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The Blog


Nurturing Organizational Wellness: A Leadership Imperative
In the fast-paced and ever-evolving landscape of the world, leaders play a pivotal role in steering their organizations toward success. Beyond traditional metrics of profitability and growth, there is a growing awareness of the importance of organizational wellness. Just as individual well-being is crucial for personal success, a healthy organizational environment is vital for sustained prosperity. In this blog, we will explore the concept of organizational wellness and del
Dianne McKinley
Dec 6, 20232 min read


Boosting Staff Morale in Schools: Introducing Our Staff Appreciation Solution
In the world of education, the well-being and motivation of teachers and staff play a crucial role in the overall success of our schools. A positive and supportive atmosphere can significantly impact the quality of education and the happiness of educators. It’s no secret that motivated and appreciated teachers are more likely to go the extra mile to create a thriving learning environment for their students. That’s why, at INcompassing Education, we are thrilled to introduce o
Dianne McKinley
Nov 16, 20233 min read


Boosting Student Attendance: How Schools Can Make a Difference
One of the most critical aspects of a successful education system is ensuring that students attend school regularly. Improved student attendance leads to better academic outcomes and overall student well-being. However, in recent years, absenteeism has been on the rise, posing a significant challenge to both school leaders and teachers. This blog will delve into the causes of increased absenteeism and provide practical strategies for school leaders and teachers to address thi
Tiffany Creager
Nov 15, 20234 min read


6 Steps to Prepare for Powerful Read Alouds
Teachers and students alike often name the time set aside for reading aloud as their favorite time of the school day! There are so many reasons why a powerful read-aloud is so important in classrooms of any age group. Reading aloud to students exposes readers to authentic text representing a diverse range of authors and text types while building students’ knowledge about a topic of study. Reading aloud builds language and vocabulary, sparks curiosity, and provides opportuniti
Dianne McKinley
Oct 29, 20233 min read


Nurturing Resilience: Tips for School Leaders to Prevent or Treat Burnout
Working closely with students who have endured trauma can have a profound impact on the mental and physical health of educators. This type of work can lead to secondary traumatic stress, empathic distress, and even burnout. Recognizing and addressing this impact while integrating supportive strategies into the workplace is not only crucial for the well-being of these dedicated professionals but also for boosting morale, increasing job satisfaction, and ultimately enhancing pr
Dianne McKinley
Oct 3, 20234 min read


Lesson Plans “Must Haves”
Lesson plans can be short and easy just the essentials that are required for the lesson to be successful. The lesson plans I created when I was a new teacher were much different from the lesson plans that I created in my 20th year in the classroom. My lesson plans in my 20th year were different from the lesson plans I created in my 30th year in the classroom. Lesson plans change and evolve throughout your teaching career, yet there are always the essential “must haves” that s
Dianne McKinley
Oct 1, 20235 min read


Getting Started with Indiana’s 2023 Streamlined Standards
Sometimes things can seem overwhelming so we avoid them. For example, my hall closet was a mess and I was desperate, so desperate I offered money to my teenagers to work on it. It’s the catch-all closet, the place where we shove stuff and then forget about it. Needless to say, that didn’t work, my teenagers wouldn’t take the bait, so eventually, after saying for several months I needed to clean it, I finally just did it. When it comes to hall closets, that’s okay, no harm, bu
Dianne McKinley
Sep 29, 20232 min read


Trauma-Informed Schools
What is a trauma-informed school? It is a setting where trauma is understood, recognized, and responded to in ways that empower those who are affected. The goal of trauma-informed schools is to put in place supports that help children cope. Read this article to learn more.
Dianne McKinley
Sep 18, 20233 min read


Self-Regulation Strategies for Middle and High School Students
Over the past few years, I’ve heard the same question come up over and over – “how do we help our middle and high school students self-regulate?” It begins with understanding! Whether we reflect on our own experiences, have adolescents in our home, or work with students who are between the ages of 11 and early 20s, we understand that there are some significant shifts in behavior and functioning during this time! Students are seeking to understand themselves and how they fit i
Dianne McKinley
Sep 17, 20237 min read


The Importance of Quality Professional Development
We all know that teaching is a profession that truly is a calling. Teachers who stay in the profession for a long-time care deeply about the students and the subject they are teaching. I know, I was in the classroom for over 33 years. We also know that the demands on teachers have increased greatly over recent years.
Here in Indiana, this year is especially hard on teachers with a completely new set of academic standards that were adopted in June. There are new high-sta
Dianne McKinley
Sep 17, 20234 min read


The New Digital SAT Suite of Assessments
You probably have heard the PSAT and SAT are changing for the 2023-2024 school year. The New Digital SAT Suite of Assessments includes the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT10, and the PSAT 8/9. The changes will start early this fall with the new Digital PSAT10 and Digital PSAT/NMSQT. It will continue in the Spring of 2024 when all Indiana juniors will take the new Digital SAT. Everyone needs to know about and understand the changes that will be taking place. If they do, they can help stu
William Reed
Aug 3, 20237 min read


Teacher Recruitment: Steps Involved, Challenges, and How Professional Development Can Play an Important Role in It
Teacher recruitment refers to the process of attracting, selecting, and appointing qualified individuals to work as teachers in educational institutions. It is an essential aspect of maintaining a strong and competent teaching workforce. Teacher recruitment involves various strategies and activities aimed at identifying potential candidates, assessing their qualifications and suitability for teaching positions, and ultimately hiring them to fill vacant teaching positions.
Dianne McKinley
Jul 10, 20236 min read


How to Improve Students’ Writing Skills
Writing skills refer to the ability to express thoughts, ideas, and information effectively through written language. This includes the ability to organize ideas, use proper grammar and punctuation, and tailor writing to a specific audience or purpose. Read this article to learn more on how to improve students’ writing skills.
Dianne McKinley
May 24, 20234 min read


Empowering Teachers: Four Must-Read Books for Social Emotional Learning
I’ve listed four books below that I believe address some of the biggest struggles I’ve seen in the areas of social emotional learning this year. From student apathy to educator burnout, these are great resources for creating positive change!
Dianne McKinley
May 23, 20235 min read


Why Instructional Coaching is Critical
According to the research, instructional coaching has proven to be the most effective type of professional development. The professional relationship between the coach and the teacher allows for maximum growth, a deep understanding of the classroom teacher and students, modeling of best practices, and consistent support.
Dianne McKinley
May 21, 20233 min read


Summer Reading List for Teachers
Summer is both a time of relaxation and preparation for teachers. As educators, we are always looking for ways to improve our instruction. We put together a summer reading list for teachers that are perfect for poolside reading.
Dianne McKinley
May 17, 20235 min read


Decodable Text 101
As educators begin to shift practice, it is important to build a common understanding among each other. Then when we partner with others we are speaking the same language and have the same understanding.
This month’s post is going to help you get started by answering three important questions: What is decodable text? Why is decodable text important? And Where can I find decodable readers?
Dianne McKinley
May 8, 20233 min read


The 411 on the SAT Assessment
It is extremely important for Administrators, Teachers, Parents and especially Students to understand exactly what the SAT Assessment is and how it is written. Knowing how the test is written as well as strategies on how students can perform at their very best is essential to overall success for this assessment.
Dianne McKinley
Apr 11, 20235 min read


What Is Growth Mindset in Education?
With a growth mindset, students are encouraged to take on challenges and persist in the face of difficult tasks. It fosters a positive learning environment that supports risk-taking and self-improvement. By embracing a growth mindset, students can become more resilient, develop self-confidence, and learn to value effort over results. Research has also shown that students with a growth mindset are more likely to succeed academically and professionally.
Dianne McKinley
Mar 28, 20235 min read


Time To Stretch
It is finally Spring. Spring Breaks are over, and we are in the home stretch to the end of the school year. As we all know it is a marathon and not a sprint! With that in mind, this is where we will begin. Like all great marathoners everyone must start with stretching and warming up. That is where I would suggest you all start. With a good stretch.
Dianne McKinley
Mar 28, 20232 min read
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