The Emotions of Learning: Q&A with Yale's Marc Brackett, PhD
Social-emotional and trauma-informed learning and teaching are at the forefront of education research and study today. The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) reports that nearly 50 percent of the children in the U.S. have experienced “at least one or more types of serious childhood trauma.” Therefore, ignoring emotions in the classroom can absolutely pose a barrier to learning. One group of researchers (Kautz, Heckman, Diris, Bas ter Weel, & Borghans, 2014) found tha
Small Things That Make a Big Difference in the Classroom
Sometimes the smallest practices and moments can make a huge difference in the classroom and with students. Ask anyone about their best school memories and, chances are, they will have little to do with the lessons or the test scores and much to do with the relationships and connections they formed with their teachers. Here’s a look at small classroom practices that have a mighty impact. Welcoming students at the door There’s so much to do at the start of class, but greeting
Three Takeaways from EduCon
I spent this weekend at EduCon 2019 at Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, PA. For anyone unfamiliar with EduCon, the creators of EDxEDNYC dreamed up the idea for EDxEDNYC on the train ride back to NYC from Philly after attending EduCon several years ago. To quote the website, EduCon is “an innovation conference where we can come together, both in person and virtually, to discuss the future of schools” — a future that is inquiry-driven, includes student voice, and use
How to Encourage Student Self-Efficacy
A confident classroom is a successful classroom. How do you build a culture of academic excellence in classrooms that promote student accountability, confidence, and success? By encouraging a growth mindset for all learners, finding ways to boost their confidence and their sense of academic potential. Here’s a look at a few ways to cultivate student self-efficacy. What is self-efficacy? According to Transforming Education, “Self-efficacy is the belief in one’s ability to succ
How Positive Student-Teacher Relationships Create Resilient Learners
In her viral TED Talk “Every Kid Needs a Champion,” 40-year educator Rita Pierson, recounted a time when she heard a colleague say, “They don’t pay me to like the kids.” Her response: “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.” When most of us think back to our time in school, our stories tend to include the teachers with whom we had real, lasting connections. Our favorite teachers often changed our outlook on learning, made class fun, and inspired us to push beyond what