Successful kids get excellent grades, right? They play at least one sport very well. Successful kids do regular community service and, of course, take Advanced Placement courses. They attend the best colleges and attain great-paying jobs. Wait. If you’ve ever envisioned this fairy-tale definition of kids’ success, it’s time to […]
Compass-Inspired
Teachers often see more in a student than a report card can show. They notice the child who asks an unexpected question, repairs a friendship, tries a second strategy, admits a mistake, or finds the courage to ask for help. These moments matter. Yet when educators talk with students and […]
Compass-Inspired
If you are wondering how inspiring quotes for kids can encourage self-reflection, critical thinking, and healthy development, this series of articles is for you! In today’s digital world, adults have discovered an intense interest in quotes and share them widely on social media. Why? Because quotes contain deep seeds of meaning. […]
Compass-Inspired
Student success is a deceptive term in today’s educational environment. It is also a concept being challenged by parents and teachers who want more focus on whole child development and wellbeing. Teachers who foster student achievement not only understand how to teach curriculum, but they also understand that student success […]
Compass-Inspired
Back-to-school is always a time when parents and teachers revisit what is important for children and how to best support their positive development. This popular list of back-to-school articles has been updated annually for almost 15 years, archived in the 2026-27 school year. Listed by category, you’ll find almost 50 […]
Compass-Inspired
It’s one of the biggest challenges for parents and mentors: how to talk to teens about college without turning guidance into pressure. You want to help them think about their future, but even gentle suggestions can feel controlling to a teenager eager for independence. Research confirms this isn’t just your […]
Curiosity
How do teens become self-aware in today’s fast-paced, hyperconnected world? According to our recent research, developing a strong sense of self-awareness may be one of the most important skills a young person can cultivate. Between the constant hum of social media, academic pressures, and evolving identities, teens are bombarded with […]
Self-Awareness
Empathy is the ability to recognize and respond to the needs and suffering of others. It’s a complicated human emotion, studied for years. Most researchers agree there are two kinds of empathy: cognitive and affective. For classroom teachers, it’s helpful to understand the differences. Each type of empathy, for instance, […]
Empathy
Creative thinking is the ability to consider something in a new way – to view ideas or information through different lenses. Creative thinking involves generating new ideas, approaching problems from different angles, and thinking outside of conventional patterns. Creative ways of thinking can be applied in various fields such as […]
Creativity
Understanding how students achieve goals is critical knowledge for today’s teachers. This involves more than simply imparting information about goal setting. It’s about fostering skills in planning, organizing, decision-making, and problem-solving. These skills are foundational for developing resourcefulness in students, the ability to use available resources to achieve goals and […]
Resourcefulness
Skeptics has been given a bad rap in modern society. Why? Because skepticism is often confused with cynicism. Let’s explore the distinctions and why it’s important to teach children the art of becoming a skeptic. A cynic distrusts most information they see or hear, particularly when it challenges their own […]
Curiosity
Whether your child is playing sports now or considering participating in a sport, you likely have an opinion about the value of sports in children’s lives. You may have your own positive or negative experiences with sports as a child. The social, emotional, and physical benefits of playing sports in […]
Resilience
