No one ever told me -- ever knew -- that being a teacher today might require me to kill an active shooter. To triage a suicidal student. To teach amidst a pandemic. Yet this is what we are asked to do.
3 Mindsets to Let Go in 2020
New Years often make us feel like we need to do more. But, increasing well-being doesn't just mean adding actions. It means letting go.
75 Intentional Acts of Kindness for Educators
Prosocial living is one of the strongest ways to cultivate joy, purpose, and positive relationships. Here are 75 ways to spread positivity.
Curing “Bleeding Heart Syndrome”
You can still have a heart for teaching without letting it bleed out. Here's how to tell if you have "bleeding heart syndrome" -- and what to do about it.
To My Former Students
At present, I'm starting a new year with new students. As I'm looking to the future, I'm thrown back to the past – to all the students who have stepped through this room, have sat in theses seats, have longed to get out of this school. A teacher's character is a collective contribution made by … Continue reading To My Former Students
The 9 Types of People Ruining Your School Email
I love 5% of the “reply all” emails I get at school. Wait . . . I hate 100% of the “reply all” emails I get at school. I only love the 5% of reply alls that get hijacked by my smart ass colleagues who turn them into jokes. Take the day we got notice … Continue reading The 9 Types of People Ruining Your School Email
Stop the Blame Game: Teaching Students to Take Ownership
A second grader made me cringe the other day. I visited my wife's class and a girl was showing the class her pictures from a recent soccer tournament. Someone asked how her team did. Her response? “We got second place. BUT, we actually should have gotten first because the other team cheated and the refs … Continue reading Stop the Blame Game: Teaching Students to Take Ownership
Ready to Quit Teaching? Try Job Crafting First
At the end of this year, I had a major thought: I need alcohol. Then, I had a more productive thought: I need a change. You've had those years, right? When the challenges of teaching stalk you like dementors, sucking the life out of your soul? But as much as I've thought about waving goodbye … Continue reading Ready to Quit Teaching? Try Job Crafting First
Podcasting with Weston Kieschnick
This final sprint at the end of the school year is always chaos. Between teaching, grading, organizing my hot mess of a room, trying to motivate the end-of-the-year sloths called students, and trying to motivate the end-of-the-year sloth called myself, life is jam packed. However, one thing I will always make time for is connecting … Continue reading Podcasting with Weston Kieschnick
23 Practices for a Thriving Life
This is part one in a series on nurturing thriving learners from AffectiveLiving and WeAreTeachers. "Why do people go to school?" This is one of my favorite questions to ask my students. “Because we have to,” is usually the first thing I hear. But they know my response to what I call “have-to-ism:” You don't … Continue reading 23 Practices for a Thriving Life
