Join the Club

The photo is of my child and her teammate waiting to hear whether their names would be called for the semifinals. They had competed against one another. They both wanted the same opportunity. Yet, while they waited, they held hands. This is what it is about. We talk often in education about social-emotional learning. We create lessons about empathy, sportsmanship, self-regulation, kindness, and responsible decision-making. We build character education programs and identify th

Last Friday, my daughter went to her 8th-grade dance. There was the dress, the pictures, the friends, the excitement, the small moments that somehow become big memories before we even realize it. Watching her step into that milestone brought me right back to my own 8th-grade dance. Not because of the decorations. Not because of the music. Not because I remember every detail of what I wore or who stood where in the gym. But because of the boy I went with. Years later, when I w

When a child is angry, defiant, overwhelmed, shut down, sarcastic, tearful, impulsive, or explosive, the behavior is often the loudest part of the moment. It gets our attention first. It can feel personal. It can make adults want to correct quickly, raise the volume, tighten control, or demand compliance. The fundamental truth is that a dysregulated child does not usually need an adult to join the dysregulation. They need an adult who can remain steady enough to help them fin

This week, I was reminded (in the purest way possible) why relationships sit at the heart of education. Hand-drawn Valentines. Crayon hearts. Love notes written in the careful, crooked handwriting of children who wanted their teachers to know they mattered. No data point captures what those moments hold. But every child who takes the time to create something with love is telling us: You are safe with me. You see me. You matter to me. And when students feel cared for, they sho

Grace is often spoken of in religious contexts, but it is also a profoundly human value. At its core, grace is generosity without...

Calm Classrooms. Thriving Students. A dysregulated adult cannot effectively regulate a child. It’s a truth we don’t always name, but one...