Before diving back into teaching tomorrow, remember that the weeks leading up to a holiday break often bring out the good, the bad, and the ugly.  The good is evidenced in the overall holiday mood, gift-giving generosity, programs and celebrations.  However, these same factors can also contribute to escalating the bad and the ugly when it comes to student behaviors.  We all thrive on routine;...

I confess. I have mixed feelings about this time of year. Though I love the months of November and December, it is a crazy busy time for educators: school programs, altered schedules, special activities, holiday celebrations, breaks…oh yeah, and then there’s the teaching part. My brain hurts just thinking about it. Sadly, as much as I love the holiday seasons, I don’t care for the frenzy that...

Behavior strategy for the week – Ha. (No, not as in laughter – though this is a good strategy, as well –  Ha, as in the Hawaiian word for “breath” or “breath of life.” ) This is such a simple reflex that we take it for granted. Perhaps that is the problem. On the mainland, we are always in a hurry, rushing to keep up with all the tasks associated with the fast-paced routines...

It’s good to have a place called home.  It’s good to have a warm bed to sleep in.  It’s good to have family members and pets who love and miss me when I’m gone.  Sadly, I often take these things for granted – until I have a really bad day and am reminded of several behavioral lessons I need to revisit. Earlier this week I was scheduled to attend a conference with a group from my church, but...

It’s a common occurrence in kindergarten. A little girl once approached me and said, “Mr. St. Romain, Michael ran all the way back from the library.” My response was the same as it always had been. “Who should you worry about, yourself or Michael?” “Myself…but we’re not supposed to do that. Are we?” she retorted in a somewhat questioning manner. There was a long pause as the wheels in my...

One of the best skills we can foster in youth is independent problem solving. Unfortunately, it is common for adults to get in the habit of “doing for” kids. “Just tell them…. If I were you, I’d…” The problem with this strategy is that when we solve problems for kids, we inadvertently increase the likelihood they will seek us out to navigate future concerns. “He won’t move out of my way… She’s...

I’ll admit it.  Sometimes I don’t play well with others.  It’s not that I don’t want to.  It’s more about my control issues.  I like things done a certain way and when I do things myself, I know what the outcome will be.  Unfortunately, try as I sometimes may, I can’t do it all.  At times we all need a little help from our friends. This point was driven home to me earlier this week at our...

One of the biggest concerns I’ve heard from teachers lately is how they are feeling pulled in different directions at once.  Splinched – that’s what Harry Potter fans would call it – or split in two. Truth be told, I think teachers are feeling more like horcruxes, with their attention having to be divided about seven different ways.  It’s a sad, but accurate description of what...

Parents often ask me what they should do when their children misbehave at school. I have many thoughts about this question, but my answers often circle back to the importance of quality time. The more quality time we have with our children, the more we can teach, model and strengthen relationships.   When I was younger, quality time in the home was the norm. Of course, back then parents...

Ever notice how quickly crazy behaviors spread? We see it everywhere. It can feel like a wind-blown wildfire, or if you are a teacher, an ant invasion at a picnic. I call it the behavioral contagion effect. Simply put, our behaviors strongly influence the behaviors of others. When our four boys were young my wife and I didn’t stand a chance if they were together when the “crazies” hit. For...