By Tim Elmore   Members of Generation Z, by and large, have been raised by parents or guardians who’ve prioritized the importance of happiness. What parent doesn’t want their kids to be happy? We talk about this subject so much that there are bestselling books, webinars, and even university courses on it.   But today’s population has bought into a lie about happiness that shows up on campus.   The Connection Between Happiness and Circumstances  Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or a school leader, I’m sure you’ve thought about how happy your young people are. Here’s the i ..read more

By Tim Elmore   Last month, I had the privilege again to speak to the “Teachers As Leaders” in Gwinnett County Public School District, just north of Atlanta. What an energizing, curious, and smart community of educational leaders they are! I’m energized every time I’m with them. Thank you, Derrick Berchette, for the invitation.    To kick off the day, Dr. Chandra Walker asked the teachers several questions. She inquired: “How do you prefer to receive recognition from your administrators?” One by one, the teachers gave various responses, each personal to them. Then, Dr. Walker ..read more

By Tim Elmore   Let’s face it. It’s harder than we thought it would be. A recent Pew Research Center poll revealed that most parents (62 percent) say that being a parent is harder than they expected, and more than one in four (26 percent) say it’s “a lot harder.” Unfortunately, those little tykes don’t come with an owner’s manual, or any training.   Teachers feel the same way.   According to Tech Advocate, “Teaching is arguably more difficult now than it has ever been for many reasons, including learner behavior, fast-changing technology, and poor compensation.” Almost one in ..read more

By Tim Elmore – These days, I’m reading about school decisions regarding smartphone use, ranging from banning portable devices to displaying laissez-faire attitudes regarding phones. Many educators and support staff feel that students’ constant access to social media on their smartphones harms their mental well-being and hinders their ability to learn. Some educators go so far as to say that students are addicted to their devices. – Phones have been a “tug of war” issue in schools for over ten years. Pressure is felt on every side, and neither the teacher nor the students are bad guys here. O ..read more

By Tim Elmore __ I know, I know. Your days each week are crazy. You’re busy. Your kids are busy. And often, family times are reduced to eating chicken nuggets in the minivan while on your way from piano lessons to soccer practice.  __ Years ago, my wife, Pam, and our daughter, Bethany, dropped me off at the airport for yet another trip I would take that month. Bethany was only three at the time, and when she looked at the crowded airport, she said to me, “Dad—do you live here?” __ That’s when I knew I had to be more intentional about my family time. __ The Invaluable Lesson I Learned&nbs ..read more

By Tim Elmore Looking back on my life and career, I see more gains than losses. Upon deeper reflection, however, I think my memory is reconstructed. While I recall tragedies, setbacks, and losses, I see them through a different lens than most people do. I’m not in “denial,” but I perceive how each disadvantage became an advantage. A few examples are… Type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease, has built discipline in me and a sense of urgency.  When a payroll company embezzled $30,000, it made me a wiser negotiator.  Enduring a plane crash left me injured but enabled me to clarify my life ..read more

By Tim Elmore   One of my most common concerns is to miss important information when making decisions. I don’t want to feel I’m in the dark on the data. I want to make informed choices. Below, I have curated recent findings from the Pew Research Center, Gallup, the CDC, and other sources to give you a big-picture vantage point on life and education in 2024.   More people are concerned with the effects of artificial intelligence. This issue has become obvious to most educators and parents today. Over half say the increased use of artificial intelligence in daily life makes them feel ..read more

By Andrew McPeak   “To live with joy is to live with wonder, gratitude, and hope.” — David Brooks   In 2014, a fascinating report from the Harvard Graduation School of Education’s Making Caring Common Project revealed a startling contrast between the message parents intend to send to their children and the one that is getting through. The report entitled “The Children We Mean to Raise: The Real Messages Adults Are Sending About Values” surveyed over 10,000 middle and high school-aged students about what was most important to them: “achieving at a high level, happiness (feeling good ..read more

By Tim Elmore   I’ve made two observations about friendships as I have grown older. First, the older I get, the less I feel I need people. I know that sounds arrogant but stay with me. I now enjoy a self-sufficient lifestyle after building social equity over 45 years of a career.  My second observation, however, is that the older I get, the more I realize I need people for different reasons—people who are unlike me, and who add an ingredient to my life’s recipe that doesn’t stem from work.   What I’m describing is true for most people. As we age, our circle of friends tends to ..read more

By Tim Elmore   I will never forget Halloween in 2015. Just prior to October 31, a group of deans at Yale University sent an email urging students to avoid insensitive costume choices. Three days later, Erika Christakis, the co-director of Silliman (one of Yale’s residential colleges) sent her own email to students. She acknowledged “genuine concerns about cultural and personal representation,” but drawing upon her own expertise in childhood education, suggested the students themselves were best positioned to police their own conduct. She challenged them to be adults. She also cautioned t ..read more