Upgrade My Classroom
Upgrade My Classroom
Kevin Mecchella
Thank you for listening to the Upgrade My Classroom Podcast! Kevin Mecchella, youth speaker and behavior change specialist uncovers the social and emotional strategies that help teenage students make great decisions and mitigate bad ones. On this show, you’ll learn from experts in the field of education, youth leadership and behavioral psychology how to create positive, lasting change for your teens. Our kids are faced with so many challenges and we have a responsibility to guide through the choices they have in front of them. Whether it's bullying, drugs or their own mental health, students need our help. So whether you’re a teacher, school administrator or youth group organizer, this podcast is a fantastic resource to help your teens succeed. You’ll hear a mix of expert interviews, training from Kevin and coaching calls. Subscribe to the show and let’s help make an impact in our schools and communities!
Ep: 140 - Confronting Regret: Empowering Teens to Make Better Decisions in Life
Today we're going to try a slightly different format. I will be playing a short clip from one of my recent talks at Dobbs Ferry High School in Westchester, NY. This clip highlights some of the selfish choices a teen can make when they tell themselves a limiting story. Today I'll discuss 3 effective strategies for educators to help students navigate regret, urging them to consider the limited time they have and how their actions will shape their lives. From visualizing a 90-year life calendar to encouraging empathy and respectful conversations, I feel like this is a short, yet powerful episode if implemented. Enjoy! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't forget to subscribe to the show! If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!   Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!   Follow Kevin on social! Facebook Instagram Linked In Tiktok Twitter  
Mar 20, 2024
12 min
Ep: 139 - Decoding The 3 Truths Behind Our Decisions
Throughout my time as a teacher, coach and speaker, I've learned quite a bit about how teens make decisions. One major realiztion I've had is that our decisions are governed by three fundamental truths. No matter what age and what circumstance, these principles are what guide and shape our decisions.  When it comes to teens, they are much more vulnerable due to the lack of life experience, as well as their timeline of cognitive growth. So today, I will break down what these three truths are and how we can better understand them. If we are to improve upon something, we must understand the fundamentals. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't forget to subscribe to the show! If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!   Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!   Follow Kevin on social! Facebook Instagram Linked In Tiktok Twitter  
Feb 28, 2024
20 min
Ep: 138 - Self-Confidence, Personal Growth, And Empowerment: A Conversation With M&P Presentations
When it comes to high amounts of energy, there are no better people that Matt and Phil from M&P Presentations. This dynamic youth speaking duo has been working with teens for over a decade. They have a truly unique perspective considering both Matt and Phil work professionally in the field of education. In this episode, we discuss a wide range of topics such as self-care, personal growth, and overcoming challenges that teachers face on a day to day. We also dive into their journey in professional speaking, as well as how teaching better helps their speaking programs and vice versa. You can find everything they have going on over at https://www.mppresentations.com/ Or follow them on social! https://www.instagram.com/mppresentations/ https://www.youtube.com/@MPPresentations   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't forget to subscribe to the show! If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!   Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!   Follow Kevin on social! Facebook Instagram Linked In Tiktok Twitter  
Feb 14, 2024
54 min
Ep: 137 - When Students Fail: The Evaluation And Revision Of Their smartER Goal
At some point every teen will fail at something. The issue is that students are facing this idea of perfectionism that is engineered from social media and the constant connection to all their peers. So how can we help them and what strategies can we give them to work through their failures? Today we'll dig into the importance of evaluating and revising goals, celebrating wins along the way, gaining perspective, and discovering the real motivation behind a goal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't forget to subscribe to the show! If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!   Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!   Follow Kevin on social! Facebook Instagram Linked In Tiktok Twitter  
Jan 25, 2024
12 min
Ep: 136 - What Are Your Teen's Actions To Achieve Their S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Goals?
The SMART or SMARTER goal framework is fairly common among professionals and executives but how about teens? Has you student ever formally tried to sit down and create a detailed goal? Considering it's the first episode of the year, the conversation on everyone's minds is always New Year's resolutions and this also could be on the mind of a high school student. If so, today I'll give you a few examples of some of the pitfalls and things to watch out for as you work with your teen to craft their goals. More importantly, I'll discuss the action steps that students need to take in order to achieve these lofty ambitions! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't forget to subscribe to the show! If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!   Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!   Follow Kevin on social! Facebook Instagram Linked In Tiktok Twitter  
Jan 4, 2024
22 min
Ep: 135 - How Students Can Find Their Purpose By Asking One Question
It's a hard question...what do I do for the rest of my life? Even harder when you have to make that decision at 16 when applying for colleges. I have embarked on a few different entrepreneurial pursuits in my life. While I believe they all kind of stemmed from the same purpose, they were definitely different in the day to day. After deciding to pursue speaking full time, I asked myself the most important question...   If money was no longer an issue, would I still do what I'm doing today?!   Check out today's episode to find out my answer!   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't forget to subscribe to the show! If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!   Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here! Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.   Follow Kevin on social! Facebook Instagram Linked In Tiktok Twitter  
Dec 21, 2023
12 min
Ep: 134 - Find The Root Of Your Problem By Asking Why...5 Times!
I was recently watching a video from Ali Abdaal, one of the most successful productivity Youtubers. He was going through a lot of higher level thinking and figuring out what direction to take his business next. This is where he dropped a gem! If you're having trouble with achieving a goal or not sure what to do next in your life, ask yourself why...5 times! This is a really effective exercise that I think might bring more clarity than you even intended! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't forget to subscribe to the show! If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!   Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here!   Follow Kevin on social! Facebook Instagram Linked In Tiktok Twitter  
Dec 15, 2023
8 min
Ep: 133 - Teaching Students How To Prioritize (College Applications)
This is crunch time for college applications. That means that students will need to shift their priorities. Here are a few things that can help your students to reprioritize. 1. Mindset Reframing: It's important for students to understand that they won't be able to get everything done, and that's okay. Prioritizing is about making choices and focusing on what truly matters. 2. Delayed Gratification: In today's instant gratification world, it's essential to help students recognize the long-term benefits of investing their time and energy into important tasks, even when it may not bring immediate satisfaction. 3. Ideal Week Planning: Encouraging students to plan out their ideal week can help them allocate time for essential tasks, such as college applications, while also prioritizing self-care, physical activity, and mental well-being. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't forget to subscribe to the show! If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!   Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here! Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.   Follow Kevin on social! Facebook Instagram Linked In Tiktok Twitter    
Dec 7, 2023
12 min
Ep: 132 - Educator Spotlight Series: Will Elliot - Teen Life Coach
Today is another Educator Spotlight Series! Join me as we dive into the world of Will Elliott, a 25-year-old teen life coach. When Will first appeared in my feed, I was conflicted with the thought of a 25 year old life coach. On one hand I said "he's still a kid himself"! On the other hand I thought that being young would make him much more relatable than mom and dad! Check out today's review as we unravel the insights, challenges, and nuances of Will's approach while acknowledging the critical connection between teens, their mentors, and the influential role of parental guidance. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't forget to subscribe to the show! If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!   Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here! Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.   Follow Kevin on social! Facebook Instagram Linked In Tiktok Twitter  
Nov 29, 2023
11 min
Ep: 131 - Asking Jocko Willink A Question On Discipline
I recently saw a video of Jocko Willink where he attempted to answer a question from a listener. The question was revolved around discipline and how to develop it when you come from a undisciplined household. I found it really interesting to say the least... Today we'll unpack the crucial aspect of taking accountability and setting clear expectations in the classroom in order to help your students become more accountability. Moreover, we'll tackle the art of overcoming challenges and why it's vital for a teen's personal growth.   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't forget to subscribe to the show! If you'd be so kind as to leave a rating and review, that would help tremendously!   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Book Kevin to speak at your school or event!   Learn more about Kevin's speaking programs here! Download the 3 part video series to learn all about Kevin's decision making framework for students.   Follow Kevin on social! Facebook Instagram Linked In Tiktok Twitter  
Nov 22, 2023
12 min
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