approx  read time: 2min  +3 min for linked article
I came across an article this week from KQED Mindshift with tips for parents and teachers on how to talk to kids about terrible things.  The last item focuses on the role of social media and  how it amplifies the experience for kids, even those who aren't directly involved.  Many kids saw what happened in Parkland in live time on social media and then turned to their peers in an effort to process the unimaginable.  As the news cycle started churning, there was little opportunity to escape the carnage, fear, and confusion.   KQED mentions how kids may feel that they can't walk away from a conversation about such an event for fear of being judged as uncaring.  It's just another example of how social media use is pushing our kids into situations they just aren't ready for. I don't mean sheltering them from these types of events they deserve to know what's happening in the world, but rather them being able to grieve in a personal way.  My heart aches for them all.
One of my most vivid memories from high school is how I felt in the wake of the death of a friend from carbon monoxide poisoning. It shook me to the core, but I didn't have words to describe my emotions.  I needed to be quiet and alone to figure it out. I can't imagine being made to feel guilty about that on top of the anguish and confusion  in the face of  mortality.   
I think about my work as an Internet safety presenter at Protect Young Eyes and realize that "it truly "takes a village'. As schools prepare to join nationwide walk-outs in the coming weeks, this topic is going to continue to resonate for our kiddos. It's imperative that teachers and parents are aware of what's going on in their world, even in the seemingly 'safe space' of a friends. 

So I'm one of those who grew up mildly to mostly uncomfortable with math. As a  high school student. I excelled at linguistics, and intellectual though processes. But math just didn't add up (haha) I loved the proofs of geometry. The built in meta-cognition worked for me. But algebra?  in the traditional manner of  do all the odd (or even) problems, show all your work, one right answer?  Not so much.   Sound familiar? 
Now that I'm  a part time field supervisor, coaching student teachers in all content areas, I've  been brushing up on content specific methods and strategies. Enter Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler. This book has been life-changing. And it aligns with the design thinking  work I've been doing the last couple of years. Whether you're a math teacher or not, this book is for you. Boaler  provides excellent examples of how to create a collaborative classroom where students learn that there really is no such thing as a mistake. Instead, they are encouraged to share and debate ideas based on the familiar, claim, evidence, reasoning technique we see in science and language arts. Armed with the basics of number sense, students discover math facts for themselves in a constructivist style of learning. We are reminded that while there may be a right answer, there is no one right way to arrive at that answer and the power of allowing students to explore and explain their thinking. 
Boaler provides tons of great examples of simple 'games' aka activities to encourage this thinking including one of my new favorite apps kenken puzzles along with a variety of resources from youcubed.org  that will start you on the way to understanding the benefit of a growth mindset in mathematics. 
She touches on a variety of related topics as well, such as the benefits of heterogeneous vs. homogeneous grouping  in math classes. Her position on the role of homework is  particularly relevant to any content area.  She espouses the value of reflection as opposed to repetition, advocating for a sort of flipped classroom model in which the practice and discover is done in class with students engaging in self-assessment as homework. 
As I visit schools and have sat in on curriculum committee work, I routinely hear how math is 'special' that there is such a broad range of abilities  teachers require special  consideration in designing programs that essentially track students and impose upon them a fixed mindset  related to math ability, setting them up continued struggle, failure and lowered self-esteem.  Jo Boaler offers practical methods that can be implemented without a complete curriculum re-write that will ease the tension and frustration for students and teachers alike.  Add this book to your summer reading list!