Blog Posts
Read the latest articles and resources for developing a healthy education environment for students - in schools, families and communities.
"What went well during Positive Action in your classroom?"
Learn how a Boys and Girls Club is using Positive Action to create a healthy environment for their club members.
Discover how a Boys & Girls Club in Pennsylvania is using Positive Action to improve the Club's climate.
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I was introduced to the Positive Action program one cold winter morning when I was tired, homesick, and filled with foreboding.
One student’s life is remarkably changed after being introduced to Positive Action in the 4th Grade. Below is the speech he gave June 15, 2011 at his 6th Grade graduation ceremony.
Kim Loop, is the In–Home Care Supervisor for the Lake County Trial Court in Baldwin, Michigan where she also coordinates the Positive Action program in local schools. Kim recently shared some of the remarkable experiences she has had with Positive Action so far this year. Here are a few of her stories.
In fourth grade, a wise man told me “Be a leader, not a follower.” Before then, I wasn’t a leader but I definitely made my own rules.
Ronda Walters recently produced a musical program for elementary school children using music from the Positive Action program.
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The Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (JACOA), in collaboration with Madison County Juvenile Court Services, is proudly utilizing the Positive Action curriculum with youth participants enrolled in the Child and Family Intervention Services Program (CFIS) and Juvenile Court Monitoring Program (JCMP).
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The stakes couldn’t be higher for Compton Unified School District in Compton, California. It balances on the razor edge between community dysfunction and social progress. At times, the teachers’ work can be discouraging, but the payoffs are immense when they see progress in the things that matter most: academics and behavior.
At Positive Action, we understand the funding challenges that educators face. Fortunately, our range of evidence-based programs for educators and families qualify for various funding opportunities.
Positive Action is proud to report its addition to the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC) Program Registry.
Positive Action is pleased to announce the publication of two independent cost-benefit analyses.
The National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) has reviewed the research literature from the Chicago and Hawaii efficacy studies of Positive Action and has updated its intervention summary.
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Positive Action, Inc. is pleased to announce a new partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The U.S. Department of Education has approved the Positive Action program as a Whole-School Reform Model Provider for School Improvement Grants.
Can money buy happiness? British researchers think not, but they may have found the real key: in childhood.
Launched in 2007, NREPP is a publicly searchable database with up-to-date, reliable information on the scientific basis and practicality of a range of mental health and substance use interventions.
The Importance of Parents In Building Their Child's Character
Discover why emotional intelligence is important for students and learn how Positive Action programs help them develop morality.
Learn how fostering empathy and promoting inclusivity in the classroom benefits both students and teachers and the best programs for learning these values.
Social emotional learning in the classroom has changed the way many teachers approach everything from the primary academic subjects to free time and recess.
Did you know that between 40–50% of new teachers leave the profession within their first five years of teaching?
A famous poem by Dorothy Law Nolte makes it plain to see why it’s critical to do and say what’s right so children can follow the lead.
Schools are becoming increasingly diverse, with more students integrating from various backgrounds each year.
Picture this: It’s hot outside, you’re stuck in traffic and the AC isn’t nearly as strong as it should be. And just as you’re finally about to make a turn someone cuts… you… off.
School violence. Zero tolerance policy. Bullying. These words have taken center stage in education today. As teachers, we care about finding ways to combat issues around bullying. We initiate conversations on staff development and training to come up with solutions.
The average school career is peppered with absences—sometimes for excusable reasons like illness, caring for a family member with special healthcare needs, or facing emotional or mental health challenges.
Parents have a strong influence on their child. They have a direct influence that is stronger than that of teachers, friends, and media.
No one could’ve predicted that scenes from movies like Contagion would come to life as the world has witnessed with the spread of COVID-19.
Curriculums break down what students should know based on their age, abilities, and knowledge they acquired in previous grades.
In recent years, STEM learning has emerged as a new vertical of learning. As the term denotes, STEM learning includes learning based on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. All of these are skills or fundamentals of learning for the future. For all valid reasons, schools and educators are now laying greater emphasis on STEM learning.
Do you know what is the best class of people in the world called? They are called leaders because they have led us to this ultra-modern world we dwell in today. Besides, today, in every vertical of life, there is a realigned focus on skills.
The renowned educator, Dr. James A. Banks, defines multicultural education as “an idea, an educational reform movement, and a process.”
Every student in my classroom deserves an equal chance despite their differences, what can I do to ensure that?…
In the present times, the technology which is counted as a blessing is also one negative element that spoils relationships. Addiction to the same has affected today’s youth, and they are likely to stick to it for long hours, leaving their families.
Did you know? One out of five school-going children in the US reported that their peers bullied them in 2019. And what’s more, 41% of the victims feared it would happen again.
You’ve probably faced some form of physical bullying at one point or another in your school life — or known someone who has been a victim.
Families. Classmates. Pals. The gang from work. We humans are social animals and relationships are vital to our health.
It's every youngster’s dream to leave the nest and live on their own once they turn 18. Before you know it, they’ll be driving, graduating, and moving out.
Not every student in your school will grow up to be a doctor, engineer, or business guru. But they will all become adults someday. And they will need the right life skills to be resilient, well-adjusted, and capable of navigating daily life.
The internet is a *wildly* useful innovation. Information has become faster, better, and easier to attain — more so every year. Discover why kids and young adults need real-life skills empowerment now more than ever.
Did you know physicians made the earliest identification of learning and thinking differences in the late 1800s and early 20th century?
Students with disabilities have unique needs alongside their strengths.
Learning disabilities are caused by impairments in one or more of the cognitive processes associated with learning. A learning disability affects an individual's ability to acquire, retain, comprehend, and organize verbal and/or non-verbal information.
In the United States, special education is free in the public education system, thanks to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
A dyslexic student’s arrival in your classroom can forge a step into the unknown, especially if it’s the first time you’ve had that experience.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood mental health disorders in the U.S. ADHD symptoms frequently show up in school, where students struggle to succeed in a classroom setting.
The ultimate goal of education is to mold young people into well-rounded individuals. That often includes making sure that the teaching and learning process flows as smoothly as possible.
Picture an effective classroom management plan for a moment.
Although all-prevailing, the topic of classroom management is underrated. When discussed, it’s often reduced to mere doling out rewards and dispensing false praise.
With great powers come great responsibilities. Rightfully so because students play a huge role in classroom management.
Without proper guidance, children will inadvertently self sabotage their future. Developing the principles that lead to success doesn’t often come independently. That’s why it’s critical to put rules in place at home and school to empower children to succeed.
You’ve been teaching for a while, right now—and it has been going pretty awesomely. But recently, you might have taken a challenging class that you’re struggling to get under control.
Once students finish middle school and enter high school, the course materials start becoming much more challenging. Moreover, all students start thinking about their future and worrying about the SATs, and getting into their preferred college. That’s why having a comprehensive high school curriculum from start to finish is absolutely critical.
Elementary school is a challenging time for both parents and students, whether they’re going to school or homeschooling.
It’s often challenging to find a curriculum that’s both engaging and resourceful in all subjects.
Whether you’re homeschooling your twelfth grader or need lesson plans for your senior year class, you’re going to need a curriculum.
Getting ready for 11th grade can bring lots of firsts for teens and their parents. This is the first year of high school, and basically, it's the first year that students aiming for selective colleges should start planning and working towards acing their college entrance exams.
10th grade is an important year that sets out the course for the remaining years of high school, college, and even life. However, nowadays, many people aren't fond of signing up their kids for in-person classes. Therefore, homeschooling has become the best option.
As a parent, you’ll always have a never-ending dilemma that revolves around choosing the best curriculum for your child. Whether they’re in the first or the ninth grade, you want to make sure you’re providing the best for your kid to ensure they grow up to be successful. Accordingly, you’ll need our help.
An eighth-grader needs to develop a lot of skills, including life skills, thinking skills, and physical education. Of course, we always want the best children’s education program possible to make sure that the academic year is fruitful and beneficial.
Seventh grade is the start of junior high, and it acts as a transition phase between elementary school and high school. As such, the knowledge acquired in this year, as well as the experiences a student goes through, are extremely important as they set the foundation for high school and, later on, college.
Sixth grade is a monumental year in kids’ lives as it paves the road for the next grade levels. Also, students are finally gaining a mature mindset and leaving their comfort zone. However, to make sure this period is fruitful, you should choose the right 6th grade curriculum.
Education is not all about finding X in a mathematical equation or writing book reports. It extends to how students will fit into the real world during their school days and afterward.
Our interaction with each other and the environment around us is what inspires our overall well-being.
Professional learning communities are an approach to meeting school and district goals where groups of teachers work collaboratively at the school level to improve the way students learn and, eventually, student outcomes.
