Writing.

Publications

BOOK:
I’m OK! Building Resilience through Physical Play. Redleaf Press. (2016)
Children must learn to pick themselves up, brush themselves off, and bounce back. But how do you allow for the physicality required to build resilience when you are tasked with children’s safety? This guide provides the tools and strategies for creating a culture of resilience, including families in the process, and keeping safety front-of-mind.
Amazon | Redleaf

JOURNAL ARTICLE:
Listening as Leadership. Schools: Studies in Education. (Fall 2016)
“An early childhood educator explores his journey from teacher to teacher leader and examines the parallels between his teaching practice with young children and his leadership practice with respect to colleagues. The author finds similarities within the frame of listening, broadly construed—practices that help him to attend to and understand the perspectives, ideas, and needs of others. By drawing connections between his classroom and leadership practices, the author creates an understanding of teacher leadership that allows him to integrate his teacher identity across various aspects of his practice.”
Journal Link | PDF

JOURNAL ARTICLE:
The “Make a Plan” Plan. Teaching Young Children Magazine. (October 2013)
This article for early childhood educators describes an approach to discipline that addresses seemingly intractable behavior challenges. The teacher and child become problem-solving partners by writing contracts together! I promise, it really works. Parents, this approach can apply at home too (though the piece is written for a teacher’s perspective).
Journal Link | PDF

JOURNAL ARTICLE:
Supporting Children’s Reflection With Phones and Tablets, by Jordan Foley and Jarrod Green. Teaching Young Children Magazine. (June 2015)
Jordan and I wrote about some practices we’ve been exploring at our school in using screens to help children reflect on their own and others’ ideas.
Journal Link

JOURNAL ARTICLE:
Teacher Leader Administrators, by Lisa Smulyan, Jarrod Green, Jennifer Lunstead, and Becki Norris. Schools: Studies in Education. (Spring 2017)
“In this latest continuation of our multipart symposium on teacher leadership, we examine what happens when self-defined teacher leaders become school administrators. Do teacher leaders who become administrators maintain a teacher identity? Can they remain committed to their vision of teacher leadership when they take on the normative requirements and responsibilities of school administration? Through a conversation with three teachers leaders, we explore the rewards and trials of teaching, the choice to become teacher leaders and then administrators, and the unique challenges that face administrators who deeply value the professional, political, and collaborative work of teachers.”
Journal Link | PDF

ARTICLE:
Fire and Ice, by Merryl Gladstone and Jarrod Green. DVAEYC Connection. (Spring 2015)
Merryl and I wrote this article about some of our school’s practices for connecting with both children and families.
Link

BLOG POST:
The Not-So-Magic Word (aka, Stop Teaching Children to Say Please). NAEYC for Families. (February 2015)
A piece for families about the distinction between using “the magic word” and being considerate, and some tips on how to help children do the latter.
Blog Link

BLOG POST:
Sliding Towards Resilience: How I helped a child overcome fear by not helping. Redleaf Press Blog. (January 2017)
A story of a time I helped a frightened child build confidence and resilience by refusing to help him (sort of).
Link

BOOK CHAPTER:
Make Early Learning Standards Come Alive by Gaye Gronlund; co-author, Chapter 12, “Communicating with Others about Early Learning Standards.” Redleaf Press. (June 2014)
Gaye’s wonderful book helps early childhood educators find ways to make early learning standards a positive and useful tool rather than a burden. I was honored that she asked me to co-write the chapter on communicating with families. Lots of great approaches to documention and communication!
Redleaf | Amazon

BLOG POST:
Observation: The Key to Understanding Your Child. NAEYC for Families. (November 2012)
This piece for families offers a tool for approaching and working on challenging behaviors at home. It’s an approachable version of Applied Behavior Analysis, a fancy tool expert educators use that can help you at home.
Blog Link

BLOG POST:
How to Bring “Big Body Play” Into a Kid’s School Day. MamaOT. (October 2012)
A piece for families and teachers about active physical games you can play with young children.
Blog Link

If I Ran the Circus (Blog)

From 2012 through 2014 I wrote a nifty little blog called If I Ran the Circus, which had stuff for teachers and families of young children. Here are some of my favorite posts.

The Children’s Community School Blog

At the Children’s Community School, where I was privileged to work from 2013–2023, we once had a blog where staff wrote about various topics in school life. Below are my favorite pieces from it.