I’m not sure if the occurrence is as evident elsewhere, but at least in central Texas, the weather has been crazy. Temperatures jump from highs to lows, with the sun shining one minute, and wind and hail warnings flashing across our screens the next. And from what I can tell, the extreme weather conditions are accompanying extreme behaviors, none of which are limited to the school setting....

We don’t know what we don’t know; that’s my current behavioral mantra. It hit me on several occasions this week when confronted with challenging behaviors. Each time I had to pause before impulsively reacting – and remind myself that behaviors often have silent backstories. There were about 20 people waiting for their orders to be filled at the Starbucks in one of the airports I passed...

Community matters.  It’s true.  We all have a need to belong, and when we are part of a group, we are afforded this sense of connection.  Beyond an education, this is what a classroom or school community can offer.  And group affiliation can go a long way in contributing to healthy development. I felt the impact of community firsthand as I spent the last few days in Canada at the Greater...

It may be the end of February, but at least in Texas spring fever is on the horizon. It’s that time of year when students are stir-crazy, somewhat uninhibited, and in need of change. Behavior challenges are popping up more frequently and we seem to be having a more difficult time holding things together.  This got me to thinking about one of my former students. I remember him distinctly.  He...

Have you ever seen something and had a flashback memory?  Every time I drive by a specific Wendy’s restaurant near our house, I laugh recalling a behavior lesson my sons and I were treated to while dining there many years back.   When we entered the restaurant, it was empty, but right after we placed our order a busload of teens and chaperones filed in.  “Look at the board and decide which...

Apparently, I’m getting old – or at least that’s what one former student told her younger brother this week. “I remember Mr. St. Romain. Has he gone to your class to read a story? He did that when I was in kindergarten, but that was a long time ago. He must be really old now!” Of course, I laughed when her mother told me this. I wasn’t surprised that her daughter remembered me. We had quite a...

Have you ever noticed how resilient young children are? They can yell, throw things, storm out of the room – and five minutes later they return, acting as though nothing ever happened to upset them in the first place. Most kids are great at bouncing back after experiencing frustration. I wish I could be more like that. Unfortunately, I’m prone to hoarding my negative emotions. I get...

It usually happens at the most inconvenient time, like when you’re trying to go to sleep – or on a plane with little room to maneuver.  It’s called restless legs syndrome.  It starts with an overwhelming neurological urge to move your leg.  You can’t ignore it, so you move your leg – and are fine for about 30 seconds – at which time the sensation overtakes you again and the cycle...

I believe too often we underestimate the power of our presence. Last weekend I was reminded that just as a person can get a feel for the climate of a room by walking into it, so too can one change the climate by doing the same.   I spent last Sunday at the California Kindergarten Conference in Santa Clara with a great group of educators. There was an exceedingly positive and frenetic energy...

It was an emotional week for the NFL.  I was watching the game on Monday night when one of the players, Damar Hamlin, suffered cardiac arrest after making a tackle.  After being administered CPR and tended to for about 30 minutes on the field, he was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. I continued to watch as grieving players and fans from different teams came together in concern for...