHER thing. I say all of this now, knowing full well that I told a group the other night...and now I tell you...that if I have the capacity, I will offer more of myself. All I would really be missing out on are some of the guilty pleasures, like endless-without-a-point internet nothingness or television watching. So I went. What is OneHub? The subheading tells the story. It's about reaching the lost. When I accepted the role I have in the church with social media it was about one thing only...reaching the lost. I wanted to have a bigger reach than myself to find those that were completely lost or ...

Day 10 Today, our last day in Israel and the feelings are mixed. On the one hand, I am ready to get home to see my husband and youngest kiddo. I know the rest of my fellow travelers feel the same. On the other hand...I have learned so much here and I could probably stay another 10 days and still not know enough. I look forward to the familiar, but I love the broken box I have escaped. We have tried new things and seen sights that our small town, small state, or large country just cannot provide. We started our day at Garden of the Tomb. This is the second candidate for where crucifixion of Jesus could be. It’s disputed because we are 2000 years later and many people have ruled this city between then and now. The Romans, Byzantine, Muslims and Crusaders all had a say in the destruction and rebuilding this land. We had an on special guide to walk us through the different markings around the site Showing why this was the actual crucifixion place and tomb. One thing he said that I love...