Don’t feed the beast called drama. At this time of the year, it is so easy to be overtaken by the emotional climate of the school. Everyone feels a bit on edge and this can bring out the worst in even the calmest of individuals. The problem is that survival emotions bring out the survival emotions in others. This type of negative energy can “suck the marrow right out of the bone”, as my wife...

So, it was a rough week of not feeling grounded for me. I felt as though I was being pulled in opposite directions all at once. Splinched. That’s what Harry Potter fans would call it, or split in two. Truth be known, it was more like a horcrux, with my soul (or things about which I care deeply) divided into about seven different parts. No fun. It’s hard to concentrate when balancing multiple...

This week, remember what it is like to be young and excited about Halloween. This holiday brings novelty into the lives of kids of all ages – and novelty always escalates behavior, usually ushering in silliness . I, for one, got frustrated when my own boys got too silly. I had an agenda, and whether it was a clean house or a lesson I was preparing, silly behaviors interfered with my...

Presented a workshop on power struggles yesterday. I believe power struggles are fueled by frustration, stemming from a feeling we have lost control. Of course, this loss of control is often exacerbated by our obsessive perceived need to “get it all in”. From parents, to teachers, to kiddos, we live in an overscheduled, task-oriented, box-checking society. In our continual attempt to do...

It has been quite a week. As I type, my wife and I are on a plane headed home after spending a great couple of days in Cape May, New Jersey. This trip afforded us the opportunity to attend the annual lima bean festival, (Don’t judge.) as well as a murder mystery dinner. This is my third trip to Cape May, and each one has reinforced an important lesson. This year, I am reminded that most...

If you have ever tried to change your behavior, you know it is not easy. This is especially true if you have several behaviors on which to work. Our school is now at the six-week mark, which is a good time to make some initial behavior assessments and set goals. Consider meeting individually with each student in your class and having him or her target one behavioral goal on which to focus. You...

In church this morning we heard about the relief efforts afforded to the victims of Hurricane Harvey. I’m thinking you might be able to relate if you are a teacher or parent. At some point, we have all been in the path of a Hurricane Harvey… or Caleb… or Dante… or in my case, Micah. I’ve had to learn the hard way; I can’t always be the hero. I can’t always be all things to all people. At...

I often hear from parents who want to talk with me about “a student” in their child’s class. You know the student; he has a colorful vocabulary, is an independent and divergent thinker, and at times can be very physical in expressing his emotions. The parent is concerned about how the needs of the entire class suffer due to the needs of this one student. I have dealt with this issue on every...

Do you present on mindfulness? SEL? resiliency? self-regulation? grit? empathy? These are common questions I have been asked over the years. And my answer is usually the same, “Yes. No. Well, it depends.” Although I might not tackle the topic directly, I do address the underlying concern. If you have been in education long enough, you know the buzzwords change, but the issues remain...

Today I am thankful for hesitation. When we hesitate, we afford ourselves time to think, reflect, and respond to situations rather than react. This week, hesitation helped me from getting into a power struggle, and ultimately damaging a relationship. After two days of working with a great group in Pennsylvania, I returned home quite late, and discovered Micah had not gotten home yet. Being...