Sticky Hope

By Ruth Ayres

Together we can make a world where all children grow mentally fit and cognitively strong. But what about the days—and there are many—when we feel completely, totally, and undeniably disheartened? The ... more

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FAQs about Sticky Hope:

How many episodes does Sticky Hope have?

The podcast currently has 22 episodes available.

Sticky Hope episodes:

May 19, 202522 Gratitude Changes Us on the Inside
A simple and powerful practice is the discipline of gratitude. Often Becca closes the day with a gratitude circle. We share the way this practice fosters emotional regulation, empathy, and community among students.
Links Mentioned
Sticky Hope Kit
Timeline
00:00 The Power of Gratitude Circles
03:23 Transformative Effects of Gratitude on Children
06:27 Gratitude as a Lifelong Practice
09:34 Neuroscience Behind Gratitude
12:18 Implementing Gratitude in Daily Routines
Key Takeaways
Gratitude circles help students process emotions and build community.
Consistent gratitude practices lead to positive behavioral changes.
Gratitude can shift children's focus from negative to positive experiences.
The neuroscience of gratitude shows it alters brain chemistry.
Gratitude fosters empathy and emotional regulation in children.
Implementing gratitude routines can lower stress for educators.
Gratitude circles can evolve from tangible to abstract appreciation.
Practicing gratitude can enhance overall classroom dynamics.
Gratitude is a lifelong practice that benefits all ages.
Engaging in gratitude can improve mental health and well-being.
...more
15min
May 12, 2025 21 A Toolbox of Regulation Strategies
We're talking about the importance of emotional awareness and different kinds of regulation strategies. We consider how to teach children to understand their emotions and develop coping strategies, emphasizing the role of emotional intelligence in the classroom.
Links Mentioned
Permission to Feel by Mark Brackett
Mood Meter by Mark Brackett
Sticky Hope Kit
...more
16min
May 05, 2025 20 Hope is Powered by Data
Hope is powered by data is a mantra we've been exploring. We think about using data to track behaviors. Let's build habits and skills to navigate the world in healthy ways.
Download the Roots to Response Behavior Sheet.

...more
16min
April 28, 202519 Labels Aren't the Only Way
As educators, we see lots of tricky behaviors, and it's natural to want to find labels to help us make sense of the way kids are behaving. In episode 19, we talk about helping students develop habits for positive behaviors without labeling students in negative ways. This is Sticky Hope.
Links Mentioned
Roots to Response Behavior Sheet
Timeline
00:00 Understanding Student Behavior: A Teacher's Journey
03:48 Navigating Antisocial Behaviors in the Classroom
06:47 The Importance of Labels: Understanding vs. Judging
09:39 Developing Replacement Behaviors for Positive Interaction
12:45 Tools for Advocacy: Behavior and Skills Tracking
16:10 New Chapter

Key Takeaways
Skylar's behavior was a call for attention, not defiance.
Understanding behavior as an indicator of interaction with the world is crucial.
Labeling behaviors can lead to misinterpretation and ineffective responses.
Antisocial behavior exists on a continuum and requires nuanced understanding.
Replacement behaviors are essential for teaching new skills.
It's important to differentiate between antisocial behavior and the child themselves.
Teachers often feel embarrassed about challenging behaviors in the classroom.
Documentation of behaviors and interventions is vital for seeking support.
Developing skills is the focus for both students and teachers.
Creating a supportive environment can lead to positive changes in behavior.
...more
17min
April 21, 202518 Using Bias for Good
We're talking about positive ways to leverage attentional bias. Inspired by the kindness momentum from Amy Ludwig Vanderwater's book, The Sound of Kindness, we discuss ways to foster a positive classroom identity and uplift student voices.
Links Mentions
The Sound of Kindness by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater
Brené Brown | Dare to Lead | List of Values
Episode 6: Unconscious Thoughts (AKA Bias)
Timeline
00:00 The Power of Kindness in Education
03:10 Building a Positive Classroom Identity
06:11 The Importance of Student Voice
09:13 Creating Meaningful Messages on Classroom Doors
11:29 Core Values and Classroom Identity
14:44 Innovative Ideas for Classroom Engagement
Key Takeaways
The kindness momentum created a positive bias in students.
Paying attention to what we focus on can influence student behavior.
Student handwriting and observations empower their identity.
Creating a classroom door reflects the community's values.
Students recognized the importance of their classroom identity.
Conversations about classroom decor can enhance student ownership.
Core values guide the messages we send in our classrooms.
Engaging students in decision-making fosters a sense of belonging.
Classroom doors can communicate important messages to the community.
Teachers can learn from each other's creative classroom ideas.
...more
17min
April 14, 202517 The Sound of Kindness with Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater joins us to talk about her book The Sound of Kindness. This is a delightful conversation about ways to help children process tough times and how to keep our own lights alive.
Links Mentioned
The Poem Farm
Amy's Website
Amy's First Post for National Poetry Month 2025: Hello, My Name Is
The Sound of Kindness
Magination Publisher
Life is in the Transistions by Bruce Feiler
"Kindness" by Naomi Shihab Nye
Timeline
00:00 The Power of Kindness in Education
07:40 Creating a Culture of Kindness
11:58 The Importance of Storytelling and Connection
15:52 The Power of Kindness in Education
18:51 Engaging with Creative Projects
Key Takeaways
The sound of kindness can transform classroom dynamics.
Engaging students in kindness projects fosters a positive culture.
Storytelling is a powerful tool for teaching empathy.
Children can take on roles that promote kindness, like "kindness detectives."
Poetry can help children process their emotions and experiences.
Paying attention to kindness can shift focus from negativity to positivity.
Creating a supportive environment encourages students to express themselves.
Literature can provide valuable lessons on navigating life's challenges.
Maintaining hope is essential for both educators and students.
Kindness and creativity are interconnected in the learning process.
...more
21min
April 07, 202516 Pay Attention To What STUDENTS Are Paying Attention To
Becca shares a situation that doesn't sit well with her because it seems like there are conditions for students to other one another. We tug at the complexity of following school iniatives that don't feel right when they play out in our classrooms.
Timeline

00:00 Celebrating Milestones in Kindergarten
02:57 The Impact of Extrinsic Motivation
06:03 Balancing Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
09:00 Navigating Uncertainty in Teaching
Key Takeaways
Celebrating milestones like the 100th day of kindergarten is significant.
Students can become aware of their achievements in unexpected ways.
Extrinsic motivation can create competition among students.
Teachers often feel pressured to follow school initiatives.
Balancing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is crucial for student development.
Teachers should reflect on what students are paying attention to.
Uncertainty in teaching can lead to valuable learning experiences.
Adjusting teaching strategies based on student feedback is important.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
Sticky Hope Kit
Choice Literacy
...more
12min
March 31, 202515 Don't Let Your Brain Fool You
It's (almost) April Fool's Day, and we're talking about the ways brains can fool us and how we can write shared narratives to help students process hard things.
Timeline
00:00 April Fool's Day Memories
02:20 The Power of Self-Talk
06:23 Creating Shared Narratives
09:56 Overcoming Negative Self-Talk
Key Takeaways
Self-talk can empower students to face challenges.
Creating shared narratives helps students process experiences.
Teachers also struggle with negative self-talk.
Recognizing unhelpful thoughts is crucial for growth.
Positive affirmations can change a child's perspective.
Storytelling can reinforce resilience in students.
Community support is vital in overcoming fears.
Teachers can focus on the truth in their self-narratives.
It's important to slow down and reflect on our thoughts.
...more
14min
March 24, 202514 Confusing Behavior? Is it a Stress Response?
Sometimes the behaviors we see in our classrooms are confusing and frustrating. An article in a local newspaper opened a conversation about understanding the way trauma changes the brain so punitive responses and blaming parents won't help position students to learn. We talk about looking at behavior through a lens of stress responses.

Timeline

00:00 Understanding Student Behavior and Trauma Responses
07:10 Recognizing Trauma Responses in the Classroom
14:52 Exploring Advanced Trauma Responses
19:46 The Importance of Support and Resources for Teachers
Links
https://www.sunjournal.com/2025/02/11/oxford-hills-school-administrators-working-to-curb-student-behaviors/
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1413492420088362&id=100042828527519&wtsid=rdr_0xDJ4TMm484bJM1Gl&_rdr
National Library of Medicine 2017 study
Pew Research Center
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23min
March 17, 2025 13 | How to Notice Behaviors and Make Adjustments
The hippocampus helps process memory. When young children experience extreme stress, the hippocampus can be damaged. This shows up in our classrooms in unexpected ways. Ruth and Becca share a Behavior/Skills Tracker teachers can use to help document behaviors and the ways they've tried to position students to learn.

Timeline
00:00 The Power of Drafting and Collaboration
02:54 Understanding the Hippocampus and Trauma
06:01 The Impact of Trauma on Children’s Brains
09:02 Healing and Supporting Children with Trauma
11:50 Practical Tools for Educators: Behavior and Skills Tracker
Download the Brain Reference and Behavior/Skills Tracker: https://stickyhope.com/13-2/
...more
19min

FAQs about Sticky Hope:

How many episodes does Sticky Hope have?

The podcast currently has 22 episodes available.