Summer has a funny way of making teachers do two things. First, we finally catch our breath. Then we start looking through books. Stacks begin to form on the dining room table. Favorite picture books find their way back into our hands. We think about new read-alouds, replace worn-out copies, and start imagining the first…
What if the next step in our read-aloud journey was not about getting it exactly right, but about discovering the joy of trying? Over the past few months, we have explored how stories can help students recognize character strengths in action. With Swimmy, students developed an appreciation for beauty, perspective, teamwork, and perseverance. With Owl…
By Jiedi Lei, PhD DClinPsy, Paul Foundation Clinical Research Fellow, Oxford Centre for Emerging Minds Research, University of Oxford, UK “What do you think are some of your strengths in everyday life?” – Researcher “I’m not sure… I don’t think I have any.” – Autistic Young Person This was a frequent response I heard from…
What if we kept the momentum going? Resource: Using Owl Babies by Martin Waddell to Build Well-Being Through Character Strengths Last month, many of us explored how Swimmy could spark conversations about character strengths and how something as simple as a read-aloud could shift a classroom. Students leaned in, made connections, and began recognizing strengths…
What if literacy weren’t just about learning to read but about learning how to live well? For too long, literacy has been defined by what students can decode, measure, and produce. But literacy is much more than an academic skill. It is a gateway to meaning, connection, autonomy, and participation in the world. This is…
What if we started with a different question? Instead of asking, “What’s wrong?” We asked: “What is RIGHT with me?” and “Who am I at my best?” This is the foundation of Character Strengths and it has the power to transform how students see themselves, how educators teach, and how communities grow. What Are Character…
On World Kindness Day, people around the world are encouraged to be kind to themselves, others, and the world. It’s a day to celebrate the small yet transformative acts that make the world a better place. The Benefits of Kindness Not only does kindness benefit the social good, but research shows that kindness has the…
Happy Movement Monday! Movement for Happiness is a wellbeing skill that encourages us to find ways to move our bodies in ways that bring us joy. Each Monday, we’re highlighting stories of autistic people and what type(s) of movement bring them joy. Meet Lily, a content creator, autistic advocate, and co-host of the Easterseals podcast…
Happy Movement Monday! Movement for Happiness is a wellbeing skill that encourages us to find ways to move our bodies in ways that bring us joy. Each Monday, we’re highlighting stories of autistic people and what type(s) of movement bring them joy. At Proof Positive, we believe moving our bodies is important not just for…
“Our body language not only speaks to others, it speaks to ourselves. When we move expressively, that energy returns to us and brings us aliveness.” Marisa Hamamoto is a late-diagnosed autistic, a stroke survivor, and the founder of Infinite Flow Dance, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles with the mission to advance disability inclusion, one…