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Center For Responsive Schools | Every student in every school, every day.

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We believe students thrive in school & classroom environments that are responsive to their academic, social, and emotional strengths and needs.

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Quick Tips to Articulate Desirable Outcomes

Goal setting is an integral social and emotional skill that helps students plan for desirable outcomes in various aspects of their lives including in academics, extracurriculars, friendships, home life, and other formal and informal settings. This blog post provides tangible tips for educators to assist students in visualizing, articulating, and clarifying their personal goals. Helping students craft a vision for their desired outcome supports not only their ability to set clear goals, but also their ability to follow through and attain those goals.

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Social Emotional Learning Curriculum | SEL Program | Fly Five

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Fly Five provides online Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum Program for kindergarten to eighth-grade students to learn a set of social and emotional skills like cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control.

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"Before you speak, listen." -William A. Ward Listening With Purpose As I listen in on the student conversations occurring around the classroom, I notice that my students have a firm grasp on the basics of listening and speaking. They turn their attention toward the speaker and maintain a calm...

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Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching that focuses on the strong link between academic success and social-emotional learning (SEL).

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Adventures of the Center City Kids

Adventures of the Center City Kids is a collection of engaging, relevant, and relatable books for children and youth that promotes literacy skills, celebrates family, and amplifies cultural diversity. This series supports academic, social, and emotional growth in five core competencies: cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control. The Adventures of the Center City Kids read-aloud children's book series inspires readers to create a good life for themselves, their families, and their community.

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Adventures of the Center City Kids is a collection of engaging, relevant, and relatable books for children and youth.

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These practical tips and tricks for educators are research-based and meant to improve your social and emotional competence. Follow along for a deep dive into the C.A.R.E.S. competencies (cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, and self-control), to consider how they can be embedded into your every day life.

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SEL Mindfulness Lessons

HOW MINDFULNESS SUPPORTS SEL

Mindfulness provides students with strategies to identify, name, and manage emotions and the expression of emotions to remain in control and on a successful trajectory.

Mindfulness reduces anxiety, stress, and burnout for both students and teachers (Jennings, Lantieri, Roeser, 2012), which can improve academic and behavioral outcomes. It also improves attention, concentration, and resilience while decreasing the frequency of undesirable behaviors (Mulhearn, Kulinna, Lorenz, 2017) so students can remain focused on learning.

Mindfulness allows for understanding that emotions are natural biological processes that are neither positive nor negative, but are neutral experiences. Mindfulness helps students become acquainted with Plutchik’s eight basic emotions: anger, joy, trust,sadness, disgust, surprise, anticipation, and fear. Click here to learn more about the purposes of your right basic emotions.

HOW FLY FIVE INTEGRATES MINDFULNESS

The Mindful Student® includes twenty grade-specific, age-appropriate mindfulness lessons. Each activity focuses on a C.A.R.E.S. competency and grade level skill. The activities are carefully designed to meet students where they are developmentally, so they range from hands-on activities to quiet reflections depending on the age and stage of the students. What’s more, no two lessons are alike: each grade-level receives a unique set of activities to be implemented whenever students need a reset.

THE SEVEN FLY FIVE MINDFULNESS PRINCIPLES

The Mindful Student activities focus on one of the seven Fly Five Mindfulness Principles. These principles highlight simple practices that students and teachers can incorporate into their daily routine. They remind us to stay present, aware, and in control of our emotions, which helps us maintain perspective and balance in any situation. The seven Fly Five Mindfulness principles:

Put in Neutral

To find stillness and observe yourself and where you are in the world.

Take it Slow

To allow situations to unfold in their own time.

Reset Experiences

To see things as if for the first time and adopt a learning perspective.

Have Faith

To trust in yourself and in the capabilities of your body and mind.

In the Moment

To hold a moment in awareness and acknowledge it as it comes, whether it is positive or negative.

Reality Check

To check in and measure our expectations versus what is really happening.

Suspended Judgment

To release expectations of attachment or rejection when they no longer serve you.

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Online Mindfulness Learning Activities for Students | Fly Five

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Why Fly Five offers Mindfulness Activities with SEL Curriculum? Our Online Mindfulness Learning Activities for Students reduces anxiety, stress, and burnout for both students and teachers which can improve academic and behavioral outcomes.

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C.A.R.E.S., The Mindful Student
Through mindfulness practice, students will discover how to remain in control of their emotions and stay on track for success. There are numerous ways to bring mindfulness into the classroom and provide students with the ability to live joyful, productive, healthy, and successful lives.
Why Practice Mindfulness?

When we consider what it looks like to take care of ourselves and our well-being, several things may come to mind, such as moving our bodies, practicing good hygiene, and eating foods that we enjoy. These are all very important parts of our routine, but how often do we remember to take care of our minds, too? Our mind is hard at work, just as our body is, and there are many ways that we can and should take care of it. Engaging in mindfulness -a meditative practice that focuses on breathing and bringing awareness to the present moment-is a wonderful way to tend to our mind and, in turn, reap all of the many benefits that come along with it.

Students, teachers, and parents can find ways to integrate mindfulness into their lives to help manage their emotions and maintain a successful trajectory. When emotional challenges arise in the classroom and students and teachers are not equipped with the proper strategies to handle them, there is a likelihood of experiencing burnout. ( Jennings et al., 2012 ). Mindful practices will allow for nonacademic student needs to be addressed and supported so that students are empowered to better regulate their emotions and turn them into something positive. When we face so many different emotions each day, it is valuable to have the tools we need to self-regulate, refocus our attention, and navigate our emotions without judgment.

The Benefits of Mindfulness

Regularly engaging in mindfulness can result in significant psychological and academic improvements. When students are stressed or overwhelmed, their brains have more difficulty reaching their full potential. By equipping students with their own mindfulness techniques, we can set them up for success throughout their educational career and beyond. This success can look like a number of different things, including:

Better stress management. By engaging in breath and body awareness, students can reduce the amount of unhealthy stress they experience ( Jennings et al., 2012 ).

Lowered levels of depression. Mindfulness work reduces the brain's reaction to negative stimuli (Tatter, 2019), meaning that adverse thoughts and feelings, as well as unpleasant environmental factors, are less likely to have a harmful impact on the student's mental health.

Enhanced memory. Students who practice mindfulness on a regular basis experience increased memory capacity and improved ability to recall information, which leads to higher academic performance. This is a result of lowered levels of stress (Vogel & Schwabe, 2016).

Improved empathy and compassion. Through exercises that promote mindful listening, students will be able to better hear what others are saying without reacting with judgment or emotion. They will also be more sensitive to and understanding of the needs of others ( Jennings et al., 2012 ).

Student Success and Mindfulness

How this success is achieved can look a number of ways, and each student will have their own preferences as to how they would like to implement mindfulness into their routines. When we offer students the opportunity to try out different ways to cultivate mindfulness, we give them the autonomy to commandeer their own success and make mindfulness a lifelong practice.

In schools that integrate mindfulness into their curriculum, many positive outcomes have been achieved. Classrooms that practice mindfulness not only see a reduction in disruptive behavior, but they also see lower rates of peer bullying, lessened fatigue, and improved self-confidence (Waterford.org, 2021). This practice also results in better conflict resolution, enhanced student-teacher relationships, and strengthened impulse control ( Jennings et al. 2012 ), all of which helps create an enjoyable and productive classroom environment.

Cultivating a Mindful Classroom

It does not take an extensive amount of time or effort to cultivate a mindful classroom environment. Here are some tips to keep in mind when striving to effectively bring mindfulness to your students:

Set aside time each day to engage in mindfulness. This could be at the very beginning of the day or anytime throughout the day. Making mindfulness a regular occurrence will keep students receptive and in tune with the practice.

Try different mindfulness practices with students. Meditation, yoga, and journaling are a few different ways to explore being mindful with your students. By offering several options, students can develop an understanding of which practices they prefer.

Talk to students about why mindfulness is important. Educate students about the benefits of mindfulness and the ways that it can be used as a tool to navigate their feelings and promote positivity and happiness so that they can see the bigger picture.

By empowering students to regulate their thoughts and emotions, we are making the most out of their education and giving them tools that will change their lives for the better. Mindfulness is how we take care of our minds to live successful, joy-filled lives.

References

Jennings, P. A., Lantieri, L., & Roeser, R. W. (2012.). Supporting educational goals through cultivating mindfulness: Approaches for teachers and students. In P. M. Brown, M. W. Corrigan, & A. H. Higgins-D'Alessandro (Eds.), Handbook of prosocial education (pp. 371-397). Rowman & Littlefield. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235324459_Supporting_educational_goals_through_cultivating_mindfulness_Approaches_for_teachers_and_students

Tatter, G. (2019, January 23). Making time for mindfulness . Harvard Graduate School of Education. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/19/01/making-time-mindfulness

Vogel, S., & Schwabe, L. (2016). Learning and memory under stress: Implications for the classroom. Npj Science of Learning, 1 . https://doi.org/10.1038/npjscilearn.2016.11

Waterford.org. (2019, February 26). Why mindfulness strengthens social emotional development and academic achievement . https://www.waterford.org/education/mindfulness-in-schools/

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Cultivating Classroom Success Through Mindfulness - Fly Five

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Cultivate success through mindfulness. Manage stress, boost memory, and create a positive classroom. Empower students with lifelong tools.

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Mindfulness Activities for Every Student

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Mindfulness Activities for Every Student

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Mindfulness Activities for Every Student - Fly Five

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Learn more about how The Mindful Student provides meaningful SEL support across all skill levels.

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Mindful Student Lesson Cards- Per Grade Level

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Mindful Student Lesson Cards- Per Grade Level

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The Mindful Student Lesson Cards - Grades K-8

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The Mindful Student Lesson Cards - Grades K-8

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Introduction to Fly Five Curriculum_3-25-21

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Introduction to Fly Five Curriculum_3-25-21

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Mindfulness as a Tool for Classroom Management

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Ways to Foster Representation Across The School Community

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Ways to Foster Representation Across The School Community

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Avenue A, Representation, Student Engagement

How is it possible to create a safe, inclusive, and communal space for all students? Imagine a classroom that feels a little bit like home. Students and educators can grow and learn through celebratory visual representation, projects that are inspired by a wide range of identities and cultures, and open conversations where students can collaborate on what matters most in the classroom-bringing more of themselves.

A classroom that reflects back a diverse student body shows that all students are welcome.
Classroom connectedness and student belonging can be sparked by tangible things, like a poster on the wall of something they love, or a cultural reference their teacher makes in class that makes them feel seen. Creating a physical and emotional environment that honors students' unique cultures helps foster authentic representation in school communities.

Encouraging students to share parts of their culture with their peers and educators can lead to a deeper understanding of who they are. When we are able to learn from students and their families about their authentic selves, we can improve student-teacher relationships, inspire creative lesson planning, and discover what we want our classrooms to look and sound like.

How the Classroom Looks and Feels

Representation of student identities in the classroom can help students envision themselves as successful learners. Aspects of student identity include culture, family structure, race and ethnicity, sports and activities, religion, music, and pop culture. When we honor each part of the student, student belonging increases and peers are likely to appreciate their similarities and differences. Consider the following ways to make your classroom feel inviting to all students:

Family photos. Encouraging students to bring in photos of themselves with their families can help close the gap between school and home life. When students feel a continued sense of connection and belonging in the classroom, their ability to take risks in a safe environment increases.

Visual representation. Incorporating cultural context into the classroom, like language or slang, can help students feel at ease. When they see themselves in media or curricula in the classroom, it creates a positive school environment that allows student growth and greater academic achievement (Regional, 2021).

Celebratory images. Images that showcase diverse historical figures that students identify with can build student confidence, empathy, and self-efficacy. Thoughtful language, such as culturally relevant names used in texts, examples, and math problems is also likely to make students feel seen and recognized.

Boosting Academic Achievement

Once students feel confident and safe in their school environment, it is likely to support a sense of positive self perception. Culturally responsive classrooms allow all students to thrive and believe they have the skills they need to succeed (Cherry, 2021). When educators incorporate students' cultural references to the work, they become more connected. Consider these ways to increase student engagement and achievement through finding what matters:

Cultural connections. When students feel connected to their schoolwork, it increases intrinsic motivation. Encouraging learners to include cultural references in their work, or present projects in ways that feel natural to them, like in song, rap, or visual arts, encourages deeper and longer-lasting learning.

Research projects. Research and service projects build an appreciation for student diversity and students' cognitive empathy, or recognizing how a person might feel or think in an emotional situation. It gives them an opportunity to talk outside of the classroom about difficult situations and real problems facing student communities.

Inspiring texts. Incorporating inspirational texts in class curricula helps students find deeper connections to their work and encourages increased feelings of purpose in their everyday lives. Including social justice issues and cultural texts will motivate students to exhibit prosocial behaviors in the classroom, such as helping others, fighting injustice, and displaying sensitivity and compassion for others.

References

Cherry, K. (2021, July 22). Self efficacy and why believing in yourself matters. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-self-efficacy-2795954

Reginal, T. (2021, February 11). Providing better support to students of color: The importance of school climate, belonging, and well-being. https://www.urban.org/research/publication/providing-better-support-students-color-importance-school-climate-belonging-and-well-being

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Build Your SEL Skills: Right Tools - Fly Five SEL

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Foster a sense of belonging! Explore ways to celebrate diversity, amplify student voices, and enhance representation in your school community.

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The Connection Between Belonging and Representation

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The Connection Between Belonging and Representation

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The Connection Between Belonging and Representation - Fly Five

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When we connect representation and belonging, students and teachers are presented with a powerful tool for learning about SEL potential.

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Responsive Classroom and Fly Five alignment

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Responsive Classroom and Fly Five alignment