Welcome to the Duck Pond Blog!
Your go-to source for all things education, trauma-informed, leadership, and beyond!
Our experts share some of their favorite tools, strategies, resources, and suggestions.
Second Chances and Steady Paychecks
For many adults, a high school diploma feels like a missed train – something left behind in the rush of life. But what if it didn't have to be that way? Imagine a path where earning your diploma wasn't just about completing credits, but about unlocking doors to better jobs, brighter futures, and a newfound sense of accomplishment. We work with S.T.A.R.s (Skilled Through Alternative Routes)
The Resilient Power of Friendship
In a recent conversation, with a friend that embodies all these attributes, she asked me how I like work, what parts of my life I am loving, what aspects bring me joy, challenges I’m facing, and then they threw in one that I wasn’t expecting…..how do I build my own resilience?
UR(RY)
Education is a vibrant world filled with challenges that educators, school districts, and communities constantly navigate. To thrive in this landscape, a clear dedication to purpose is essential. We don't just embrace this dedication; it lives by it through a powerful mantra: URRY, which stands for "You are our why." This simple yet powerful phrase drives our mission to support educators, foster leadership, and provide services and products that enhance schools and communities.
Embracing the Light: A Magical Encounter Reminds Me of Kindness in the World
Recently, I've noticed that I've been unintentionally viewing the world through the lens of cynicism. Normally, I see a lot of light and positivity in everything around me, but lately, it feels like I've been surrounded by darkness. The constant exposure to negative news, crime podcasts, and dark-themed books seemed to have taken a toll on my perception of the world and the people in it.
AI chatbots. Maybe not the end of the world.
For those of you just catching up, artificial intelligence software rolled out late last fall and is designed to mimic the thinking and writing of actual people. The concern is that students will use AI chatbots to create products in response to classroom assignments and submit those products as their own work. Could this happen? Absolutely. Has this sort of thing been going on for years? Also absolutely.
5 Habit-Forming Rituals to Start & Grow Your Trauma-Informed PBL This School Year
Most times when we start down the path of Project Based Learning, we take it slowly, tackling 1-3 projects in our first year. That’s a great idea because it gives us a chance to run a project, reflect, retool, and go again, without overwhelming ourselves or our students. But often, I’m asked by go-getter teachers what should/could be done in those in-between times. They recognize that kids gain skills, knowledge, and general “want-to” attitudes the more we offer great PBL opportunities.