BeWellEDU.com

Last night I was watching the Oscars with my family - a tradition we have.  We like to fill in our own ballots and then wager a bet on who will have the most correct winners on their ballot.  As I watched Rami Malek win for Bohemian Rhapsody - a movie I truly enjoyed - I was fascinated with his acceptance speech, and something in it struck me.  He said: "I think about what it would have been like to tell little bubba Rami that one day this might happen to him and I think his curly-haired little mind would be blown," he said. "He was struggling with his identity, trying to figure himself out. And I think to anyone struggling with theirs, and trying to discover their voice: Listen, we made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself. The fact that I'm celebrating him and this story with you tonight is proof that we're longing for stories like this." When he said, "we're longing for stories like this...

Recently I was lucky to attend, and present at the EdTechTeam Napa Summit.  This year's Napa Summit was surrounded around wellness, as well as educational technology for the classroom.  It was such a different vibe, and the reception from people who attended was a positive one.So many participants commented on the wellness piece, saying that they enjoyed having it as a focus because so many educators don't necessarily prioritize it.  My sessions were focussed on the teacher and the student.  In each of my sessions, I had a diffuser running with essential oils to create a relaxing, calm atmosphere.  I also had lights dimmed in the room.  So many people commented on the environment - so that meant we were off to a good start when it came to talking "wellness".  In my first session, we talked about self-care for teachers.  The discussion was fantastic, as it revolved around what we can do to make our space, our routine and our priorities "well"....