Dealing With Fears Compassionately
“I can’t get it out of my mind.” I was surprised by how grotesque a statue in a neighbor’s yard is until I realized it’s an early glimpse...
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Rules Make Life Predictable
“What do you think the rules of golf are?” I asked my preschool class, years ago, before a visiting parent showed them golf clubs and...
A Magical Walk Through Campus
“Did you have any adventures outside at school today?” This is a question children are more apt to more respond to readily than the...
Starting the Day With Love
Becky Kennedy, author of Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, reminds us that arguing with our children only means...
Little Acts of Bravery
Children notice adults being brave and persevering. After Room 5 teacher Ann Pinkas had foot surgery, she had to stay home for weeks, and...
Managing the Challenge of Change
Two watchwords, awareness and empathy, can help us manage the huge transition involved in starting a new school year together. Most of us...
Recognizing Acts of Kindness
A photo of a lineman on a pole with paper angel wings attached to his shoulders stood out for me on an Instagram page dedicated to...
Supporting Children During Transitions
New beginnings call on us to build strength and a positive view about what life will bring. Yet transitions involve uncertainty and can...
Children Making a Difference
When third-grader Noor felt inspired to start a school club devoted to cleaning up trash on the playground, the adults in her life fully...
Honoring Relationships At Times of Transition
“We’ll always have our memories, even when this year is through, you’ve become a special part of me, and our class is now a part of you....
A Giant Reset
How did adults help you learn to work through frustrations as a child? My parents praised me when I did well. “You got a hundred...
“I’m Here for You”
Last week a representative from Community Care Licensing arrived at school for their annual unannounced visit, which hasn’t occurred in...
Giving Children a Voice
How do we help children learn to feel safe speaking their truth, even in front of others who may feel differently? Developing a strong...
Connecting Through Humor
“A wonderful thing about laughter is that it destroys any kind of system for dividing people.” — John Cleese, actor, comedian A few...
Cultivating Children’s Creativity
“He decided he needs a gray crayon,” a father explains to the water at Tutu’s, a restaurant where they provide crayons for children...
A Cure for Spring Fever
In spring, a child’s fancy turns to pushing limits and boundaries. The same process that incites spring flowers into what Rilke called...
The Power of Affirmations
One of the benefits of COVID has been helping us experience compassion and concern for others in our school community. Never in modern...
Time Well Spent
What’s the opposite of wasting time? We often talk about time in the same terms as money, referring to moments like finishing emails as...
Choosing the Right Books
With next week’s Book Fair, it’s helpful to explore ways to select meaningful books for children. We can’t force children to like...
The Importance of Books
I’m always touched by parents’ devotion to reading to their children every day, no matter how busy their schedules or how tired they are....
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