Teacher Playground

I recently spent some time reflecting on the book The Power of a Positive Mom by Karol Ladd, and it got me thinking beyond parenting. What if the lessons we learn at home are actually shaping how we show up at work every day?

The book focuses on encouragement, patience, perspective, and the power of small, consistent actions, and those same qualities are just as impactful in our professional lives. Encouragement builds confidence, patience helps us navigate challenges, positivity influences culture, and being present matters whether you are in a meeting or at the dinner table.

For me, the biggest takeaway is that balance is not about doing everything perfectly; it is about being intentional in both spaces. The way we support, communicate, and lead at home does not turn off when we log in to work; it carries over in meaningful ways. When we lead with empathy, encouragement, and positivity in one area of life, we naturally strengthen the other.

Feeling very honored to receive a National Finalist badge from the H5P Awards! Being among amazing innovators from Norway, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, and so many more countries is such a blessing. Out of 240 entries worldwide, only 25 finalists were selected, five in each of the five categories, and I am excited to have been a finalist in Outstanding Visual Design for Case Study: Epidemiology, created by myself and Dr. Cheryl Bardales from Louisiana State University-Alexandria, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, representing LSU Online & Continuing Education in the national spotlight.

H5P allows us to create interactive, engaging, and accessible learning experiences, and being part of this global community inspires me to keep leveling up and doing even more wonderful things with it. The best is yet to come!

https://openbadgefactory.com/obv3/credentials/9b4910b50e986875294eed7dc84d6182b49a1a50

H5P Award Finalist 2026 H5P Award Finalist 2026 This badge recognises individuals or teams selected as finalists in the H5P Awards 2026. Recipients demonstrated outstanding creativity, innovation, and impact in their use of H5P to design engaging and effective interactive learning experiences.

One of the most rewarding parts of being a Learning Experience Designer is partnering with subject matter experts and turning their knowledge into learning experiences that work. Good design isn’t just about content. It’s about how the brain learns. From managing cognitive load to building active engagement and practice opportunities, understanding how people learn changes everything we do.

Want a peek behind the design process and why it matters? Read my latest blog post: http://www.teacherplayground.com/2026/03/designing-with-brain-in-mind.html

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Designing with the Brain in Mind The site to meet your needs as an educator living in a technology world. Great freebies and resources!!

Calling all my library and reading teacher friends… I am absolutely loving this!

A School Librarian’s Guide to Using ChatGPT’s Book Scout – TCEA TechNotes Blog Librarians wear a lot of hats... take a load off with ChatGPT's Book Scout! Explore four top ideas for using this software in your library. Explore this and more at TCEA TechNotes Blog, your go-to source for educational technology and teaching innovation.