Posts

“Do you have time to talk me off a ledge?” This was a text I got last Sunday from a frustrated colleague and friend. That kicked off the first of numerous discussions I had with people during the week about behavior issues. And trust me, concerns are evident on numerous levels – between teachers and students… parents and their children… administrators and parents… Conflict surfaces...

Sometimes opportunities present themselves and we just need to seize them.  So parents and teachers, let me remind you – experience is the best teacher.  Accordingly, now is a good time for our children to both learn and practice a critical life skill: accepting disappointment.  Of course, how our kids deal with the frustration of being disappointed will be determined mainly by how the...

I grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Cusic – a small street tucked right next to McNeese State University. My bike and I had many adventures on that road. So, when I saw an image of that specific downed street sign circulating through Facebook, I was taken aback. Hurricane Laura has now been added to the list of 2020 challenges – along with COVID-19, racial division, devastating fires in...

Ever wake up feeling less than perky? A bit grumpy? tired? Your emotional state can cloud the day pretty grey if something doesn’t happen to turn things around. This is why I make it a huge point to create as inviting an atmosphere in my workshops as possible – music, table groups, and most importantly, strong greetings. When possible, I do my best to welcome participants at the door. The...

Not twitching – It’s one of my hardest parenting jobs. I am usually able to do this with students, but with my own children, it’s different. Our own children always seem to bring out the extremes – extreme emotions, extreme behaviors, extreme reactions. Last night my wife and I invited Micah to join us for a dinner outing. Unfortunately, there was a wait at the restaurant, so Micah,...

“The only person who likes change is a wet baby.” This quote from Mark Twain seems appropriate given the inevitable changes occurring at home as another school year comes to a close. Parents, we need to consider ourselves lucky. Our kids have had nine months of consistency thanks to the hard work of many teachers. We just need to follow their lead and not blow it. Although students are about...

So, I was raised with the value of leaving things nicer than I found them.  Of course, I consciously try to do this every day.  Be it a smile, kind word, gesture or humorous quip, I try to make a difference in the affect of the individuals with whom I interact.  I like to think of it as behavioral residue.  We all leave an impression, and sometimes those impressions stick.  Today I discovered...

So, I was thinking about my past pets today – specifically, Juan Pablo.  Chameleons are interesting creatures.  Did you know they can completely change colors in less than 20 seconds?  They can also blend into their environment entirely, hiding among the foliage.  It is an amazing survival instinct – one many students possess.  In children and teens I often see survival behaviors triggered by...

Sometimes deadlines converge, which can be painful. It feels like a series of tidal waves approaching that you can do little to stop. This is a common sensation in schools around this time of year – with after-school duties, grades, meetings, report cards – and these are just our work responsibilities. How appropriate today is Easter, as for the last forty days I feel as though I have been...