Life Skills Back to School Night Time Routine

OUTSCHOOL lessons by “Peaceful Community Pocket Guide” author Katherine Cardinal, are inspired by nearly two decades of social work experience instructing young people in daily living skills, healthy choices, coping, peer relationships and self care. Thirty to sixty minute micro-lessons weave scholarly information into life skills and inspire students to explore their strengths as they become engaged, contributing members of the community. Solutions and ideas for real world situations are woven into each lesson. For example, younger students may learn how to add vegetables to scrambled eggs for a healthier breakfast, and older students learn how to make a green juice or smoothie. High school students explore civility versus bullying in classes which delve into topics that revolve around social climate and leadership. Younger students learn feeling words to express themselves in a thoughtful, productive way. In addition to helping students academically, vocationally, and socially, Mrs. Cardinal has also supported students who prefer strengthening their skills one-to-one. Her pet therapy dog Henry may be requested to join in individual tutoring sessions to help learners become more confident with reading or social interaction. 

Classes appeal to parents who want their children to develop into civil-minded, global citizens. Students are introduced to topics that encourage diversity and foster inclusion. Students share in a safe space that welcomes LGBTQ and BIPOC youth as well as those struggling to find their voice and identity. While at UMass Boston’s McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, Mrs. Cardinal was recognized for her research on the topic of social wellness and bullying. Her award-winning 2015 capstone project explored these important social problems across the lifespan. Adults have the opportunity to review the perspective and academic research that informs Mrs. Cardinal's lessons by searching her name on UMass Boston's website for her capstone project (umb.edu). Her research references include scholarly articles used as sources for her presentation to aging services professionals at Leading Age, now adapted for a younger audience on Outschool. Mrs. Cardinal has contributed to two academic publications on the subject of social wellness prior to publishing her own student-friendly version entitled, "Peaceful Community Pocket Guide: Prevent Lifespan Bullying and Improve Social Climate". This publication along with decades of scientific research are the inspiration for unique, engaging classes that benefit students’ social health and happiness. In addition to former work with teens, Mrs. Cardinal has had valuable experiences with younger children as a kindergarten literacy volunteer, special education paraprofessional in preschool, as well as being both a room parent and field trip chaperone throughout her own daughter’s elementary and middle school years. 

In 2018 she became certified in ESL to teach English to 5 to 14-year-old students on the other side of the globe. Between December of 2018 and March 2021, she taught more than 1600 online classes to nearly 350 students, many of whom schedule her as their regular teacher. She feels great about making a difference in the lives of others through teaching. Online instruction became her full-time focus in 2020 during the pandemic. 

Mrs. Cardinal's teen daughter is her tech-support and helps fine tune curriculum, keeps her current with what is trending in music and pop culture, and is her best life-coach! She uses her relationship with her daughter as a barometer for how well she is doing as a parent, life-long learner, and evolving human. Mrs. Cardinal loves musical theater, tasting new cuisine, biking in her neighborhood, and hiking new trails in her small, New England town with her mini-golden doodle, daughter and husband.

**Please note: "The Peaceful Community Pocket Guide" and "Workbook" are not necessary purchases for class. However if you do purchase, please note both versions have the same content. The "Workbook" version simply offers space for class notes. Please do not unnecessarily purchase both.  Coming soon is a micro class (Approx. 30 minutes long) video version of the book which is included in the purchase for a flex class on Outschool.