The Role of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Student Athletes
I just spent some time with athletic coaches from the Southeastern Conference. These are stellar people, many of whom have coached for decades. And they are coaching at the Division One level, the highest tier for student-athletes. So, I was a bit surprised when three of them spoke to me about how quickly these talented athletes tend to give up
How to Teach for Meaning Not Memorization
A few years ago, I spoke to a large audience of high school faculty in Kansas. During a question and answer period, one freshman algebra teacher raised his hand to ask, “How should I respond when a student asks me if he’ll ever use this subject after graduation, and I don’t know what to say?” The implication, of course, was—he could
The Unintended Consequences of Academic Pressure
I don’t have to tell you that the pressure to “make the grade” is greater in our society today than it’s ever been. For some strange reason, American adults have chosen to give one, single evaluation to our students of their worth…and it’s an academic report card. In our 2017 Focus Groups, we asked students what their greatest source of stress
Twelve Ideas for Students to Try During Summer Break
Summer is upon us. The time when school is out for a few months (although it seems shorter every year) and kids of all ages—even teens—have to figure out what to do with their free time. Some, of course, have it all mapped out in the spring. They plan to play travel ball or do gymnastics or attend summer camp. Most,
The Rise of Teen Burner Phones and What to Do About Them
Mike and Kelly have three teenagers: Audrey, Kaley and Ben. They are a normal, American family in many ways—including arguments over cell phones. Every night, there’s some debate over inappropriate use of a portable device. In fact, one of the biggest conflicts surrounds the fact that Mike and Kelly ask their kids to turn in their phones at 9:00 pm
An Innovative Solution to Bad Behavior: Reverse Suspensions
Parents listen up! One middle school in West Virginia just created an alternative to traditional school suspensions for students. Administrators at Huntington East Middle School introduced a new disciplinary response to bad behavior that seems to be working. You won’t believe what it is. For non-violent, non-verbally abusive behavior, the school handles the poor behavior with an option called a “reverse
Five Steps to Develop Effective Communication
I’ll never forget hearing Zig Ziglar speak at a conference, back in 1978. It was my freshman year of college and he quickly became my role model for memorable communication. Zig was a salesman by training, and boy could he sell an idea. He became a best-selling author of several books, helping people build confidence, self-esteem and to set important
Quality Time or Quantity Time with Your Kids?
Earlier this month, the ABC network aired a special called “ScreenTime” hosted by Diane Sawyer. For six months, Sawyer and her team toured the U.S. talking to doctors, families, teachers and tech insiders in pursuit of answers to questions about how our smart phones are affecting us. What they discovered may not surprise you: Today, the average adult spends 49
Leadership Lessons from Three Heroes at a School Shooting
Can you believe it? Another school shooting took place last week. Although youth violence has gone down over the last three decades, we still hear of too many tragic episodes like the one that took place just 20 minutes from my former home, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado (just south of Denver). The school is just eight miles away from Columbine High
When Is it Right For a Teacher to Lecture?
I have two distinct memories in my childhood of being “lectured” by an adult. The first was my girlfriend’s mother, after I disobeyed her curfew as a teen. I knew better, but I tested the boundaries by returning her daughter after our date 10 minutes after the curfew. I had a great time on the date, but the lecture afterward
What We Can Learn About Leading Students from Instagram
Angela is in the sixth grade. Her parents have chosen to not purchase a smart phone for her yet, because they see the anxiety social media platforms cause Angela’s peers. When my teammate Andrew McPeak asked her if she wishes she had a phone, her response was insightful. She said, “No. I wish my friends didn’t have phones.” The fact is,
Five Ingredients to Build a Culture of Ownership on Your Campus
When Akbar Cook took over Westside High School in Newark, NJ, it was a mess. Students were divided into cliques that never interacted; teachers did their work in silos; and an attitude of distrust prevailed on the campus. Further, it was a low-income area, with 85 percent of the student body chronically missing school. He knew his work was cut
Six Steps to Help Young Team Members Manage Expectations
As Generation Z moves from school to career, many of them enter their first job with different expectations than those of their employers. They want to move up the organizational chart faster than their manager believes they are ready for that move. “More than 75% of Gen Z members believe they should be promoted in their first year on the job, according
What to Do with a Distracted Generation
Eleven years ago, I remember speaking to a large auditorium of university students. Social media had just arrived on the scene, so students were becoming distracted by their smart phones. As I stood to the side of the auditorium, I observed students reading magazines, staring down at their phones, or relaxed with their eyes closed and earbuds in—appearing completely apathetic