Hawaii Can Turn the Tide Despite a Shortened School Year
By Maurice Elias
10/23/09
You may have heard the story that due to the recession, Hawaii has cut 17 days from its school year, leaving 163 days of instruction instead of the more typical 180 days. The story suggests that with Hawaii near the bottom of educational achievement, it can't afford to lose those days.
But I would like to suggest that because Hawaii already ranks as one of the lowest states academically, restoring those 17 days won't matter -- nor would adding ten more.
Giving Visibility to Students with Emotional-Behavior Challenges
By Maurice Elias
10/14/09The world is catching on to the importance of developing social and emotional learning in youth.
Ways to Work Smarter as a Teacher
By Maurice Elias
9/23/09Have you heard Lou Holtz? He was a football coach, most notably at Notre Dame, and now is an analyst for college football on ESPN. But his most important role is as a motivational speaker. Actually, I would say he's more of an accomplishment speaker.
How to Bring Service Learning to Your School
By Maurice Elias
6/17/09I have found myself drawn to the topic of systematically fostering civic engagement in youth, especially high school and college-age students.
A Time for Family Traditions
By Maurice Elias
4/14/09April is indeed a special time for strengthening social and emotional and character development (SECD). Reflecting on this past week, I've had some pertinent thoughts to share with students and their families around this time of the year. Feel free to use, adapt, or create your own.
Use Music to Develop Kids' Skills and Character
By Maurice Elias
3/19/09Is music important in your life? Is it important in your kids' lives? Is there a reason so many children walk around with an iPod?
The Four Keys to Helping At-Risk Kids
By Maurice Elias
1/22/09There's more than one way to make a delicious bread, soup, or stew. Similarly, there is not just one recipe for reducing risk in students' lives. But there do seem to be some essential ingredients to the process.
Creating Better People: SECD Can Make a Difference
By Maurice Elias
12/23/08People often ask me what evidence there is to support the view that our schools should promote social, emotional, and character development in our students. They seem especially interested in whether SECD actually helps shape the character and behavior of students over time.
Spreading the Word: Social, Emotional, and Character Development
By Maurice Elias
11/25/08You go to conferences and other professional-development experiences, check Web sites, read blogs, and participate in teleseminars and webinars. You gain great insight and knowledge, and you notice that many, if not most, of your colleagues have not shared this experience with you. How do you communicate this back at your home-school setting?
The Positive Path: A Recipe for Risk Reduction
By Maurice Elias
6/20/08I don't think we have the proper understanding of risk. Imagine yourself at a blackjack table or on an online investment site. What if you could play or invest without worrying about losing your money? Would you be highly conservative, or would you be more reckless? The vast majority of people in that situation would be much less careful than they would if they had their own hard-earned money on the line.
