Mindfulness Newsletter
August 2018--#mindfulAISD
Welcome Back!!
Featured in this Back to School edition of the Mindful AISD Newsletter...
- Starting Mindfulness on Day 1
- Mindfulness Professional Learning through HCP
- Vote for AISD at SXSWedu
- Mindfulness for Families
- Mindfulness & Equity
- Mindful Technology
- Mindfulness & Athletics
- SEL Newsletter
- Mindful Happenings in AISD
The italicized points above will be recurring themes in each mindfulness newsletter. Resources will be provided that directly relate to those themes. Please feel free to email me suggestions for what to include in future newsletters.
Reminder: For more regular mindfulness updates, please follow me on Twitter, @mrbutler629. I post regularly, providing tips and highlighting mindfulness happening across the district. Also, feel free to use #mindfulAISD when posting about mindfulness.
Starting Mindfulness on Day 1
Before starting, I recommend watching the 5 Tips for Mindfulness Implementation video on our Mindful AISD YouTube playlist before getting started. It's only 1 minute 45 seconds and has tips based on years of experience using mindfulness in the classroom.
On day 1, take 3-5 minutes to briefly define mindfulness, how it helps the brain and take three deep breaths together as a class. Below you'll also find some helpful resources, a letter to families and videos to help explain mindfulness to your students.
And remember, mindfulness in the classroom really only works if you have some type of personal practice. Even just a few minutes consistently. This allows for us to empathize with our students and be better prepared when students have questions about it.
Define Mindfulness
Teach About the Brain
Take 3 Deep Breaths
Mindfulness Professional Learning through HCP
“Mindfulness in Schools” HCP course (feel free to print & post this flyer on campus).
All will be held at the Blanton Museum of Art in classrooms above the cafeteria. These classes are open to ALL AISD staff. Thanks to a generous donation from a community member, teacher & librarian subs will be paid for by the SEL Department.
Mindfulness Series
Section #: 88374--October 2nd, 8am-11am, Mindfulness 101 (beginner)
Section #: 88974--October 2nd, 1pm-4pm, Mindfulness 101 (beginner)
Section #: 88380--November 1st, 8am-11am, Mindfulness 201 (intermediate)
Section #: 88976--November 1st, 1-4pm, Mindfulness 201 (intermediate)
Section #: 88384--November 29th, 8-11am, Mindfulness 301 (advanced)
**There are NO prerequisites for 201 & 301. Choose which level you think you should attend based on your knowledge and expertise with mindfulness. For 301, it's preferred that you have at least one full year of practicing mindfulness in your classroom.
Integrating Mindfulness
Section #: 88387--October 25th, 8am-11am, Culturally Responsive Mindfulness
Section #: 88975--October 25th, 1pm-4pm, Culturally Responsive Mindfulness
Section #: 88385--November 29th, 1-4pm, Mindfulness & The Arts
Mindfulness for Librarians
Section #: 88379--October 3rd, 1-4pm, Mindfulness for Elementary Librarians
Section #: 88381--November 14th, 1-4pm, Mindfulness for Secondary Librarians
Mindfulness for Counselors
Section #: 88382--December 6th, 8-11am, Mindfulness for Elementary Counselors
Section #: 88383--December 6th, 1-4pm, Mindfulness for Secondary Counselors
Vote for AISD at SXSWedu
Did you submit a proposal and not make the doc? Email me or leave a comment on the doc and I'll fix that. Thanks!
Mindfulness for Families
The letter and most of the resources are translated into Spanish, Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Burmese, Kinyarwanda & Swahili. Feel free to share the link with families as well: bit.ly/mindfulfams
Mindfulness & Equity
This is a new section in the Mindful AISD newsletter. Mindfulness & Equity are deeply connected through self-awareness. Equity is a crucial component of education that help us reach ALL of our students. It's also a priority in the district and at the base of the SEL 2.0 wheel. Each month, I'll share an article or resource that supports the connection between Mindfulness & Equity.
Mindful Technology
Mindfulness & Athletics
SEL Newsletter
Mindful Happenings in Austin ISD
Mindful Student & District Leadership
Mindful Food Service
Mindful Librarians
Mindful Administrators
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Mindful Classrooms: The Educator Guide
Those of you who are using Mindful Classrooms: The Educator Guide, I recommend Weeks 1-2 for these first couple weeks in August. As a friendly reminder, the book will be published by Free Spirit Publishing soon and I won't be able to give away free copies once that happens. AISD staff, sign up for a free electronic copy of the book while you can in the support form at the bottom of this newsletter.
#mindfulAISD archives
Mindfulness Newsletter Archives (One link to access all newsletters from 16-17 & 17-18)
Letter to Families
Here's a letter about mindfulness you can share with families. It provides a brief description of mindfulness and a message from Dr. Cruz supporting mindfulness in schools.
The letter is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi/Dari & Burmese.
Inner Explorer
Videos Explaining Mindfulness
#mindfulAISD YouTube Playlist
Calm--FREE for educators!
FREE Calm.com Lifetime Subscription for Teachers (PreK-12)
Multilingual Mindfulness
Want mindfulness activities in Spanish, Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Burmese, Swahili & Kinyarwanda? We've got them for you!
Zen Den YouTube Playlist
The "Zen Den" YouTube playlist offers 18 videos, ranging from 4-8 minutes in length.
Mind Yeti: Connecting Mindfulness w/ Explicit SEL Lessons
Mindyeti.com is a great resource that connects mindfulness with Second Step lessons, and it's FREE!
GoNoodle
GoNoodle is for the body and the mind.
Here is a link to a document that lists all the GoNoodle Mindfulness videos sorted by channel and with the length of each video.
De-Escalation Strategies Poster
This poster can be an addition to your classroom, Peace Area, hallways, Mindfulness Room, etc.
Mindful Life Project
Guided Mindfulness Activities in English & Spanish--Great for Secondary.
They also have a free app titled "Mindful Life Project."