Minds on Learning
Supporting Students' Self-Awareness & Self-Regulation
Hello, ______________________! I notice your eyes are...
Learning: Activation & Installation
Dr. Hanson's work is grounded in positive neuroplasticity and the amazing potential of our brains to become more resilient. He offers several strategies that we can practice (and teach our students!)
E- Enrich it. Stay fully with it, feeling it completely.
A- Absorb it: Receive it into yourself.
L- Link it (optional). Use it to soothe and replace painful, harmful psychological material.
Resilient, by Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
My Go-To Middle School Resource
But I'm Required to Teach the Common Core!
Note how Literacy Essentials align to SEL competencies!
Let's approach our learning today considering how the literacy standards, activities and resources we choose can suppport our students' social-emotional literacy.
"Research demonstrates that human development and student learning are highly dependent on interpersonal relationships and positive learning environments (Eccles et al., 1993). However, school improvement efforts often focus on students’ mastery of academic skills with much less emphasis on students’ social and emotional skills, which are integral to human development and are a contributing factor to school culture."
Build the Foundation
Our students need to feel grounded and safe
.43 Teacher Expectations
Reduce anxiety
OK to make mistakes
Not yet
.72 Teacher/Student Relationships
Mirror neurons/chameleon effect
Smile .36 workplace performance
demeanor/posture/gestures/facial expression/smile/eye contact
Potential Benefits of Mindfulness Integration
A number of studies have identified the psychological benefits, as well as positive changes to the brain. Research on academic improvement is emerging, as this article indicates. Implementing consistent calming, focus, and awareness practices in our classrooms can:
- Improve classroom climate -engagement, attention, participation, social behavior
- Improve academic performance - focus, cognitive skills/executive function/working memory
- Mitigate the effects of bullying (Zhou, Liu, Niu, Sun, & Fan, 2016)
- Provide more self-control, self-awareness & insight
- Reduce symptoms related to stress, anxiety & depression
- Reduce test anxiety
- Reduce suspension rates & teacher turnover
- Reduce ADHD symptoms & hyperactivity (Zhang et al., 2016)
Teach Students Physical Presence
1. Help children be present in their physical bodies.
2. Teach them how stress hijacks the brain & nervous system.
- Hippocampus: regulates emotions; plays an important role in learning & memory. Manages our responses to threats.
- Amygdala: reacts to fear, threat, or danger and can become over-reactive. If we are in a calm, positive state, it sends information through to our thinking, reasoning brain. If we are in a negative state, that information is blocked. (Fight, flight, or freeze)
- Pre-Frontal Cortex: responsible for attention, problem-solving, planning, & self-regulation. Information is limited to this area if our brains are under stress.
3. Teach them practices that will help them regulate their physical bodies.
Strategies for Physical Awareness
Intentional Movement: Slow motion movement: writing slowly; Breathe & walk; Moon Walk
From Chaos to Calm (aka Shake it Off): Tighten up face, fists, bodies on an inhale; relax on the exhale X 10; then relax completely X 10. Move to shaking and freezing. Have students notice what each state feels like in the body? What is different? What does it feel like to shift?
Rainstorm: Rub hands together, then tap on lap, slowly then quickly; clap hands high for lightning; stomp feet for thunder...then go backwards to still and quiet.
Imagination Breathing: Spider-man breath, Crocodile Breath, Butterfly Breath; Snake Breath; Bumblebee;
Literacy Connection: Breathe Like a Bear
Diaphragmatic Breathing (Hey! This works for you, too!)
“The faculty of voluntarily bringing back a wandering attention over and over again, is the very root of judgement, character and will. An education which should improve this faculty would be the education par excellence. But it is easier to define this ideal than to give practical instructions for bringing it about. --William James, Principles of Psychology, 1890
Squirrel!!!
Distractions/Attention
Anchor Breathing
Focus Breath (candle, object; practice distractions)
Listening -using the ears to focus; hold the sound until the end; guess the sounds; listen for sounds they hadn’t noticed
The Distraction Game:
What is distraction?
What does distraction & impulsivity feel like on the inside?
what distracts you? What can you do to refocus?
Affirmations & Growth Mindset
Affirmations for Kids-- I AM:

The ABC's of Life
- Accept the Challenge
- Believe in Yourself
- Choice not Chance Determines Success
Give students one to write about and discuss each day/week...OR create your classroom ABC's of Life!
Teach Students Emotional Awareness
2. Teach students to notice their thoughts and the correlating sensations in their bodies.
3. This will allow students to identify and regulate emotions before reacting.
Literacy Connection:
Helping students identify their emotions
What does it look like in your face?
What does it look like in your body? Posture
Our range of emotions are okay and temporary
Strategies for Emotional Regulation: BREATHE
This can be a very helpful exercise to do when you are feeling anxious or dysregulated or if there is conflict or stress in the classroom. The goal is to collect all of the anxious energy and then release it all out. This is a great exercise for teachers to do on their own, too!
- Imagine that you have a vacuum cleaner in your stomach that you can suck up any tension or stress.
- As you take a long inhale, imagine that any stress from your head, shoulders, chest, is getting sucked down into the bottom of your belly.
- Then you hold the breath for 3 seconds in your belly .
- When you release, imagine that you are releasing any gunk down into the ground (Model a powerful exhalation and repeat this 3-5 times).
7/11 Breath
- Count to 7 on the inhale; 11 on the exhale (start with 3/5, 5/7)
- Repeat 3-5 times
- Used by paramedics, firefighters, and first responders
- Also: Square Breath-Inhale to 4, hold for 4, Exhale to 4, hold for 4)
Let the clouds come and go
3 breaths
Dark clouds
Breathe them away
“Today I’m going to be…”
Visualize the Calm
For the next three minutes, visualize of one or more of the following favorite, reassuring, and uplifting items in as much detail as you can.
Favorite color(s)
Favorite wise person
Favorite healthy food
Favorite song or sound
Favorite peaceful place
Favorite animal
Favorite natural setting
Favorite quote
Favorite soothing activity
Gratitude/Optimism/Hope
Increases optimism; happiness, self-worth
More compassion, generosity, forgiveness, stronger relationships
Better sleep
Greater resilience
Strategies for Cultivating Social Awareness
*Write a letter of gratitude to someone who made a difference in your life
*Send a text
Kindness/Compassion/Positive Qualities
Flow and Tell: “In the present moment, I’m aware of…”
Rose & Thorn (great for reflection)
Mindful Games Activity Cards (Great for Kids & Teens)
Integrate thematic units that exemplify positive qualities (See Every Child a Super Reader: belonging, curiosity, friendship, kindness, confidence, courage, and hope)
Belonging: Community River
- I like to learn about...
- My favorite author is...
- My favorite type of book is...
- Something that makes me happy...
- When I read I like to...
- Something I like to do for fun is...
- I can help my classmates with...
Adhere to a "river" on the wall. Students can notice what they have in common, what makes them unique, what makes them special.
"I'm Doing Yogurt!!"
Teach Students Global Awareness
2. Provide opportunities for students to experience and explore nature.
3. Investigate where an object or food item came from: what is it made of? How was it produced? What happens to it when we are done with it?
Other Integration "Pause-abilities"
Peaceful Pause during morning announcements, before transitions, lunch or recess
Integration in PE/Health, advisory, or other elective
Get students involved in leading mini-movement/breathing practices throughout the day
Integration into Positive Behavior Support/Restorative Practices
Natural integration into classroom culture in all content areas
Lessons/activities for attention, emotional control, positive self-concept, positive interactions
Lunch or After School Club
“In today’s rush, we all think too much — seek too much — want too much — and forget about the joy of just being” (Eckhart Tolle).
Taking Care of YOU
Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators
- Know yourself
- Understand your emotions
- Tell empowering stories: Try This! 3 Good Things
- Build community
- Be here now
- Take care of yourself
- Focus on the bright spots
- Cultivate compassion
- Be a learner
- Play and create
- Ride the waves of change
- Celebrate & appreciate
Reflection/Debrief
Write it down!
Something you’ll commit to:
Right away
Next few months
Before the end of the year

Lisa Madden, MACT, RYT 500, E-RYT 200, YACEP
Lisa Madden is a Learning Coach for Lapeer Community Schools, coaching other educators on the implementation of evidence-based practices. Lisa started her career in education over 25 years ago as a high school English teacher in beautiful Suttons Bay. She transitioned to Lapeer County, where she worked as an Education Consultant at LCISD, then Supervisor of ELA and Social Studies for Lapeer Community Schools, and Coordinator of Curriculum & Special Projects at Genesee ISD.
A student of yoga for over 20 years, Lisa is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance, and founded IN2 Yoga in Lapeer, MI in 2016. This blend of experience has cultivated her commitment to advocate for the integration of mindfulness practices and social-emotional learning; attention to educators' well-being and resilience; and the fostering of healthy, supportive relationships within classrooms, schools, and systems. Lisa completed her 300-hour yoga certification through the Beaumont School of Yoga Therapy, and is currently studying for her Yoga Therapy Level III Certification. She has also studied Yin Yoga under Joe Barnett, and Restorative Yoga with Jillian Pransky.