Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

11 tips on creating a positive school climate

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is more than just a curricular add-on–it’s an integral part of helping students learn empathy for their peers and create safe spaces for everyone to learn. Creating a positive school climate goes a long way toward establishing safe and happy learning communities.

Two recent reports from the National School Climate Center (NSCC) offer some real-world examples from schools and insight from thought leaders to support and drive school climate improvements.

The Lessons from the Field report spotlights six school districts’ efforts to create positive school climates, and it also shares best practices to help with creating a positive school climate for all learners.…Read More

10 ways we made our school happier

After the recession hit in 2013, it was evident that something was off at Mashburn Elementary School (part of Forsyth County Schools in Georgia). I watched teachers being laid off, and it was draining to witness. We had bigger class numbers than ever before, and our school culture and employee morale were at an all-time low. For us to pull our way out of this difficult time, we first had to take a closer look at building strong relationships between staff and students. We started by asking what it means to be happy in the classroom.

Happy schools start with happy teachers

As educators, one of the biggest challenges we face is learning how to put our health and happiness first. My first thought was that I needed to put the students’ well-being first, but I discovered that I needed to start with my staff instead. If we didn’t find out what educators are passionate about and connect them back into this building, we knew they would quickly burn out.…Read More