The Doll Video That Went Viral

A few weeks ago, the video below went viral on Facebook. A young girl, Emma, received a gift that would make her feel validated, appreciated. This doll was a reminder that there are others like her. This video is an immediate heartwarming reminder of some amazing work being done by organizations like A Step Ahead Prosthetics and…

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How to Stop Cyber Bullying

The world teenagers live in is so different, in many ways, from the one we grew up in. The constant access to social media has caused an uptick in bullying– particularly cyber bullying. Kids are able to hide behind a keyboard or a screen, and in doing so, they are more likely to forget that…

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The Value in Truly Listening

Have you ever experienced that infuriating situation when you share that you are going through a hard time and your loved one responds with, “Well, look on the bright side…” or “At least…” On the receiving end of these comments, it feels as though someone is minimizing any experiences you have had and taking away…

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How Max Braverman Won Student Body President

“Some people may say having Asperger’s is bad, but I think it’s my best quality.” At KIT, we’ve written before about Parenthood, the show that taught us all about the stresses and joys of having a child with Asperger’s (among other stories within the show). I, myself, had never seen the show before, and I…

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The Problem with Favoritism

“I mean, honestly, the number of times she’s disrupted my class, she should have been suspended by now…” When one of my fellow teachers was talking about a student in her class who is a constant disruption and struggles to regulate her behavior, I cringed (on the inside) at how quickly she was judging this…

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When the Teacher Takes a Page Out of the Camp Counselor’s Book

A wise mentor once told me, “Camp counselors need to learn from teachers, and teachers need to learn from camp counselors.” I got what he was saying, but I’m not sure I really got it. This week, I gave it a try. I’ve been feeling bogged down by my job. With standardized testing coming up,…

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Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Last Fall, this video, in which Lily Eskelsen Garcia explains ALL that teachers do each day, went viral. … And it’s true! Many teachers are caregivers, primary emotional support providers, instructional experts, snack-givers, referees, relationship-builders, and much more. Teachers, thank you for all that you do to promote confidence and help students find  a sense…

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Happy Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week!

This week is National Afterschool Association (NAA)’s Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week! This week is a chance to thank the people who make an incredible range of afterschool activities possible for children and families across the United States. With two parents who worked full-time, I attended after-school activities throughout my childhood. I had the opportunity to…

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When Students Admit They Need Help

We’ve all had that student. The one who pushes our extra help away because he doesn’t want his friends to know he struggles. The one who puts down teachers in front of peers to gain a few laughs. The one who acts like (and sometimes says outright) he doesn’t want to be in your class.…

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That Kid That Needs a Little Bit More Love

We all have that one student that needs a little bit more love… The one that really pushes our buttons. The one who we think about on evenings and weekends who we just don’t know how to reach. Well, this student for me last year was a seventh grader named Amanda. Amanda frequently walked right…

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