Future Ready Learners Posts
May 14, 2025
Rekindling Courage and Curiosity: Learning in the Age of Technology
In today's fast-evolving digital world, the greatest challenge — and opportunity — in education isn't technology itself, but how we use it to build passion, purpose, and agency in young learners. As Terri Novacek and Michael Hernandez discuss, true…
June 23, 2023
Standing By the Water: Owning What You See
In the Element Is Everything Podcast episode "Standing by the Water: Owning What You See," Terri Novacek explores one of the most challenging—and empowering—skills a person can develop: Personal accountability. The timing of this conversation feel…
Nov. 1, 2021
Are We Too Busy to Focus on What Matters Most?
In the Element Is Everything Podcast episode "Make Time to Find Your Element," Terri Novacek sits down with Connor Swenson of Make Time at Work to explore a challenge that affects students, parents, educators, and professionals alike: How do we foc…
Oct. 1, 2021
Whose Definition of Success Is Your Child Following?
In the Element Is Everything Podcast episode "Redefining Success," Terri Novacek sits down with Scott Schimmel, founder and CEO of YouSchool, to explore a question that many parents—and adults—quietly wrestle with throughout their lives: What does …
Sept. 17, 2021
Are We Focusing on the Wrong Outcomes?
In the Element Is Everything Podcast episode "Learning as a Fountain, Not a Drain," Terri Novacek sits down with internationally recognized education expert Dr. Yong Zhao to explore a timely question: What should education look like in a world wher…
July 30, 2021
The Hidden Element in Your Play History
In the Element Is Everything Podcast episode "The Hidden Element in Your Play History," Terri Novacek explores the science and significance of play through the work of Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play and author of Play: …
July 9, 2021
Are We Preparing Children for School or for Life?
Most parents want the same thing. We want our children to become capable adults. We want them to solve problems, make good decisions, communicate effectively, and pursue meaningful goals. We want them to be confident enough to navigate challenges a…
April 15, 2021
The Executive Function Connection
Executive Function is like air traffic control for your brain. It is where working memory, thinking, and self-regulation work together to get you through the day – learning, making decisions, interacting with others, and dealing with life. Researc…
March 25, 2021
Your Element – The Genie in Us (genius) by Terri Novacek
Your Element – The Genie in Us (genius) It is one year since our local schools and businesses closed or changed their operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The battle of when and how to open our schools continues, and the c…