Upgrade My Classroom

August is always a strange month for me. Whether I was in high school myself or as a teacher, I always had mixed feelings about going back to school.

On one hand, I was so excited! I can literally smell the excitement in the air! I was pumped to see my friends, all the after school activities starting up and just being around the action!

On the other hand, I was terrified of all the hard classes and unknown challenges that were about to come my way.

I felt similar as a teacher...and maybe you do to?

Are you dreading going back or are you amped to get into your classroom and start setting up the room?

Check out today's episode in order to truly lean in to one or the other!

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I've noticed a recurring theme – this fear of making the wrong decision. And trust me, I get it. High school is a time of change.

But here's the thing – it's absolutely okay to be wrong sometimes. In fact, making mistakes is an essential part of growth and learning. That's why I believe it's crucial to equip students with the skillsets to handle making decisions and learning from the outcomes.

Throughout this episode, I'll be sharing my experiences and insights from conversations with students of different grade levels, offering practical advice on how to navigate the fear of making decisions. I'll also be sharing a few tactics such as a decision matrix which can be super helpful when making choices.

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Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!

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Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!

Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!

Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.

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In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, adaptability has become a crucial skill for success, particularly for high school students. Being adaptable means having the ability to adjust and thrive in different situations, allowing students to navigate the challenges they face both academically and personally.

Think about the fact that both Facebook and the iPhone are not even 20 years old and these two companies and products have completely reshaped the world and how we interact with it. Now with VR and AI on the brink, we are about to see some insanely fast change!

On today's episode, I break down three areas that have practical application for students.

1. Academic adaptability: High school students can adapt their study environments, manage workloads effectively, and adjust their learning strategies based on different subjects and challenges they encounter.
2. Social adaptability: Navigating social dynamics can be challenging, but by developing adaptability, students can handle conflicts, build positive relationships, and improve communication skills.
3. Future-oriented adaptability: Looking beyond high school, students need to embrace change, prioritize continuous learning, and develop transferable skills to succeed in their chosen paths.

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Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!

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Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!

Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!

Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.

Follow Kevin on social!

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On this episode, we explore the power of nonverbal communication through vocal inflection, hand gestures, facial expressions, and physical stance. We break down the box they are in and show them how to excel in communication and become successful students! Remember, communication is more than just the words we say, it's how we use them.

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Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!

Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!

Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.

Follow Kevin on social!

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Today I sat down with Scott Wisniewski, a high school assistant principal and winner of the NJPSA/NASSP NJ Assistant Principal of the Year, to dissect how Wayne Schools is investing in the mental health of their students.

We had a wide ranging conversation including what it's really like being an assistant principal. While maintaining discipline, attendance and scheduling are all important parts of the job, the real meat and potatoes of the job is building relationships. Scott spoke about how he handles discipline issues with an open mindset and approaching the situation with empathy and understanding. Especially after COVID-19, students are still catching up on certain emotional and social norms which sometimes leads to acting out and behavior issues.

At the end of the episode, Scott shares all the tactical things they are doing as a building to bring mental health awareness and education to Wayne Schools and I was seriously blown away!

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Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!

Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!

Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.

Follow Kevin on social!

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In today's fast-paced world, our phones have become an integral part of our lives. They offer us a plethora of utilities and allow us to stay connected with the world at large. However, the excessive use of phones can also lead to stress and anxiety in our student's lives.

Today we're going to look at how to audit your phone for your mental health. By prioritizing essential utilities, limiting non-essential phone usage, being mindful of social media content, and building positive relationships, students can take control of their phone usage and promote mental health and well-being. Remember, your phone should serve as a tool to enhance their lives, not a source of stress and anxiety.

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Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!

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Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!

Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!

Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.

Follow Kevin on social!

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David Flood, a youth motivational speaker joins us to chat about his experiences helping students unlock kindness and compassion for one another.

David shares his insights on why the word "love" and the influential figure that used this word so eloquently. David opens up about his son Justin who is autistic and how he is one of the most powerful drivers in his family and life. We also dive into why mental health issues are on the rise and how the relationship between students and technology is affecting their well-being.

We explore the challenges that teachers face in today's society and how they can become better coaches for their students. David provides practical advice for parents and teachers to support their children and students if they are having a difficult time emotionally.

David's narrative as a youth speaker comes first hand; he grew up impacted by addiction in his family; he married and became a father of two children, his oldest is a special needs son; he is active in his church; he is a hospice volunteer who visits with terminally ill patients; and is on the board of K.I.D.S. Plus, Inc. a non-profit organization which helps special needs children through sports and other activities. As a youth motivational speaker David has spoken in 40 states and Canada to over 500,000 students, inspiring them to look at people and things in a different way.

Check out the full episode with David Flood today!

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Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!

Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!

Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.

Follow Kevin on social!

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I came across a teacher online who was doing some fantastic SEL exercises with his students and posting them online…I had to have him on as a guest to learn more!

Scott Todnem is the author of "Growing Up Great! The Ultimate Puberty Book for Boys" and "Sex Education: A Parent's Guide." Scott has been teaching Health Education at the middle school level since 2001 and was awarded the 2019 National Health Teacher of the Year. He uses his platforms to promote cultural diversity, gender inclusivity, mental health awareness, and suicide prevention. Scott is a nationally-recognized presenter and travels to speak about mental health and the benefits of quality health education programs.

Scott enjoys adding to the Health Class experience by hosting a YouTube channel and a Podcast with his students, both of which can be found at LifeIsTheFuture.com. Scott currently resides in Illinois with his family, where he enjoys reading, record collecting, and watching great movies. Additional writing and other content can be found on his website, LifeIsTheFuture.com.

Today on the show, Scott talks to us about how he emphasizes meaningful, as well as memorable activities for his students. Even the physical placement of desks and furniture in his classroom is designed to encourage more social interaction. When Scott is active as a learner himself, he finds that his lessons are that much more engaging and interesting.

Mr. Todnem also has a podcast created and hosted by the students of his class as a way to open up even more about the SEL exercises they took part in, as well as discuss everyday challenges they are dealing with as a middle schooler.

Lastly, we talked about how important self awareness is to the success of a student. Scott feels that self awareness is definitely the million dollar question!

To learn more about everything Scott is up to, head over to https://lifeisthefuture.com/

Student Leader Stress is a real thing. Teens have a lot going on in their lives. They face high expectations and often put unrealistic pressure on themselves to be the best version of themselves. These expectations may be self-imposed or put on them by others in positions of authority in their lives. Finding balance between their personal lives, reality, hopes, aspirations, and dreams can be challenging for these students.

One thing I know for sure that can help in every facet of life is establishing some type of routine. This doesn't have to be some intense rise and grind style routine but doing something consistent in order to set themselves up for a positive day is important. Even more important is to find a time of day that the student will most often be able to execute this routine. For instance, after school is probably a bad time for a routine considering student leaders usually have extra curricular activities after school.

In this episode I also go into more detail regarding the fact that student leaders usually will over commit to opportunities that come their way, and rarely have any time for themselves. Check out the full episode to help your student leader avoid stress in their life.

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Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!

Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!

Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.

Follow Kevin on social!

Facebook

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Carol Dweck's work on fixed and growth mindsets is incredibly important for educators to understand, as it can help them better support their students. A fixed mindset is one in which an individual believes that their physical body, intelligence, or ability at a certain skill is fixed and limited in how much they can improve. A growth mindset, on the other hand, is one in which an individual believes that their success is determined by the work and strategy that they put into it. As a result of this, having a fixed mindset will lead to negative self-talk and bad decisions, while having a growth mindset leads to positive self-talk and good decisions.

On this episode I'll be explaining a specific formula that is a variation of Angela Duckworth's Grit. We'll look at how a student's mindset can dictate their inner dialogue which will inevitably determine whether they make good or bad decisions.

By understanding and fostering a growth mindset, teachers can help their students make better decisions, have more positive self-talk, and believe in their own potential.

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Don't forget to subscribe to the show!

If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!

Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!

Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.

Follow Kevin on social!

Facebook

Instagram

Linked In

Tiktok

Twitter