Students
Design Thinking Could Be a Game Changer for Students
9shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Once in a while, I hear something that stops me in my tracks. I recognize I’ve just heard a life-changing idea. One of them surfaced this year. During a recent Twitter chat I participated in, one of the educator participants asked a question: “Have you heard of design thinking?”…
Continue ReadingSeven Ways to Prevent Athletes From a De-Commit or Transfer
9shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn I know a high school senior who was recruited to play volleyball at a NCAA Division One School. Emily told me the coaches “courted” her for months until she finally committed to play there. And then, when she actually showed up to play, things were different. After a week…
Continue ReadingFive Ways to Manage Disrespect from Students Today
42shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn During the 2017-2018 school year, more educators asked me for ideas about managing disrespectful students than any year in my memory. One teacher told me a student in her class was slouching and drifting off to sleep. She walked over to him and requested he sit up straight and…
Continue ReadingA Letter to My Kids’ Teachers at Midterms
13shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn The fall semester is halfway done, and students are entering midterm exams. Ahhh—there’s nothing like the fall, with high pressure fronts coming in with colder weather, in addition to high pressure expectations among our students. I also believe this time of year is a perfect period to evaluate our…
Continue ReadingThree Trends on the Rise as Generation Z Grows Up
12shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Today, tech innovations are being introduced faster than I can keep up. Did you know that a flying car may be unveiled at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo? Yes, I just said that. A rider in this flying car plans to light the torch at the beginning of…
Continue ReadingThe Nobility of Working with Students
10shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn I recently led a workshop for administrators at a university. Attendees were college deans, vice presidents, heads of schools and high school principals. When I placed them in small discussion groups and posed the question, “What changes do you plan to make this year?” I overheard one administrator say…
Continue ReadingOne Cause of Entitled and Fragile Adults
36shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn A news story broke recently that made its away across the country. At first glance, I couldn’t believe it. My guess is—many of you heard about it. A Florida teacher was fired for refusing to comply with the school’s “No Zero” policy. This means, the school administration has created…
Continue ReadingThe Important Division Between Fault and Responsibility
20shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn My mom and dad told me over the years that I was a funny little kid, when I was very young. Whenever anything went wrong in our home—a spilled drink at the kitchen table, a lost item from a room, a torn sock, you name it—I apologized for it.…
Continue ReadingThe Fine Line Between Excellence and Obsession
7shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn I recently met a family on a road trip who epitomizes today’s society. Their three children are the center of their lives. They spend most of their money to resource those children. Both screens and sports occupy the majority of their time. Because they have some discretionary income, they…
Continue ReadingParents Say the Darndest Things to Educators
5shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Most teachers would say they collaborate well with their student’s parents. Every year, however, teachers report some of the craziest requests parents make on behalf of their kid. Some of these true stories include the following: “I had a parent (and her son) who refused to sign my rules…
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