Hi all!
Sometimes students need a little help recognizing just how much control they have to change their emotional state and improve how they feel. At The Leelanau School, we dedicated an afternoon to helping students practice mindfulness, relaxation strategies, and other strategies for maintaining a healthy emotional balance. Just as maintaining physical health takes effort, we believe in incorporating practices to stave off anxiety and feelings of depression. I was so excited to share with students about Carol Dweck's research into Growth Mindset. Her research shows that intelligence and learning ability are not static conditions - they can be changed over time with intentional practice. On our wellness day, I applied a Growth Mindset perspective to the Happiness Experiment. Learn more by clicking this link or viewing the slide show below.
0 Comments
This time of year, many teachers are starting to think about the start of school. For some, this means creating some exciting new lessons and engaging new assessments. For others, this means working up new materials and integrating new educational technology tools. If one of your goals is to improve your course syllabus, here are some tips and tools to try! You can view this Google Slide show below oraccess the full presentation and links here. Enjoy!
In light of all the research about nutrition and the functioning of the teenage learner, The Leelanau School has committed to healthy food practices to help our students feel their very best and incorporate healthy habits into their own routines. That said, we would never want our teens to feel as though our practices infringe upon their rights as intelligent young adults to make their own decisions. To this end, we have worked with the students to determine a balanced set of recommendations to encourage reasonable habits while honoring their preferences. One such policy is our "Sugary Drink" agreement. Here is what it looks like: Our Commitment to your WellnessResearch dedicated to the healthy minds and bodies for teenagers (and adults for that matter…) has proven the harmful effects of sugary beverages. The following policy honors this research and encourages everyone in The Leelanau School community to choose water and commit to reducing the sugar in our diets. Sugary drinks are not allowed in the Academic Building, Art Building, Dining Hall, and during School activities. This includes energy drinks, sodas, caffeine supplements, and similar drinks.
We do allow snacks in the Learning Commons, however we encourage you to choose fruits, vegetables, and high protein snacks. This is a learning space and not the place for candy, chips, or other treats. We post this policy in our classroom and use it as a reminder when students question the practice or forget and bring a soda to class. We also post infographics that help educate as well as remind us all why we commit to this agreement.
School days at Leelanau are full, exciting, and busy. In a small, independent school, we all wear a lot of "hats", meaning we all share a variety of responsibilities to make sure things are smooth and the kids get what they need. It is important to periodically take the time to reflect on how things are going. What is working? Celebrate it! What can be improved? Make a plan for improvement.
During one such reflection, I was asked to summarize "Learning at Leelanau" and prepare a small presentation to demonstrate what we do and how we do it. Please enjoy my summary in the presentation below or by clicking this link. |
AuthorLoved Wife. Archives
August 2018
Categories |