Taking the drama out of conflict

father and kids

Take the Drama out of Conflicts “He’s not following the rules!  He’s a cheater!” “She is being mean to me and my friends. She won’t include us in her club.” “She took my markers and lost them.  Now I don’t have any.” Some days it feels like all we do as educators and parents is…

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What makes a great school counselor?

counselor with student

Characteristics of a Great Counselor I was recently at a luncheon talking with some elementary school principals about school counselors and an evaluation method they are required to complete yearly on school counselors.  The instrument was so complex that they had to attend special training  to learn to use it properly. The evaluation emphasized collecting data in order to  prove the impact…

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Want to nurture a kid’s superpower?

kid-collag

Kids and Super Powers In a memorable TED talk, scientist and researcher, Peter Benson-Sparks asks the question,  What is the spark that each child carries within and how can we as educators, parents and other influencers of youth, encourage and fan the flames of that spark? Benson believes that every child has a unique spark,…

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3 steps to helping kids develop self-discipline

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Kids and Self-discipline Will power, self-discipline and productive habits are always the buzz words for the Olympics. Ask any Olympic gold medal winner to what they attribute their success and I guarantee these words will come up over and over.  No one is going to say they won the gold by having a lackadaisical attitude,…

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Creating a growth mindset in kids

girl with ice skates

Kids and Growth Mindset One thing that parents and educators can agree on is that we all want the best for children. We want them to learn skills that will serve them well in the future.  Developing a growth mindset is a key component. When we focus on motivation and cajole, threaten or even bribe…

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