https://youtu.be/do59xcbhvSs I’ll never forget 4th grade. I was sitting at my desk, not being disruptive, just quietly watching a kickball game through the window. My teacher snapped. I was sent to the “Learning Center” to write 100 sentences and eventually given in-school suspension. I missed the lesson, I missed recess, and I learned absolutely nothing […]
https://youtu.be/vjo1XoUuPAE I’ve spent 10 years in public school classrooms with a Master’s in Education. I’ve taught everything from the violin to the tuba. But 20 years ago, a single trumpet player taught me the most important lesson of my career. This student was a beginner in my small-group trumpet lesson. He was doing great, so […]
https://youtu.be/-XPyWCYmTrQ Not to be the “old guy” who walked uphill both ways to school, but we have to look at the math of 2026. Two decades ago, if you were bored, your parents “booted” you outside. You used your imagination, you moved your body, and you stayed out until the streetlights came on. Today, in […]
https://youtu.be/q_RxrhQVD5I If you feel like you’re constantly fighting a losing battle against screens, I want to tell you something: It’s not your fault. As a former elementary school teacher with a Master’s in Education, I’ve watched the classroom evolve. In the ’90s, we had “Movie Fridays” on a rolling TV cart. Then it was five […]
https://youtu.be/0LUwB8KAX4U If you feel like your child’s attention span is shorter than ever, you aren’t imagining it. As a martial arts instructor and a former public school teacher with a Master’s in Education, I look at the math. Back in the “prehistoric” 1980s, the average home in Oak Creek had one, maybe two screens (TVs). […]
https://youtu.be/dyd6M56iiWA Whether you live in Oak Creek, Franklin, or anywhere in Southeast Wisconsin, the trend is the same: kids are losing their confidence at record speeds. As a former public school teacher with a Master’s degree in Education, I’ve watched this shift happen over two decades. We’ve moved into a world of instant gratification and […]
https://youtu.be/w9GAM8M4ARE I remember when my son was seven. He really wanted to play baseball. I thought, “Seven? Perfect age to start.” What I didn’t realize was that in the world of Oak Creek youth sports, many of these kids had been playing T-ball since they were three. I’ll never forget watching a seven-year-old pitcher throw […]
https://youtube.com/shorts/PuB0q9EUXQk As a former public school teacher with a Master’s degree in Education, I spent a decade watching thousands of students interact in the hallways. I learned very quickly that I could spot a child who was struggling—or being targeted—long before they ever said a word. When I opened Championship Martial Arts – Oak Creek, […]
The Hard Truth About Bullying: Why Oak Creek Kids Need “Grit” More Than Awareness I spent 10 years as an elementary school teacher. I have a Master’s degree in education. I’ve taught everything from band and orchestra to violin and saxophone in public schools. After a decade in the classroom and decades on the martial […]
The 2020 Gap: Why Oak Creek Kids are Struggling with Coordination (And How to Fix It) If you’ve noticed your 4-to-10-year-old struggling with balance, tripping often, or appearing a bit “clumsy,” I want to let you know: It is completely normal. As we look at the landscape in 2026, we have to acknowledge the long-term […]
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Recent Posts
- The “Yes Mindset” Secret: How to Stop Programming Your Child for Negative Answers
- The 30-Minute Chore Trick to Cure Screen Time Tantrums Before Activities
- The Dangerous Truth About Participation Trophies (And What Kids Actually Need Instead)
- The Push-Up Test: Why Modern Kids Are Losing Their Physical Grit
- Why “Ignoring the Bully” is the Worst Advice You Can Give Your Child