Let’s be real, back-to-school is a lot. As a parent, I have eleventy-billion emails to go through about ALL THE THINGS. As a school psychologist and founder of a professional development organization for schools and families, Thriving Students Collective, back to school always yields a to-do list is longer than a CVS receipt.
And while “summer slide” is usually something we talk about with kids… let’s just say some of us have also slid into a few too many TikTok brainrot holes this summer (What?!? It’s for Gen Z/GenAlpha research!).
So this month, I’m keeping it short, sweet, and packed with just a few tools you can actually use right away!
Microhabit of the Month: Priming for Strengths
Before the chaos fully kicks in, take a few minutes to discover—and actually use—your top strengths. Research shows that priming yourself to notice and use your strengths can help you handle stressful situations with more ease and less burnout.
Try This: Take our signature Thrive-o-Gram to uncover your educator strengths. Use it for:
- A way to reboot when the going gets tough, with your personalized profile and downloadable guide
- A team-building kickoff activity
- Your own personal “strengths armor” for the year ahead
Back-to-School Teddy Talks®
Transitioning to a new school is a big deal, especially for students learning English or navigating a new culture.
That’s why in Episode 10 of Teddy Talks Podcast (a BEARY special collab with Generation Mindful and GoKidGo), I sat down with Leslie Priscilla, founder of Latinx Parenting , to help kids feel welcomed, included, and confident.
🐻 Bonus: Our After Hours companion episode here gives educators and caregivers practical strategies to create belonging from day one. 🐻🐻 Double Bonus: Download free printables to use with your students to cultivate a welcoming classroom climate!
Camp Lily & Thriving School Psychologist Collective®
Let’s be real: this school year, “do more with less” has become the norm for school psychologists and mental health professionals. Caseloads climb, crises spike, and the paperwork never ends—all while budgets shrink. Burnout is real… unless we intervene with a Tier Zero Framework™ (you know, support burnout prevention support underneath all the Tier 1/2/3 interventions in our schools).
That’s why we built the Thriving School Psychologist Collective and LilyAssist AI Report Writer—a one-two punch of burnout prevention training and AI-powered support. With LilyAssist Pro (included with Thriving School Psych membership!), reports get done faster, freeing up time for actual student support.
Pair that with practical microhabits and community-based professional development for all the adults in your school buildings, and you’ve got systemic relief for the people holding up your MTSS pyramid.
We now have Tier Zero Framework™ support for school psychs, social workers, speech language pathologists, Counselors, Teachers, certificated staff, paraprofessionals, AND parents to share the load!
👉 For district leaders: Tier Zero support is how you keep your staff from drowning. When adults have the tools, time, and emotional bandwidth to thrive, retention improves and student outcomes follow. Because when the helpers are supported, everyone benefits—students, schools, and communities. Click here to learn how we help!
Fun with AI: Back to School Edition
AI isn’t just for efficiency! It can also bring a little joy and creativity to your day (and your classroom!). At our “Camp Lily” AI intensive training this summer, we played with prompts that made us smile and spark ideas for student wellness and we want to share the joy:
🐾 Classroom Pet Portraits Turn your furry (or scaly, or feathery) friend into classroom art!
Prompt: “Create a colorful, kid-friendly classroom poster in the style of [cartoon/comic book/hyperrealistic design] featuring my pet [insert animal]. Make it cheerful and uplifting.”
Please admire my school psychologist office art, featuring Gryffindor the husky.
👉 Pro tip: Print and hang a gallery wall of your team’s pets—instant staff lounge morale boost.
🏖️ Jet2 Calming Corner Makeover Inspired by the viral TikTok parody, try imagining your classroom calm space as a dreamy travel ad.
Prompt: “Design a cozy calming corner for a classroom that looks like a peaceful holiday destination—soft lighting, comfy seating, and posters that say ‘Nothing Beats a Relaxation Holiday.’
And because I’m a Thrive-o-Gram Pillar One Achiever “Go Getter” type, I went ahead and created an entire poster set for y’all! Click here to get your free download! (And if you’re already a member of Thriving Students Collective, it’s already in your learning portal under Thrive Hive TV’s “How to Create a Calming Corner” micro-credential!).
Head over to thrivingstudents.com/calm to grab your kit! (If you’re a member of Thriving Students, it’s in your platform already with set up tutorial videos!)
👉 Pro tip: Invite students to co-create calming corner posters using AI on your own theme! Ownership builds buy-in, and you can weave in a little “Look, AI isn’t perfect” lesson as you do it. I like to say, “AI gets you to 3rd base but then you definitely need a human to hit it home.”
Playing with prompts like these doesn’t just produce fun images. It can help educators build AI literacy in a joyful, low-stakes way.
🎬 TikTok of the Month
Nothing beats a Jet2, 24 Carat Labubu, New Bugatti, Screaming Taylor Swift songs at animals summer! For a recap of the trends (and newest Gen Z/Alpha slang) check it out @thrivingstudents on Tik Tok or @thrivingschoolpsych on Instagram!
Pop over to TikTok for the sound on for this one… you won’t regret it.
Take what you need from this month’s tools, and know I’m cheering you on!
With you in every season,
If you’re interested in being a part of the Thriving Students Collective community and would like more information about how to bring the Thriving Students Platform to your school or district, CLICK HERE to connect with us.
Want more K12 News You Can Use? Subscribe here!
***
Dr. Rebecca Branstetter is a school psychologist and founder of The Thriving Students Collective, which provides professional development, engaging online courses, and a supportive online community that prioritizes whole-school wellness and equips educators and parents with practical tools to empower every learner’s success. She also has a TikTok account all about burnout prevention in K12 that her middle school daughter has endorsed as “Cringe, but good dancing.”
