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Magic of the Mind

Mindfulness-Based Social Emotional Learning in Action

Magic of the MindMindfulness-Based Social Emotional Learning in Action

Welcome to Magic of the Mind

Welcome! This monthly newsletter will offer resources and strategies to use with students, adults, or personal application of mindfulness-based social emotional learning. We invite you to provide feedback on what needs you have and we will do our best in providing resources to meet those needs. Each month, you will find a highlight for each of the three goals for SEL and a special note on those factors which greatly influence our response to those goals: Mindfulness, brain research, and trauma informed practice. Our intention is to offer support, build capacity and inspire growth and learning!
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We Regulate

Are you aware of your triggers? When we can name what puts our patience to the test, we can stay aware of our responses to such situations. We can prevent escalating a situation and practice self awareness and self management.


A. We can identify and manage our emotions and behaviors.

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We Connect

Our ability to engage in work with others without bringing our own bias takes practice. Check in with your ability connect with others through recognizing and acknowledging their feelings or perspectives in order make the most of your collaboration.


C. We use communication and social skills to interact effectively with others.

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We Lead

How do we hold ourselves accountable for our actions? Take a few moments out of your morning routine to reflect on what might influence the decisions you will make. Are you making a decision to meet someone's expectations or for what's best for all parties involved?


A. We consider ethical, safety, and societal factors in making decisions.

Mindful Me

How Mindfulness Empowers Us: An Animation Narrated by Sharon Salzberg

What is mindfulness?

Here is a short video to help you get started with yourself, students, or anyone else you wish to share this resource. The video uses the metaphor of two wolves fighting to explain the importance of both wolves in our daily lives. Below is a short video from Mindful Schools highlighting how a Mindful Minute helps students arrive and be present.
https://youtu.be/u3jBjSs_cpk

Connect to your Brain!

Explaining the Brain to Children and Adolescents

Dr. Allison Jackson Shares a User Friendly Triune Brain Model

Meet Dr. Allison Jackson. She walks you through Dan Siegal's triune brain hand model and how to teach the model to students of different ages. Students need help connecting their emotions to what is happening in their brain. This video is a great place to get started.

Taming Trauma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoqaUANGvpA

Jacob Ham shares a powerful video on how trauma impacts learning.

Those students who are in survival brain are often afraid to fail and engage in activities that may put them at risk. Consider the environments we create in our classrooms--is everyone included and safe? Is the environment predictable? After you watch the video, are we tripping students to fall back down the hill or are we the mama elephants? The more we understand about trauma's impact on student behavior the sooner and better we can engage each student's learning brain.

SEL-ebrations

Shout-out to Carol Scaccia for utilizing MOOTA [Mindful of our Own Thoughts and Actions] to support a program-wide integration of mindfulness. Students and staff alike put into practice mindfulness by being aware of their own self discipline, their role in the classroom, and their interactions with other. Way to go team!

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!
Event Information

Self-Care Saturday Alert!

This Self-Care Saturday will feature Mindfulness Meditation, QiGong, Peaceful Painting and Chakra Bracelet making! We hope to see you there! For more information see the attached file below.

Register on MLP!

When?

Saturday, Feb 9, 2019, 08:30 AM

Where?

179 County Route 64, Mexico, NY, USA

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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

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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.
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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.