page background

Mindfulness-Based SEL in Action

February 2019

Mindfulness-BasedSEL in ActionFebruary 2019
Welcome! This monthly newsletter will offer resources and strategies to use with students, adults, or personal application of mindfulness-based social emotional learning. Each month, you will find a highlights on topics such as SEL, Mental Health Education Framework, Mindfulness, brain research, and trauma informed practices. Our intention is to offer support, build capacity and inspire growth and learning personally and professionally!

Mindfulness in Action

open_in_new zoom_out_map

Self-Compassion: Being Kind to yourself is the most powerful thing you can do

A growing body of research is showing that people who cultivate self-compassion "tend to have greater happiness, life satisfaction, better relationships and physical health, and less anxiety and depression. But we tend to do the opposite - criticize and judge ourselves. This taps into our body's threat defense system, ultimately resulting in less effective response behaviors to the stressors of life. Self-compassion helps to down-regulate the threat response. To learn more, check out the work of Kristen Neff, a leading expert self-compassion practices and research by clicking on the image above.
zoom_out_map

Want to add Mindful activities to your classroom?

We recommend this boxed set to build your mindfulness toolbox. With 55 activities to get you started, there are plenty of options to choose from to help you incorporate mindfulness into your lessons. Each card explains how to run the activity, what supplies (if any) you may need, and additional suggestions for activity variations. Our favorites? Beans & Rice, Breathing Sticks and the Ice Activity! Ask us to come in and do these activities with your class!
open_in_new zoom_out_map

Need help with your first guided reflection with students?

There are plenty of scripts to help you get started with what to say during these moments. The key is keeping a calm, steady, slow voice. Your tone sets the mood for tranquility. Don't feel obligated to follow the script--it is about the present moment you are having with your participants so the words you use are the right ones. Click on the picture for a student-friendly script to get started.
12 Ways to Be Mindful in 5 Minutes or Less
You don't need to set aside tons of time. Begin with five minutes or less with these simple suggestions!
open_in_new zoom_out_map

We Regulate -How to Practice Self Regulation

In essence, maturity reflects the ability to face emotional, social, and cognitive threats in the environment with patience and thoughtfulness. If this description reminds you of mindfulness, that's no accident—mindfulness does indeed relate to the ability to self-regulate. As an adult, the first step to practice self-regulation is to recognize that everyone has a choice in how to react to situations. While you may feel like life has dealt you a bad hand, it's not the hand you are dealt, but how you react to it that matters most. How exactly do you learn this skill of self-regulation?

Click on the picture to read the full article.

open_in_new zoom_out_map

We Connect - SEL in Science Class

On the surface, social and emotional learning may not seem like an obvious fit for a science classroom, but scientists rarely work alone and need to use social and emotional skills when they propose a project for funding or share their results. Embedding SEL into an engineering activity can enhance your students’ success. Click on the picture to read the full article.
open_in_new zoom_out_map

We Lead - When Students Lead Parent Conferences

Providing students with the ability to have open discussions with their parents about their successes and struggles puts these skills into practice in a collaborative, supportive way.

The student-led conference model replaces the traditional parent-teacher conference. Students prepare for the conference, lead the discussion with their parents, and set goals for the remainder of the school year. Parents are notified that the conference will be student-led, with staff available to assist and answer questions.

Click on the picture to read the full article.

Daring Classrooms ~ Brene Brown

Brene Brown has shared that her goal in life is to make the world a braver, more wholehearted place. Set aside 30 minutes to watch this talk on Daring Classrooms where she discusses the role we play as educators who she says are "working on the hardest edges of love".
https://youtu.be/DVD8YRgA-ck

The Importance of Self Care - Connecting to the Mental Health Education Framework

With the goal of developing a positive school climate and culture of mental health, well-being and awareness through instruction in K-12, NYSED and the Mental Health Association of NYS collaborated on the development of the Mental Health Education Framework and Comprehensive Guide. One of the key indicators under the standard of Self -Management is Self-care to promote mental health and overall well-being. This is an equally important indicator for all of us as educators! It involves our ability to use self-care strategies to stay balanced, take action to positively impact our mental health, and develop coping skills for navigating challenging situations. We often dismiss the need for consistent self-care practices, usually stating that we do not have enough time. Why is self-care so important? As Parker Palmer states in The Courage To Teach, we teach who we are. We transmit our inner state before we even say anything. If we are not present, balanced, or regulated this registers with everyone with whom we interact. Students, especially those with trauma experiences, are particularly attuned to this transmission. It is said that if we did nothing else but offer our complete presence to our students, this alone would be an intervention. Self-care and mindfulness are necessary practices that strengthen our ability to nurture our inner state.


Check out our Self-Care Saturdays and other offerings to learn more. Oh, and there is an app for that! Check out two of our favorites: Insight Timer and Calm (free for teachers).

SEL- ebrations

A big shout out to the seminar teachers at G. Ray Bodily High School, at the Fulton City School District, for opening their classrooms to Mindfulness. They have taken their first steps in sharing the practice to help students become or stay emotionally regulated. They continue to have courageous conversations that support the emotional growth of their students. Thank you for the work that you do!

Seeking Support with Mindfulness, SEL or Trauma-Informed Practices?

Liane and Kate are here to support you in a variety of ways. We spend a good portion of our time in classrooms modeling these practices with students, offering workshops, facilitating learning experiences in small group settings, coaching, book studies and more! Please check our catalog for offerings that may be of interest. You can also sign up for our email blast of offerings ~ see below!
zoom_out_map

We're all about helping you.

Please reach out for support!

Email: SEL@citiboces.org
Website: https://www.citiboces.org/SEL
Location: 179 County Route 64, Mexico, NY, USA

Meet the Editors

zoom_out_map

Liane Benedict

Liane Benedict is in her 11th year as Staff Development Coordinator. Prior to this, she spent 14 years in the classroom, Developing her own personal mindfulness practice laid the foundation for the work she now brings to students and adults.
zoom_out_map

Kate Ginney

Kate Ginney serves as a Staff Development Specialist. She began her educational journey as a secondary English teacher, where she discovered the value of creating an environment of growth as an essential component to the health and well-being of the individual learner.