In the counseling world, the therapeutic alliance is a term we use to describe the unwritten contract between a patient and a therapist with regard to working towards a common goal. But in the real world, we just say “we’re getting to know one other.” No
Names abound for Gen Z: Generation Z, Internet Generation or I-Gen, Technology Generation, Tweens, and the Pluralist Generation. Regardless of what you call them, this cohort was born in the mid-‘90s to 2010. You may bump into them on a daily basis as the youngest
Students are profoundly influenced by the messages they get from the significant people in their lives about their ability to learn. Many low-confidence, underperforming students—often children of color and children of poverty—have been receiving messages their whole lives that they are not smart enough (perhaps
School has begun and Summer is finally at our backs. If you’re a leader, however you spent the Summer months—at conferences, attending workshops, reading, relaxing, and so on—we have no doubt that you spent a good deal of time planning for the new school year
Setting up for a summer presentation in an elementary cafeteria, I had a conversation with the cafeteria manager, who explained that his goal was to give his students and staff the best possible experience in the cafeteria. We didn’t talk about food; we talked about
I was sitting in the hair salon talking with my stylist when a young lady approached and asked if there were any stylists in the salon who could braid her hair. Since I was there for my back-to-school hairdo and in an effort to make
We often say that we learn from our failures. But neuroscience does not completely agree. The reality is that humans are more likely to learn from mistakes if they have experienced a sufficient amount of success. The brain produces motivation by the secretion of dopamine in
Does this statement ring true in your school? “Many students are aware of the issues in the world around them, possibly feeling inspired, curious, confused, or scared.” (Teaching the Whole Teen, p. 153). If that statement sounds on target, your school is not unusual. Young people
While we may be tempted to look at underperforming students and label them as lazy, research indicates that most students lack motivation because of three fundamental factors: Students do not believe they can succeed even if they try. Students do not feel they have any
To better meet the needs of today’s learners, more and more school systems are shifting away from traditional teaching practices. Some schools are engaging students in more meaningful, real-world learning experiences through project-based learning. Others are embracing makerspaces, design thinking, gamification, blended or personalized learning.