Teacher, author, and child development expert, Deborah Farmer Kris, examines the need for considering balance and purpose for our students. Teens are reporting as running on empty. Striving but not thriving. She discusses supporting students to build optimism, curiosity, and integrity. Visit the Parenthood365 website. Read Deborah’s article, “Striving or Thriving? Steps to Help Kids […]

In this week’s episode of the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast, Steve looks at optimism and how to consciously practice positiveness. Listen to Steve’s previous episode on optimism here. Find “The Power of Optimism” here. Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes. PODCAST […]

There are specific behaviors that one can consciously practice to gain optimism. In the opening to a multi-part podcast, Steve explores two of these behaviors: worst case scenario and valuing partial solutions. Consider how you can model these for your learners and guide them through exploring their own application. These are days that can test […]

In this week’s episode of the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast, Steve ponders “The Power of Optimism Pt. 1.” Listen as Steve discusses how the behaviors in Alan Loy McGinnis’ “The Power of Optimism” can be practiced, learned, and consciously implemented. Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit […]

Should students know their CPA as well as their GPA? I’ve just finished reading How Children Succeed by Paul Tough, where he poses: “If you were a college-admissions director or a corporate human resources manager scheduling entry–level employees, wouldn’t you like to know which ones had scored highest in grit or optimism or zest?” “If you […]

In Wow! Adding Pizzazz to Teaching and Learning , I shared the story of Jacquelyn Sweetner Caffey, a remedial reading teacher who conducts last rites for the Late Mr. I Can’t. Her funeral service is designed to get students to reframe their thinking and focus on learning. Recently, I was working with Cluster VII administrators […]