Motivation Follow-Up Resources - Spark & Stitch Institute

Voice, Choice, and Relationships: The Science of Motivation

Thank you for your work with students, families, and educators. Please find our presentation slides here and we hope that the articles below help support our mutual goals. While many of our articles are written with caregivers and guardians in mind, they translate easily into classrooms, community centers, and other spaces. Subscribe to get our latest writing and resources or contact us for direct conversation. We hope to stay connected moving forward. Warmly, Erin and Dave

Voice, Choice, and Relationships: The Science of Motivation PSEC Summit slides

Motivation During a Pandemic

You don’t have to go far on the Internet these days to find tips for how to “stay productive” during the pandemic and ideas for…

Motivation During a Pandemic
The Goal of Emotional Regulation is Not Quiet, Compliant Kids

The lessons we learn about feelings are powerful. From a very young age we are taught in both spoken and unspoken ways which feelings (and…

The Goal of Emotional Regulation is Not Quiet, Compliant Kids
Disrupting Bias Is About Practicing Skills, Not Just Growing Awareness

“How do you think you might respond if this happened at school?” I asked my youngest. We were reading the part of a picture book where…

Disrupting Bias Is About Practicing Skills, Not Just Growing Awareness
Stress and The Brain

As a culture, we are obsessed with stress and the brain –“Stress Free in 40 Days!”– “Go On Vacation and Leave Stress Behind!” say the…

Stress and The Brain
Building Belonging Starts at Home

Unlike this time last year, many of us are moving into this winter with our core routines modified but intact. Most kids are back in…

Building Belonging Starts at Home
Big Feelings? Don’t Skip These Three Steps

Whether it is with our toddlers or teens, we all know what it is like to witness big feelings completely overwhelm our kids. This isn’t…

Big Feelings? Don’t Skip These Three Steps

Student Voice & Connected Learning

PSEC Education Summit Breakout Connected learning slides

Listen to Youth Voices in Uncertain Times

“My middle schooler has a few tiny things on his mind lately… you know, like the Delta variant and the climate crisis,” a parent recently…

Listen to Youth Voices in Uncertain Times
Parenting for Media Literacy

“Whoever tells the stories, defines the culture.”
The power of story and storytelling is not new in 2020. Stories have always been the primary way that…

Parenting for Media Literacy
Screen Time and Mental Health – What We’ve Learned From a Year Online

A parent recently shared, “I know these times are still hard but I think my teenager’s mood is way beyond languishing. I’m really worried about…

Screen Time and Mental Health – What We’ve Learned From a Year Online
I’d Rather Inventory for Digital Wellbeing

Is tech in balance or taking over? Would you rather game or hang out with your friends? Game or go to school? Most kids enjoy…

I’d Rather Inventory for Digital Wellbeing
6 Common Worries About Technology and Teens

Technology and teens. If you are anything like me, on any given day you vacillate wildly between, “Technology is amazing! What a time to be…

6 Common Worries About Technology and Teens
Why Kids Need Us To Talk To Them About Extremism Online

“My son is on Discord,” a parent recently wrote in an email immediately following the racist killing spree in Buffalo, NY. “Should I be concerned?”

I…

Why Kids Need Us To Talk To Them About Extremism Online