5 Strategies to Improve Students’ Listening Skills
By Daniel Vollrath Middle and high school students not listening is a common complaint, but listening is a skill like any other—it can be improved with practice. It often ends with a sigh of relief. The feeling of knowing—they got it. You explained it, offered time to process, and asked for clarification—you know the cliché […]
De-escalation with Habits of Mind
Many situations in life can be overwhelming and overstimulate your brain. When this occurs it is a sign that your brain needs a rest. This video will help you learn more about getting from your downstairs brain to your upstairs brain through the use of five Habits of Mind. And, giving your body and […]
The Launch Pad for Success
Sight. Sound. Touch. Taste. Smell. That’s right! When those five senses are stimulated they can make us more creative and effective. This video will hopefully guide you to discovering your senses and how they can best be utilized in creating a working station for success. As teachers, we can encourage autonomous learning through habits […]
The Balcony View
Frustration, anger, anxiety…we have all been there. The ability to manage those emotions takes an ability to sit back and observe those stressful performances. In this video, you will be provided with three strategies that can assist in getting to that calm and regulated state of mind. Plus, how to find meaning in your […]
It’s Time to Hyperfocus!
Getting started on any assignment can be a struggle. The mind wanders and you are constantly redirecting your focus back to the task at hand. In this video, you will learn how to become more intentional, focused, and efficient in completing a task. And, when that path of concentration gets lost, how to bring […]
Discover the 16 Habits of Mind
Discover the 16 Habits of Mind and how they best fit into your learning and life beyond the classroom. While watching this video you will be able to see the true importance of habits and their ability to overcome obstacles in life. As teachers, we can encourage autonomous learning through habits of mind. Everything […]
Keeping Students With Learning Disabilities Motivated at Home
This post was first published on Edutopia and is reprinted with the author’s permission. The things that used to be routine in schools—morning announcements, bells ringing, classroom interactions, hallway gatherings, lunch chats, and peer bonding—are temporarily gone with the wind. As virtual learning continues with no end in sight here in New Jersey, staying on […]
Keeping Special Education Students Motivated: Tips and Tricks
Daniel Vollrath is a special education teacher, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Institute for Habits of Mind. As a current educational leader within the classroom, Daniel’s best practices, strategies, goals, classroom culture, and interactions with students with a learning disability are centred around the Habits of Mind. Read more from Daniel […]
Stepping to the Upstairs Brain with Habits of Mind
So often we find students in an over-stimulated state of mind. Some of the most telltale signs and symptoms show up via inappropriate behaviors, outbursts, negative comments, and anxiety-ridden stares and actions – such as fidgety body movements, leg shaking, and clenching of fists. These visuals should raise concern and worry, putting educators in […]
The 9 Habits of Mind for Powerful Writing
For many individuals the ability to select a topic, conjure up ideas, and then write about it is a tough process. Even more arduous is the action of physically building focused behaviors to continue writing with reader appeal in mind. It takes persistence, focus, pacing, planning, questioning yourself, developing your senses, and thinking outside the […]
Habits of Mind and Resiliency: Tools for Success
Hello Habits of Mind community! Welcome back to this new school year. I hope that the summer gave you time to ponder and to find wonderment and awe in just relaxing, managing your impulsivity by basking in the summer sun, remaining open to continuous learning by taking adventurous trips, thinking flexibly in creating summer time […]
Habits of Mind in a World Full of Technological Distractions
Daniel Vollrath, Ed.D. (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute. As a current educational leader within the classroom, Daniel’s best practices, strategies, goals, classroom culture, and interactions with students with a learning disability […]
Hurdling Resilience through Habits of Mind
Daniel Vollrath, Ed.D. (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute. As a current educational leader within the classroom, Daniel’s best practices, strategies, goals, classroom culture, and interactions with students with a learning disability […]
Teacher Perceptions on Infusing Habits of Mind
Daniel Vollrath (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute, with a strong passion for developing curriculum, classroom culture, and mindfulness based on the Habits of Mind. Over the past five years, Daniel has gathered […]
Subject-Based Habits of Mind
Daniel Vollrath (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute, with a strong passion for developing curriculum, classroom culture, and mindfulness based on the Habits of Mind. Over the past five years, Daniel has […]
“Bite-Size” to “Full-Size” Learners
Daniel Vollrath, Ed.D. (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute. As a current educational leader within the classroom, Daniel’s best practices, strategies, goals, classroom culture, and interactions with students with a learning disability […]
Self Confidence with the Habits of Mind
Daniel Vollrath (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute, with a strong passion for developing curriculum, classroom culture, and mindfulness based on the Habits of Mind. Over the past five years, Daniel has […]
Building Community with the Habits of Mind
Daniel Vollrath (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute, with a strong passion for developing curriculum, classroom culture, and mindfulness based on the Habits of Mind. Over the past five years, Daniel has […]
Exploration with the Habits of Mind
Daniel Vollrath (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute, with a strong passion for developing curriculum, classroom culture, and mindfulness based on the Habits of Mind. Over the past five years, Daniel has […]
Small Wins for Growing Habits and Skills with Diverse Learners
Daniel Vollrath, Ed.D. (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute. Daniel will be presenting on select topics in Special Education, Executive Functioning, & Habits of Mind. Please feel free to email any questions […]
The Power of Reflection – Metacognitive Awareness
Daniel Vollrath (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute, with a strong passion for developing curriculum, classroom culture, and mindfulness based on the Habits of Mind. Over the past five years, Daniel has […]
Individuals First, Learners Second
Daniel Vollrath, Ed.D. (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute. Daniel will be presenting on select topics in Special Education, Executive Functioning, & Habits of Mind. Please feel free to email any questions […]
Who Are the Learners in Our Executive Functioning Classroom?
Daniel Vollrath, Ed.D. (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute. As a current educational leader within the classroom, Daniel’s best practices, strategies, goals, classroom culture, and interactions with students with a learning disability […]
Executive Functioning with Diverse Learners in the Classroom
Daniel Vollrath, Ed.D. (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute. As a current educational leader within the classroom, Daniel’s best practices, strategies, goals, classroom culture, and interactions with students with a learning disability […]
Why Habits of Mind and Special Education?
Daniel Vollrath, Ed.D. (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute. As a current educational leader within the classroom, Daniel’s best practices, strategies, goals, classroom culture, and interactions with students with a learning disability […]
An Inclusive Approach to a Reading and Writing Workshop with the Habits of Mind
By Daniel Vollrath and Scott Einhorn As writers it is always important to develop and improve your writing to create the best piece possible. This process takes time, commitment, and mental energy. While the fundamentals of writing emphasize grammar, structure, fluency, and style, it is also important to focus on developing habits. What do […]
