Episode Details

Dr. Michael Gaskell Web site is Principal at Hammarskjold Middle School in East Brunswick, NJ. following experience as a special educator and assistant principal in Paramus, NJ. He continues to model the pursuit of lifelong learning as he serves to mentor new principals through the New Jersey Leaders to Leaders program. An NJPSA Stars recipient, he has been published in over 2 dozen articles in education journals and blogs, including eSchoolNews, NASSP, Edtech and ASCD Smartbrief, he has made the most-read section of ASCD Smartbrief numerous times. Mike had a book published in October, 2020 (Microstrategy Magic), and a second book publishing in September 2021 (Leading Schools Through Trauma). Dr. Gaskell works tirelessly to support instructional excellence and student success, for his school community, and most importantly, for the wellness and equity of all children.

• Teachers need day-to-day strategies.
• Gamification - helps in powerful and subtle ways
• Small wins.
• Moving in the right direction.
• We need data - when you test kids, it creates anxiety
• Teacher greeting at the door.
• One-sentence intervention
• Even if it is small, it can still make a difference.
• Coffee talk - background noise to calm kids.
• Getting a perfect amount of slight background noise.
• Distracts you enough from other distractions.
• Right-size seating
• When you move the body you move the mind.
• Breathing exercises - 4–5–8 breathing exercise
• Goal setting - What are my goals for becoming better. 4% outside their comfort zone.
• Build on small wins over time.
• How to be a transformative principal? Listen to everyone.

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• The Feedback Pendulum: A manifesto for enhancing feedback in