This month, we want to share some ideas for activities you can use in your classroom and home this summer – or any time of the year! We hope you enjoy these ideas for outdoor play, early literacy, art, science, and gender-neutral environments and toys. Please comment to share your own favorite teaching tips or […]
6 Summertime Teaching Tips That Work Year-Round! Read More
In last month’s blog post, I introduced the first 3 “C’s” in my 4 C’s Framework of Emotional Support. These 3 C’s – connection, calming and compassion – are supports children especially need when they are distressed. Now I’d like to share strategies for the 4th C, which is the support children need when they
7 Strategies That Help Children Develop Self-Regulation Read More
When young children are upset, they usually need help from adults to calm down. And the more upset they are, the more help they need! When children are distressed, acting out, or having a tantrum or a meltdown, they don’t often know what to do. Sometimes as adults we don’t know what to do, either!
Supporting Children When They Are Distressed: 3 “C’S” they Really Need From Us Read More
As Autism Acceptance Month draws to a close, we want to offer some practical tips that may be helpful for children on the autism spectrum and those who support and care for them. Each child is unique. This is no less true for children whose diagnosis falls under the broad criteria of Autism Spectrum Disorder
7 Tips for Supporting Children with Autism Read More
Written with Kristen K. Carroll A Day to celebrate social emotional learning is coming up! Won’t you join the movement? Promote SEL today and every day! What is Social Emotional Learning? According to Committee for Children, “Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing the self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school,
5 Tips for teaching SEL Read More
It’s Black History month, a time to honor African-Americans whose contributions to our country have often been overlooked in the past. We celebrate the Black leaders who, despite many adversities, have helped our nation in so many ways. It’s also a good time to boost our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We can
An A-B-C of Ideas for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Read More
Happy 2022! Did you make New Year’s resolutions this month? After making the same ones year after year – and not managing to keep them – I decided to try something different. Here are my resolutions for this year: To choose joy, to be of service, and to take action towards my goals. To choose
Four Mindfulness Tips for a Calmer Classroom in 2022 Read More
It’s the week before Christmas and all through the house Are things I’ve not done; I feel like a louse! I still need to decorate, shop, clean house, and cook, I’ll be so embarrassed if friends stop by for a look! But then I remember to heed this advice: Be mindful, practice gratitude – that would feel
7 Mindfulness Quotes for Holiday Self-Care Read More
Mindfulness activities help build children’s capacity for self-regulation. If you teach these activities when children are calm and provide lots of opportunities for practice, children may be able to do some of them when they are upset. They’ll need lots of help, especially at first: You can model the activity (not just once or twice,
7 Mindfulness Activities for Children Read More
Mindfulness means being aware of the present moment without judging it. Research shows that focusing on the “here and now” has many benefits for all of us, no matter our ages or the settings in which we interact with children. I’ve been on a mission to be more mindful, and I have been sharing encouraging quotes
7 Benefits of mindfulness for children and adults – and Classrooms, too! Read More