Recently, I ran the Rock 'n' Roll USA 2012 Marathon in Washington, DC. At about mile 19 of the 26.2 mile run, I realized that the goal time I'd set for myself was not achievable. For the next mile or...

Take time at the end of the school year to help children reflect on how they have worked to get to know each other, efforts they have made to be kind, and the friendships they have formed. Here are...

How has your class grown this year? What acts of kindness have they done for each other? What have they learned? What do you hope they will remember? Children’s books can be great vehicles for...

by Margaret Berry WilsonHere are some tips for holding successful celebrations in elementary schools and classrooms:Clearly communicate the purpose of the celebration to students and parent helpers....

Did you know that two-thirds of the achievement gap in reading can be related directly to unequal summer learning opportunities? Even though I’ve seen firsthand how students can lose ground in their...

What do you read to your class on the last day of school? I always put so much energy into that last choice. I wanted a book that would celebrate the community we had built, the friendships we had...

At the end of the year, I always go with a classic: Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss. The message is so empowering: "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer...

Q: What's the most important thing to focus on during the last weeks of school?A: Showcasing students' learning and celebrating the community you've built together should be the focus at the end of...

Publicly recognizing children’s accomplishments can benefit their learning and the overall school climate. But how do you do it without setting up a competition among students? This is a question...