Zero Tolerance is not the magic bullet for creating safer schools, Restorative Practices is the way to go! Initially, Zero Tolerance policies were created as a way of consistently enforcing suspension and expulsion policies in response to weapons, drugs and violent acts in the school setting.  Over time, the policies moved beyond the originally identified […]

Restorative practices can help educators identify and meet individual needs in a variety of ways. They help educators see the whole student and not just focus on the behavior. The Restorative Quadrant of The Social Discipline Window helps meet the individual needs of students by helping educators set clear boundaries and provide discipline that is […]

“Education literally shapes the child’s brain and likely produces alterations that lay the foundation for all future learning, emotion regulation and social functioning” (Davidson, 2008). Restorative practices that focus on developing positive relationships are essential for learning to take place and help create the conditions for students to thrive. On the contrary, negative relationships often […]

So grateful and excited to be here at Columbia Teacher’s College for The Spirituality in Education Conference!  http://spiritualitymindbody.tc.columbia.edu/ I feel so at home here, so connected with others and so connected to my life’s purpose. Today is also my daughter, Dani’s, 25th birthday.  She is truly a spiritual being and evidence of what it is […]

I am so excited and grateful to be part of Character Day!  I love the Science of Character and this year’s Jewish version, The Making of a Mensch, is wonderful as well! Here is a handout packet to help you dig more deeply into the Middot, Jewish Virtues. MiddotHandoutsDS Click here to link to the […]

OK, I admit it.  This is a repost from 2 years ago. Hey, somethings are better the 2nd time around.  Perhaps you will enjoy these songs , videos and my sincere gratitude twice as much… How can I express my since appreciation to my fellow educators for your steadfast dedication to your students, your families […]

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~Mark Twain I believe we all have a purpose in life. As we welcome in 2015, I invite you to reflect on your life purpose and how you will fully live it. This year […]

One in five high schools in the US have no school counselor at all, while most other high schools, with the exception of wealthier private schools, have 1 counselor per approximately 500 students, according to the New York Times article entitled, “Little College Guidance: 500 High School Students Per Counselor.” Not only does this present […]

There are a variety of risks factors that lead to an increased likelihood of some students being educationally disadvantaged. According to Hirsch (2007), “Just 14 % of variation in individuals’ performance is accounted for by school quality. Most variation is explained by other factors, underlining the need to look at the range of children’s experiences, […]

I knew I wanted to be a teacher ever since I was eight years old and a student in Mrs. O’Leary’s third grade class. An exceptional teacher, Mrs. O’Leary did not treat her students as mere “vessels to be filled” with reading, writing and arithmetic, but as individuals worthy of her time, respect and consideration.  […]