2. Very Briefly.. A little about Me!
Passionate about helping bring out the best in kids so that
they “flourish”
4th grade teacher/K teacher/coach/tutor
Author of 25 Super Sight Word Songs
Super Sight Word Songs
Finding Ways for All Kids to Flourish
3.
4. A Little About You!
On the next board, please share by typing
what you hope to learn and/or contribute
to our discussion!
Please indicate your role in education!
5. Setting the Stage
These ideas are those that will take minimal time
The goal is to immunize against the factors of stress and
negativity that impact the school day
I invite you to think about the most challenging parts of
your day, your classroom and see if you can
invent/modify a practice to reset the tone.
6. Threats to Environment
On the next board, please write factors
that pose threats to maintaining a positive,
effective classroom environment
8. Who has inspired me?
Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, author of Positivity
http://www.amazon.com/Positivity-Groundbreaking-Research
Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions
http://www.unc.edu/peplab/research.html
got me thinking of how we can capitalize on positive
emotions and their effect on cognitive flexibility.
9. Broaden and Build Theory
The expanded cognitive flexibility evident during
positive emotional states results in resource
building that becomes useful over time.
Even though a positive emotional state is only
momentary, the benefits last in the form of
traits, social bonds, and abilities that endure into
the future.
10. Dr. Judy Willis
neurologist, middle school teacher, author
http://www.radteach.com/
Dr. John Medina, Brain Rules and Brain Rules for Baby
Dr. John Ratey , author of Spark
Dr. Todd Kashdan, author of Curious
14. Got Practical Ideas? yes
Routines and Rituals
Movement
Music
Novelty
Spontaneity
Time dedicated to exploration of fascination
15. Routines, Rituals, Jobs
Student has job of classroom environment engineer
each week
Other jobs: class photographer, blogger, music manager
Jobs promote responsibility, community
16. Music is powerful
Raise your hand if you use music to
enhance the mood or set the stage
At the end during
questions/discussions I would love to
hear how you incorporate music
17. Use music
For transitions: signal
To introduce a new book, topic
To get kids moving between activities
In learning: have students create parodies/songs for
learning
How do you use music?
18. Novelty Awakens
Present a lesson in a different order,
new place, or while talking like a
character from the book students are
reading.
Start singing the directions or
rhyming.
How do you use novelty to engage?
20. Power of Awe & Fascination
http://allkidscanflourish.blogspot.com/2010/04/power-of-awe-fascination-and-wonder.html
21. Fascination Time
Study what you’re interested in studying
Share a strength or a skill
Work together in a shared exploration or creation
Students can record questions/passions in a journal
Skype an expert in the field
22. Awe and Aww…
Baby animals promote positive mood
Can you look at them and not smile?
Google: baby animal images
23. Humor Protects..
Use humor to protect from stress
Celebrate mistakes with humor
Santa’s “slay” : OOPS!
Kids want to make bloopers out of “funny
mistakes”
24. Celebrate Our Mistakes with
Humor
Students love to “catch me” making a
mistake.
“ I am so glad you are paying attention! I
was testing you!
When we model that mistakes can be
funny, we encourage a growth mindset.
26. Resources for Humor Benefits
What’s you favorite way to seize the
power of humor to uplift?
27. Be proactive to prevent stress
Before a big writing test, I spontaneously invited the
students to a huddle in the center of the room
We all put a hand in and cheered: We are going to
“ROCK THE WRAP!”
The week before our standardized tests, I took pics of
students looking above privacy screens with fear. We
laughed and dispelled fears.
28. Evoke Curiosity
From the work of psychologist, Todd Kashdan
Curiosity has an impact on anxiety: when you evoke
curiosity during a stressful situation or before what could
be stressful for some, the effects of anxiety can be less.
Use curiosity to counter the anxiety of a fixed mindset
risk averse student.
33. Help students to “reframe”
When something goes wrong, help
students learn how to “reframe”
Challenge their irrational beliefs; taking
the time to “reset” the emotional climate
after recess is invaluable!
34.
35.
36. Walk Around it!
Teach kids that what they choose to focus on affects their
mood and how they learn.
Just, “walk around it” and come back later.
39. You have -- within you -- the fuel to thrive and to flourish,
and to leave this world in better shape than you found it.
Sometimes you tap into this fuel – other times you don ’t.
But the sad fact is that most people have no idea
how to tap into this fuel or even recognize it when they do.
Where is this fuel within you?
You tap into it whenever you feel energized and excited by
new ideas.
You tap into it whenever you feel
surroundings, at peace.
You tap into it whenever you feel
You tap into it whenever you feel
sheer beauty of existence.
You tap into it whenever you feel
loved.
In short, you tap into it whenever
within you.
From the UNC Chapel Hill Pep Lab
at one with your
playful, creative, or silly.
your soul stirred by the
connected to others and
positive emotions resonate
40. Thanks for coming!
Find me on Twitter @flourishingkids
allkidscanflourish.blogspot.com
flourishingkids@gmail.com
BIG NEWS! ..
Hinweis der Redaktion
Welcome everyone, invite them to talk in chat about where they are visiting from.
Who am I? Why am I passionate about incorporating brain science with education?
]
Use whiteboard to get their ideas… Read a few things my students say…
The implication of this work is that positive emotions have inherent value to human growth and development and cultivation of these emotions will help people lead fuller lives.
In the chat box please share researchers, teachers, writers who have inspired you…
He is showing me how he thinks that his work deserves 5 smilies. He will do his best because of the safe environment. He knows that I will not accept less than his fullest effort.
Positives help us stay calm and work together Find something you love about a kid who drives you crazy!Make an extra effort to reflect and have careful interactions.
You can mindfully design classroom routines and rituals to capitalize on positive experiences where humor, novelty, curiosity and awe can come into play That student may bring in a video, picture, item that makes us laugh, find fascination, etc. anything that makes our environment an uplifting one
Have fun. If your team of teachers don ’t want to do it, do it anyway~
Talk briefly about Barb and other research where positive mood was induced before learning.
Celebrate mistakes with humor: student wrote “Santa’s slay” and Not a creature was “suturing”. ( which was ironic especially because a relative is a doctor)
We had our ERB tests in the fall. After a week of testing we had celebratory smores!
These are visual reminders students made for their desks.
Tell Maverick ’s story of “walk around it”
Talk about Maverick Kids often have the best advice for each other.
Unhelpful history
Utilize the safe people around you to share and vent frustration when needed Don ’t allow yourself to dwell on the negative If humor isn ’t present among your staff, create it! Share it!