Summertime and the living is easy... Here we are, hopefully one step closer to relaxation than we were back in June. It occurred to me a while back that it would be fun to share a few of my favourite books about school, kids, kindness, and the human condition. I can't promise that it's all … Continue reading Summer 2019 KindSight 101 Booklist
E 67 – How to be a Connection Ninja (With David Knapp-Fisher)
How do you make authentic connections with people? How can we teach kids to do the same? What are some of the keys that will enable students to be successful in the uncertain future world they face? I want to introduce you to my friend, David Knapp-Fisher, a connection ninja, speaker, author, world-traveller, and speaking … Continue reading E 67 – How to be a Connection Ninja (With David Knapp-Fisher)
Favourite Mantras for the Classroom
I was inspired to create this post after hearing an episode of Barbara Gruener's Corner on Character podcast episodes. One of her guests talked about the power of mantras in helping to form a positive and encouraging classroom culture. I loved the idea. While I have strong values, I haven't always articulated these into classroom mantras so … Continue reading Favourite Mantras for the Classroom
E 66 – Choose to Rise (With Janelle Morrison)
We all have those moments, real life crashes that provide us with an opportunity to choose fear or choose to rise above the adversity and find a way to move forward. What does it take to be a real hero? How can we learn to rise above our circumstances, teaching our students to do the … Continue reading E 66 – Choose to Rise (With Janelle Morrison)
The 4 Secrets to Effective Teaching
Picture for a moment, your ideal student. As Dan and Chip Health counsel us to do in their ground-breaking book The Power of Moments, fill in the following sentence with what makes sense to you: Three-to -Five years from now, my students still know_____, are still able to do _____, or will continue to find value in … Continue reading The 4 Secrets to Effective Teaching
Shame vs. Humiliation vs. Guilt vs. Embarrassment (Brené Brown)
Have you ever wondered what the difference between shame, guilt, humiliation, and embarrassment are? Often we use these words interchangeably, but Dr. Brené Brown has so beautifully described the difference between the 4 terms: Shame is “I am bad” Shame is a focus on self. Imagine you've worked really hard to prepare a presentation with … Continue reading Shame vs. Humiliation vs. Guilt vs. Embarrassment (Brené Brown)
E 64 – The Keys to Resilience (With Dr. Jacqueline McAdam)
How do we become resilient? Why is it that people who have endured generations of hardship, famine, and war (in places like Kenya, Nairobi, and Rwanda) are more psychologically resilient than many individuals living in the developed world? Join me as we uncover the secrets of resilience during this special conversation with Dr. Jacqueline McAdam. … Continue reading E 64 – The Keys to Resilience (With Dr. Jacqueline McAdam)
Anxiety vs. Presence
(Picture Courtesy of Amber Rae @heyamberrae on Instagram) So, it's that time of year, again. Frenetic pace. Anticipation of summer. Deadlines and due dates. All pistons are firing. The banality of lunch-making has reached epic proportions. I would rather barter 3 weeks of delivering our garbage to the curb, than pack another blessed lunch kit! … Continue reading Anxiety vs. Presence
E 63 – Inspiring a BE KIND Culture (With Roman Nowak)
Ever wonder what the key to engagement for your students can be? How can connection be the key to achievement for our students? How do we tear down the incorrect beliefs we have that other teachers are perfect? Roman Nowak is a highschool teacher in Rockland, Ontario, Canada. A veritable kind of kindness, he hosted … Continue reading E 63 – Inspiring a BE KIND Culture (With Roman Nowak)
How to Build Trust in Hostile Environments
Building Trust in Hostile Environments A friend of mine, who works in a factory-type workplace, took it upon herself to be a little innovative. She realized that the 2-component job she was doing was inefficient. Everytime she attached the fabric to the frame of a piece of furniture she was making, she was losing time … Continue reading How to Build Trust in Hostile Environments
Morgane Michael 