https://padlet.com/karen_jennings/wz1333688bxj Creating a more brain friendly classroom en-us 2018-02-04 17:27:24 UTC 2018-02-12 02:54:03 UTC hello@padlet.com karen_jennings https://padlet.com/karen_jennings/wz1333688bxj/wish/227877422 After reading this article, it confirmed my belief that our school system focuses too much on math and ELA instruction (most likely due to the high expectations of local and state standardized assessments).  More time could be spent on other academic subjects like science and social studies, and certainly on social emotional health whether as a health/ wellness class or integrated daily.   ]]> 2018-02-04 17:31:49 UTC https://padlet.com/karen_jennings/wz1333688bxj/wish/227877422 karen_jennings https://padlet.com/karen_jennings/wz1333688bxj/wish/227879323 I've often felt that grades, especially at the elementary level, are too subjective and they devalue the learning itself. I would much prefer a progression tool and check off skills that students master and are working towards. In fact, as an elementary teacher in a different county, that was how we measured and communicated student progress to parents. I felt much more comfortable communicating in that way. An example for 5th grade math might show the 8 indicators that were focused on during a term and how the student performed when formally assessed on the specific indicators (mastered, working towards mastery, has not mastered). ]]> 2018-02-04 17:39:55 UTC https://padlet.com/karen_jennings/wz1333688bxj/wish/227879323 karen_jennings https://padlet.com/karen_jennings/wz1333688bxj/wish/227880622 https://www.mindfulschools.org/video/healthy-habits-mind/
What stuck out to me in this video was this "Happiness and well being are best regarded as skills"  which in every sense means they must be taught in the exact same manner in which we tackle multiplication of decimals and synthesizing information from multiple texts to find a similar theme.  Yet, how are we truly "instructing" students in well being and happiness?
1. In FCPS, we have 10 required health lessons to teach each year.  Many focus on tobacco, drug, and alcohol use, or other subjects, like personal body safety or body changes/ development.  If happiness and well being are skills as this video suggest than we must find ways to teach the whole child, and more than just 10 times per year.
2. How are we encouraging students to practice happiness, well being and mindfulness daily? The routines in this video take time and will require a change in the daily routine in the classroom, building and perhaps even system. It's not something we can expect students to do, unless we are also practicing it as well.

]]> 2018-02-04 17:47:55 UTC https://padlet.com/karen_jennings/wz1333688bxj/wish/227880622 karen_jennings https://padlet.com/karen_jennings/wz1333688bxj/wish/227882127 https://www.mindfulschools.org/resources/room-to-breathe/
"It's like something in your backpack, you can always take it out and use it."  I love this!
By the way, I kind of felt like this last week, when I tried the breathing exercise with my 29 kiddos! It was only working for about 2/3 of them, so maybe I need one of those chime bowls! Anyway, I think this is especially relevant in a building like ours at TES, while we don't have kids screaming, yelling, or throwing backpacks (at least very often), we do have a lot of distractions with open space noise. Some of it is just good classroom discussion that can be loud. A place to breathe is hard to find. So putting this in place is important, but also a challenge.]]> 2018-02-04 17:57:24 UTC https://padlet.com/karen_jennings/wz1333688bxj/wish/227882127