Friendships are important for your children…and they can be complicated! As human being we need to know that we belong and that we matter. One of the important ways we do that is through our relationships with our peers. Of course as a parent, you want your child to have lots of good friends and few disappointments. And, it doesn’t always work that way. Part of learning how to have friends involves lots of ups and downs. Some children have an easier time building friendships than others – just as some find learning to ride a bike or learning to [...]

Friends make difference. Having a friend means you are not alone, that someone sees you and someone cares about you. Friendships help students know that they matter. For human beings that sense of being cared for and seen is critical for our sense of well-being. What we now know is that without that sense, our stress levels go up. When our stress levels go up, our internal survival mechanism turns on and our ability to focus and to put new ideas into long term memory goes down dramatically: we can’t learn. So, building a classroom community in which every student [...]

Learning is more likely to happen when students experience joy and connection in the classroom and school environment. Teachers can help to counteract stress, conflict, and anxiety by building relationships and cultivating joy. Here are some ideas. Make school spaces inviting. Set up the space to allow students opportunities to connect with each other, self-regulate when necessary, and see themselves in the room. Keep in mind the sensory needs of all students by not overwhelming the space with too much stuff or color. Create opportunities to have fun together. Talk about the classroom as a family. Just like a family [...]

Of course you love your children. And... have you ever had days where it seemed like you had to say the same thing over and over again? Or got frustrated stopping the bickering again and raised your voice or said something you wish you hadn’t? Yes. Of course. We nag, remind, reprimand, and give advice because we love them. Yet, sometimes we are so concerned with behavior (or misbehavior) that we lose sight of our child. The result is that our child can lose their connection with themselves. They can begin to see themselves through our critical eyes. They can [...]