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
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
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
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
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
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
A few years ago my wife gave me three months of coaching for my birthday. I’d been running 5K road races and was trying some half-marathons. She thought I could use some professional help! We connected online, and I sent
In the final episode of Season I of Ted Lasso, players are somber and nervous heading into a do-or-die match against a superior team. Ted decides they all need to try something new, so he invites the players to name
As I’ve watched Ted Lasso, I can’t help but think about the lessons that we educators can learn along the way. Today we’ll consider a line from the very first episode: “Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding
Even if you haven’t binge-watched Ted Lasso like I have (twice!), you’ve probably heard of it. In this blog post, we’ll explore one of Ted Lasso’s classic lines: Be a Goldfish and consider how it might help us when we’ve
On December, 10, 2020, I had en enjoyable chat with Jan Yost, Executive Director of NHASCD to talk about ways teachers can take care of themselves a bit during this intensely stressful time. Here are a few quick points that
What if there was a learning strategy that boosted student engagement, had many (many!) academic benefits for students, and reduced teacher planning and correcting/grading time? Great news! There is–and it’s a tried and true strategy you have probably been using
After the abrupt ending to school last year, the hope and goal was to begin the 2020 – 2021 school year ready to thrive in whatever format teaching would occur. Many teachers were feeling more comfortable with remote teaching and
“I’m on the edge of a breakdown. I’m pouring everything I have into my students, and it doesn’t seem to be enough. My principal keeps telling me I need to take care of myself, but she never gives me time
What might schools look like in the fall?
We can learn from schools that have already welcomed children back to school.
In the United States, many of us (teachers, parents, and students) are filled with anxiety about what the
A Conversation with Mike Anderson, Little Things First
This is part 3 of a four-part series on how to support educators in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
In this conversation with the Little Things First podcast hosts, Tracy
A Conversation with Steve Tucker
In this podcast author and consultant, Mike Anderson and NHASCD President/Laconia School District Superintendent, Steve Tucker discuss the challenges of self-directed learning during the COVID-19 crisis. How do we support true self-direction (not simple compliance)
Remember those days in the classroom when you thought, “I have friends who work from home. Wouldn’t that be nice?” Well, here you go! COVID-19 is giving you a chance to try it out.
No doubt, there are some upsides
In this article published in District Administration, I share some thoughts about the challenges some educators face when they feel that district policies around discipline are at odds with their own core values.
This quote is one of my favorites. If you’ve attended a professional development session with me, there’s a good chance I’ve shared this with you at some point. It so clearly articulates the importance of
Kids who completely disconnect from all literacy and math during the summer may experience the “summer slide.” They return to school in the fall rusty–with little school stamina. They may even lose academic ground that they gained the previous year.
Here’s another great post by guest-blogger and teacher, Gillian Andrews. Enjoy!
You may have read my previous blog post, Need More Teachers in the Classroom? Clone Yourself!, and thought this looks like a great idea in theory, but who has
Today’s cool idea comes to us from friend and colleague, Gillian Andrews. Make sure to check out her bio at the end of this post!
How many times on any given day do you catch yourself saying, “I wish there