Strategies for Motivating Students I remember facilitating “Girls Chat” every Wednesday when I managed a middle afterschool program. The girls seemed disinterested in participating at the start of the program. Their indifference frustrated me. I thought what am I doing wrong? I seemed to have tried everything: several pep- talks, lectures, demands, but trying to […]
CONTINUE READINGThe Power of Teaching Young Children Social Skills “Pink, Pink”, my niece excitedly repeated as she walked into the kitchen. I loved the way she attempted to say paint. She was only two years old, and she was quickly expanding her vocabulary every day. I grabbed the paint supplies and she got to work. […]
CONTINUE READING“Reel” Life Lessons for OST Success When I was a little girl, my Poppa wanted to teach me the virtues inherent in fishing as a hobby; patience, perseverance, and pride. He took me out to the local lake as soon as he thought I was ready. I remember very specific parts of this day vividly. […]
CONTINUE READINGTips to Identify Behaviors and Linking them to Social and Emotional Needs I recently brought my daughter to the hospital and we encountered a doctor with the worst bedside manner. He spoke to us in a condescending tone; his responses were abrupt, coarse, rude, and uncompassionate. I hated everything about his interaction with my daughter. […]
CONTINUE READINGWe are seeking presenters who are able to present a workshop in one of three categories: STEAM in Program Practices STEAM in Program Design STEAM in Partnerships. Workshops should be appropriate for staff working with K – 8th grades. Each workshop will be presented in all three sessions; participants will rotate through the workshops. The […]
CONTINUE READINGThe Allegory of the Oxygen Mask I have been flying on airplanes since I was a very young child. Spending my mid-80s childhood-summers in Kansas, I would often fly alone to and from the Midwest; armed with a chapter book, a stuffed animal, and a super-secret safety word to ward off questionable strangers. I witnessed […]
CONTINUE READINGAHA! I recently had an aha moment – I have written several blogs about Social Emotional Learning (SEL), but I have not clearly defined what it is. So just what is social-emotional learning and why do we need it? In the next few blogs, I will provide you with a crash course of the five […]
CONTINUE READING“Opportunities don’t happen; you create them.” –Chris Grosser Here are positive things to say to your children to create opportunities to help them feel confident and loved! As parents, most of us speak to our children, in the ways, our parents talked to us during childhood. Our parents did the best, but we can so […]
CONTINUE READING5 Awesome tips that will improve trips to the grocery store with your children Many of us have dropped our jaws while witnessing distressed parents address their tearful kid(s) screaming their brains out in the grocery store. I never wanted to be that parent with “that kid.” To my surprise, my daughter taught me no […]
CONTINUE READINGYour words are powerful use them wisely- Over the Christmas holiday, I received a lesson in how much words can hurt. My dear old granny had some not-so-nice-comments about my weight. Yep, her words felt like a surprise punch to the gut. It may be silly, but her words cut me like me a knife. […]
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