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Let’s be honest, school counseling days are not calm, predictable, or neatly scheduled. Kind of reminds me of a day at Disney! They are: Unexpected walk-ins Last-minute parent calls Emotional check-ins “Can you just come grab this student real quick?” moments And somewhere in between all of that, you’re trying to stay organized, present, and effective. That’s where systems matter. But not just any systems, systems that feel good to use. Introducing: Little Moments, Big Magi

The other day, I was visiting a friend, and we ended up having one of those conversations that sticks with you. Her daughter, an elementary school student, was telling me about school and casually mentioned something that made me pause. She said, “My classmates know I’m smart, but they’re surprised I’m also artistic.” That stopped me. Because right there, in one sentence, she captured something so many of our students experience :the idea that they have to fit into one bo

Testing season is here and if you’re anything like me, you’re looking for ways to support students that go beyond “just try your best.” Students don’t just need strategies. They need confidence. They need routine. They need a little bit of magic. So instead of adding more stress, what if we created a simple, engaging daily ritual that helps students feel prepared, calm, and capable? Enter: 10 Days of Disney Testing Magic   This low-prep activity gives students one small focu

Milk, food coloring, and dish soap? Stay with me. What if I told you that one of the most powerful ways to teach friendship, inclusion, and belonging involves SCIENCE!! As school counselors, we are always looking for ways to make Social Emotional Learning feel r eal, engaging, and memorable. And sometimes, the best way to do that is by stepping outside of what we think SEL “should” look like. SEL doesn’t have to stay in the counseling lane. It can (and should) connect to oth

I am so excited to officially share that Storybook SEL Volume 1 and Volume 2 are now available! These lessons were created with one goal in mind: to make social-emotional learning meaningful, engaging, and a little more magical using the stories we already know and love. Each Storybook SEL lesson is thoughtfully designed to be ready-to-use and flexible for real classrooms. Every lesson includes: 2–3 clear objectives A guiding question to anchor learning Key vocabulary Aligned

March Madness isn’t just for basketball; it’s time for a different kind of bracket.  Welcome to the Storybook SEL Final Four, where four incredible Disney movies go head-to-head, not for a trophy, but for their impact on social-emotional learning.  Each of these stories teaches powerful life skills our students need every day, such as understanding emotions, building confidence, setting goals, and embracing differences. But the real question is which one deserves the champion

If your lesson were a Disney ride would students wait in line for it? It’s a question I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. At Disney, people, myself included, will willingly wait 60, 90, even 120 minutes, for an experience they’re excited about. Kids, adults, entire families standing in line, anticipating what’s coming next. But in school? We sometimes struggle to keep students engaged for 10 minutes. So what’s the difference? It’s no t magic. It’s d esign. And more

If you have ever taken children to Disney, you already know something important: Even the most magical place on earth can turn into the most dramatic place on earth in about 2.5 seconds. One minute, everyone is smiling in matching shirts and posing in front of the castle. The next, someone is crying because they are hot, someone else is mad about a snack, you are mentally calculating how much money is left in your wallet in the last three hours, and everyone is one minor inco

There are many ways to describe educators: dedicated, passionate, creative, and tired.  But today, I’m going with something a little more fun.  If your role in a school matched a Disney character, who would it be? Every school has: The high-energy motivator The steady, behind-the-scenes problem solver The creative visionary The one holding it all together (even when no one notices) Let’s match Disney characters to the real roles educators play every single day.  PE Teacher: 

Spring break has a funny way of sneaking up on us. One minute we’re packing lunches, checking grades, and running from one activity to the next, and the next minute, everything just stops. And if you’re anything like me, you might think: “This is going to be so relaxing, but then it’s not.” Because suddenly: Kids are bored Sleep schedules are off Everyone is on screens more than usual And somehow it doesn’t feel restful at all So this year, I’ve been thinking about spring

Sometimes the most meaningful things we do in schools don’t come from a big program or a perfectly planned lesson. Sometimes they come from simply creating space. This Ramadan, I wanted to create something small but intentional for a group of my students who were observing. What started as a simple idea, a book club, quickly became something much more. Our Ramadan Affinity Book Club was designed to be a place where students could just be  without having to explain their trad

With March being National Women’s History Month , I can’t let it go by without highlighting some of Disney’s most influential women. I figured I would start with my personal favorite, Disney Legend and artist Mary Blair . Read to the end for a fun social-emotional learning (SEL) activity  you can do with your students! The Disney Ride That Grew on Me When I think about Disney and some of its most iconic rides, I can’t help but think about “It’s a Small World.” The boats float

Disney stories are more than entertainment. they’re lessons in courage, empathy, and transformation. As a school counselor with a lifelong love of Disney, I’ve found lessons from the Disney portfolio that translate beautifully into education and counseling work. The biggest issue I’ve run into, though, is the naysayers. The people who either don’t like Disney (and that’s fine) or the ones who say, “Disney isn’t educational.” When I first began taking my middle school student

Welcome to the Counselor Clubhouse!  Be my Guest at what I hope will be a place where you can get creative ideas, learn more about Disney, and be inspired to be the best Disney Educator you can be!  As a school counselor for over 25 years and a Disney-obsessed fan since forever ago I have worked hard to incorporate Disney into my practice whenever possible.  My favorite Disney character is the Fairy Godmother.  I love that she can take her magic wand and make dreams come true