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Tips and Tools

  • Beginning the New Year with your Family

    January is a great time to help children review routines and focus on the brand new year ahead. It is common, after winter break and less structured environment during vacation, to notice that it is harder to get going and return to the family’s daily rhythm. Re-establishing routines works best when the process is intentional. […]

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  • The New Year: Reflecting and Refreshing in the Classroom

    The start of a new calendar year is a great time to help students reflect on renewal and hopes for the future. Many teachers find that routines that were quite polished in December seem to need a bit of refreshing in January, as well. You can integrate both of these ideas as you reflect on […]

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  • December Without the “Dizzy” for Educators

    There is a lot of excitement in December. Staying focused can be a challenge for us and for our students during this stressful season. With the anticipation of upcoming celebrations, and the needed break from school, the adults are often in countdown mode. This can look like a countdown calendar, parties and lots of talk about […]

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  • Family Meetings

    Family meetings are a powerful tool to build the life skills that we want our children to have.  The family meeting process helps children learn good listening skills, cooperation, mutual respect, and effective solution-focused problem solving.  The consistent practice of gathering as a family, giving and receiving compliments, and solving problems helps families run more […]

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  • Class Meetings

    Class Meetings are an effective way for students to learn many of the life skills that are just as important, long term, as academic skills. Students do not magically know how to safely get into a circle, how to listen respectfully, or how to focus on solutions. These are foundational skills that need to be […]

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  • What Are We Learning?

    Submitted by Adrian Garsia Teacher, parent, Positive Discipline Trainer For a long time I have wondered why Positive Discipline is more successful in some classrooms than others, why do some teachers and schools embrace it and others reject it. Why do systems based on rewards (and punishment) thrive? Why do I embrace Positive Discipline and […]

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  • From Unknown to Expected: Relief

    Not knowing what will happen next is stressful. In our families, many times parents/caregivers have a sense of what will be happening next but the children don’t. For children, the fear of the unknown can include everything from a new food, who will or won’t be at the playground, to the divorce of parents.  Children […]

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  • Routines: Less Stress, More Time

    Routines in your classroom are like the framework of your house. They hold it together while great things happen inside. Investing thought, time and energy into establishing routines creates a classroom that most often runs smoothly: frustration, interruptions and opportunities for misbehavior are minimized. Students feel safe and comfortable, and are more able to focus […]

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  • Using “Time Out” to Practice Calming Down in the Classroom (or at Home)

    Submitted by Stacy Lappin We often hear from educators that students need to be able to self-regulate in order to be successful in school. But what exactly does that mean?   Self-regulation is the ability to monitor and manage emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It’s what helps children focus their attention on learning when they might be distracted […]

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  • Self Regulation Comes First

    Contributed by Jody McVittie, MD. You can probably remember the last time you were talking to your child knowing that your child was not taking in everything you said.  Sometimes we adults just say too much.  Why? Probably because we care. We want to make sure our children are well-behaved, don’t hurt others and we […]

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