We are living in an uncertain world especially now during this pandemic. This crisis impacts how we handle what we do and how we react to stress. Empathy for ourselves matters. Stress is when you have multiple pressures that demand too much of you psychologically and physically. When you are…

Several years ago, I believed I was ready to step out of my comfort zone. I knew I needed to take some risks, but something was holding me back. I think what was keeping me from trying new experiences was fear. Fear of not having enough money so I kept…

This pandemic opened our eyes to the inequities that have always been there. We have to do whatever it takes to be there for all of our kids, especially now. I wrote this article as a cross-post from my website. I updated it here because teachers continue to reach out…

Humans are naturally social beings. It is all about the relationships we build and grow. The better the relationships are at school, the happier and more productive students and teachers will be. When we have positive relationships, everything we do will be more enjoyable. When relationships are working, everyone is…

I was raised in the 50s and 60s in Silver Spring, Maryland. I’m white and everyone around me was white. That was normal for me. I thought being in Maryland outside of D.C. was an exciting place to grow up. Through my own experiences and what I’ve learned about deed…

Professional learning encourages personal growth by teachers, but much professional development (PD) programs are designed around the “one size fits all” approach. A district may mandate that all teachers have to attend specific sessions around the district mission. Did the teachers have a voice in creating the mission? …

Universal Design for Learning (UDL), developed by David Rose and Anne Meyer from CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology), provides suggestions on how learners can reduce barriers and maximize their learning. When I first learned about UDL, the principles started with the WHAT. After 2014, Rose, Meyer, and David Gordon…

“Our ikigai is different for all of us, but one thing we have in common is that we are all searching for meaning.” – Hector Garcia Puigcerver When I first learned about ikigai around ten years ago, I was in a deep conversation about the meaning of life with a…

What, Huh? What did you say?” “Are you really listening?” The problem with “kind of” listening is that it can lead to mistakes, misunderstandings, the wrong goals, wasting time and lack of teamwork. I love the quote in the graphic above from Ernest Hemingway. There are so many reasons for…