January 05th, 2016
1/5/2016
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When presented with new material, standards, and complicated topics, we need to be focused and calm as we approach our assignments. We can use brain breaks and focused-attention practices to positively impact our emotional states and learning. They refocus our neural circuitry with either stimulating or quieting practices that generate increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, where problem solving and emotional regulation occur.Brain Breaks
A brain break is a short period of time when we change up the dull routine of incoming information that arrives via predictable, tedious, well-worn roadways. Our brains are wired for novelty because we pay attention to any and every stimulus in our environment that feels threatening or out of the ordinary. This has always been a wonderful advantage because our survival as a species depended on this aspect of brain development.
When we take a brain break, it refreshes our thinking and helps us discover another solution to a problem or see a situation through a different lens. Consider trying these with your class:
1. The Junk Bag
I always carry a bag of household objects containing markers, scrap paper, and anything that one would find in a junk drawer — for example, a can opener or a pair of shoelaces. Pick any object out of the junk bag and ask students to come up with two ways this object could be reinvented for other uses. They can write or draw their responses. Once students have drawn or written about an invention, they can walk the room for one minute sharing and comparing.
2. Squiggle Story
On a blank sheet of paper, whiteboard, or Promethean Board, draw one squiggly line. Give students one minute to stand and draw with their opposite hand, turning the line into a picture or design of their choice.
3. Opposite Sides
Movement is critical to learning. Have students stand and blink with the right eye while snapping the fingers of their left hand. Repeat this with the left eye and right hand. Students could also face one another and tap the right foot once, left foot twice, and right foot three times, building speed they alternate toe tapping with their partner.
4. Symbolic Alphabet
Sing the alphabet with names of objects rather than the letters.
5. Other Languages
Teach sign language or make up a spoken language. In pairs, students take turns speaking or interpreting this new language for 30 seconds each.
6. Mental Math
Give a set of three instructions, counting the sequence to a partner for 30 seconds. Example: Count by two until 20, then count by three until 50, finishing with seven until 80. Switch and give the other partner another set of numbers to count.
7. Invisible Pictures
Have a student draw a picture in the air while their partner guesses what it is. You could give them categories such as foods, places, or other ways to narrow the guessing.
8. Story Starters
A student or teacher begins a story for one minute, either individually or with a partner. The students then complete or continue it with a silly ending.
9. Rock Scissors Paper Math
With the traditional game, the last call-out is “math.” With that call, students lay out one, two, three, or four fingers in the palm of their hand. The best of three wins.
Focused-Attention Practices
A focused-attention practice is a brain exercise for quieting the thousands of thoughts that distract and frustrate us each day. When the mind is quiet and focused, we are able to be present with a specific sound, sight, or taste. Research repeatedly shows that quieting our minds ignites our parasympathetic nervous system, reducing heart rate and blood pressure while enhancing our coping strategies to effectively handle the day-to-day challenges that keep coming. Our thinking improves and our emotions begin to regulate so that we can approach an experience with variable options.
For the following practices, the goal is to start with 60 to 90 seconds and build to five minutes:
1. Breathing
Use the breath as a focus point. Have students place one hand close to their nose (not touching) and one hand on their belly. As they breathe in, have them feel their bellies expand. As they exhale, they can feel the warm air hit their hand. Students will focus on this breath for only one minute. Let them know that it’s OK when thoughts sometimes come into the mind uninvited. Tell them to exhale that thought away.
2. Colors
Visualize colors while focusing on the breath. Inhale a deep green, and exhale a smoky gray. Have the students imagine the colors as swirling and alive with each inhale. If a student is de-escalating from an angry moment, the color red is a great color to exhale.
3. Movement
For younger children, direct students to stand and, as they inhale, lift an arm or leg and wiggle it, exhaling it back to its original position. For younger grades beginning these focused-attention practices, it’s good to include an inhale and exhale with any type of movement.
4. The Deep-Dive Breath
We inhale for four counts, hold for four, and exhale slowly for four counts. You can increase the holding of breath by a few seconds once the students find the rhythm of the exercise.
5. Energizing Breath
We pant like a dog with our mouths open and our tongues out for 30 seconds, continuing for another 30 seconds with our mouths closed as we take short belly breaths with one hand on the belly. We typically take three energizing pant breaths per second. After a full minute, the students return to four regular deep inhales and exhales.
6. Sound
The use of sound is very powerful for engaging a calm response. In the three classrooms where I teach, we use rain sticks, bells, chimes, and music. There are many websites that provide music for focus, relaxation and visualization. Here is one of my favorites.
7. Rise and Fall
As we breathe in and out through our noses, we can lie on the floor and place an object on our stomachs, enhancing our focus by watching the rising and falling of our bellies.
When we are focused and paying attention to our thoughts, feelings and choices, we have a much greater opportunity to change those thoughts and feelings that are not serving us well in life and in school. When we grasp this awareness, we see and feel the difference!
How do you stimulate or quiet your students?
December Checklist
1/5/2016
A little late for this year, but it will be good for next year!
December checklist:
- Teaching this week:
- Do fun or unusual content related assignments.
- Anticipate increased student absences.
- Don’t show movies without having a viewing purpose. Don’t release students for both lunches. Don’t allow your students to attend another teacher’s class during your period.
Holiday decorations:
- Complete the program. J Take down decorations before you leave. You don’t want to return to work tripping over tinsel and being reminded that the last long break is already over.
Leaving for the break:
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- Do you have a lesson ready for Monday, January 4, 2016? Take the time to prepare prior to leaving so you can relax over the break.
- Leave work at work. This is an important time to rejuvenate your mind and body. If possible, don’t take home grading.
- Paycheck:
- The 2nd December paycheck arrives early, you will not receive another paycheck until mid-January, plan accordingly.
Reflective Questions for Teachers and Students
Reflective Questions for Teachers
* Who provided a moment that defined the lesson for you?
* What worked or didn’t work with this lesson?
* When during the lesson did you feel most awesome or most frustrated?
* Where could you go to seek more information/strategies to make the lesson go even better next time?
* Why does this lesson belong in your “keep” or “discard” pile?
* How will you use what you learned here to improve next time?
For Students:
* Who among your peers really sparkled in class today?
* What was the one most important thing you learned today?
* When during the day did you feel most satisfied or most frustrated?
* Where could you seek more information about something you are wondering about from today?
* Why do you feel the way you do about today’s learning?
* How could you change what you do next time?
Source: Kathy Nimmer- 2015 Indiana Teacher of the Year Finalist
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-nimmer/reflective-questions-to-g_b_8484576.html?utm_hp_ref=education&ir=Education
Importance of reading every night
11/10/2015
Here is a thought on the importance of reading every night that you can share with the parents of the students in your classroom!
Why I can’t skip my 20 minutes of reading tonight?Let’s figure it out —MATHEMATICALLY!
Step 1: Multiply minutes a night x 5 times a week.
Student A reads 20 minutes x 5 times a week= 100 minutes/week
Student B reads 4 minutes x 5 times a week= 20 minutes/week
Step 2: Multiply minutes a week x 4 weeks each month.
Student A reads 400 minutes a month.
Student B reads 80 minutes a month.
Step 3: Multiply minutes a month x 9 month/school year
Student A reads 3600 minutes a school year.
Student B reads 720 minutes in a school year.
Student A practices reading the equivalent of 10 whole days a year.
Student B gets the equivalent of only 2 days of reading practice.
By the end of 6th grade if Student A and Student B maintain these same reading habits – not counting reading on the weekends or during summer vacation:
Student A will have read the equivalent of 60 whole school days.
Student B will have read the equivalent of only 12 school days.
The conclusion the gap of information retained per student will widen considerably and their individual school performance suffer.
Don’t forget to read 20 minutes tonight!