Movement is what the human body is designed for.” ― Ben Medder Why is it so common for children to be packed into desks all day, seated in front of a teacher? Bodies were designed for movement, and movement helps the brain work its magic! Dr. JoAnn Deak has studied brains her whole life! A … More Let’s move! Let’s learn!
“…positive emotions… provide a swift antidote to physical stress and anxiety.”–Shawn Achor Yes, things are tough right now for a million different reasons. Family and work stresses can be taxing. Money doesn’t go as far as it seemed to in the past. Oh, and the White House….let’s not go there! Every day we are faced … More What Makes You Happy…Do That!
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela As schools start over the next few weeks, they do so over so many challenges. Teachers have always been challenged with the normal aspects of their work: low pay, long hours of preparation, varying degrees of support for the range … More And teachers are the heroes…
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”–Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. My former sister-in-law was born in Mexico and educated in her home country. She once told me that when she moved to … More The Right to Bear Arms?
Good Morning! My friend, Tanya, always starts her texts to me with these words. It warms my heart each time. It is a good thing she does, a small thing, but a good thing. I’m collecting good things. As I opened my Facebook page this morning, I saw a video created by Selena Shannon for … More “Where is the Good? Follow that…”
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi Brene Brown is one of the current thought leaders today. Her work has helped many. I noticed that she has a new curriculum for teachers, based on her work in the field of personal growth. I have just downloaded Brown’s new curriculum for … More I love Brene Brown but…
“Argh!! Each day so many despicable news items! It’s enough to make one stop in one’s tracks, when what is required is for us to push full steam ahead. ” This is me, as I begin my daily task of writing. I check myself, check the news, and open my clean, new page. It’s hard … More My reminder: Are you living in integrity with your heart and soul?
A dear friend of mine, Mark Maxwell-Smith, has carved out a new persona for himself under the name of PUN. A man who might otherwise have taken his retirement years to enjoy the fruits of a long and illustrious career, he chose instead to bring his warm heart and dedication to children to work as … More A one-man beacon of light…
There is a Jewish concept I learned in my meager religious education: we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. As a child, I felt the power of those words, imagining the bodies of generations of people, holding others as they balanced on those below, small children at the top, nearing the … More Paying it forward with authentic listening…
“Stand aside for a while and leave room for learning, observe carefully what children do, and then, if you have understood well, perhaps teaching will be different from before.” ― Loris Malaguzzi Darla Conkey Meyers is a humble genius, preferring to bring the totality of her own creativity and understanding young children to cultivate the … More Teaching from the Heart: Darla Conkey Myers and Reggio Emilia.
