

HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! (PART 2 OF 12)
Tell him, "Don't worry, you will do better next time." Building Resilience at Home: Teaching Kids to Bounce Back Resilience isn't something children either have or don't have — it's a skill, and you can teach it right at home. After 35 years in public education and doctoral research on resilience, I can tell you: the lessons that stick are the ones woven into everyday life. Try these three strategies this week: 1. Let struggle happen — on purpose. When your child gets frustr

Dr. Jean Wright
2 days ago1 min read


HOMESCHOOLING TIPS THAT WORK! PART 1 OF 12
Books, games, and toys can all be learning tools! Interactive Tools for Homeschooling You don't need a classroom full of technology to make learning come alive. The right tools — used consistently — can transform your kitchen table into the most engaging classroom your child has ever sat in. Here are three ways to get started today: 1. Meet your child where they are. Before adding any tool, observe how your child naturally engages with content. Are they visual? Do they prefe

Dr. Jean Wright
Apr 141 min read


TEN HOT TIPS FROM THE 70TH MICHIGAN READING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE (Part 4 of 4)
An exciting three-day event! Reading Tip 8: Quotes from Dr. Anita Archer-"How well I teach=how well they learn," "learning is not a spectator sport," "Walk around, look around, talk around," "Perfect practice over time makes perfect and permanent," "Pedictability predicts ability," "If you expect it, pre-correct it," "Avoid the void, they will fill it," "Teach with passion, manage with compassion." Reading Tip 9: Classroom management ideas-a)When everyone is engaged, and th

Dr. Jean Wright
Apr 71 min read


TEN HOT TIPS FROM THE 70TH MICHIGAN READING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE (Part 3 of 4)
An exciting three-day event! Reading Tip 5- Dr. Shannon Anderson advises that we expose our students to a variety of genres and reading materials. Here's a neat little list: comics, graphic novels, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, historical fiction, biography, autobiography, memoir, poetry, drama/play, adventure stories, horror, self-help/personal development, educational/textbooks/fairy tales, folktales, magazines, and newspapers. Reading Tip 6- In "Shifting from

Dr. Jean Wright
Apr 21 min read


TEN HOT TIPS FROM THE 70TH MICHIGAN READING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE (Part 2 of 4)
An exciting 3-day event! Reading Tip 3- Dr. Anita Archer says, "Attention is contagious, positive or negative." One way to engage the most readers is with choral reading, combined with intentional monitoring. Be sure to position yourself so you can see the entire class, even if you are targeting one or two individuals or groups. Move throughout the room, making sure that you are near each student or group at least once during choral reading. Your proximity will encourage them

Dr. Jean Wright
Mar 261 min read


TEN HOT TIPS FROM THE 70TH MICHIGAN READING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE (Part 1 of 4)
Three exciting days! Check-in time at the DoubleTree (Hilton) in Lansing, Michigan, was 3:00 pm. When I arrived at 2:30 pm, the three lines in front of the desk were already curved and were now past the lobby area and down the hall. Several times, I heard someone at the desk say, "I'm sorry, the hotel is fully booked." Forty minutes later, I was finally in my room, ready to navigate the journey to the conference registration desk. Registration was a breeze! Hot Reading Tip 1

Dr. Jean Wright
Mar 161 min read


TOMMIE THE SQUIRREL LEARNS SOCIAL SKILLS (A 12-PART SERIES)
TOMMIE THE SQUIRREL "Tommie the Squirrel" is a 12-part series of stories and adventures about a young squirrel who learns to interact with his friends and family without causing chaos and friction. Not only does he gain important social skills, but character development becomes an important byproduct of the process. In this series, Tommie learns about: 1) Self-Control 2) Patience 3) Cooperation 4) Responsibility 5) Manners 6) Fairness 7) Gratitude 8) Courage 9) Hone

Dr. Jean Wright
Mar 51 min read


RESILIENCE VS BURNOUT SERIES (8 OF 8) BUILD YOUR PLAN
Build Your Resilience Plan Over the last seven blogs, we've covered the foundations: physical health, mental health, time management, stress, expectations, hobbies, and celebrating wins. Each one is a pillar. Neglect any of them long enough, and resilience starts to crack. But here's the good news: you don't have to fix everything at once. You just have to start. Burnout happens when demands consistently outpace your capacity to recover. Resilience is what you build when you

Dr. Jean Wright
Mar 42 min read


RESILIENCE VS BURNOUT SERIES (7 OF 8) CELEBRATE THE WINS
Celebrate the wins! Most teachers and parents are excellent at cataloging what went wrong and terrible at acknowledging what went right. You replay mistakes on loop but brush past victories like they don't count. Here's what you're missing: celebrating wins—even tiny ones—isn't self-indulgent. It's how resilience rebuilds itself daily. So why aren't you celebrating? Five reasons—and how to start. First: The Bar Is Set Impossibly High . You've decided only major achievements d

Dr. Jean Wright
Feb 242 min read


RESILIENCE VS BURNOUT SERIES (6 OF 8) HOBBIES
Work/Life Balance When's the last time you did something just because you wanted to? Not because it was productive, not because someone needed you, but because it brought you joy? For most teachers and parents, hobbies feel like luxuries they can't afford. But here's the reality: hobbies aren't optional extras. They're essential fuel for resilience. So why have hobbies disappeared—and how do we bring them back? Five obstacles and their solutions. First: The Guilt of "Wasting

Dr. Jean Wright
Feb 162 min read


RESILIENCE VS BURNOUT SERIES (5 OF 8) EXPECTATIONS
Manage Expectations Expectations —yours, theirs, the world's—can either fuel progress or crush you under their weight. For teachers and parents, the gap between what's expected and what's possible feels impossibly wide. Here's the truth: resilience grows when expectations are realistic, not relentless. So what's making your expectations unmanageable? Five patterns to recognize—and recalibrate. First: Perfectionism Masquerading as Standards. High standards are healthy. Perfect

Dr. Jean Wright
Feb 92 min read


RESILIENCE VS BURNOUT SERIES (4 OF 8) STRESS
Tips to Conquer Stress Stress isn't the enemy—chronic, unmanaged stress is. A little stress sharpens focus and motivates action. Too much, for too long, and your body starts breaking down. For teachers and parents, stress is practically a job requirement. But resilience isn't about avoiding stress. It's about recovering from it. So what's keeping your stress levels dangerously high? Let's identify five culprits—and their antidotes. First: No Outlet for Tension. Stress builds

Dr. Jean Wright
Feb 32 min read


RESILIENCE VS BURNOUT SERIES-3 OF 8
TIME BELONGS TO YOU! RESILIENCE VS. BURNOUT — SERIES 3 OF 8 Time Management Time is the one resource we never get more of—and yet most of us live as if tomorrow will magically hand us extra hours. For teachers and parents especially, time can feel slippery, crowded, and constantly claimed by others. But how we manage our time directly shapes our resilience. When time feels protected, we feel steadier. When it feels hijacked, burnout isn’t far behind. So let’s talk about what’

Dr. Jean Wright
Jan 272 min read


RESILIENCE VS BURNOUT SERIES 2 OF 8 (MENTAL HEALTH)
Prioritize, then take control! It may sound strange, but some time ago I realized how important it is to think about what I’m thinking. Not just noticing the thought—but noticing why it keeps returning. Teachers and parents carry a lot: responsibilities, decisions, emotions, and the invisible mental load that never clocks out. Mental health isn’t separate from resilience—it is resilience. So what quietly undermines positive mental health? Five factors—and remedies that bring

Dr. Jean Wright
Jan 192 min read


Avoid 7 "Winter Weight" Pitfalls
Avoid 7 "Winter Weight Gain" Pitfalls 1. Comfort Eating from Boredom Strategy : Keep fruit, popcorn, or herbal tea within reach and redirect with reading or stretching. 2. Skipping Meals Strategy : Stick to regular, balanced meals to prevent nighttime overeating. 3. Relying on Processed “Vegan” Foods Strategy: Choose whole ingredients—real food over frozen patties and packaged snacks. 4. Not Getting Enough Protein Strategy : Add lentils, tofu, or tempeh to each meal fo

Dr. Jean Wright
Nov 3, 20251 min read


Don't Gain "Winter Weight!"
5 Practices to Avoid "Winter Weight Gain" 1. Meal Prep with Intention – Dedicate a few hours weekly to batch cook grains, soups, and veggies so healthy choices are easy. 2. Keep Comfort Foods Plant-Based – Reinvent favorites: lentil shepherd’s pie, sweet potato chili, or veggie stew. 3. Stay Hydrated – Warm teas and lemon water curb “fake hunger.” 4. Move Your Body, Your Way – Yoga, walking, or dancing—just stay in motion. 5. Give Yourself Grace – Progress over perfection

Dr. Jean Wright
Nov 3, 20251 min read


Avoid Winter Weight Gain
8 Ways a Plant-Based Diet Helps Prevent Winter Weight Gain 1. Fewer Empty Calories , More Real Food Whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables naturally replace high-calorie processed foods. Example : Trade chips and dip for roasted chickpeas tossed in olive oil and paprika. 2. High in Fibe r = Longer Fullness Fiber-rich foods stabilize blood sugar and reduce cravings. Example : A bowl of lentil soup keeps you full all afternoon without the cookie crash. 3. Supports Metabol

Dr. Jean Wright
Nov 3, 20251 min read


Why Dr. Jean Chooses Clean Nutrition and Natural Supplements
We live in a world where the food on our plates isn’t always as healthy as it seems. Dr. Jean Wright, like many health experts, believes...

Dr. Jean Wright
Oct 2, 20253 min read




