Daria had a weight problem in her elementary school years and it soon grew into a social problem with the other girls in the class.  This started as the other girls in the class excluded her from activities.  But Daria was quite bright and soon learned that if...

Jackson was a difficult student. He was exceptionally bright and, in many cases, knew more than I did as his fourth grade teacher.  When we had discussions about latest events in different parts of the world, Jackson always had new information and new stories to...

  Jonathan Haidt thoughtfully dissects the issues surrounding technology and children in his book, The Anxious Generation.  He pinpoints a problem that began with children coming of age (from 2 to 18) after the introduction of the Apple iPhone in 2007.  Children...

  Lenny wanted to be a Navy pilot.  Since he was a little boy he had always taken an interest in the aircraft that flew overhead and his parents encouraged that interest by purchasing Matchbox aircraft, Classic WW2 models and anything else with wings!  They sent...

  Kelsey’s mother was in on the second day of school questioning a grade that her daughter had received on day one.  Kelsey was new to our school in 6th grade and the start of her tenure was not going well.  Kelsey’s mother had been used to the hardscrabble fight...

  Thomas was an outstanding athlete.  When he played football or basketball or baseball, he was wonderful to watch. His body was fluid and smooth, he ran with abandon and was faster than the others.  He would juke one way, run the other and inevitably leave...

  Teachers typically choose responsibility as the culminating Trait for Success.  Once students have been given instruction on how to build character, their goal at the end of a school year is to demonstrate their willingness to take charge of their own success,...

  One does not need to look far on the Internet to find articles that flout the importance of collaboration. Whether collaboration is focused on teamwork, building professional relationships, or conflict resolution, it is critical for success that people learn...

  Parenting is undoubtedly one of the most challenging tasks most of us will face. Our children start entirely dependent on our ability and willingness to feed, bathe, clothe, love, and care for all their infant needs. As children grow, they gradually distance...

  Students who are resilient do not get stuck in problem-solving. They know that if a solution is not forthcoming, it is time to look at the problem from a new perspective and try different methods for reaching solutions. Resilient students have the confidence to...

  As teachers and as parents, what kind of children do we want to raise? The child paralyzed by fear or the child challenged by hope? The child who easily loses confidence when confronted by alternatives or the child who grows in confidence with each new...

"   I think it is easy to see that working hard contributes immensely to success.  Words like grit and determination pop up regularly in success books, and certainly, one measure of educational success can be found in a student’s willingness to work hard for a...

  Social scientists in the past two decades have clearly stated that human values matter when it comes to defining and managing your measure of personal success. Brene Brown talks about the importance of vulnerability in defining success; Angela Duckworth speaks...

  Focus is about the choices a student makes.  Is he or she paying attention to the things that are most important?  Some students need to pay attention to teacher directions, others to the quality of their spelling work, still others to the quality of their...

  Teachers need to work with school administrators to identify what it takes for students to be successful in the community.  Educators need to look beyond schooling and ask how they can best prepare students to deal not just with school, but with life. In...

  How do we get school communities past 150 years of academics as the primary focus of schooling? In my experience, the teachers who have worked in schools for decades are frustrated by the competition for academic grades; frustrated by the focus in schools on...

  I understand parents who choose to homeschool.  In schools, there can be an overwhelming focus on the differences everyone brings to the table.  If everyone is different, the only unified expectation is in academic success.  Thus, the continued emphasis on...

  Parents and teachers can work together to create a positive school culture.  Both are on the same team in wanting school success and life success for their children/students. The important thing is to embrace that nothing significant is achieved without a...

Sarah had always been a steady, dependable student. While her friends fretted over getting straight A's, she seemed content with her regular report card filled with B's. She worked hard, but academics weren’t her only priority.  Sarah wasn’t the type to memorize facts...

  It was the middle of October, and the air was filled with the crispness of autumn. As students shuffled into their homerooms, they buzzed with nervous anticipation. Today was the day report cards were being handed out—not just the usual academic report cards,...

  What we have learned from life gurus like Tony Robbins and Brené Brown is that good character, confidence, and success matter in building a happy and productive life.  In fact, research has consistently supported this case that good character leads to feelings...

  Darius was the kind of student who flew just under the radar. His grades were good, but not exceptional—solid B’s with the occasional A. He was diligent, completed all his assignments on time, and participated in class discussions. But when it came time for...

  For the past one hundred plus years in American schools, academic excellence has been viewed as the primary marker of success.  Feedback to parents has centered on test scores and grades as the key indicators of a student's potential. During this time frame, the...