Arizona is my greatest gift…I remember when I first found out that my daughter was different, and that she would potentially have a different life trajectory than most families that I knew of. And I always love to have that trip down memory lane because it makes me appreciate so much what is right now. Which is, by the way, nothing I thought would be possible back then.
Read MoreThe key is to create an environment where everyone feels invested, like they're benefiting from it and a respected member of the tribe.
Read MoreIt’s not about you. It's about their story. Because they're the ones who have to change. Not you. You’re there to help them change. So make it about them.
Read MoreWe've actually had an increased interaction with parents...sometimes the student will be in the (parents’) office and mom or dad pops in unintentionally because they need to pick up a book or a sheet of paper or some document and they'll say, 'Hi, Mr Rudajev. How are you?
Read MoreWe need these emotional skills as much as we need content-based knowledge.
Read MoreThis is an opportunity to learn and engage and really start to get to know students in ways that many educators have never gotten to know their students. And this is where you can take the time out and not feel the pressure from the upcoming benchmark or not feel the pressure from the upcoming testing.
Read MoreA community is something that strengthens you…(it) has a certain sense of kindness, of empathy. By being together, working together, (being in community) can face the challenges from the outside world.
Read MoreDuring that time I had this realization that I was someone who had worked incredibly hard at school. And I thought to myself during this difficult time, “I have all of this knowledge, all of these qualifications and I literally have no idea how to help myself feel better or get better.” I was literally in a rut and I didn't know what to do.
Read MoreThe thing that I don’t feel we do enough is say ‘thank you’ to our teachers. And because of that, I don’t think they really appreciate how significant they are, and what their worth is. They are gold dust. They are priceless.
Read MoreWe must understand that in order to impact young people's lives at the ages of 14, 15, 16, you have to invest heavily at the ages of four, five, and six. And I think when we realize that and appreciate that, we will see different outcomes later down the line.
Read MoreAt the end of the day, these kids need to know more than anything else that you care about them and that you want to see them succeed. And something I think about all the time in coaching is, am I doing that? Am I making sure that these kids know that I care about them? And that's really been one of the reasons that we've been successful at our school is because of whether it's the sports or whether it's the classroom, the kids know that we're passionate about what they're doing.
Read MorePositivity is about feeling like there's meaning to what you're doing and that there's a kind of mystery. When I'm feeling the most positive, and I think when my students are feeling the most positive, is when there's an unknown. There’s a mystery that we're seeking. So there's something drawing us forward.
Read MoreIt's part of a cultural message to parents that they're somehow always getting it wrong. And that doesn't help anybody. It's just like with students, if they're always feeling criticized they aren't necessarily going to learn better. Shame doesn't motivate people.
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Before, when somebody was anxious you could see it, and you could see why. Today, everyone just retreats on their phone, and they hide their real state of mind.
Read MoreIn Turkey a teacher is respected like we respect doctors here in the United States. Once people know that you're a teacher, they address you as teacher, respectfully.
Read MoreSafety is a room in which I can really be my authentic self. When you have that as your basis, I find that they're not really looking at you to make a mistake. They're just watching you, they're eager to learn from you.
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