TOPICS
RESTORATIVE PRACTICE/RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices BUILD COMMUNITY, REPAIR DAMAGES, ADDRESS VICTIMS, and RESTORE TRUST FOR ALL. Removing students from class and, eventually, from school does not focus on fixing problems. In a day when we can absolutely not afford for any student to miss instruction, RJ is the perfect approach.
TEACHING IN THE AGE OF CHRONIC STRESS
Mental health has become a crisis in our nation and our schools. Due to many factors: poverty, expectations, isolation, and a world-wide pandemic, educators need to understand the effects these stressors have on their students and what they can do to support them in life and in learning.
WE ARE IN THE FIELD OF BRAIN SCIENCE:
~What Teachers Need to Know About the Brain
~What Students Need to Know About the Brain
Understanding how the chemicals of the brain influence our thinking and how electrical signals move between parts of the brain when learning occurs may seem like information only a neuroscientist needs to understand, but we truly are in the brain business and to be an effective teacher or learner, we should understand the basics of the brain. For example, the brain doesn't know the difference between a tiger and a test. Knowing how to work around this can help teachers and students better prepare for exams.
ENGAGEMENT. ENGAGEMENT, ENGAGEMENT
Having an engaging classroom doesn't necessarily mean pulling out all the bells and whistles. Understanding what states of mind your students learn best in and managing those states can be a large part of the puzzle when it comes to students being actively engaged. Engagement also comes from students openly and eagerly interacting with one another and instruction often. Discover ways to increase learning, retention, and comprehension by increasing engagement.
KEY TO SUCCESS:RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CLASSROOM
"Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care."
~ Theodore Roosevelt
Not only do your students need to know that you care, they need to feel cared for and respected in class and by their peers. Some teachers will argue that their job is only to teach. We believe there is a difference between "teaching" and simply "offering instruction." If we want students to learn, we need to meet the needs of the whole child. Understanding personality types, how to build community and respect, and how to encourage confidence are three great ways to create trust in the classroom.