Innovations in Education, LLC

Innovations in Education, LLC Innovations in Education, LLC strives to set the standard in quality for early childhood programs.

We provide professional development, mentoring, and consulting services for the early childhood education community.

If you've ever stayed up past midnight labeling name tags, rearranging furniture, and telling yourself it ALL has to be ...
08/10/2026

If you've ever stayed up past midnight labeling name tags, rearranging furniture, and telling yourself it ALL has to be done before the children arrive, I wrote this one for you.

The truth? The perfect classroom isn't something you build before day one. It's something you build with the children. And that shift, from trying to do it all to creating the space together, changes everything.

I'm talking about the August scaries: what they are, why we fall for the lie every single year, and the very practical ways to let it go so you can actually enjoy the start of your school year.

Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4hRPlpB

Drop a 🍎 in the comments if the August scaries have hit this week. You are so not alone.

You set up the classroom. You built the routines. You created the relationships. And then the environment worked against...
08/01/2026

You set up the classroom. You built the routines. You created the relationships. And then the environment worked against you anyway. đź’™

A few weeks ago, I was on an editing retreat on the shore of Lake Superior. Wildfire smoke from Canada moved in. The air quality turned hazardous. I was stuck inside for days with a sore throat, chest tightness, and no inhaler because I never need one in July.

As someone who needed to go outside to think and decompress, I felt it deeply. And I kept thinking about what that experience is like for young children who have no words for it at all.

That same week, Harvard's Center on the Developing Child sent an email on wildfire smoke and early childhood development. The part that stopped me? Wildfire smoke doesn't stop at the door. It comes in through windows, invisible cracks, and ventilation systems, carrying toxins that affect children's developing brains.

Even when you have done everything right, the environment can still work against you. And that is not your fault.

My new Substack article walks through what happens when that's true, and shares low- and no-cost strategies that make a real difference. I hope it gives you something useful and something that helps you feel a little less alone in it.

Read the full article here: https://open.substack.com/pub/innovationsed/p/what-happens-when-you-do-everything-right-but-the-environment-still-works-against-you?r=271ilv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Let me guess. Someone promised you this new SEL approach would be THE thing that finally helped with challenging behavio...
06/26/2026

Let me guess. Someone promised you this new SEL approach would be THE thing that finally helped with challenging behaviors.

You left that training excited. You tried the strategies. You sang the welcome song. You printed the feelings wheel. You greeted every child by name.

And Miguel still threw the blocks.

Here's the truth: those strategies DO work. Almost all of them are evidence-based. But most of the time, they still fall short. And in my experience, it's almost always because they're being used in isolation.

My latest Substack post is all about what's actually missing from professional learning, and the small, practical tweaks you can start making today to create a calmer, more joyful classroom.

No magic wand. No one-size-fits-all. Just a layered approach that connects what you're already doing to your physical space and daily schedule.

Read it here: innovationsed.substack.com

Friday Tip: Pick one behavioral pattern per week to track closely.Note the triggers, your responses, and the outcomes. U...
06/19/2026

Friday Tip: Pick one behavioral pattern per week to track closely.

Note the triggers, your responses, and the outcomes. Use these insights to tweak routines, small group instruction, or engagement strategies.

Consistency breeds change.

Every child’s culture is a superpower. What stories do your classroom walls tell? Imagine the magic when children see th...
06/18/2026

Every child’s culture is a superpower. What stories do your classroom walls tell? Imagine the magic when children see their family, language, and traditions celebrated every day. Small moments—sharing a favorite song, displaying family photos—build belonging and spark joyful learning. Ready to make your classroom a home for every child? DM me to get more ideas.

*Photos courtesy of The Young School

What if calm was your classroom norm?Imagine children moving with ease and joy. Picture less stress, more smiles.Small s...
06/17/2026

What if calm was your classroom norm?

Imagine children moving with ease and joy. Picture less stress, more smiles.

Small shifts in furniture, soft light, and simple routines can transform your space. Even one small tweak to your environment can lead to noticeable change.

Want a quick checklist for calmer days? DM me and I’ll send it your way.

Let’s make every day feel a little lighter together.

Every child’s story belongs in our classroom.What if every handprint on your wall told a piece of a child’s culture and ...
06/16/2026

Every child’s story belongs in our classroom.

What if every handprint on your wall told a piece of a child’s culture and heart? Imagine the power of seeing yourself reflected, celebrated, and honored—every single day.

Let’s make space for every language, tradition, and family. Drop a 🌍 if you’re committed to building a classroom where all children belong.

"They just don't know how to play with other kids."Teachers, I hear this A LOT — and here's what I want you to know: fri...
06/12/2026

"They just don't know how to play with other kids."

Teachers, I hear this A LOT — and here's what I want you to know: friendship is a SKILL set, not a personality trait. It can be taught. 💛

Young children are still developing the social-emotional wiring they need to navigate friendships. The prefrontal cortex — responsible for empathy, impulse control, and perspective-taking — won't be fully developed until their mid-20s. They're not being difficult. They're being developmentally appropriate.

So what can you do?

Give them the WORDS. Practice phrases like "Can I play?" and "That hurt my feelings" during calm moments, so they have them ready when things get hard.

Name the good stuff out loud. "Did you notice how Jaylen waited for his turn? That was SO kind." Narrating prosocial moments reinforces them.

Stay close during conflict — and coach instead of just redirecting. "What could you say to let her know you want a turn?" That's where the real learning happens.

Create structures for connection. Paired activities, cooperative games, and small-group centers build natural opportunities to practice friendship.

Celebrate effort over outcomes. "I noticed you two were really trying to figure that out together" matters more than "good sharing!"

Friendship skills take years to build. But every time you step in as a guide instead of a referee, you're making a deposit in their social-emotional bank account. 🌱

What's the friendship challenge you see most often in your classroom right now?

We were trained to ask, "How do I get this child to stop?"That question has never once produced a skilled teacher. Not o...
06/10/2026

We were trained to ask, "How do I get this child to stop?"

That question has never once produced a skilled teacher. Not one. đź™…

The teachers I admire most ask something entirely different: "What is this child practicing right now, and is it what I want them to practice?"

That simple reframe is everything. You stop fighting behavior and start teaching it.

Which question do you find yourself reaching for? Drop your thoughts below!

Something remarkable happened in Annapolis on May 26.As a board member of the Maryland State Child Care Association (MSC...
06/09/2026

Something remarkable happened in Annapolis on May 26.

As a board member of the Maryland State Child Care Association (MSCCA), I had the honor of witnessing history firsthand. In one of the most challenging budget years in recent memory, Maryland lawmakers made child care a priority — and it shows.

Here's what MSCCA advocacy helped secure this session:

đź’ś $20 million for the Child Care Scholarship Program
đź’ś $10 million for the Pre-K Expansion Grant Program
đź’ś $5.7 million for the Child Care Credential Program

And 6 priority bills passed:

HB 561/SB 467 — Child Care Credential Program funding extended, protecting workforce retention bonuses and professional advancement

HB 742/SB 503 — Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program sustained, supporting start-up assistance, mentoring, and expansion

HB 635/SB 359 & HB 281 — Background check process streamlined to reduce hiring delays and support workforce stability

HB 1321 & HB 849 — Child Care Scholarship Program improvements for application clarity, enrollment predictability, and transparency

HB 748 — Career ladder for private provider pre-K educators made permanent, supporting parity and retention

HB 430 — Substitute flexibility extended to military-connected family child care providers for continuity of care

Swipe through to see the bill signing moments. Can you find me in the crowd?

This is proof that when we show up and speak up, real change happens for children and families in Maryland. So incredibly proud of this advocacy community.

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