Personalized Learning Posts

Rekindling Courage and Curiosity: Learning in the Age of Technology
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 d…
Healthy Roots, Thriving Learners: What Children Need to Flourish
Oct. 20, 2023

Healthy Roots, Thriving Learners: What Children Need to Flourish

In the Element Is Everything Podcast two-part series featuring Dr. John J. Ratey, bestselling author of Spark and co-author of Go Wild, Terri Novacek explores a question that has never been more important for parents:What does it take for children…
Are We Too Busy to Focus on What Matters Most?
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…
Why Free Play May Be One of the Most Important Forms of Learning
Aug. 6, 2021

Why Free Play May Be One of the Most Important Forms of Learning

In the Element Is Everything Podcast episode "All Is Not Lost When There Is Play," Terri Novacek explores the work of Dr. Peter Gray, developmental psychologist, researcher, and author of Free to Learn. Dr. Gray has spent decades studying how c…
The Hidden Element in Your Play History
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 P…
Are We Preparing Children for School or for Life?
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…
Why Environment Matters in Learning
June 4, 2021

Why Environment Matters in Learning

In the Element Is Everything Podcast episode "Turning a Space Into a Place," Terri Novacek sits down with Mariaemma Pelullo-Willis, co-author of Discover Your Child's Learning Style and co-creator of the Power Traits Assessment, to explore a topic t…
The Executive Function Connection
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. R…
Your Element – The Genie in Us (genius) by Terri Novacek
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 cont…