Alfabetico

Every generation creates their own way of pushing or progressing the cultural envelope. Here's a fun insight into Gen Alpha's (re)interpretation of the English language. Little Brats!

x Jenni 🤓🌻

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ40W25zOYQ/?igsh=MXV1dzJlczljY2ptNA==

When your nerdy prof @xiaomanyc rolls up to high school droppin’ straight Gen Alpha vibes! #SlangMaster #GenAlphaTakeover #LanguageNerd

Yes!

As a classroom teacher, one of my favourite theories to introduce students to was Gardner's 'Multiple Intelligences'. I still believe it's a great way to show students that people possess different kinds of intelligence - not a single, general intelligence.

There are plenty of online tests if you'd like to learn more about YOUR (potential) areas of strength. Or, do you recognise a strength of your own or your child in one of Gardner's eight key intelligence areas, below?

visual-spatial,
verbal-linguistic,
musical-rhythmic,
logical-mathematical,
interpersonal,
intrapersonal,
naturalistic, and,
bodily-kinesthetic.

x Jenni 🌻

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This is so powerful. "Your child is not BE-hind. They are BE-coming!" (N.B. Hyphens added by me for emphasis).

Let's BE kind to young, developing minds, and let them BE kids!

x Jenni 🌻

We’ve been so deeply conditioned to measure our children by external timelines—milestones, benchmarks, test scores—that we forget something powerful:

Learning isn’t linear.
It’s not a race.
And it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

That wave of panic that creeps in when you see someone else’s kid doing something “more advanced”? That’s not a sign that you’ve failed. That’s the voice of the system trying to drag you back in.

But your child is not behind.
They are becoming, in their own time, in their own way.
And that is more than enough. 🫶🏼

✨ Read today’s full post on Substack for a deep breath and a powerful reminder. Comment SUBSTACK to get a link to my page there. 👇

☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️
Mum and I were just having a fabulous chat about teaching, ongoing professional development, academic learning, and best of all, the ability when you're working one-on-one with students to include emotional intelligence in the mix. Things like: initiative, and critical thinking skills, believe it or not, need to be modelled.

The Netflix series, 'Adolescence', also came up, and I was telling Mum that one of my young teen students just ended a very brief relationship because their teen partner laid hands on them - physical abuse. This article, then, coming up in my feed, seems a great one to pass on to families with teens about 'informed consent' - s*xual abuse/assault. It uses the analogy of 'offering to make someone a cup of tea.'

What're your thoughts?

x Jenni 🌻

Consent: Why “Would You Like a Cup of Tea?” is One of the Best Conversations We Can Have with Young People

Consent can feel like a tricky topic to discuss with young people and teenagers, but in reality, it’s incredibly simple. The problem is, society has made it seem confusing—as if there are blurred lines or grey areas.

That’s why the video “Would You Like a Cup of Tea?” is such a brilliant resource. It strips away all the noise and gets straight to the point: consent is about clear, enthusiastic agreement—nothing less.

Why a Cup of Tea?

The video explains consent using a simple analogy: offering someone a cup of tea. It goes like this:

• If you offer someone a cup of tea and they say yes, great—make them a cup of tea.

• If they say no, don’t make them tea.

• If they say yes but then change their mind, stop making the tea.

• If they are unconscious, they cannot drink tea—so don’t try to give it to them.

It’s clear, logical, and impossible to argue with. The same rules apply to physical and s*xual consent.

Why This Works for Teenagers

• It Removes Embarrassment
Talking about s*x and consent can feel awkward—especially for young people. But everyone understands offering a cup of tea. It makes the conversation accessible and comfortable.

• It Eliminates the Grey Areas
Teenagers are sometimes told that consent is complicated—but it isn’t. If someone isn’t sure, hesitates, or feels pressured, they don’t want tea. Simple.

• It Highlights That Consent Can Change

A person might want tea at first but then decide they don’t. That’s fine. Consent isn’t a contract—it’s ongoing.

• It Emphasises That Silence is Not Consent

If someone is unconscious, asleep, or unable to respond, you wouldn’t pour tea down their throat. So why would it be any different with s*x?

Why This Message is So Important

Too often, we see cases where lack of resistance is mistaken for consent. Where people feel pressured into saying yes because they don’t want to seem rude. Where someone changes their mind but feels like they’ve already committed.

The Cup of Tea video teaches young people that real consent is enthusiastic, ongoing, and freely given. Anything less than an active yes—is a no.

Consent Education is Non-Negotiable

Every young person should be taught this. Not just in s*x education, but in everyday conversations. Consent isn’t just about s*x—it’s about respect. It applies to hugs, personal space, and relationships of all kinds.

So, if you haven’t already, show the young people in your life this video. Talk about it. Make sure they understand that consent is as simple as a cup of tea.

Because once you see it that way, there are no grey areas—only a clear, mutual yes, or a definite no.

Here is the video:

https://youtu.be/oQbei5JGiT8?feature=shared

20 March, 2025
Happy UN International Day of Happiness!

'Happiness' and 'Joy' are two of the frequent byproducts of working with my fabulous clients.

Sending happiness and joy to all, today and every day!

PS. Here's a word matrix my lovely student 'IR' prepared earlier. The colours used, and care they took to prepare this reminder of their deep learning still makes me smile.

What's making YOU smile today?

x J 🤓 🌻

https://www.facebook.com/100064502147836/posts/1071142615045800/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Including the teaching of (Social) Emotional Intelligence as part of the Health curriculum is SO necessary.

I was blessed to be at schools that used the 'You Can Do It!' Program. It gave our classroom and school a common language for talking about, role playing, and recognising and praising students' behaviour that exemplified the attributes in action.

The attributes were:
Confidence
Organisation
Persistence
Resilience, and
Getting Along.

Dedicating time to connecting with students and teaching these skills as a classroom teacher brought so much joy to my earlier teaching years, and I still weave these skills, along with 'Gardner's Multiple Intelligences', into my one-on-one teaching sessions to this day. I truly believe it's the glue that helps students' learning experiences to stick!

Have you experienced something... similar...different? Please share!

x Jenni 🌻

Danish schools teach empathy as a dedicated subject, known as “Klassen Tid” (Class Time), from ages 6 to 16. During these lessons, students discuss their emotions, personal struggles, and group dynamics in a safe and supportive environment. Teachers guide the conversations, helping students develop emotional intelligence, active listening skills, and conflict resolution strategies.

The goal is to foster cooperation, understanding, and social harmony—values deeply ingrained in Danish culture. Research suggests that teaching empathy can lead to higher emotional resilience, stronger relationships, and even improved academic performance.

If more countries implemented similar programs, it could cultivate more compassionate societies, equipping children with the emotional tools to navigate life with kindness and understanding.

Imagine - Varied Attention Stunning Talent (VAST)!

x Jenni 🌻

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EkCkLpk5S/

Well said 👏👏

Whether I'm speaking with classroom teachers or students and their parents/caregivers, the stresses and stressors of present-day education are exhausting and sucking the joy out of learning.

Is it just me, or are others equally curious about why we haven't sought to follow the kinder sounding, more effective, 'Finnish Model', also? Do you have hopes, dreams, thoughts, and ideas for improvement? If so, I'd love to hear them.

x Jenni 🌻

What does 'Resilience' FEEL like?

According to this video from Dr Becky (podcast host of The Good Inside App: Your Parenting Co-Pilot), she asks students to note that while the term resilience has a positive connotation, it's actually a tough, messy process to jump from 'not knowing' something to 'knowing' something.

Imagine how hard it is for younger students who already feel like they're behind the rest of their peer group to feel like they're ever going to make that leap.

As adults, too, we can apply this to our own academic, physical, and/or mental health journeys and perhaps give ourselves a little more grace.

x Jenni 🌻

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF_XjILuGsv/?igsh=MWlveGd3d2NrMGNmdA==

So true!

For me it’s the spark of sharing what I love, and sharing knowledge and skills that I've seen work - working with a student individually to address their unique needs - igniting a love and excitement for learning. Bliss!

x Jenni 🌻