"Understanding what’s happening in the brain is the first step to empowering students with tools to respond and function optimally. More often than not, our students can be overwhelmed by their big feelings – anger, fear, sadness – and…

"I’m six weeks into my 20th year of teaching, and if there’s one thing I feel even more strongly about today than the day I began, it’s this: teaching our young students mindfulness, brain science and kindness is absolutely…

"Yoga helps create a safe space for students and teachers. By empowering an individual to feel balanced and strong within his or her own body, yoga enhances resilience. Through these practices many young people develop the capacity to reflect before…

"What really makes a teacher is love for the human child; for it is love that transforms the social duty of the educator into the higher consciousness of a mission.” - Maria Montessori 

I’ve done assemblies in all…

I was recently asked by an elementary school principal to help his teachers create Peace Corners in their classrooms. This entire district had recently undergone training in trauma-informed practices, and there was a new awareness that many children need…

Even really young kids regularly hear about scary things in the world. Having worked with lots of kids who’ve been through very tough experiences, I know one thing for sure—we can’t not talk about it. We have to address…

Among the MANY benefits of singing: 

--a strengthened immune system 

--better sleep 

--lower stress 

--improved mental alertness 

--lower risk of depression  

Go ahead, tell me you don't want those things...?! 

Read the full…

I’m thinking of all my schoolteacher friends today, back at it. Maybe it’s your second week of school, maybe your second day—wherever you are, I'm guessing that simple, quick tools to help your children calm and focus themselves are…

Week 3 of the after school program with the children who have moved to PA after the hurricane in Puerto Rico: once again my lesson plan went right out the window.  

The boy with the huge brown eyes…

Week two of the after school yoga program with the relocated kids from Puerto Rico was a bit more challenging than the first week, but I feel like I’m finding my footing with the group. Two very high-energy boys joined…

Yesterday I spent an hour at a local elementary school teaching yoga and mindfulness to a group of children from Puerto Rico. Their families were relocated here after hurricane Maria hit their island nearly six months ago. 

The…

If you know me even a little, you know that I believe really, really strongly in incorporating music into just about any kind of work with children.  

If you’re working with young children in any capacity, and you’re not incorporating…