Publications

7th Grade students work on virtual reality school tour in Lake Forest Country Day School’s Innovation Lab.

Oh, the Humanities: The Benefits of Makerspace Facilitation by a Non-STEM Teacher

Robots slowly moving across tables. The strangely maple-scent of PLA plastic melting to form 3D prints. …

PBL group collaboration

Building a Positive Culture – The Missing link of Project Based Learning

Collaboration is a cornerstone of any successful Project Based Learning (PBL) unit (Advanced Reasoning in Education, PBL …

Many 7th graders worked hard on their butterflies, combining ELA, art, and social studies skills.

Four Ways to Teach Across the Curriculum

When I was in school as a student, I would often question why we were learning …

How do we, as educators, implement grading practices which are just and equitable for all of our students?

Grading Changes You Can Implement Now to Ensure Equity for All Learners

Among the myriad issues facing educators today – designing lessons for new environments, connecting with students, …

The PMP is a nationally recognized parent engagement model that builds deep and lasting relationships between students, teachers, and parents. Parent Mentors bridge the school and the community by drawing on the strengths of neighborhood families.

Unlikely Gifts: How the Pandemic Deepens Relationships between Schools and Families

When COVID-19 began its destructive path through the United States, it was hard to imagine that …

In the middle of a Zoom meeting that filled all the required Brady Bunch squares – a supervisor, an assistant principal, a school counselor, regular education teachers, special education teachers, a parent and a student – I stammered and was taken back by the question.

Do You Care About Your Students?

I have been a teacher for 15 years. I have been in hundreds of meetings over …

In my experience as a doctor, I see first hand how much youth are struggling to bear the amount of stress they are facing.

100% Chance of Rain: Proactively Helping Youth Prepare for Life’s Challenges

We are at a mental health crossroad. According to the World Health Organization, depression is one of …

I feel overwhelmed. I feel grateful. I feel uncertainty. I feel unsure. I feel peace. I feel MIXED.

Mixed: The New Emotion

We’ve been learning about safety drills. How to check temperatures when students arrive while having our …

For many teenagers, online platforms can provide a place to connect with people like them, find help or inspiration.

How Teenagers Can Win Friends and Influence People: Teaching Responsible Social Media Use

The risks and harms of life online are often highlighted, but it is important to keep …

A systematic approach to master scheduling can be viewed as a gigantic jigsaw puzzle that captures a clear picture of equity, collaboration, and ensuring high levels of learning for all students.

From Theory to Practice: A Jigsaw Approach to an Elementary Master Schedule

Jigsaw Puzzle: Creating a highly collaborative school culture and high performing teams is multifaceted and can take …

Without learning the art of self-care, we will be unable to effectively care for those we most want to impact.

Self-Care and Support: The Pillars of New Teacher Survival

Dear New Teacher, We see you walking across the campus as the sun rises with your …

Students, like the canvas, must be prepped and primed so that they can untangle their ideas or even realize that they have worthy ideas!

What Comes Before the Masterpiece: Steps to Successful Writing

Imagine the painter. What must be done in order to complete the masterpiece? Long before the …