With a season of Thankfulness approaching, we might find ourselves more mindful of the things we are grateful for. My mom always had a felt board out on Thanksgiving. We each had a piece of paper and a pencil to write something down once we gathered at the table. We took turns pinning our paper […]
Self-Reg Activities Through Mindfulness
I remember my elementary school very well. On the west side of the school, there was a large field with space to play and a baseball diamond. I loved the seasons where our school maintenance would mow the grass on a large riding lawn mower. My mind would escape the indoors and the classroom as […]
Stuffed Avocados: an Easy, Healthy and Fast Teacher Lunch!
Meals together are a time to refuel, relax and connect, right? Add a few children, lots of containers to open, and the time limit, and it can seem a bit chaotic! Let’s rewrite the script! Play some calming music, dim the lights, add a bit of mindfulness and be sure you enjoy a good lunch […]
PAUSE
As teachers and parents, we know the words we use with our children matter. We know benchmarks need to consider preferences, interests, needs and strengths. We are caregivers, spending our days nurturing each child the best we can. However, unless we model our own self-care and the power behind PAUSE, we not only will run […]
One Word Share
We all have been there. We ask a question in morning meeting and minutes later, the first child is still sharing their story while everyone else has lost focus or still has their hand up! Let’s look at this in a new, mindful, self-aware perspective. I want you to share with me how you are […]
If you want your children to be your friends later, be their parent now.
When I was young, I imagined coming down the stairs after putting my children to bed and relaxing, as I remember my mom doing. That day came and I have truly enjoyed every minute of the day being a parent. Not to say there weren’t tough days, but that comes with the territory. It is […]
The Benefits of Having a Vision Board
My students have been working on their own vision board. It has been an amazing experience for them and me! I have learned so many things about them I did not know. In all our discussions and planning, one of my students challenged me with the best question, “Are you going to make one too […]
Living in the Moment
We recently had the opportunity to have a quiet moment on the beach of Lake Michigan. It was a peaceful weekend at the end of my winter break and we returned to the mountains to ski. If there is a beach nearby, I am going to find it and walk. It allows me to be […]
Replacing a Resolution with a New Year’s Intention
With only a few days into a New Year, we may feel a bit discouraged with our New Year’s resolution. The U.S. News reports by mid-February roughly 80% of all resolutions have failed. The definition of a resolution might be part of the problem for many of us. A resolution is a firm decision to […]