... when children feel like they don’t belong, that internalized shame and confusion can (and often will) lead to challenging behaviors in the classroom. Cultivating an environment of belonging not only honors and values each child, it will make your classroom a more joyful and peaceful place.
Do We Educate What We Value?
Classroom Environments Critical Thinking Developmentally Appropriate Expectations early art Early Childhood Education Fun process art process vs. product Quality Care and Education Teacher-Child Interactions Teaching
When we all just agree to color inside the lines, eventually there will be no one left to design new lines.
Rewards: The Anti-Motivators?
Challenging Behavior Classroom Environments Developmentally Appropriate Expectations Early Childhood Education Guidance Quality Care and Education Teacher-Child Interactions Teaching Uncategorized
What the research tells us is that when there is an extrinsic motivation (like a sticker, the promise of a pizza party, screen time) the behavior becomes a means to an end. Short-term, we might see an increase in the behavior we want to see. But, in the long-term, the presence of an extrinsic motivation can build resentment about the desired activity.
Joy: An Anecdote to Challenging Behavior
Challenging Behavior Classroom Environments Developmentally Appropriate Expectations Early Childhood Education Fun Guidance Quality Care and Education Teacher-Child Interactions
Like many proud parents, I took a picture of my children every year on their first day of school (well, most days – I tried my best). When planning our son’s graduation party, I arranged the pictures in order; from the first day of preschool to his first day of his senior year. I noticed […]
Liberation of Mismatched Socks
Challenging Behavior Classroom Environments Developmentally Appropriate Expectations Early Childhood Education Guidance Quality Care and Education Teacher-Child Interactions Teaching
Recently, I gave up a bad habit; one that was draining my time and energy. I gave up the habit of insisting that my socks match. I have discovered the joy of wearing mismatched socks. It is so liberating to just grab two socks and walk out the door. And, don’t get me started on […]
Have you witnessed one of those cringe-worthy interactions in which someone is trying to get an idea across to someone else who does not speak the language? “Can you please tell me where this bus goes?” the lost tourist asks the local at the bus stop. When meet with a shrug and a bewildered look, […]
May 29, 2018
We do not know the world we are educating our children for. When most of us were in Kindergarten, our teachers could not imagine that we would all walk around with machines in our pockets that contain more computing power than the machine that guided humanity to the moon and back. It has been said […]
April 22, 2018
Can you remember jumping in puddles? It was fun, wasn’t it? The anticipation of the splash. The sensory sensation of the wonderful noise and the feel of the water hitting skin or pieces of clothing. The thrill of watching the water jump in response to the sudden intrusion. The joy of that moment when the […]
February 27, 2018