It was a late summer day, and I was taking a relaxed run through College Woods, a small, beautiful patch of wilderness tucked behind the campus of the University of New Hampshire. Normally I stick with road running where I’m
When you walk or run on a road without a sidewalk, you’re supposed to run toward oncoming traffic. For new runners, this sometimes feels uncomfortable. It was for me at first. I was used to driving and biking on the
It’s that time of year again. We look ahead to the new year and think about how we can be better. We might want to exercise more, eat healthier foods, read more books, or spend more time with friends. Or
We often think of motivation as a quality that people either have or they don’t. You’re either a motivated person, or you’re not. “Oh, you run?” I’m sometimes asked. “That’s amazing. I’m just not that motivated.”
Runners know better. (So
It can be hard for students to get back into school mode after a weekend. Some kids may have had a positive weekend packed with soccer games, trips to see family, and playing with friends. Others may have had a
School is hard work for kids. They have to sustain attention and focus, manage frustration when learning gets hard, work cooperatively with other students and adults, and try lots of new things. This all requires incredible amounts of energy.
Parents
Dan Pink posted a great video recently: 40 Harsh Truths I Wish I Knew in My 20s. It inspired me to think of my own tidbits of advice. So here you go…10 important reminders as we begin the new school
The Importance of Pool Time
All swim coaches understand the importance of pool time. Swimmers need to swim—a lot.
Imagine that you’re a swim coach, and you want to help your swimmers improve. You might have them do lots of
Final exams are a long-standing tradition in high school and college. They are supposed to show how much a student has learned over the course of a semester or a year. I’m surprised at how much weight these tests are
On Friday, March 14, 2025, a group of thoughtful school leaders gathered in Manchester, NH for a one-day workshop. The goal was to think about how to support teachers’ physical and emotional health to rekindle teachers’ professional fires.
We began
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a perfect breakfast for teachers? We all know how important a good breakfast is. We know that when we eat a healthy breakfast with protein and fiber, we have good energy through the
You’ve got a student who is really struggling. Almost every day during math, he’s disrupting students nearby. You want to sit down with him for a problem-solving conference to figure out what’s going on. Maybe the two of you can
“What about kids who just don’t care?”
When I’m supporting teachers in schools, either around classroom management and discipline or academic engagement and motivation, this is a question that often comes up.
We all know these kids, don’t we? They
Classroom management and academic engagement are two of the most important aspects of getting off to a great start in the new school year. Though gem/marble jars, tickets, clip charts, and other incentive systems (including traditional grades) are common throughout
A Conversation Between Starr Sackstein and Mike Anderson
Starr Sackstein and I each often hear a worry from teachers we work with. They’re dedicated to the profession but are feeling exhausted, worn out, and stagnant. They aren’t sure what to
Are you a teacher struggling to keep your students engaged? You’re not alone. A team of teachers at Sandown North Elementary School faced similar challenges, witnessing a decline in student engagement and an uptick in students that were dysregulated. Instead
When my district first adopted a math program I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was relieved. Look a this—all of my math lessons are planned for the entire year! Just imagine the time I’ll save. I won’t
You may think of the first weeks of school as a time to focus on classroom management, and it is. But in fact, all year long, we should consider classroom management an active part of our daily teaching. How do
Kathy Collins and I were co-teaching a summer workshop for teachers on how to teach reading effectively. We were sharing about different kinds of direct instruction—various ways we can teach students the skills, strategies, and mindsets they need to be
A great learning environment is like a three-legged stool. Ruth Charney first introduced this concept to me years ago. It’s an important idea to keep in mind all year long, but it’s crucial during the first weeks of school.
The
I know many educators bemoan retakes. It is often seen as giving kids too many chances, not holding them accountable, and generally “lowering the bar.” I’ve heard the warning “There are no retakes in real life!” too many times to
What Are We Doing Today in Physical Education?
“What are we doing today?” is the most frequently asked question by my middle school students while entering the gym to get ready for class. After my response, students will usually either
A friend and colleague of mine, Andy Dousis, once told me that every lesson has three moments: a golden one, a silver one, and a leaden one. Whatever you say in the first 60 seconds of the lesson is the
Square pegs and round holes. This phrase plays over and over in my head each time I try to assign a letter grade to my students at the end of a marking period. My students’ learning is so complex, and
Walk through most schools, and you’ll see messages like the ones above, posted in classrooms and in hallways. We often encourage kids, as they’re about to work to “try your best” or “put in max effort.” One year in