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We share evidence-based K-12 learning strategies that empower you to improve education.

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Social and Emotional Techniques That Help Students Focus on Academic Progress at Mount Desert Elementary

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Constance Steinkuehler on Interest-Driven Learning (Big Thinkers Series)

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How to Thank a Teacher

Blogs on Mental Health

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Replacing Teachers with Emotion

Terry HeickApril 3, 2013

Tags Brain Research, Education Reform, Mental Health, , Student Engagement

Teachers mean well. By teachers, I mean you.

You mean well.

After all, you're here, aren't you -- looking for resources to become a better teacher or administrator? And you're in education to begin with -- that's a selfless and Sisyphean pursuit in itself. You want what's best for the future of mankind, so you decided to teach. Went to college, learned about Vygotsky and Piaget, and here you are on Edutopia, finding out what makes learners tick.

A Year at Mission Hill: Love and Limits and The Eye of the Dragon

Amy Erin Borovoy (aka VideoAmy)April 2, 2013

Tags Arts Education, Mental Health, Primary (K-2), , Special Education, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), Massachusetts

The most recent video releases in the A Year at Mission Hill series have generated lots of attention; in part because of the controversial topics of full-inclusion classrooms and how to get students engaged in the curriculum. If you're new to the series, start with Mark Phillips' blog post about the ongoing documentary project, and you can see chapters two and three in this post. New videos are released every two weeks, and the series website offers theme-based resources of all kinds to sync up with the topic in each. I'm pleased to share chapters four and five here.

Building Social and Emotional Skills in Elementary Students: Emotional Management

Randy TaranMarch 12, 2013

Tags Classroom Management, Mental Health, Primary (K-2), , Upper Elementary (3-5)

In this nine-part series, we will look at important factors that influence the happiness and social and emotional learning of elementary school age children. These are very useful in helping students learn, manage emotions better and increase empathy. Each blog features one letter of the acronym HAPPINESS:

H = Happiness
A = Appreciation
P = Passions and Strengths
P = Perspective
I = Inner Meanie/Inner Friend
N = Ninja Mastery
E = Empathy
S = So Similar
S = Share Your Gifts

In this post, we will explore Ninja Mastery, a.k.a. learning emotional management.

Filling in Thought Holes: An Invaluable Social and Emotional Learning Lesson

Renee JainMarch 8, 2013

Tags Mental Health, , All Grades

"I didn’t get invited to Craig's party . . . I'm such a loser."

"I missed the bus . . . nothing ever goes my way."

"My math teacher wants to see me . . . I must be in trouble."

These are the thoughts of a high school student named Jeremy. You wouldn't know it from his thoughts, but Jeremy is actually pretty popular and gets decent grades. Unfortunately, in the face of adversity, Jeremy makes a common error; he falls into "thought holes." Thought holes, or cognitive distortions, are skewed perceptions of reality. They are negative interpretations of a situation based on poor assumptions. For Jeremy, thought holes cause intense emotional distress.

Standing Up to Bullies

Robert IngramMarch 6, 2013

Tags Bullying, Mental Health, , Middle (6-8), Physical Education

I was born with a cleft palate and lip. Due to the scars and constant surgeries, school was very difficult. Children seemed to really enjoy hurting me. Whether it was verbal, physical or emotional didn't seem to matter as long as they each got a turn at picking on the "flat nose."

After the Cheering Stops

Mark PhillipsFebruary 21, 2013

Tags Mental Health, , Middle (6-8), High (9-12), Physical Education

I grew up loving basketball, and Alan Seiden was the best high school basketball player I've ever seen. He was also my neighbor and a classmate at Jamaica High School in New York City. One of the most indelible memories from my youth is watching Alan hit one beautiful jump shot after another at Madison Square Garden as he helped lead our team to the city championship. The New York Times compared him favorably to the basketball legend Bob Cousy. He went on to St. John's, became one of the greatest stars in the history of that university's basketball team, and was a two time All-American. He also played briefly in the pros.

Questions and Answers: Determining What Our Students Really Need

Lori DesautelsFebruary 20, 2013

Tags Education Reform, Mental Health, Mentoring, Teacher Development, All Grades

This morning I sat in two inner city middle school classrooms in Indianapolis as I do most weeks. But something struck me deeply in the center of my chest as I was observing the boredom and apathy in the detached, sleepy and seemingly sad faces of many of these seventh grade students. The teachers were cheerfully present, the standards were posted, the paperwork was almost completed, there were no overt disruptions, and compliance was at hand.

The procedures, rules and transitions were hard-wired into the brains of these middle school students and adults, but an "inner" inspiration and deep subconscious yearning for something else attached to the notion of the "purpose of school" were nowhere to be found.

Showing Your "School Family" Some Love

Nicholas ProvenzanoFebruary 14, 2013

Tags Mental Health, New Teachers, , All Grades

It's February and love is all around us. You might be thinking, "Really? Where?" That's because it's so easy to get down in the dumps during the winter months and only focus on all of the problems you face in the classroom. Just remember that Valentine's Day is when we're supposed to show our love to family and friends.

And what about our "school family"?

Teaching Kindness: More Than a Random Act

Lisa Michelle DabbsFebruary 8, 2013

Tags Bullying, Diversity, Mental Health, , All Grades

It's been a long time since I was in elementary school. But I can remember it like it was yesterday.

I wasn't the cutest, skinniest or best-dressed girl. I wasn't even a popular girl, but I had an advantage; I could sing like "nobody's business," and my teachers loved that about me. As a result, I think I was spared the bullying that could've come from classmates due to my lack of the aforementioned qualities.

What to Do When Students Lie

Dr. Richard CurwinFebruary 7, 2013

Tags Classroom Management, Mental Health, , All Grades

When I was school age, I never told a lie, but I bet many of you readers have lied in your youth. Okay, so maybe I did lie a few times . . . All of us have encountered students who've told us lies during our professional careers. One of the best I heard recently was when a teacher confronted a student for copying, word for word, from Wikipedia. The student responded, "I can't help it if Wikipedia copied my paper!"