how to teach kids not to give up

Male Student Working At Desk In Chinese School Classroom

Use Brain Science to Teach Kids Not to Give Up Brain science has dramatically changed how we think about the brain.  While much of the research has been applied to helping children learn better in an academic setting, growth mindset research has also taught us how to help children develop high self-esteem while at the…

Read More

Motivating Students

tired teacher

Motivating Students At an elementary school training, a teacher asked me about strategies for a student who has no motivation.  He refuses to do any work at all and she has tried numerous strategies already.  “I’ve tried everything and nothing works,” she said.  As a school counselor for 20 years, I often heard similar concerns.…

Read More

getting started

Most of us are always starting something: a new job a new diet a new relationship a new project a new adventure How do you start well?  How do you begin so that you avoid past mistakes?  How do you ensure the best possible chance of success?  Are there any strategies that work? It turns…

Read More

Helping kids develop a good work ethic

kids and careers

Tips for Teaching Kids a Good Work Ethic Everywhere I turn, I hear complaints about the lack of a good work ethic in today’s employees.  In a study of 1000 employers across the country, Josh Davies, the CEO of the Center for Work Ethic Development  in Colorado asked the top six work traits that employers look…

Read More

Kids and tough friendship decisions

3 happy boys

Friendship Decisions and Self-Worth As a school counselor for twenty years, one of the most common problems that I talked to kids about was friendship. What do you do when a friend wants to do something that is unkind, thoughtless, or involves breaking the rules? What do you do when a friend is bossy, self-centered…

Read More

Gratitude and Hardship

How do you make the most of life’s challenges? My life hasn’t been perfect.  Has yours?  I’ve experienced everything from the loss of a job to the death of a parent and husband.  I’ve had interpersonal conflicts and personal failures.  I grew up in what used to be called a broken home and I’ve been…

Read More