Jen.Made

  As a teacher, I’m all for celebrating kindness. Don’t get me wrong—it’s beautiful to see kids write little notes to each other, hold doors open, and smile more intentionally for a week. But if we’re being honest, a “Kindness Week” doesn’t cut it when it comes to teaching kids what kindness really is—or helping them build habits that last longer than the next assembly. Lately, I’ve been inspired by the work of Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist who dives into how the brain actually works. And while he hasn’t  specifically  addressed Kindness Week, his research on habits, emotions, and neuroplasticity (how our brains change and grow) has me rethinking what we’re doing in schools when it comes to kindness. Spoiler: We can do better. The Science of Kindness Huberman’s research would remind us that kindness isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a literal brain workout. Here’s what happens in the brain when we’re kind: 1. Oxytocin gets released  (that’s the “bonding hormone”), ...

  As a teacher, I’ve always been fascinated by how kids learn. Watching those “aha!” moments unfold in my classroom never gets old. But the more I dive into brain science, the more I realize those moments are not just about learning a math problem or finishing a book. They’re about how the brain is wired to grow through experience, especially in the first 25 years of life. And let me tell you that wiring is deeply influenced by consequences—both good and bad. This idea isn’t just my opinion—it’s backed by science, much of which I’ve learned from Andrew Huberman’s podcasts and his incredible guests. If you haven’t listened to him yet, you’re missing out. He explains complex brain science in a way that makes you go, “Oh, that’s why I do that!” One thing that stuck with me is how neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt, is most powerful in the first 25 years of life. This is when the brain is primed for growth, learning, and reshaping itself based on the experiences w...