Teaching Little Brains

Do you suffer from "should itis"?I should exercise moreI should be more productiveI should spend more time with my kidsI should spend more time outsideI should go to bed earlierI shouldn’t drink so muchI should eat betterI shouldn’t eat so much sugarI should be happyI should be more gratefulI shouldn’t be so greedy! It shouldn’t take me this long.I should do betterI should know betterI should BE betterWhatever the “should, or shouldn’ts” are on your list, they always add up to the same t...

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But, as my guest Coach Lara Dawn helps us understand today, that label is somewhat of a misnomer. The truth is that ADHD is neither a deficit of attention (actually, people with ADHD have an abundance of attention), nor a disorder. In fact, some people consider ADHD to be a superpower. Lara is the founder of the wonderful ADHD Village, a community that offers brain-based, science-backed support for families raising children with...

If you've ever felt discomfort over a decision you've had to make, tried to justify a choice you've made, or regretted something you've done because you thought to yourself "I don't know why I did that, that's not me!" you have likely experienced cognitive dissonance.Cognitive Dissonance Theory was presented by a social psychologist, named Leon Festinger, in 1957.Cognitive dissonance is a term for the state of mental or psychological discomfort we feel when two or more modes of thought (belie...

Have you ever found yourself staring into the fridge, looking for something that was right in front of your nose all along?Do you ever wonder why your kids, or students, can't seem to just focus on one thing, or can't hear you when you call their name 100 times, but can remember all the details of what you told them 4 1/2 years ago?It may have something to do with Selective Attention and Inattentional Blindness.Adults are quite skilled at focusing on one thing, and disregarding all other "uni...

What does "play" mean to you? Do you consider yourself a playful person? Do you engage in play on a regular basis, or are you resistant to play?Many of us understand that play is good for children's development, but do you know how, or why? Do you know that play is also good for adults?Play reduces stress, helps strengthen relationships and trust, enhances imagination, develops social skills, and even increases productivity and creativity.And, it doesn't have to be extensive or extravaga...

What expectations do you have of your students? Of your partner? Your family? Your friends? Yourself? I expect my kids to be polite. I expect my students to listen to me. I expect my partner to remember my birthday. I expect my friends to be on time. Sound familiar?What happens when your expectations are not met? How do you feel?The problem with having expectations is that they are all about other people. They often originate from a place of wounding, fear, and lack. We impose expectations be...

This week, I was invited onto the Create a Life You Love video podcast hosted by the amazing Chantal Cox. Chantal is a fellow educator and Master NeuroCoachTM, an author, a friend, and a wonderful human being doing great things in the world.We had a delightful conversation about creating a life we love, and collaborating on an incredible project!Enjoy!LINKSComplete the application to join the Create a Life You Love Coaching ProgramFree RRT tapping resource - PDFTeaching Little Brains Facebook...

Wait, what?! Positivity is toxic?It can be. Positivity can become toxic when it is used to mask, suppress, avoid, or cover up negative emotions. It's the belief that no matter how dire or difficult a situation is, people should maintain a positive mindset, or put a positive spin on all experiences. It's a "good vibes only" approach to life. Toxic positivity denies people the authentic support that they need to cope with what they are facing. It paints negative emotions as a failure or w...

What makes you angry? What really makes your blood boil?How do you feel about anger itself? What do you do when you feel angry?We’re taught to avoid, is anger. We learn that anger is bad. It’s scary. It’s destructive. But, the truth is, that anger is just an emotion, like any other we experience as humans. It’s a vibration in our body. It’s neither good, nor bad. It’s just energy in motion.I talk a lot about feelings and emotions in my coaching, and here on the podcast because feelings ...

Hello Teacher Brain! Good news: I'm Open For Business!Do you believe in signs, or nudges from the universe - or God, or whatever you might call it?Oprah calls them whispers from the universe. She says that, for example, when we have an idea, or desire on our heart, first, we may hear a whisper of that idea or desire. She says, when we ignore that little whisper, which we often do, the universe then starts speaking more loudly to us.And this is when we may start to get little “nudges” (t...