Kick Off the Best-Ever School Year with Easy Tips to Bring Mindfulness into the Classroom
As the new school year begins, elementary educators face the exciting, yet often overwhelming task, of welcoming a new group of students. We are always trying to launch the best school year ever and the challenge becomes – How? Year after year, studies prove that mindfulness in education is the how. Integrating mindfulness practices from […]
Infusing Joy in Back to School: How Integrating Mindfulness into Classroom Planning and Setup Kicks Off A Great Year
As the new school year approaches, teachers everywhere are gearing up for another year of inspiring young minds. Amidst the hustle and bustle of lesson planning, classroom decorating, and syllabus updates, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, integrating mindfulness into your classroom setup and planning can create a more joyful, organized, and calming environment for […]
Educational Trends Forecast 2024
In the tumultuous wake of the global pandemic’s disruptive aftermath, our educational landscape is experiencing seismic shifts that promise to redefine the essence of learning. These educational trends, wrought from the aftershocks of a worldwide crisis, reveal deep fault lines that have evolved into profound divides within the education realm. The year 2024 unfolds as […]
The Best Meditation and Mindfulness Apps to Help Teens De-Stress and Think Positively
Do you know a teen who is struggling with school work, having trouble focusing, or can’t seem to find a way to stop the negative thoughts? Many, if not all of us, know a few overwhelmed teens. Let’s face it, being a teen is stressful! I live with two teens and I see clearly that […]
Why Teachers Determine the Success of the SEL Program
After decades of research, the evidence is clear: social emotional learning programs work. Students who learn social emotional skills perform better in school, sports, and in life. Social emotional learning is now a significant part of educating the whole child. Many school districts around the country are adopting curriculums to teach social emotional learning during […]
5 Things Mindful Teachers Do Differently
5 Things Mindful Teachers Do Differently Mindful teachers can be found in many classrooms and in many schools around the world. And even though mindfulness has become a very popular and trendy practice from superstars to professional athletes, some of these teachers don’t even know that they are being mindful. That’s the magic […]
6 Tips for Breathing Calm Into Your Classroom
No child is born with the ability to self-soothe, calm down when upset, or regulate emotions. As they grow, children learn to calm down by the way they are soothed by parents and caregivers, by watching others, and by experimenting with what works for them. Teaching your students a few simple SEL-based breathing strategies can […]
What Is SEL and Why It Matters
Social emotional learning (SEL) is a system of methods and practices that help students better understand their emotions, to feel those emotions fully, and to demonstrate empathy for others. It is organized into five key skills. Those skills are self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness. These skills play an important role in […]
Fun Ways to Start Your Class Mindfully
How do you get your students to practice mindfulness when just getting them to sit still feels like a herculean task? Tap into their inner playfulness and imagination! Make it feel like students are playing when they are practicing mindfulness. Simply by tapping into the power of imagination, by making it something of a game, […]
Why it’s a Critical Time to Invest in Social Emotional Learning
At this time last year, my discussion with area principals and school districts about social-emotional learning in schools was not so urgent. It was important, maybe even trendy, or the newest education buzzword thanks to Ohio’s Strategic Plan for Education. In Each Child, Our Future, Ohio’s strategic plan for education, social-emotional learning is one of […]