There is a lot of time being spent on student behaviors in early childhood across all school systems. Children are struggling with self-regulation, learning, social as well as emotional control. These challenges are having a BIG impact on everything from learning to staff well-being. On this episode we look at the history of early childhood education and review what schools can do, parents can do and what we can do together to win back kindergarten.    

What process do you use to support the well-being of yourself and others? Ted explains the application and the neuroscience behind the SCARF model (David Rock) and how growing your understanding of the SCARF principles can create an increased sense of control and a tool to support individual and cultural well-being.  Status: Refers to an individual's relative importance to others Certainty: Deals with the ability to predict the future and understand what to expect in a situation Autonomy: Sense of control over one's own decisions and actions. Relatedness: Feeling of safety and belonging within a group Fairness: perception of fair treatment and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities

Two questions are addressed on this episode. How do I support my child so that they fend and fail for themselves and how do I deal with the manipulation of children as a parent? Ted discusses parenting techniques and this episode is very relevant for anyone who works with, supports, teaches, or cares about children. Share this one far and wide to help parents and guardians support more resilient and independent children.   Don't forget to attend the Smart Thinking Mid-Year Retreat. Register here.  

This conversation is a fantastic reminder of the impact we all have on others - especially how young people can change our direction. Listen as Ted and Matthew explore the impact of maintaining positivity, listening to the influences around you and finding joy in the work of life. Matthew’s journey from musician to music teacher, professor and motivator comes from a place of genuine curiosity and passion. Matthew shares how to shift culture while growing leaders from within. Listen as he describes the power of each of us and how music has influenced his life and those he serves.   Smart Thinking Mid-Year Retreat Registration: https://events.cesa6.org/events/36250872939  

Dedication to gratitude is a skill worth building and this is what Ted focuses on in this episode. Listen as we take a fun approach to gratitude and supporting those we are around so that they are stronger as individuals. You will hear a great way to use music to demonstrate gratitude and make dedications to elevate others. Most importantly this process will help others see and hear how that they matter! 

Each generation has the ability to define itself and grow into the role of leadership. Take a listen as Ted and Tim discuss how to support the newest workforce generation and support their success in life and leadership. Tim’s new book is a fantastic read, guide, and tactic filled study. If you want to be a great leader of/for others, it begins with empathy and this book will grow your skills and leadership as you work to support this amazing generation, Generation Z. Book: The Future Begins with Z - order here  

Take a listen as Ted explores how we can grow our ability o respond to situations with solutions instead of complaints. You see, complaining and criticizing is easy if you don't have the skills to seek solutions or strategies. Everyone has a response when they are squeezed and Ted shares with you his "8 is Enough" tactics to help you as well as help you help others.    

There are three things that we all control: our happiness, our engagement, and our choices. On this episode Ted talks about how we can increase our own engagement by empowering ourselves and checking our mindset while using tools to find empowerment. Ted explains how to use AI to help you increase your engagement in areas where you may struggle and/or how to coach others to higher levels of engagement.  He coaches you with these steps: Stop blaming others Control what you can control Check your biases    

This fall Ted has compiled a great reading list to help you, help yourself. Help you grow skills as a parent or to support parents and one book to increase your perspective. This fall's collection: Aristotle’s Guide to Self Persuasion: Jay Heinrichs The Happiness Files: Arthur Brooks Fight, How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America: John Della Volpe Good Inside, A Guide To Becoming The Parent You Want To Be: Becky Kennedy Raising Mentally Strong Kids, Daniel Amen and Charles Fay Lewis and Clark Through Indian Eyes, Alvin Josephy Jr.

Join us for a conversation with author and leader Rainey Briggs as we explore the impact of others in our formation and leadership evolution. Learn how tenacity rules the day as we move forward through our lives and discover some great tactics for life and leadership. Book: Beyond the Label: A Leaders journey from IEP to EdD Purchase HERE      

When you are new to an organization or team, it is critical to understand the landscape. Too often leaders forget to employ a process to help them create a map and end up stepping on system or individual landmines. Take a listen as Ted shares a process to help you collect the things that trigger organizational frustration and individual frustration so that you can create a proactive map and find success. 

The new book MindCraft, by Aaron Sadoff is a wonderful text that describes all of the positive ways in which you can approach your daily leadership. Join Ted and Aaron as they discuss the highlights of his new book and also reflect upon the ways in which they have both grown as leaders. Aaron shares many ways to grow your leadership, mindset, and strengths.    Purchase Book Here: MindCraft, The Art of Positive Thinking RIGHT NOW

Why do most initiatives in schools and the workplace fail after only a few months? Answer: We ignore the needs of the people or students. People are not going to adopt new ideas unless they can grow together through shared experiences. Take a listen as Ted explores the impact and importance of taking a field trip and seeing, hearing, and feeling the world around you. Experiences shared together create lasting change. 

For 350 episodes Ted has suggested reflection in your daily practices. On this milestone episode, he describes a process and shares tools to help you increase your well-being through intentional reflective practices. Why? If you don't fill your brain, it'll fill itself with all the wonderful weirdness it is capable of creating.  Tools can be found here

In this conversation Bob and Ted (not a morning radio show) have a great discussion around leadership, life, and Bob's two new books. Bob is a creative, humble and gifted architect who describes his process for getting the most out of other people with inspirational ideas and mindsets. This conversation will help you learn, grow, and go into the storm!    Books: The Story in Your Head & Along for the Ride can be found here

Too often we get stuck because of the culture and we need to find ways to support ourselves and others so that we can collect wisdom from the amazing people around us. Join Ted as he shares a great teaming tool to help you build a stronger and safer classroom, teaming environment, meeting or board room. Less judgment and more investment!    If you could share one piece of advice with your past self or in your first year of your career -- what would you tell yourself. What was the the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? When you struggle with balance, what works to get you aligned again? What is one thing you hope your future self figures out? Where did you waste time in the past that you’ve learned to approach differently?

The energy at the beginning of a journey is critical. Take a listen to for a strategy and a mindset to help you launch this year! The ABC's of hiking is applicable and fun!   Here we go season 9!

We need to redefine what a vacation is and make certain it is something more than just a trip or time off. Let's get serious about supporting our well-being and creating the conditions so that we can grow our mind, body, spirit and soul. Join us as we reframe taking a vacation and create moments that just "take you away" from the things in life that don't add to who you are.   Books: Careless People, Sarah Wynn Williams On Character, Gen. Stanley McCrystal Casting Forward, Steve Ramirez Super Agers, Eric Topol  

During the summer and in between projects we need to create opportunities for people to understand how they make a difference and matter. Join Ted for a conversation and tactic to allow for you to pause and applaud the way in which others make a difference in the world in which we live. 

Summer slide is a real thing and impacts children significantly. However, summer is an opportunity to increase student learning and skill application if we are willing to help parents out with ideas and activities. Ted shares how parents can support learning over the summer and how educators can fuel parents with tips and tricks to support learning.  Parents are equal partners in the journey of learning.