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Flexing Focus Muscles With Sound Lesson Plan

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Flexing Focus Muscles With Sound Lesson Plan

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Support a Culture of Wellness at Your School

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Support a Culture of Wellness at Your School

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How can you create a culture of wellness in your school or classroom?

General 'wellness' is an important concept for leading a healthy life wrapped up in a generic term. What does wellness look like and how can you encourage it in a class setting? Sketch-noter Sylvia Duckworth created the graphic above to share tips for supporting a culture of well-being in schools.

Children spend a significant amount of each week day in a classroom, making it not only a place to learn academics but also an opportunity to teach life skills that will serve them beyond the schoolyard, like self-care, community involvement, and fostering a sense of connection and belonging.
9 Ways To Support A Culture Of Wellness In Your School
1. Listen to student voice and 'allow them' to explore and change the education system

Give students the opportunity to speak up and feel heard by encouraging them to give feedback and provide alternatives to school, new learning forms, or even reasons to go to school.

2. Consider activism and fundraising

Fundraising for a local cause is an important lesson in community activism and can lead to a sense of interdependence and purpose in students. You can also come up with ideas for project-based learning-or even ways to help students come up with their own ideas for projects!

3. Teachers and staff lead by example and model healthy behaviors, relationships, and positive interactions

Be the change you want to see in the world - and start locally. Students should see adults modeling integrity, accountability, and positive communication.

4. Acknowledge and respect the individuality of each unique school community

Every community is different and those differences must be understood and honored in order to feel a sense of peace and belonging - both in the world and at school.

5. Inspire engagement using fun and meaningful learning activities

While they matter and are deeply embedded in our profession, teaching isn't simply about state standards and assessments. Crafting lessons using strategies that promote curiosity and a true desire to seek knowledge to create a mental environment for a lifelong love of learning.

6. Create a welcoming environment

Everyone just wants to feel like they belong. Greet students at the door by name or with a handshake. Make sure your students know they are seen, heard, and valued as individuals.

7. Ensure easy access to services and support in schools

Services may be offered, but do students know what that entails and who or how to ask? Outline the help available before help is necessary so they know where to turn.

8. Focus on building and serving the local community

Contributing to something greater can lead to feeling purposeful and a change of perspective about the circumstances of others. Get involved in community learning projects to model compassion on a grander scale.

See also 4 Education Strategies for Sustained Community Improvement

9. Create a sense of belonging through meaningful connections

Help create an environment of engagement and curiosity about others to encourage the development of deeper social relationships.

Wellness is really the lifelong practice of positivity - adopting a positive attitude, enacting positive policies and practices, surrounding yourself with positive people and places, and forming positive partnerships - and it's never too early (or late!) to start.
9 Ways To Support A Culture Of Wellness In Your School

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9 Ways To Support A Culture Of Wellness In Your School

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How can you create a culture of wellness in your school or classroom? General 'wellness' is an important concept for leading a healthy life wrapped up in a generic term. What does wellness look like and how can you encourage it in a class setting?

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Understand What's Happening - Why do we lose control of our emotions?

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Understand What's Happening - Why do we lose control of our emotions?

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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The physical reaction our bodies have to the stress and anxiety experienced by our brains can be debilitating for many students but it doesn't have to be.

There are proven breathing exercises that can truly help alleviate the physical reactions our bodies experience when stressed and in turn, when relaxed, our bodies can help slow down our minds. This week's #MentalHealthMonday video shares 4 of these techniques.

Some can help alleviate the stress in the moment and others are good preventative exercises that can be done daily to help fend off the physical reactions to stress.
1. Tension release:

Take a deep breath and hold it as you curl your toes for about 5 seconds, then let your breath go all at once. Don't ease off - let go completely!

Next clench your calves, thighs, buttocks, arms, shoulders, jaws and finally squeeze your eyelids.

Tense your muscles, one area at a time, and relax everything upon release.

2. Deep breathing:

Take a deep breath using your abdomen, ensure it expand fully.

Hold it in for about 3 seconds.

Exhale all at once (it's a good idea to make a sound or sigh audibly, it helps expend all the air)

As you exhale, be sure to relax your jaw and shoulders.

3. Focused breathing:

With your eyes closed, shift your attention to the tip of your nose.

As you inhale deeply, become aware of the air entering your nostrils.

Exhale but be aware of the sensations of air passing back out through your nostrils.

Repeat several times.

4. 8-4-7 breathing

1. Exhale (with sound) through your mouth for 8 seconds

2. Inhale quietly through your nose for 4 seconds.

3. Hold your breath for 7 seconds.

4. Repeat for four cycles.

5. Recommended that you do this once in the AM and once in the PM regularly.

Share with students in your circle of friends and/or family.
See these and more "one-minute breathing exercises" by the University of Michigan's Student Services.

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4 Breathing Exercises to Help Battle Student Stress and Anxiety | The Friendship Bench

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The physical reaction our bodies have to the stress and anxiety experienced by our brains can be debilitating for many students but it doesn't have to be. There are proven breathing exercises that can truly help alleviate the physical reactions our bodies experience when stressed and in turn, when relaxed, our bodies can help slow down our minds.

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The Benefits of Movement in the Classroom

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The Benefits of Movement in the Classroom

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Efficiency in Learning

The hippocampus needs time to process information because it is partially responsible for short-term memory and navigation

As students return to the content, the brain is able to refocus

Movement helps to develop social skills, which are important for connecting to comprehension and critical thinking skills

Realigning the body/brain connection helps re-energize learning

Stress Relief, Mood Elevation and Social Perks

If students are uncomfortable or stressed the brain will not retain new information easily, especially when critical thinking skills are being relied upon or the student is needing to connect new information to their personal experiences, prior knowledge or abstract thought

Student-to-student and student-to-teacher relationships are a key component in successful learning - Research has shown that fun, safe environments where students are kind and supportive of one another equate to more academic success

There is much less physical movement in modern day life, especially for children when P.E. and recesses are being reduced to focus more on academic achievement

Our best ideas often come when we are having a break

You may reduce feelings of being overwhelmed by the content

Class Cohesion

Heightens the student's attendance and participation in class

Builds relationships and overall concern for the well-being of others

Develops self-esteem and a sense of belonging

Boosts listening skills and communication

Promotes laughter and fun while learning

Improves self-discipline and motivation

The Role of Oxygen in Learning

Approximately 90% of the oxygen in our body and brain is stale until we take a deep breath, yawn, get up or move our bodies

Lack of oxygen results in confusion, lack of focus and memory problems

The movements themselves can be very brief and simple. Thirty-seconds to two-minutes is enough time to make all of this magic happen. Some examples of simple breaks are bending over at the waist and touching the toes, marching in place, walking the class around the room, squatting five times, jumping jacks, moving a piece of paper in a figure 8 motion around and between the legs, or clapping loudly and quietly at given intervals. Teachers can pass papers out by playfully throwing the paper in the air so students have to get up and move. Before peer editing work or correcting each other's math quizzes, students can crumple up their work into a ball and the class can have a one minute 'snowball fight' and when the teacher says "freeze," all the students pick up a paper near them, flatten it out and then correct it. The ideas can be functional as well as fun.

In learning environments where movement is integrated, students love being there, they academically perform better, and the information needs less review because students retain the content more efficiently. A creative teacher will start to see endless ways to bring more excitement into their lessons and the students will love them for it. Let us know some of your best ideas, if you come up with some winners.

Alright, now let's get moving and learning!

Read our upcoming blog posts for some examples of more complex movement breaks in the next few weeks!

At the Literacy and Language Center, Inc. we believe that movement is an essential tool for every student. We work with students using a student-centered approach and positive language reinforcement that augment our multisensory programs. We create a customized program for each student to meet their unique needs and to address academic weaknesses while honoring the student's strengths. Give us a call if you'd like to know more about our services.

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The Benefits of Movement in the Classroom

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The hippocampus needs time to process information because it is partially responsible for short-term memory and navigation As students return to the content, the brain is able to refocus Movement helps to develop social skills, which are important for connecting to comprehension and critical thinking skills Realigning the body/brain connection

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With a new school year beginning, many students are expected to rapidly transition from months full of activity and movement to a classroom that relies-primarily-on stasis. This can be a problem, especially when considering that the persistent demand for teachers to do more with their students has, unfortunately, pushed schools into thinking that movement and free play are just wasted time.

But studies show that children who are more active exhibit better focus, faster cognitive processing, and more successful memory retention than kids who spend the day sitting still. Keeping the body active promotes mental clarity by increasing blood flow to the brain, making activity vital to both learning and physical and neurological health.

The problem is that there aren't enough hands. Many educators know how important movement is, but don't have the classroom support to safely handle active children throughout the day.

Fortunately, teachers can take advantage of several opportunities to keep children active during the school day-without needing additional help to keep things under control.

Why Sitting Shouldn't Be the Standard

Sitting still and being quiet have always been schoolhouse rules. In recent years, the mantra has gained more steam with worries that today's children lack focus or aren't grounded enough in what has been dubbed an age of distraction. A 2011 study by researchers at Duke University found that a student's capacity to concentrate is one of the best predictors of success. The researchers studied more than 1,000 children in New Zealand over a period of eight years to track their ability to pay attention, then followed up with them as adults to measure their health and financial stability. Those with more self-control were less likely to have difficulty with money or health problems.

Given the endless media streams from devices like smartphones, iPads, and iPods, it's no surprise that children today seem less focused than kids 30 years ago. But tying them down is not the solution. Over the past few decades, the time schools have dedicated to physical education and recess has steadily decreased. Yet experts agree that children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. With this in mind, savvy teachers are increasingly making physical activity an important part of their lesson plans.

Play and movement give kids the chance to release stress and take breaks from the rigor of schoolwork. While it's important for children to learn how to work while sitting still, we also need to realize when our bodies are telling us to take a break-even as adults.

I learned the necessity of movement for myself in my college years. I retained a lot from sitting and focusing for two hours, but gained much less if forced to sit for five hours at a stretch. This knowledge has translated to my own work as a school-based physical therapist. I now help children and adolescents (and their parents) access specific strategies that can lead them to a more productive lifestyle.

Making Time for Activity

Discipline and order in classrooms help shape children's habits and rules of behavior early on in their lives-and these needs are not very different from what we need as adults. At work, you may hear co-workers say, "I'm going outside to get some fresh air for a few minutes" or "I need to take a walk to clear my head."

A quick 15-minute break helps adults tackle the rest of their day, and the same is true for children. More importantly, physical engagement helps children build the foundations of their social skills, particularly for children who are naturally shy or have difficulty with certain developmental areas. Kids can learn empathy by sharing, and build self-esteem and leadership skills by strategizing and working as part of a team.

Daily activity also helps boost balance, motor function, brain function, and cognition. According to a growing body of research, movement increases blood and oxygen flow, which positively affects cognitive development, physical health, and mental well-being.

I have supported teachers by teaching them how to use media in the classroom for breaks. YouTube is a great resource for finding videos to guide movement breaks and exercises. Teachers can also allow for free dance or movement periods during their classes.

Here are a few other ways teachers can seize opportunities that allow children to be more active:

1. Set ground rules for play.

Inviting children to move around more in the classroom can feel like inviting pandemonium. But as with all new strategies, the key is to set ground rules so children know what to expect. Before inviting them to move about, explain the purpose of an exercise that requires physical activity. Plan lessons and activities-even non-educational ones like jumping jacks-beforehand with clear objectives, time limits, and a backup plan in case the activity doesn't go as expected.

2. Make learning activities more active.

Create gallery walks in which children must travel around the room to observe visual aids for different parts of a lesson. Have children form groups to discuss and answer lesson questions, then have them write their answers on the board. Play board games tied to the current lesson and include spaces that call for students to do push-ups or jumping jacks. Making children carry their assignments to your desk, rather than passing them forward, can also introduce more movement into their day.

3. Encourage periodic breaks.

Midmorning snacks are an important way for adults to hold their hunger in check until lunch, and kids should have the same opportunity. Hunger can be one of the biggest distractions to learning, and offering snacks can also be a physical activity. Line up juice and snacks on a table at one end of the room, and have children take their refreshments back to their desks or to another designated area for some variety.

4. Take midday walks.

Taking a quick walk outside can do wonders to help lift the fog from a child's brain. If possible, plan lessons that can occur outside, or incorporate a 10- to 15-minute window around noon for the class to take a walk around campus. Walking offers fresh air and is one of the simplest and most effective forms of everyday physical activity.

There's a long way to go before incorporating physical activity into general lesson plans becomes the norm. In my practice, therapeutic play that emphasizes physical activity is paramount for children to acquire important cognitive and physical skills. When kids are moving, they're having more fun, often making lessons feel less like work.

However, we can't just state that activity is good for learning; we also have to prove it by tracking the performance and development of children who are more active. Once we begin to measure these effects, we can better understand how to implement activities into the broader educational system and better gauge which ones will give children the greatest health and learning benefits.

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Learning in Motion: Bring Movement Back to the Classroom (Opinion)

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With a new school year beginning, many students are expected to rapidly transition from months full of activity and movement to a classroom that relies-primarily-on stasis. This can be a problem, especially when considering that the persistent demand for teachers to do more with their students has, unfortunately, pushed schools into thinking that movement and free play are just wasted time.

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Energizing Animals Lesson Plan (Elementary)

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Energizing Animals Lesson Plan (Elementary)

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Sites to Keep Them Moving While Stuck Indoors

Sheltering at home during the COVID-19 pandemic means fewer opportunities for kids burn off their boundless energy. Here are some great classes and videos to help kids exercise during school closures and stay-at-home orders. Is your favorite activity not on the list? Send your tips to janine.defao@bayareaparent.com.
San Jose Dance Theatre Master Classes
San Jose Dance Theatre, which is launching a new professional ballet company, is offering a series of free online master classes for the community. The next classes are being offered Fri., May 22 and 29 at 4:45 p.m., featuring Joseph Gatti, the artistic director of the United Ballet Theatre, and Ask La Cour, a principal dancer with New York City Ballet. Sign up here.
Junior Giants
Missing baseball? The San Francisco Giants are kicking off Junior Giants at Home, a free four-week virtual season from May 11-June 6. Kids ages 5-18 can participate in live, age-specific training sessions twice a week. There will also be skills and drills videos from Giants Manager Gabe Kapler, as well as 25-35 minute team-style sessions that focus on physical activity and nutrition, baseball skills and drills, reading, character development and bullying prevention. Sign up at jrgiantsathome.org.
Kids Yoga
If your child has previously taken a kids yoga class in the Bay Area, be sure to check whether the school or instructor is offering online classes while businesses and community centers are shut down. Danika Rose Morrow, who teaches yoga to kids in Berkeley, is among the local professionals who are live streaming classes for kids and families on Zoom or social media. FInd Danika's class schedule on Facebook Live. Like many small businesses, income for fitnesses professionals has come to a halt, and donations from people taking their virtual classes are much appreciated.

UNICEF USA has launched UNICEF Kid Power, with dance and yoga videos to keep kids active, and other lessons addressing social emotional skills and helping others. Students work toward goals to unlock therapeutic food packets that UNICEF delivers to a child in need.

Check out Fit4Mom SF Peninsula's Facebook for parent-kid workout videos and upcoming online class schedule; they will be live streaming a Bedtime Yoga class for families on March 22.

Families with young children rave about Cosmic Kids Yoga, which uses colorful backgrounds and popular children's stories to help keep kids engaged. Find workouts lasting under 15 minutes and longer on its YouTube page.

Movelee uses a cute animated monkey to lead toddlers through short workouts.
Virtual Dance Classes
Alonzo King Lines Ballet in San Francisco is offering Free Family Fridays for grades K-2, 3-5 and 6-8, as well as other free resources and paid online classes.

East Bay instructor Yov Artista of A-R-T-I-S-T-A Performing Arts is live streaming classes in Spanish on Facebook Live.

Also check out Marin County pro Maggie Calegari of M3 Mindful Movement with Maggie's live classes for kids and parents, advertised on her Facebook page and streamed through Zoom.

Take an "absolute beginner" class with Berkeley Ballet Theater on Facebook.
Virtual Dance Party
For lots of silly dance and exercise fun, check out the videos on Go Noodle's You Tube page. Explore the Go Noodle website for other activities and games.

One of Go Noodles' regular featured artists is Koo Koo Kanga Roo, whose clever and hilarious music videos are fun for all ages.

Older kids love to move to family-friendly versions of today's pop hits with Kidz Bop Dance Along.

Mark Kanemura, a former backup dancer for Lady Gaga, is hosting virtual dance parties on Instagram Live.
Virtual Gymnastics
Gyminny Kids, based out of Southern California, is live streaming gymnastics, dancing and art classes and storytimes on social channels and adds new content daily to its virtual classroom and YouTube channel.
Martial Arts
Several local martial arts programs for kids are going online as well. Omulu Capoeira-San Francisco, which teaches the Afro-Brazlian martial art that blends dance and acrobatic, is streaming classes for adults and kids for a small fee.
Active games
Sick of screen time? When it comes to active play within the house, the possibilities are endless. Crawl on the floor like your favorite animals. Have a jumping jack contest. Use masking tape to draw a triangle, circle, square and rectangle on the floor and have your kids jump from shape to shape. Musical chairs, anyone?

Malaika Fraley is a Bay Area Parent contributor.

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Sheltering at home during the COVID-19 pandemic means fewer opportunities for kids burn off their boundless energy. Here are some great classes and videos to help kids exercise during school closures and stay-at-home orders. Is your favorite activity not on the list? Send your tips to janine.defao@bayareaparent.com.

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Fill it with quick activities you can pull out for a wiggle break (ex. 20 jumping jacks, 10 free throws, 3 laps around the house, collect 5 red items from the yard)

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Get Your Kids Moving & Practicing Mindfulness with GoNoodle®. Start Watching Now & Get Access to Hundreds of Videos! Active Learning. Healthy Kids. Active Kids. Boost Learning.

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"kids yoga" "yoga for kids" "yoga for children yoga story for kids" "children's yoga" "yoga adventure for kids" "kindergarten yoga" "preschool yoga" "kids me...

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YOGA | MINDFULNESS | RELAXATION FOR KIDS! Screentime that gives kids SUPERPOWERS! ⬇️ D O W N L O A D T H E C O S M I C K I D S A P P ⬇️ 🍏Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cosmic-kids/ 🛍️Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cosmickids 🖥️ Desktop (great for teachers!): https://app.cosmickids.com/ 📺 Roku: https://rb.gy/44r8d -------------------------------------------------------------------- Why watch on the App?