We’ve been providing school assembly scripts and digital packages to schools and community organizations for years, but 2020 threw all of us for a loop. How do you engage students in a fun way, include community volunteers, share an experience all together – but stay safe during COVID-19? So for the past few months we’ve written our scripts to be...

I know many of you are feeling overwhelmed, planning for your school in the midst of the unknown. I’ve had a couple of conversations lately that have reinforced this, and I’ve heard people fret about how so much truly is uncertain. I worry about that, too. In light of that, as you lead students, parents, and staff members this month, I encourage you to...

Welcome to 2017! Let’s drop some knowledge: Did you know that “Respect” by Aretha Franklin was originally recorded by Otis Redding? Did you know that “TCB” in the chorus stands for “Taking Care (of) Business”? Did you know that forgiveness can make you happier? According to Psychology Today, “Many studies have shown...

There are still a couple of weeks left in school for 2016, which means there are several days left for your students to help bring joy to others. If your classroom isn’t doing a gift exchange, consider doing a “Joy Exchange.” Each child could write a note to the other students in the class, telling them what makes them each important. Using ribbon...

Not feeling very joyful yet? Want to know how to explain JOY to kids? Let Sam help you out. Share this video with your family or class and then talk for a few minutes about joy. When is it hard to choose to be joyful? When was the last time you were really sad? When was the last time you choose to be joyful? How can we help each other remember to choose joy? Share...

Sometimes when you’re teaching or leading, it can feel like you are treading water, just keeping your mouth and nose above the waves enough to catch a breath. Sometimes, however, you get reminded why it is you do what you do. A user of Core Essentials’ Reco middle school curriculum got this note from a student this week. Imagine that! The school was in...