It is common in K-12 education — and especially this school year — to hear that “relationships are everything.” Teachers are encouraged to focus on fostering relationships with their new students, with their students’ families, and in the larger communities they serve. Growing and monitoring these relationships are at the…

As 2021 stumbles to a close, I would like to express my immense gratitude for all our teachers and school leaders who strive to make the world a better place. It is the conversations I have with educators (and especially those who educate my own two children) that…

“powerful talk” Talk is a form of power. It is why talking over others is viewed largely as a show of dominance, and being silenced is code for intimidation and control. …

“the opportunities ahead” Talk of “learning loss” in conjunction with the escalating calls to help our students “catch up” this summer and fall have become a major focus of conversation for all involved in education. …

“experiences that define us” Much of the conversation in and around our schools this month especially has been centered on reopening plans for in-person instruction. We…

“stakes is high” The new year is finally here and, with it, the season of setting our expectations for the future. After the year we have just endured — and with many colossal challenges ahead — this annual opportunity creates an energizing space for us all to align and imagine…

“noisy classrooms” When I talk to teachers about what they are most looking forward to this fall, there is always some mention of sound. Teachers miss the familiar buzz of their classrooms, busy with students. They miss the laughter and levity that emanate from a school building in session. …

“what powers learning?” Brains love a challenge. They thrive on it. Solving sudokus and crosswords and puzzles of all sorts activates the playful sense of discovery in us, releasing the neurotransmitter dopamine and energizing our brains with new neural connections as we observe patterns and develop insights, seeing for ourselves…