FAQs
Why is RAD so cheap?
Here’s a warm, clear, very human version that highlights your roles, explains why that keeps RAD affordable, and gently reinforces access + integrity without sounding defensive:
Why is RAD so cheap?
RAD isn’t cheap—it’s affordable by design. I created RAD myself and handled almost everything involved, from writing and filming to editing and running the project. The only things I didn’t do were designing the logo (my daughter did that) and getting a bit of help with the website from a family member. Because RAD wasn’t created by a large publishing company with sales teams and overhead, I’m able to keep the cost low.
When I set the price, I thought about the teacher I was over 20 years ago—busy, working hard, and a little bit broke. Ten dollars felt like something I would actually pay. I want people to be able to access the material, and the small fee helps maintain a level of care, control, and integrity, while keeping RAD ad-free and accessible to teachers.
How and why did you make RAD?
Great question. I originally created RAD as an SEL program to use directly in schools. I would go into other teachers’ classrooms and teach the lessons myself. After using RAD this way for several years, my role changed and I wasn’t able to continue doing that work. However, the feedback from both students and teachers was consistently positive. RAD for Life grew out of a desire to keep RAD accessible and in use, even when I could no longer be in classrooms teaching it in person. See below for the story of RAD.
How is RAD different than other programs?
RAD is designed to be affordable and accessible, so teachers can teach SEL without needing specialized training. It’s grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on helping students notice their thoughts and feelings, accept them, and choose effective actions. For teachers who are already very familiar with SEL, RAD still offers something new—a clear, practical framework that connects emotional skills to values and behaviours.
Was RAD created by AI?
RAD was created by me—a real human. I used AI to generate some of the images used in the videos (with the exception of the logo, which was created by my daughter). I chose this approach so I could use copyright- and royalty-free visuals while sharing the material widely.
I also used AI as an editing tool to help with grammar and spelling, since typing isn’t my strength. That said, the ideas behind RAD, the framework itself, and the content were all created by me. I was the writer, videographer, editor, and developer behind the program.
How many lessons are there?
The first 10 lessons make up the core of the program. As the website grows, I’ll keep adding more content. I’m also including a free classroom management book and plan to add classroom management videos over time.
Can I watch the videos on YouTube?
I’ve shared short previews of RAD on YouTube and social media, but the full content lives on the website. I love YouTube and really value free resources, but keeping RAD on the site helps me maintain the quality and integrity of the framework. RAD is meant to be used as a whole system, and I worry that on YouTube viewers may only experience select lessons. Also, the website allows everything to stay in one place—including the videos, worksheets, and the teacher companion—so it can actually be used the way it was designed. Fortunately you can view the first three lessons and supporting activities for free here, or you can try a week for free by subscribing.
I'm not a teacher- can I still benefit from RAD?
Yes — of course! RAD was created with teachers in mind, but it was always meant to be useful beyond the classroom. Parents, therapists, youth workers, and other professionals are welcome to use RAD in the settings they work in.
RAD can also be used by youth or adults as a self-help tool to better understand emotions, build regulation skills, and respond more thoughtfully in challenging moments.
Just keep in mind that RAD is a universal support — it is designed to support everyday learning, behaviour, and emotional regulation. It does not replace therapy, clinical intervention, or specialized supports, but it can work alongside them as a shared framework and common language.
The Story of RAD
How did SEL become so RAD?
RAD started in classrooms, but it’s grounded in years of learning and practice. I studied this work at university, worked as a specialist teacher, and later taught as an adjunct professor. Social-emotional learning, behaviour, and regulation have always been areas I know well and genuinely care about.
I originally created RAD as an SEL program that I taught directly with students. I would go into other teachers’ classrooms and teach the lessons myself, and over time, both students and teachers gave really positive feedback. RAD made sense to kids and gave teachers a shared, practical language for behaviour and emotional skills.
Eventually, my role changed and I wasn’t able to keep teaching RAD in classrooms the way I had been. Even so, teachers continued to ask me to come in and teach it. That’s when I began to wonder—what if RAD didn’t depend on me being physically present? What if I could create something that allowed teachers to learn it and use it on their own, in their own classrooms, with their own students?
So, somewhat quietly, I built a website. At the time, it was mostly for my own learning. I honestly assumed no one would ever use it. I wasn’t trying to launch a product; I just didn’t want RAD to disappear.
Around that same time, I received a camera as a Christmas gift—not for RAD, but for me. It was meant for filming vacations and everyday life. At some point, I thought, what if I used this for RAD instead? With some encouragement from a family member, a logo designed by my daughter, and help from another family friend who happened to be visiting from overseas, I filmed my first video.
RAD continued to grow from there. I still work with kids, and I still use RAD whenever I can. I’m excited to share it because I believe in it and because I’ve seen it work.
I’m also still learning. The later videos are better than the first ones, and that’s okay. RAD isn’t really a video platform—it’s about the ideas, the framework, and the content itself. That’s the part that has always mattered most, and that’s what I’m committed to continuing to build.
