Pamela Cernjul

Rethinking Education Through the Whole Child

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Why School May Be a Child’s Safest Place: Supporting Students During the End-of-Year Transition

Why School May Be a Child’s Safest Place: Supporting Students During the End-of-Year Transition

As the school year comes to a close, classrooms often shift in energy. Routines change, academic pressure increases with testing, and students may begin to show signs of restlessness, fatigue, or emotional dysregulation. For teachers, this time of year can feel both rewarding and overwhelming. But for many children, this

Whole Child Education, Trauma-Informed Teaching, and Supporting Today’s Classrooms

Whole Child Education, Trauma-Informed Teaching, and Supporting Today’s Classrooms

If you’re here, you’re likely navigating the realities of today’s classrooms... balancing academic expectations while supporting students’ emotional needs, behavior, and overall well-being. Teaching has always been complex. Today, it requires something more. It requires presence. It requires understanding. And it requires practical strategies that actually work

Experiential Learning in Elementary Classrooms: Supporting Whole Child Development

Experiential Learning in Elementary Classrooms: Supporting Whole Child Development

Imagine a classroom where children are building, exploring, and asking questions… not because they have to, but because they want to. Where learning is something they live, feel, and reflect on, rather than something delivered at them. In the primary grades, this kind of learning experience is transformative. When learning

Student Absenteeism in Elementary School: Why Every Day Counts in the Primary Grades

Student Absenteeism in Elementary School: Why Every Day Counts in the Primary Grades

Consistent school attendance in the early years is far more than a measure of compliance. It’s a cornerstone of literacy, social-emotional development, and long-term academic success. In primary grades, every day a child is present strengthens foundational reading skills, builds resilience, and nurtures the confidence to learn. Understanding how

Constitution Day Activities for Elementary Classrooms: Teaching Citizenship and Character

Constitution Day Activities for Elementary Classrooms: Teaching Citizenship and Character

Constitution Day is September 17th. Classrooms across the country should celebrate this important day because it marks the foundation of our democracy. In my state, schools are required to teach about the Constitution on this day. Unfortunately, that is not the case everywhere. Why does this matter? Because the Constitution

5 Back to School Strategies for a Strong Start in Elementary Classrooms

5 Back to School Strategies for a Strong Start in Elementary Classrooms

The back-to-school season is full of excitement, new friendships, and fresh opportunities for learning. But for many students, the transition from summer to school routines can also feel overwhelming. After months of flexibility, children are suddenly expected to sit still, concentrate for longer stretches, and regulate their emotions in a

Back to School SEL Strategies for Elementary Teachers

Back to School SEL Strategies for Elementary Teachers

As a new school year begins, elementary educators across the country are preparing classrooms with fresh bulletin boards, sharpened pencils, and carefully planned lessons. But while academic readiness is a key focus, another crucial element deserves equal attention: the social-emotional well-being of students. For young children, the transition from summer

What Is Whole Child Teaching? (And Why It’s More Complex Than You Think)

What Is Whole Child Teaching? (And Why It’s More Complex Than You Think)

So, isn't it obvious that teachers teach the whole child... not half, not one third, not one quarter. Isn't this a redundant, over-used term!?!? If only it were that simple. While the concept of teaching the "whole child" might seem like educational common sense,

Understanding Childhood Trauma in Early Education: What Every Teacher Needs to Know

Understanding Childhood Trauma in Early Education: What Every Teacher Needs to Know

Did you know that at least half of all children, ages birth to eight years, in the United States have been exposed to one type of trauma? Did you know that young children exposed to five or more significant adverse experiences in the first three years of childhood face a

To Walk or Not To Walk

To Walk or Not To Walk

first written June 2, 2024 Yesterday I had the opportunity to formalize my doctoral degree by participating in the hooding ceremony. I am glad I did. I wasn’t going to. You see, I defended my dissertation almost one year ago, and I felt kinda silly walking after so much

I teach ...

I spent four 8-hour days unpacking standards for a school district. Throughout the arduous process, I reflected on teaching some thirty years ago before ‘no child left behind’ and ‘teach the standards’ became a thing. We had learning objectives, pacing guides, and criteria that had to be met for student

It's My Mission

It's My Mission

My mission is to empower children. Through my words and actions, children will know they are unique and worthy individuals deserving of love, respect, and dignity. They will know they matter. Every child is teachable. Every child can learn. In my class, each child will feel safe and know they