What life skills do students actually need to succeed — and how do teachers fit them into an already packed school day?

In this episode of Built by Educators, hosts Mike Williams and Kaley Clavell talk with veteran educator Margaret Boersma about the essential skills students need beyond academics: focus, communication, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. They explore how technology is reshaping student attention spans, why anxiety is rising in classrooms across K-12 schools, and what practical strategies teachers can use right away to help students build these critical competencies.

Margaret shares classroom-tested activities and discusses why teaching the whole child — not just the content — is the key to long-term student success.

Topics covered in this episode:
• Why life skills instruction belongs in every classroom, not just advisory periods
• The impact of technology on student focus and attention spans
• Practical strategies for teaching communication, cooperation, and emotional regulation
• Understanding rising student anxiety and how educators can respond
• Social-emotional learning (SEL) activities that work for any grade level

Resources mentioned:
• "Reclaiming Our Students" by Hannah Beach & Tamara Neufeld Strijack
• "The 5 Second Rule" by Mel Robbins
• "Harmony Hare and Her Three Voices" by Tammy Vallieres
• Margaret Boersma's "The Thriving Teacher Guide" — email [email protected]