Posts by cjohnson
Geocaching: Summer Adventure for the Whole Family
The Fun and Adventure of Geocaching
With summer break in full swing, low-cost, spontaneous opportunities for adventure are at a premium. One great way to combine treasure-hunting, adventure, problem-solving, and connection with other adventurers around the world is to join…Read More
Shaping Schools, Shaping Lives: Transformation Through Environment
The Power of Physical Environments
“We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us,” asserted Sir Winston Churchill. Andrew L. Ross, Gary Grenier, and Frank Kros, transformational education experts, echo this sentiment in their book, Creating The Upside Down Organization: Transforming…Read More
Summer of Self-Development: Creative Ideas for Teachers to Explore Personal Learning and Discovery
Summer is just around the corner, and as your classes wind down, it’s the perfect time to seize the opportunity to develop yourself. If you’re not required to focus on the technical aspects of professional development, summer may be a…Read More
Unlock a Summer of Learning: Simple and Fun Ways to Prevent Academic Regression
The joy of summertime provides a much-needed emotional respite from the rigors of daily life. However, a study in the American Educational Research Journal suggests that students may risk losing substantial academic progress they made during the previous school year.…Read More
Improved Mental Health With SUDS: A Simple Practice to Measure and Reduce Stress
Stress is an unavoidable, completely normal part of life. However, when we’re unaware of how much distress we’re experiencing, or deny that stress is affecting our perceptions and responses, the cumulative impact of it can lead to anxiety issues and…Read More
Channeling Your Inner Jedi: 10 Star Wars Quotes on Harnessing the Power of Intention
Most of us who were born in the last half-century have a Star Wars memory (or ten) from our youth: light saber wars in the backyard, dressing up as our favorite characters for Halloween, or “using the Force” to open…Read More
Spring Cleaning for the Mind: The Empowering Effects of Decluttering
A clear and open space makes room for a clear and open mind. According to Dr. Emma Gray, a clinical psychologist, “Clutter can cause anxiety, depression, and even physical pain. Decluttering can improve the functioning of our brains and help…Read More
Getting Grounded for Earth Day: 5 Easy Ways to Create Calm and Connection
In addition to hosting Earth Day, April is also Stress Awareness Month, and a wonderful way to honor both is through a stress-relieving technique called “grounding.” Combatting the internal and environmental noise and frenetic mayhem that defines daily life, grounding…Read More
Teaching Kids Financial Responsibility: Practical Tips for Every Age
Although some states (Pennsylvania included) require financial literacy to be taught in public schools, children’s understanding of money largely begins and develops at home. Parents can help foster financial literacy with the following tips and resources, which can make learning…Read More
Humor Me: The Surprising Link Between Laughter and Resilience
In today’s fast-paced and stressful world, resilience—the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties – is an invaluable human skill. Thankfully, healthy resilience is not just about building mental toughness and grit. Making room for more laughter in daily…Read More
Belonging Stops the Bully: 4 Lessons from the Savannah
If you’ve ever watched a wildlife documentary, you’re familiar with some of the hunting tactics used by predators and the dynamics existing between predator and prey. Observing predator-prey dynamics can help to illustrate parallels between the natural instincts of predators,…Read More
Kindness in the Classroom: Kind Conflict Resolution
“If conflict is a normal, natural part of life, it’s really important to look at how we deal with it.”
– Ann McKnight
This final post in our “Kindness in the Classroom” series culminates with a brief look at how…Read More