Companies are always searching for candidates to fill positions that may not appeal to older generations, such as seasonal work, part-time jobs, or roles with limited hours like two days a week. These opportunities are perfect for one of the most valuable yet overlooked groups: young workers. Youth have the potential to thrive and develop essential skills in these roles, preparing them for the future workforce.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), sometimes called verbal dyspraxia, is a neurological motor processing speech disorder in which the brain has trouble getting the tongue, lips, and jaw to move correctly for speaking. Not everyone is aware of this speech disorder. As parents come into the school year with a child who has a new or recent diagnosis, they may be terrified and overwhelmed sending their child to public school knowing they struggle to communicate. As principals and school administrators, it is important to have a brief understanding of CAS and how you can support these students and advise their teachers.
I summarized a classic book for you this month. Todd Whitaker recently updated his popular book from almost 25 years ago, What Great Principals Do Differently. Imagine if you were fortunate enough to be assigned the ideal principal mentor. This is a book that feels like a conversation with that mentor as he shares bite-sized pieces of advice from his time as a principal (and his research). The ideas are spot-on and you can implement them tomorrow. Oh, and he shares anecdotes to help you remember these tips, too. This book puts all those pieces of advice in one place — it compiles the 20 things that Whitaker has found separates the good from the great principals.s in education.
Having a sense of belonging in school does wonders for students. Research shows that it helps them both learn and grow. Unfortunately, many students feel disconnected and disengaged in school. Luckily, we don’t have to just hope that our students feel a sense of belonging in school. There is a lot we can do as educators to actively build it. This just might be the year to make BELONGING your school’s theme. To help, I’ve summarized a book that shows teachers how to build belonging in their classrooms.
Mishele Barnett, Communications & Digital Media Coordinator, AWSP
Apr 22, 2024
April marks World Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month, emphasizing the significance of embracing and honoring the diverse autistic and neurodiverse members of our school communities, including our school leaders and educators.
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