As you head back to school be it as a university professor, graduate student, special or general education teacher, instructional assistant, related service provider, school secretary, cafeteria worker, crossing guard, primary, middle, high school, or college student (with or without an IEP or 504 plan or self-declare your needs), an administrator, or as a school custodian (the later most likely the only one who never left all summer), please amaze!
Amaze yourself and each other. Travel unexpected paths to grow and know.
It’s all about perspective. I write this to you as I simultaneously prepare for professional development sessions for 2026-27 New Jersey, New York, Nashville, Washington DC, Ohio, and Las Vegas audiences of early childhood-preservice administrators, coaches, educators, families, and students on topics that range from mental health to inclusion, autism, dyslexia, and co-teaching. Jitters and count downs to Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. Whew!
As a thirsty consumer of knowledge, I firmly believe that continuous learning is vital, not just for the students, but for us, the professionals and families. No surprise that daunting tasks present in schools, classrooms, and communities. Sometimes the unexpected happens in a myriad of environments that range from homes with beautiful lawns on the outside accompanied by dysfunctional dynamics within, to students who wonder if they’ll sleep in a car or shelter that night. Students often dodge bullets in unsafe drug ridden neighborhoods, whether they live in urban or rural villages, towns, cities, or states, or are from war torn countries. Kids walk into classrooms softened and hardened by what happened in summer months.
To the rescue, planning and preparation! I serendipitously found this ASCD Podcast that shares how we tap into and amaze one another via strength-based approaches. We are all learners. We are all works in progress. We all begin the year at the same starting point, with unequal experiences, yet we all can and will learn, when we value shared accountability, plan differentiated instruction, and how to infuse evidence-based practices. A maze offers a few turns and choices. As you navigate which way to go, AMAZE yourself and each other with strength.
