The Importance of Mindful Awareness in the Classroom

Does the word mindfulness mean anything to you?  After several years of teaching students with severe LDs, I have come to realize that teaching students to be mindful can foster huge results.  

We have three pillars at Sagonaska demonstration school; learn to read (better), learn to self advocate and learn to use technology in a way that assists students in learning.  To help with the self advocacy piece, Mr. Brown (@andrewpjbrown) turned Sagonaska onto a program called Mindup.  

"MindUP™ teaches social and emotional learning skills that link cognitive neuroscience, positive psychology and mindful awareness training utilizing a brain centric approach."

In the first few lessons students understand that the brain works like a team.  The prefrontal cortex, the amygdala and the hippocampus all work together to help make decisions.  After only a few lessons from the MindUp curriculum, students are better equipped be more mindful.  

I have found that students make mindful choices when they know how their brains work, and they understand how to use strategies to help slow the decision making process down.  Strategies such as deep breathing, listening to calming music, taking extra time to assess situations and choosing an optimistic attitude are all ways we can get students to make more mindful decisions.

Whether you are a student or a teacher, I want to know what you do in your classroom to be more mindful.  Please leave your comments below!

The Week of September 21 - 25, 2015

Another Crazy, Busy Week!

We started the Empower Reading program this week.  It is going well for students who are learning strategies to help them read words that they don't yet know.  The program was developed by Sick Kids in Toronto and gets results! Check out the Empower Reading Program.

We have also been learning a lot about mindfulness.  We are using a program called Mindup. This program teaches students mindful awareness.  Mr. Hayes and I did a little hands on lesson all about interconnection.  The lesson connects with both geography and mindfulness.

The red yarn represents connections between each other.  If one person pulls the yarn, everyone else holding the yarn feels the pull.  Relates to global issues (geography) and mindfulness (making choices).

Speaking of mindfulness...

We reached out to one of our Twitter friends this week!  We had a question about the Prefrontal Cortex (the front part of your brain which is responsible for making decisions).

We Day 2015!

Some of the students at Sagonaska will have the chance to attend We Day 2105 in Toronto.  If your student is in their first year, they have been invited.  Please look for the permission forms in the blue home going folder.  Also, please send any forms back ASAP so that we can start planning accordingly.

Fitness!

Mr. Hayes and I have been working on a fitness unit in gym class.  Your students are going to be lean mean learning machines!  We have also been encouraging students to wash their hands as it is the time of year we start to see a lot kids getting sick!  No body likes being sick.

Have a great weekend with family and friends!

The Week of September 14, 2015

As usual, we had a VERY busy week!

Most students got their Diagnostic Reading assessments done, we went on a field trip to Wesley Acres and the students even made their first blog post.

Check out the blog posts by your students, the pictures, videos and tweets that help to describe our awesome week!

We celebrated a couple of birthdays with some homemade poutine!

We read a book called "Rosie Revere Engineer" by Andrea Beaty. We used this book to help us define what exactly Teamwork is! Here is the anchor chart!

In My First Two Weeks!!

This is what I learned in the first two weeks at Sagonaska.

My First Two Weeks...

My first two weeks at Sagonaska I have learned...

What I have Learned at Sagonaska so Far

Here is a video explaining what I have learned at Sagonaska so far!

In My First Two Weeks

 Watch this video to see what I have learned In my first two weeks at Sagonaska!  
     

MY FIRST TWO WEEKS

Check out what I learned at Sagonaska in my first two weeks!

In My First Two Weeks At Sag...

In my first two weeks at sagonaska I learned.

My First Two Weeks...

Here is what I learned in my first two weeks at Sagonaska.

Using Technology for Creativity and Communication

Last year a film crew sent by the Ministry Education came to capture what we do here at Sagonaska. Here is a 5 minute snapshot of  some of the ways we use our assisstive technology  at Sagonaska.

Check it out on the Edugains website!

http://www.edugains.ca/newsite/21stCenturyLearning/index.html

Parent Involvement - How to Support Your Child's Learning

On the first day of school, parents always ask "What is the best way for me to help support my child's learning?".  Below is a list of the top answers I provide (the students helped me with some of these!).

1. Ask the teacher questions
2. Keep lines of communication open
3. Subscribe to the classroom blog
4. Follow us on Twitter
5. Don't let things linger
6. Volunteer in the classroom
7. READ with your child!
8. Ask your child what their favorite and their least favorite part of the school day is or was
9. Keep the teacher in the loop
10. Send indoor shoes
11. Put names on EVERYTHING
12. Encourage your child to ask "Why?"
13. Set the bar high!
14. Send old  books and magazines to the class
15. Send an extra set of clothes
16. Ensure your child is eating healthy

A parent sent this in! One of a teacher's best ally is the parents of the students they teach!

Our First Week! (Sept. 8 - 11)

We have had a fantastic week! Take a look through the Storify that we created and you can catch up with what we have done so far! I am very excited for this year as we have a fantastic class this year!

Here is what the students said when I asked "What is one thing you like about Sagonaska so far?"

Emma: "Knowing that I will get the help I want and need."

Jamie:  "I like that the staff set up fun games for the kids!"

Maggie:  "I get to see old friends and meet new friends"

Harry:  "The swimming."

Austin:  "I like my residence."

John:  "I like the residence"

Blair:  "I like the pool!"

Please be sure to check students' backpacks for their home going folders.  There is a folder from residence and a folder from the classroom.  Please check both!

Parent Homework...Leave a comment below explaining how you think this blog helps you as a parent!

The First Day of the School Year - Making the Transition Easy forParents

IWelcome to the 2015/2016 school year! Whether you are a teacher, student, parent, administrator, etc, I hope that you have fun! For some, the day can will be full of joy and happiness! For others, it may be full of angst. For me, its a bit of both.

Personally I always get a little bit anxious about the start of the new year. There are usually more questions than answers which causes me a little stress. Something I do to prepare myself mentally for the new year is to reflect on two things; why I became a teacher in the first place and how important a teacher's role is.  Thinking about these two questions actually relaxes me.

As one of my eldest daughter starts school today, I was thinking of how I could calm my nerves about her first day (from a parent perspective). Again, for my wife and I there are WAY more questions than answers (and I am a teacher!).  My current role is a special education resource teacher in a provincial;l demonstration school setting.  One of elements of our school is that we are a residential school.  So naturally, my experience brought me to the next question,

How do I help the parents of my students feel comfortable in leaving their kids with us for a full school year (minus weekends and holidays)?

Here is what I am going to do in the hour that I get to meet with the parents and students as they make their transition to Sagonaska Demonstration School...

1. Circle with the other grade 7 teacher, students and their parents. I plan on keeping the topic of this circle pretty light.
2. My perspective of the summer vacation through pictures
3. Review expectations for teacher/parent communication
4. Drawing of one of my favorite pictures about living with an LD
5. Time for questions and exchanging of contact information

I hope that your first days go well and are filled with fun and focused on building a community within your classroom and school!

I would also love to know what you do to help parents/students transition from Summer break to the first days of school? Leave a comment below!

Welcome to the 2015/2016 School Year!

Welcome to the new Blog!

Don't worry... all the posts that we worked so hard on last year are still up at sagonaskagrade8d.blogspot.ca !  

I thought it would be nice for my new students to have a fresh start!

I am very excited to see the progress my new students will make this year!

Please scroll to the "Follow Us by Email" button at the bottom of the page. This will ensure you don't miss any of our posts!