Here I am again standing before the school’s morning meeting trying to get the attention of about 50 bleary eyed teenagers. I walk back and forth down the length of the narrow room. “Off the screen, Samantha.” I say to the girl transfixed by her phone. “Good morning, Bill.” I say too loudly and a bit too cheerfully to the boy with the sagging head and closing eyes. “OK, you two enough.” To the couple entangled in each other’s laps. I know once I have the attention of a few, the rest will eventually follow. It’s the usual start to a pre-pandemic school day. I hold up my hand in a fist with the ..read more

What are you hoping for? The end of the pandemic? The world to become a more positive place? Global warming to slow? Racial bias to disappear? World Peace? These are lofty goals, not hopeful goals We can be passionate about lofty goals (Who doesn’t passionately want world peace or for the pandemic to end?), but it is hard to figure out what steps an individual can take to get there. Hopeful goals have the passion but they are also specific, have a pathway (concrete steps) to reach them, and like everything worthwhile have obstacles in the way. Creating and pursuing hopeful goals takes some pra ..read more

A cautionary tale illustrating how only nine words limited my mother’s whole life, quoted from a phone call I had with her when she was 100 years old. As educators, therapists, and coaches it can be easy to minimize the power of our words on someone else’s life. Interpersonal neurobiology is showing us why our words are so important, how they influence others’ lives, and what can be done about it. Here is my mother’s story: “When I went to kindergarten I used to love to wear my red midi. I was so happy when I wore it. I remember one day, I think maybe there was a new kid in the class – not sur ..read more

The Invisible Classroom: Relationships, Neuroscience & Mindfulness in School, By Kirke Olson Published by W. W. Norton & Company, Available here and in bookstores everywhere The book provides practical understandable principles drawn from research in neuroscience, human relationships, and mindfulness, illustrated with true stories drawn from the real imperfect world of education, and offers realistic ideas for classroom applications in the midst of the ongoing pressures of teaching. At its core The Invisible Classroom is about the importance of the web of human connection for students ..read more