Why Proactive Support Benefit Every Learner In a recent professional development session I facilitated with a school in Fall River, Massachusetts, a really important question came up, one that tends to surface in almost every training when we talk about classroom behavior and student engagement. We were discussing behavioral strategies to support student learning while also preventing interfering behavior. The conversation centered around proactive planning, structure, and how to increase...

How often do you say yes before you’ve even had a chance to think about it? I recently had a conversation with my wise colleague, Dr. Lina Slim, that really stuck with me. She shared a piece of advice she’s learned over time: pause before saying yes. It sounds simple, but it’s not always easy. Even when you’re overworked, overbooked, and stretched thin, invitations to participate in interesting projects, support meaningful causes, and attend fun social gatherings are still enticing. Our...

One of the most common and powerful functions of behavior is attention. As adults, we often think of attention-seeking behavior as something children do. But the truth is, we all seek attention. We all want to feel seen, heard, and acknowledged. And often, attention becomes most valuable when it feels limited or diverted. I remember when my children were younger. The moment I got on the phone, it was immediate: “Mom.” “Mom.” “Mom, mom, mom…” It didn’t matter that I had been available all...