Celebrate World Humanitarian Day

We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say “It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.” Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.~Fred Rogers Each year on August 19th, we celebrate World Humanitarian … read more »

Teach Your Students to be Global Digital Citizens!

What is a Global digital citizen? According to Lee Watanabe-Crockett, “A Global Digital Citizen is a responsible, ethical citizen, leveraging technology to foster community on a global scale through connection and compassion.” Global digital citizenship embodies 5 tenets: personal responsibility, global citizenship, digital citizenship, altruistic service, and environmental stewardship. The internet has amazing potential to … read more »

Quick, Easy, and Engaging Arbor Day Activities

“He who plants a tree plants hope.” Lucy Larcom This year commemorates the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day. J. Sterling Morton spearheaded the planting of one million trees in Nebraska in 1872, leading to the formation of the Arbor Day Foundation one hundred years later to carry on his mission. Over time, the foundation has … read more »

5 Social-Emotional Learning Activities for National School Counseling Week

School Counselors provide a unique and vital role within their schools. According to the American School Counselor Association (ACSA), they “lead, advocate, and collaborate to promote equity and access for all students.” Their role includes support for both the academic and social-emotional needs of the students served. This year’s National School Counseling Week theme is School Counseling: … read more »

Infusing SEL Into Everyday Instruction

It is critical to teach students strategies to deal with emotions and interact respectfully with peers. As a father of six, life can be crazy. My wife, also a teacher, enjoys our bedtime routine of reading aloud to our children. Recently, we read Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes. Lilly brings a purple plastic … read more »