00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:17.000
Becky, this is the part of the webinar that I love where we open up and go live a couple minutes early. So early birds can dial in and see what it's like behind the scenes in a webinar.

00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:23.000
It's great. Where are you located Becky, I'm in Racine, Wisconsin, so just a bit south of Milwaukee.

00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:30.000
Oh great, I'm in Virginia and I think we both have some interesting weather going on right now.

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:39.000
Yes, it absolutely is it brightened up here which is great. We've got baseball for the kids tonight so there. They were hoping for no rain, and they might get it.

00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:54.000
That's great. Good well yeah I hope that works out okay it's nice to have people getting outside a little bit more and seeing some activities like sports resuming finally agree, but I can see people are starting to login a little bit so welcome everybody

00:00:54.000 --> 00:01:10.000
and just enjoy the peek behind the curtain and and to have you in Wisconsin and for me to be here in Virginia, it's just a nice reminder how we are all learning to to benefit from technology and the comfort we have using video and being able to share

00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:17.000
valuable information with it with educators, no matter where we are. That's fantastic.

00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:31.000
People that are logging in, I can see you saying hello but you're sending your messages just to the panelists, if you can drop down and switch that over to message all panelists and attendees, then you'll all be able to see one another's comments I think

00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:43.000
we're, we're at about 5050 on who's messaging everyone who's just panelists but oh gosh, and look people are from all over.

00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:59.000
Welcome, from the Delhi public school Vera NASA in India, Pennsylvania just got a severe thunderstorm warning will hope that you keep your internet so we can enjoy conversation with you all that Mexico Denver's here.

00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:12.000
Wisconsin fantastic oh gosh and the screen is filling up let me go ahead and move us through a little bit of the housekeeping because I know people have so much experience with webinars right now they they really don't need to do this but we are here

00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:26.000
you are, you all are logging in and you're in the right place at the right time. So glad to have people coming into appreciate the important conversation that we're having right now so valuable in education.

00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:41.000
So a little bit of housekeeping, the number one question I always get for any kind of webinar is whether or not resources will be available and yes they will will reach out tomorrow with a link to the recording for the podcast to all the resources, anything

00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:54.000
that we mentioned will share, and then I'm very excited to let you know that will also share the transcription of the chat, so all the suggestions and resources you all mentioned to one another, will share that with you as well.

00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:05.000
So, yes, there will be follow up so it will take care of some housekeeping. if you're in chat right now please make sure that you send your message to all panelists, and attendees.

00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:16.000
I want you all to benefit from the conversation, and the suggestions, comments, feedback that you offer to one another. So double check that you're using the chat and sending two panelists and attendees.

00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:30.000
So while you're doing that little check, make sure everyone has access, you want to let us know who you are, where you're from, and I'd love to know what brought you here, if there's a particular question that's on your mind if there's a need that you're

00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:38.000
seeing in your students are in yourselves, please share a little bit and that will help us with the big picture to make sure that we're providing what you need.

00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:52.000
So great to have you here Welcome everybody and the, my, my screen is flooding with it with the chats coming in so Becky you've done quite, quite a crowd, and I always say across the country and around the world so welcome everybody.

00:03:52.000 --> 00:04:08.000
Here we are, we are here to learn about growing minds. I'm with Becky Fisher She's the director of development and integration and part of the this webinar that has come out of some partnership between growing minds and teaching channel part of this opportunity.

00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:19.000
Also is to let you know if the topic matters to you and you want to explore it further. There is actually a 10 hour course, it's been built and collaboration between growing lines and teaching channel.

00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:34.000
You can see on your screen, that this is about creating foundational habits for us, and definitely essential in education. I hope that you'll check the link that will put into the chat here, and an access more information about that I think it would be

00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:48.000
a wonderful course to take with colleagues. Imagine your department or your PLC or the whole district, taking advantage of some shared language and practices that would really create a space for your students throughout the school and the program.

00:04:48.000 --> 00:05:03.000
So welcome for that. Okay, Becky Fisher, Director of Development and integration welcome people want to learn from you today and maybe I'll start by asking if you can give us a little bit more background about yourself and how you connected with growing

00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:13.000
minds. Yeah, absolutely. Thanks Wendy and thank you to everyone for being here. I'm so excited to just spend a little time with you today. So my background is in education.

00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:29.000
I started my career off in the classroom, and I taught eighth grade language arts, and sixth grade social studies for a chunk of time in Greenfield Wisconsin's little shout out to Greenfield, and I stepped away from the classroom to raise my young family.

00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:38.000
And during that time I really found that I not only had a passion for working with kids, but I also had a passion for teaching and working with adults.

00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:52.000
And I had an opportunity to become a certified parenting coach, and I jumped at it, and I spent about half of the decade in the social service field working primarily with parents whose kids were really struggling with some severe behaviors.

00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:58.000
And during that time I like to say I became somewhat of a brain nerd.

00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:14.000
So I fell in love with learning about the brain and understanding the brain and really dived into anything that had to do with the brain or behavior behavior or emotions, and specifically at that time I was working with families who had experienced trauma

00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:33.000
so also the connection of where trauma comes in with how our brain and body function, and really that led me to a love and passion for mindfulness, because the more I read, the more I gleaned that mindfulness was a gateway to to so many different levels

00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:48.000
of understanding and self awareness and being able to approach ourselves and those around us differently, and it was such a huge tool that I use with the parents with whom I worked as well as myself as a parent I've got three boys so it's a whole world

00:06:48.000 --> 00:07:05.000
of practice the faith, they're still alive and well and I'm somewhat saying so success. Right. And so this love of mindfulness I actually then had the opportunity opportunity to become trained as a mindfulness instructor through growing minds.

00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:18.000
And I did both for a while I was a, an instructor and a coach. And for the last through three two years or so I just poured my passion completely into growing minds because I just love mindfulness and the strategies and skills were able to teach.

00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:36.000
And that's moved me into this role of the director of integration and development or development integration and my, my, my goal in that role is to provide content that feels real feels genuine and that we can integrate into our day to day lives so that

00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:49.000
it has an impact and we can be that change those that are around us, the educators who are joining us who have been with me in other webinars know that I push for the practical, I want to I want strategies.

00:07:49.000 --> 00:08:05.000
I want to understand how this information converts into ways of being in our classroom so I'm so happy to let them hear from you that you are an educator yourself and you understand the context that we're all in.

00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:24.000
Also, as you bring up the the vision and later the agenda for us. I'll note, how many of us in different conversations have said that our largest our biggest challenge in education is sometimes the parents who are trying to navigate some unfamiliar territory

00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:41.000
themselves there's not a manual for for for parenting it's not a one size fits all experience. And so, even thinking about your expertise and training there really gives some peace of mind as we move into a conversation there are so many populations in

00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:57.000
education, we are responsible for connecting with as educators and maybe we'll get some insights in that area as well. Sounds great. Sounds great. So what I did bring up on screen here is our vision for growing minds and I like to build on this that we're

00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:14.000
looking to, especially for educators educators tend to be so great at building safe and trusting relationships, and I see a growing minds. Just this ability to enhance that, to be able to partner with educators to, to be able to quiet their body minds

00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:21.000
as well, so they can connect and flourish too and I know Susan if you were able to catch our webinars and Susan the bar.

00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:30.000
Is she connected this with this idea of shared well being. And that's such an integral part of our mission at great minds and our vision.

00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:42.000
Thank you for that. I've just put a question in the chat for everybody asking them to share what relationships they focus on. In addition to those central student relationships let's see what we get in the chat too.

00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:44.000
I love that, I love it.

00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:55.000
So I'm going to walk through a little bit of what I plan to cover this afternoon, or this afternoon at least in Racine, Wisconsin time, and then I'll kick us off with a little opening activity.

00:09:55.000 --> 00:10:07.000
So on our agenda the things I'd love to talk about are just building this ability as educators to name and keep a pulse on our well being and our ripple effect.

00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:20.000
We're going to talk about or the second thing we're going to do is experience of practice that helps us to pause and check in with ourselves with growing minds we like to say learning is experiential, everything else is just information.

00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:32.000
So I really want to have a little experiential piece in here today we're going to talk about the importance of having a toolkit of ways to intentionally work with what I call the glitter in your mind jar.

00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:45.000
And I promise I'll explain what that means, but you'll notice I have a little asterisk next to having because it's one thing to have a tool kit. That's a very different thing to use and know when to utilize and how to utilize that tool kit so we'll talk

00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:58.000
about that as well. And then we're just going to try to expand continuously on how this has an impact on our everyday life as an educator, and beyond, because we really want to know how does this matter every single day.

00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:05.000
And in the moments of every single day that's so important to me and I think it's important to many people out there as well.

00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:23.000
The responses to the different groups that we connect with that we support the we build relationships with has been incredible and it goes well beyond parents fellow educators students grade teams are here parent educational counselors, coaches, colleagues,

00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:40.000
friends and family, we move into a support network for ourselves and others, for whom we provide support really incredible contributions coming in, thing, I love to hear that too and I'll just build off of that for a second because when we talk about

00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:51.000
these mindfulness based skills like my ideal dream is that all adults have these skills because the more we have a team around us that has this common language.

00:11:51.000 --> 00:12:01.000
The more we can accomplish I mean the more productive we can be the more creative, we can be. So I love hearing the this idea of the scene it as I read.

00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:10.000
And this idea of again shared well being does go beyond just the classroom, it really extends to all of the folks that they're, they're naming to select so beautiful.

00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:12.000
I love it.

00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:26.000
So to start off, I know we've already dove in a little bit but just start off, we're in a really mindset, but I'd like to just connect us to the intention of what brings us here today and for many of us that's this passion, we have a working with kids.

00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:37.000
So what I'd love to have you put in the chat for anyone that's willing and able is just to answer either of these prompts and I put both and just in case your primary role is in teaching.

00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:53.000
But the question, I'd love to hear is what is one of your favorite things about teaching or teaching isn't your primary role what is one of your favorite things about working in education, and I invite you to pop your idea in, and then just maybe read

00:12:53.000 --> 00:13:11.000
some of the ideas and thoughts that other people put so we can kind of share in what brings us here and what lights us up about education, made a suggestion in the past to fellow educators to keep that statement whatever your answer is here, put it on

00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:25.000
a post it note put it on a three by five tuck it under your keyboard or have it in the top drawer at your desk just somewhere where you come across it on a regular basis, because if we can keep our keep ourselves mindful keep that thought present more

00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:42.000
present in our minds, then they can offset some of the daily challenges are the obstacles or the setbacks that can occur. But there's, there is there something amazing about education and in each one of us has a little something that is our, our favorite

00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:55.000
part or most rewarding element, learning from students has come up a couple of times, sharing experiences being a lifelong learner learning something new every day.

00:13:55.000 --> 00:14:10.000
I saw that aha moment that was one of my favorites where that little light bulb goes off and it's just like that click comes on and they've got it, they've got that piece that's so great.

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:21.000
aware, yes we're will bring that back around when we talk about the pause because the pause can really help us in that post it note might be a great thing to pause and sink into so I might build back on out later on Wednesday.

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:31.000
Oh good, Frank. Thank you for helping us I'm imagining I'm not the only one smiling right now. No, no, by no means I think it's fantastic.

00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:48.000
So, with us being in this state of mind where I want to start off talking about this idea of the ripple effect we have and that was named in our description today this idea that within a couple of minutes of being around us that kids, a tune to the energy

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:58.000
and effect that we bring into the classroom. And what we put out there was this doesn't necessarily mean that we're responsible for the behavior and emotions of everyone around us.

00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:04.000
It's just a great reminder of of the influence that we have.

00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:18.000
And I like to talk a little bit like this is part of the social engagement system of being a human being, it's part of, we have this system of neuro section within us that we're constantly scanning our environment to test Am I safe and unsafe.

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:27.000
There's the mirror neurons we have in our mind that are trying to judge the intentions of others and imitate their behavior.

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:41.000
When I was working with parents I talked about the science now because I want to I'm an expert I want to get too far into the science but I think sometimes there's this idea that the ripple effect is just words, but in reality there's a physiology behind

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:52.000
it, there's a biology behind it. And when I coached and worked with parents, I would say that we impact the brain and body of our kids all day long.

00:15:52.000 --> 00:16:03.000
What we do impacts the brain and body of our kids all day long. And for teachers, that's times however many little bodies or big bodies, you have in your classroom.

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:15.000
And we joke with parents we say like that sounds like a big responsibility. Can I can I pass, can I, Is there an off button that this, this could just pause for those days that I'm having an off day.

00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:26.000
And we laugh and unfortunately no that's just part of being a person right. And with mindfulness, the goal isn't that our ripple effect is always perfect.

00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:38.000
The idea is that with mindfulness we can be very intentional about how that ripple effect is and the tools were using to maintain as best of our ripple effect as we can.

00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:56.000
And one of the pieces that I think sometimes gets lost in that is the importance of our own well being in that ripple effect. And in our modules we very much concentrate on it being a yes, and sort of thing where it's yes our ripple effect is important.

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:59.000
And our well being is important.

00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:13.000
And that's on a couple of levels right because one when we feel better we do better. So when internally our mental and emotional wellness. Is that a place where it's pleasant or is healthy.

00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:28.000
Our aspect is different our ripple effect naturally shifts. And I like to bring it up. The second reason that as educators and I know I'm there and as a parent, I'm there are some times that I'm so focused on my ripple effect that my well being and will

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:41.000
because I'm trying to show up for everybody, I'm trying to be that face I'm trying to bring that energy that by the end of the day I'm pouring from an empty cup. And I don't have anything left and I'm not taking very good care of myself. So that's why we always try to

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:53.000
we always try to tell talk about having this dual focus on both your ripple effect, and your well being. And we hold those together throughout all of our modules and we talk about mindful awareness.

00:17:53.000 --> 00:18:10.000
Becky a couple thoughts. You mentioned the mirror neuron. And can you revisit that a little bit because teachers do have that feeling on it all eyes are on them and and and i think that's worth revisiting as we think about the ripple effect and how we

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:23.000
wish to present ourselves. Sure, and I will speak to that to the best of my knowledge but one of the things I love to encourage because I'm not particularly an expert in neuroscience, well I'm a nerd I'm not an expert is this idea of there are some great,

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:35.000
great short videos that talk about the power of mirror neurons, and Dr. Dan Siegel out of UCLA talks, quite a bit about the influence of mirror neurons as well in relationships.

00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:42.000
But one of the biggest things that he talks about particularly is that these neurons in our brain.

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:57.000
Literally are there to mirror what the other person is doing and that's part of the capacity of why when someone yawns beyond, or when someone's drinking a bottle of water, it's almost like we can feel the water going down our throat, we're wired to be

00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:12.000
harmonious with those around us so these neurons give us a capacity to pick up what someone else is doing. And mirror it, which also helps in our learning process because then we don't have to always do things ourselves we can have that vicarious learning,

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:25.000
but unfortunately those vicarious learning works both ways, it works for the great habits that we want to pick up and it works for the not so great habits that are picked up as well so I hope that answers a bit but maybe we'll get some great people that

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:39.000
put in, put in their resources about dancing at Dr Siegel and, and mirror neurons yeah let's put that question out there where people have experienced any kind of mirror behavior it's even been recommended sometimes if you want to put people at ease to

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:51.000
mirror what they are doing, so that they feel comfortable or fear in an interview and there's a body language that's being offered you may want to mirror that interview, maybe that's something to think about when we're with our students if they're kind

00:19:51.000 --> 00:20:08.000
of like this maybe we want to be kind of like this too and lean in with them, or baby sticks out his or her tongue and, and, or an adult sticks out a ton of baby sticks out of tongue and some mirroring that happens as part of development.

00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:26.000
And then, Becky before we move on I wanted to go back into the question of being okay taking care of ourselves because there's a fallacy out there, that the ultimate compliment we can give to someone is that they are selfless, that it's always others

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:44.000
first, and that and that doesn't go with the oxygen mask message that we get when we're on an airplane and as I wanted. I want to make sure that people are hearing that, that you've told us, we could find ourselves depleted, if we, if we give give give

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:49.000
without looking after ourselves and finding ways to restore and renew.

00:20:49.000 --> 00:21:00.000
I just love that you brought that up and there's probably countless directions I could go with that. But I think one of the things I was talking about a friend about this with a friend recently in her.

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:20.000
Her passion really is to serve. And when I talked about shared well being. It was like mind boggling. Yes, because it was this idea that for her. I think the reason she wants to take care of herself is so that she can continue to serve, so it is almost

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:36.000
like this very much for some people, that is, is their motivation, but we can't pour from an empty cup we try and we try, but what science is showing us, and especially in the medical field is it actually has a physiological impact on us that our health

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:48.000
pays a price, whether that's physically or psychologically, and we almost end up burning both ends of the candle so we can't keep doing that for years upon years.

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:55.000
And there's a saying I read recently that said that like engagement and burnout are not mutually exclusive.

00:21:55.000 --> 00:22:03.000
And I thought that that was so powerful because, and I'm one of those people that just pours their heart into everything.

00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:13.000
But then the burnout comes in because we all have a finite amount of energy unless we keep refilling our cup. And if we're not taking time to intentionally do that.

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:23.000
It's very difficult to do that and stay healthy. At the same time, and have that deep sense and I use the word well being, but I mean it like this deep sense of, I'm okay.

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:42.000
I'm content, I feel well. Overall, Thank you and. Are you going to give us a demo on how we can put our oxygen mask on a little bit I think there's something coming up on the net Yeah, we totally are so with this idea of well being and ripple effect.

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:54.000
This is honestly where our mindful awareness skills come in and I believe some people were on the webinar with with Susan when she talked about this idea that we're learning that well being is actually a skill and it's something that we can build and

00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:59.000
practice and mindful awareness is one really powerful gateway to that.

00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:06.000
And I want to ask a question because this is a great question for all of us to kind of put us in the mindset of.

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:20.000
We know we should take care of ourselves right and we know the ripple effect we want to have. So I'm curious if we can think into our lives. What are some things that get in the way of us concentrating on our own well being.

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:29.000
So maybe you can pose a couple of answers, what are some things that get in the way of you concentrating on your own well being

00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:34.000
of the word guilds came up in one of the first.

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:44.000
Everything that's fallacy that we have to take care of others first itself list is a is an aspiration.

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:46.000
Yep.

00:23:46.000 --> 00:24:08.000
Yep, I'm seeing so many great answers, and I believe it for educators, there is a genuine, compassion, and a very earnest wish to provide for others, and it's just that awareness, we need to create food, that, that can come at our own expense and absolutely

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:17.000
so there's nothing wrong with, with that, nurturing sense there but that is our compass in education. Yes.

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:32.000
And we need to offer ourselves, the same care. I love that. I'm going to ask one more question I'm really feeling the fire here. So, the other question I'd love to ask are what are some things that get in the way of us having the ripple effect that we

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:34.000
can tend to have.

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:44.000
So what are some things that for you get in the way of having the ripple effect that you intend

00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:49.000
love it I keep seeing the answer life.

00:24:49.000 --> 00:25:07.000
I've seen the word intentional and intentionality come up a couple of times and they feel like some of the concrete recommendations that you have lined up for us in this conversation, are things that need to almost be scheduled at the beginning until

00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:19.000
they become more like habits and reflexes and part of our nature. So, that word intentional somehow come into your mind and say this to everyone joining us.

00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:31.000
And I think we're going to get the strategies you're in the right spot. Absolutely. So, this idea of life, getting in the way and stress getting in the way and emotions getting in the way.

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:45.000
Those are all the things that we're trying that anytime in our day we have to manage and our modules are literally packed full of different strategies that help us navigate those times of our day more skillfully because again we know these things but

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:55.000
so many things get in the way. So what we look to offer our tools that we can notice when things are getting in the way and be able to start to clear our path.

00:25:55.000 --> 00:26:10.000
And one of our favorite tools is this idea of the pause and I bring this pause button and because I'm going to bring it back in later too. So pause is a foundational skill that our modules are built around, and it is this idea of taking time to to do

00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:25.000
just that to pause and check in with yourself. So you can create space to be more intentional about your well being and about your ripple effect. And I'm going to actually use a visual for this, and the visual is a mind jar.

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:31.000
So that might be something that you're familiar with. But I actually brought my handy dandy Mind jar with me.

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:47.000
Don't leave home without it. My kids will attest it to usually in the trunk of my car which is somewhat weird but it is, and in life, it during our day when we are connected with what we are prefrontal cortex our highest level of thinking we can see things

00:26:47.000 --> 00:27:03.000
clearly we can understand how important it is to take care of our well being, we can have the ripple effect we intend that throughout the day when all of those things happen when there's demand when they're stressors when there's emotions when there is

00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:15.000
is life happening. You can see that so much gets in the way that we can't even see things as clearly there's not as much space in our mind to be as intentional as we'd like.

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:34.000
And with mindfulness we begin to notice this so we begin to notice, I like to say that I'm a bit of a hot mess, so I can recognize that. My mind is like this, and recognizing it is one step, but what you'll notice is that when I actually pause

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:38.000
the glitter in the mind jar begins to settle.

00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:55.000
And it comes back, that I can actually see things more clearly. And then I can move forward from that space with that intentionality of reconnecting with my intentions reconnecting with wanting to take care of myself and those around me and coming back

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:58.000
to the ripple effect that I'd like to have.

00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:15.000
So, with this in mind if it sounds good to you, Wendy I'd love to walk us through an experience of pausing so that it's more than me saying that it's it's a felt sense of doing that, if that sounds good.

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:29.000
and especially knowing that this is something that is practiced. Yes, and it's one of those things with our idea of being the change it's such a powerful tool to be able to be that change that we're looking to have.

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:39.000
So I know some people might be driving or it might not be the ideal time to take a mindful pause. So please, if you're driving and I say, close your eyes don't do that.

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:54.000
But perhaps listen in to the idea behind it and maybe come back to the audio of this when you have some time and space to take a mindful pause, or if you feel like letting the glitter in your mind jar settle a little bit, you could anchor your attention

00:28:54.000 --> 00:29:03.000
on your hands on the steering wheel, or maybe the feeling of your feet on the floor, so you can feel it a little bit but but not eyes closed, that's that's not recommended.

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:12.000
But for those folks that are able to do this. I'm going to invite you to do a pause that's called the three. It's called the breathing space.

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:27.000
And the first thing we usually invite for people to do is find a bit more of a mindful position. So for me, that is sitting up straight, with both feet flat on the floor with my back feeling strong and straight.

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:35.000
And what this does is it helps wake our brain up and tell it, we're going to do something differently, we're going to we're going to be a little bit more intentional.

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:40.000
And if it feels comfortable you can lay your hands on your thighs or on the arms of the chair.

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:47.000
And just taking a moment to settle in to your body.

00:29:47.000 --> 00:30:02.000
If it's comfortable for you to close your eyes you can feel free to do that. And if it's not comfortable for you to close your eyes feel free to just gaze at a minder on the screen or any thing that's beautiful and your surroundings.

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:07.000
I'm going to ask you to just check in with your shoulders,

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:15.000
your jaw and your eyes

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:24.000
and turn your attention inward to check in with any sensations in the body.

00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:27.000
And there's no right or wrong.

00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:35.000
We're just turning our attention inward.

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:47.000
I'm going to invite you to notice your attitude, just what's that like right now

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:57.000
notice any thoughts that you're having

00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:05.000
any impulses that are around, perhaps to move, where hurry this up.

00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:09.000
And there's no right or wrong again, we're just noticing.

00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:19.000
Not trying to change anything, just opening our awareness to what's already here,

00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:30.000
taking a moment to check in with ourselves, and maybe just tune into what the ripple effect we're emanating is right now.

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:36.000
And then to create space for that glitter in our mind jar to settle even more.

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:47.000
Perhaps, guiding your attention to your breath zooming in to where you feel your breath the best

00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:53.000
just becoming aware that you're breathing.

00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:59.000
Breathing in, and knowing that you're breathing in

00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:06.000
and breathing out, and knowing that you're breathing out.

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:19.000
Taking for more deep slow breaths.

00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:28.000
And if the mind wanders which it naturally does gently but firmly bringing it back to the breath as best you can.

00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:44.000
Just trying to pause and allow space for that glitter in the mind jar to settle.

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:53.000
When you're ready, I'm going to invite you to broaden your attention back to the room around you, perhaps, opening your eyes if they were closed.

00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:57.000
Just taking in your surroundings.

00:32:57.000 --> 00:33:00.000
And perhaps just being with your experience.

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:07.000
However, it was noticing how you feel.

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:37.000
And then to gently guide us back into this I'll invite you in the chat box. If you're willing to just know how you feel, what did you notice. During this pause, or what do you notice about how you felt before we are says how you felt after.

00:33:45.000 --> 00:34:05.000
Thank you. This is one of those moments where I would wish for you to talk about whether there are right answers here, because mindfulness means something different to different people and our ways of being our ways of being present all can look different.

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:07.000
Define.

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:18.000
I do and I usually say this and I do today but one of the things I say to my students is you don't have to appease me, so if your answer was like, I feel agitated or I my mind was so active.

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:34.000
That is a perfectly Great answer to put in the box because we each have our experiences is 100% valid, and sometimes there's this connotation that with mindfulness, the goal is calmness and for some of us, it can be.

00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:48.000
But sometimes it's not sometimes we take a pause and our mind is even more agitated or we notice how sleepy we are so there's not always this idea that every time I pause I'm going to feel this sense of eternal calm, what we do when we pause though is

00:34:48.000 --> 00:35:02.000
even if we don't, the glitter in our mind jar doesn't settle that much. We still create that space to move forward more intentionally. However, that means to us, so maybe that's like, I'm really agitated that didn't help maybe I need a run.

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:09.000
Or maybe I need to listen to a good song on the radio and just jam out because that'll help me shake up my mood.

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:25.000
So, in this pause we're not necessarily creating space to always call beef, calm, quote unquote, we're creating space to move forward with more intention with our well being and ripple effect in mind, whatever that means to us because there's so many

00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:39.000
different ways that looks, and I'm so glad you brought that up Wendy, because that's so important that it looks different for everybody. I have to ask the question, in case there are other people like me out there who have been accused of being sharks

00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:43.000
quick just have to keep in mind.

00:35:43.000 --> 00:36:01.000
So, to my fellow sharks out there some, some, some of us find comb in the continuous movement and, I think, want to make everyone comfortable with their way of being a very very much appreciate that so so much.

00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:16.000
So what I'm going to bring up and I thought I had my slide show up so I appreciate that. I didn't so sorry if I will this ability. Yes. What we need is just a look at the mind jar but I'm going to skip a couple slides forward here because I want to talk

00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:33.000
about what this looks like in the day that I talked about this practicality, use of it. And what I almost envisioned throughout my day is that this pause is a way to check in with my well being and with my ripple effect and we talked about short times

00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:52.000
many times throughout the day, and I almost envision, just like this happen like a pause button slides down in my view, and it's reminding me to check in with myself, am I having the ripple effect I intended, am I paying attention to my well being.

00:36:52.000 --> 00:37:06.000
And in a day to day level, I mentioned I have three boys. So in the times where it is reactive. And you can imagine this in the classroom setting when the classroom is reactive and you can feel your stress response to activate and all of that glitter

00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:22.000
in your mind jar is all over the place. It's that pause to check in. Let the glitter in your mind jar settled to the best of your ability. And then move forward being intentional about your ripple effect, how do I want to be intentional and skillful in

00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:23.000
the situation.

00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:38.000
And for me it's also for my well being those days where I am that shark that just never stops moving. And I'm going, and going but I can feel at some point that I'm feeling depleted, that pause button drops down and lets me check in with myself and say,

00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:52.000
what would be a meaningful way for me to check in with myself and let the glitter in my mind jar settle and it might be a mindful pause, but it might be a different way of pausing to it might be any number of things that could be a peaceful lock or it

00:37:52.000 --> 00:38:07.000
could be time connecting with a friend. So there's many ways that how we take care of ourselves might look. But mindfulness gives us this ability to constantly keep a pulse on our well being and our ripple effect, and then to be intentional about how

00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:21.000
we want to move forward, a great word intentional again yeah yeah Becky, we've got some practical doers, with us right now and it's been a lot of requests for the recipe.

00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:34.000
I love it, you suggested whether we just google because there are a lot of recipes I think people are wanting to make sure that the water has a little bit of thickness to it did you use dish detergent or so, I love practicality so we use water and clear

00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:49.000
dish soap so we usually use whatever dawn clear dish soap, and we like the chunky glitter from my goals because it gives a little something in there. And the, the faster you want it to follow the less amount of soap you put in the slower you want it to

00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:58.000
to fall, the more clear soap you fall in and you can play with that. And the same with the glitter you can play with a teaspoon first and see if that fits, and then you can add more or less.

00:38:58.000 --> 00:39:08.000
I like to have one time in my house that's about three minutes because that's about the time I feel like my glitter in my mind jar needs to settle for me to make clear mom decisions sometimes.

00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:19.000
So we'd have it on the counter and I'd be like, my mind jars like this I'm going to put it on the counter and nobody talked to mom until they literally on the bottom, as little air as possible.

00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:21.000
Right. Yes. Yeah.

00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:34.000
And our colleague Susan has put a recipe in there and I hope that you're getting some royalties from the brand name dropping them I didn't even think of that but perhaps they are.

00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:52.000
This is so great. I do want to capitalize or take the opportunity to say that there might be like a yeah but that comes in here, and I say that, yeah, but Becky are my favorite parts of teaching because it moves things from the theoretical to the practical

00:39:52.000 --> 00:40:04.000
real life, and a lot of times what I hear is that it's not that easy. It's not like after I pause. Suddenly, the rainbows and sunshine are going to come out and everything's going to be okay.

00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:19.000
And I'm going to pause and the chaos that was surrounding me is suddenly going to be gone. like there's so many other things that contribute to, again, our well being on a ripple effect in the glitter in our mind jar that go beyond pausing.

00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:22.000
And I would say yes you are 100% right.

00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:41.000
100% right. And that's honestly where our modules come in I we are modules have just a plethora of skills that talk about some of these other foundational things that we can bring into our day, in order to have more foundation for overall well being for

00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:57.000
ourselves and for our classroom that build off of this ability to pause, and I'll bring up on screen, our sessions and this is available on teaching channel and I'll circle the sessions on the side, but you can see they walk through these things so pausing

00:40:57.000 --> 00:41:16.000
to reset it is its own session because it's such a foundational skill, and it's simple, but not always easy, because life, right, because life. It's, we have to build a habit of pausing short times many times in the way that works for us before it becomes

00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:19.000
something that we do instinctual.

00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:29.000
Our idea of training the act of mind is one of my favorites because sometimes people pause and they're like, well that was terrible. I must not be good at this.

00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:44.000
Mindfulness isn't for me. And this idea of training the active mind just just put that on the table that it's a skill, it's a skill for us to train our mind, to have our attention focused where we intended to be, because otherwise our minds will go off

00:41:44.000 --> 00:42:02.000
with us. And for every person that looks different. That doesn't mean you always have to sit and meditate for 20 minutes to train your mind, but this ability to be mindful and have an anchor you bring your mind back to build the mental muscle to direct

00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:07.000
your attention in ways that are healthy for your well being and for your ripple effect.

00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:21.000
We get into our stress response which we talked about stress was one of those things that makes the glitter in our mind jar all over the place. So, having this module that really lets you dive deeply into your stress response and how it looks.

00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:27.000
So you can be friend it. Well maybe a friend is a strong word, so you can.

00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:37.000
I don't know if I'm a friend, my stress response completely, but I definitely have the skills to to be mindful of what it is and to be able to manage it in a way that works for me.

00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:53.000
And then the last two I definitely want to touch on because compassion for me is just foundational for my well being and my ripple effect, and we often don't think of compassion as being like a skill we can learn as well.

00:42:53.000 --> 00:43:03.000
But when we dive deeply into compassion and we are able to be intentional about how we give it to others and intentional about how we give it to ourselves.

00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:14.000
This was just such a game changer for me in my life just, hands down one of the best transformational skills for my own personal well being and for my ripple effect.

00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:20.000
And then the last module that's in our little bundle is this idea of cultivating positivity.

00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:34.000
And what we really like to name there is this isn't this idea of cultivating like this toxic positivity, or I'm a big person that loves to bring up like kids movies, it's not like the lego movie is like everything is awesome.

00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:53.000
Everything is, it's not that false sense of positivity, it's a deep well of inner richness and contentment that we build that balances the negativity that is inevitably going to be around us and helps us navigate the ups and downs of life.

00:43:53.000 --> 00:44:05.000
But if we don't cultivate that positivity, the negativity, often wins out so mindful awareness skills help us cultivate that deep sense of inner richness and contentment.

00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:19.000
So I would just invite anyone to explore those modules and I think I'm hoping that gives you a bigger sense that when it comes to practical skills the pause is so so great and it's something that you can utilize today.

00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:33.000
But we understand it's not the end all be all of being able to be emotionally well and spread that around and be that change that you wish to see within your school and the kids.

00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:50.000
We have hundreds of people live on this webinar with us right now which tells me people are looking for what you're offering. And so, so, if the pause is into the solution, I would give it several tries before deciding that it's not because there's more

00:44:50.000 --> 00:45:02.000
to it and if it first it's not, it doesn't get you where you need to be, remember that it's about practice and habit and intentionality and routine love that, I love that.

00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:09.000
And is there an elephant in the room. I was just thank you so much Wendy so my next.

00:45:09.000 --> 00:45:25.000
My next piece, and that elephant in the room that I like to, and I I take this from a very core level is that when I was teaching I didn't have the skills and when I was beginning my career as a parenting coach, I didn't have the skills I didn't have

00:45:25.000 --> 00:45:40.000
the intentional language that I needed to be able to be the change because I was doing the best I could with the tools that I had. So when we talk with educators in school, sometimes the elephant in the room is that we're being asked to teach, Sal skills

00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:54.000
to our students, but not guided in how to do so, or it's not as strategic and for some folks, they rock it, because that is their forte and they are given a curriculum and they just fly with it.

00:45:54.000 --> 00:46:08.000
But for many of us, it's this idea of. If I'm not embodying it and, and if I don't have a very comfortable level with the language behind it and a shared language with my colleagues.

00:46:08.000 --> 00:46:19.000
It's really difficult to teach these, these skills to kids at a very deep level, especially the self awareness and self regulation skills that are so foundational and our castle standards.

00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:36.000
And that's where we just love this idea of doing this as a group, and as a team, because it creates this this shared language, so that we don't feel like we're floundering, and I for anyone who taught I taught you this will date me but there was a time

00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:50.000
when it was decided that all teachers should teach reading and writing in their classrooms, because reading and writing wasn't just for language arts, it was for, you know, in all capacities, and we all understood that was needed.

00:46:50.000 --> 00:47:02.000
We got it, but I remember my math colleague coming into my room and saying, what, how do I know how to read. I know how to write Becky I don't, I don't know how to teach it.

00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:18.000
And I think there's so many parallels between that and Sal. And what we're looking to do is give those foundational skills in a meaningful way to adults, so that they're able to pass that on to kids in a foundational way, and maybe even using the curriculum

00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:27.000
that the, they already have within their school that this just bolsters it because it's coming from this embodied sense of teachers having a shared language.

00:47:27.000 --> 00:47:32.000
And I keep coming back to that shared well being, because then it's the teachers feel it.

00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:43.000
And then their ripple effect shifts, and then they're able to share it with the kids. It's a very much circular interconnected process that's so beautiful that is.

00:47:43.000 --> 00:47:42.000
Perfect.

00:47:42.000 --> 00:48:00.000
That is perfect I, and you bring your bringing us right back around to the ripple effect I made a comment in the chat about the elephant in the room being that that work we were asked to teach about Sal, but we're not teaching with Sal, and and that that's

00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:18.000
just a struggle that, that shouldn't be right, if we if we want to have the ripple effect that we intend, then we have to teach with Sal has to be part of how we prepare ourselves as educators to do the work in front of us.

00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:24.000
And if they don't care if it and then a quick story before I close today I know, please.

00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:39.000
What What will you just move us to the details about the course and then we can sort of get a little information and enjoy a story with you. Well, Yeah, so the deep, I will, what I'll say before I get there is that we know that some teachers are practicing

00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:52.000
this already so what we included with our handouts for today are just helpful classroom tips that can help you if you're doing this practice already to be very intentional about how you bring it into the classroom.

00:48:52.000 --> 00:49:07.000
And we even included this little Be the Change reminder that you can print out and hang on a wall in your classroom or in your, your home or somewhere that reminds you to really take that pause to let the glitter in your mind jar settle in to make sure

00:49:07.000 --> 00:49:12.000
that you're checking in with your ripple effect and your well being.

00:49:12.000 --> 00:49:31.000
And along with that handout, we also have the course handouts so there's the, the bundle and it explains what's all in there and the the course session so that's all part of our handouts that we offer today and it mirrors this slide right here.

00:49:31.000 --> 00:49:44.000
Dr. Becky the handout that you have prepared to share educators, this is four pages that really gets into the details so if you're thinking about something for a group or if you're there may be professional development funds available that would be a

00:49:44.000 --> 00:50:02.000
nice tool to support you and the handout of tips. It's that practical stuff we all want it's 19 specific things that we all give us a download the Be the Change worksheet and definitely give them a try and see what works for you and what works through

00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:08.000
you to benefit the learners in your care. It's incredible. I love it, I love it.

00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:24.000
So, the quick story I'll end on is just this idea that how that practicality piece, and when I was working in the social work field. There were some really intense behaviors and some really intense, things that kids were coping with and I remember working

00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:36.000
with a family, and when I started working with the family I hadn't taken the foundations of mindful living I didn't are mindful wellbeing I had it, I didn't have these skills and longitudinally I actually stayed with the family long enough that I developed

00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:39.000
them throughout the time I worked with the family.

00:50:39.000 --> 00:50:48.000
And what was so impactful is that during that situation with it with the child when he would be raging and so intense.

00:50:48.000 --> 00:51:03.000
I had this toolkit full of ways to take care of myself in that situation, and really emanate that ripple effect, and help to de escalate. But more than that, I had the ability to take care of myself.

00:51:03.000 --> 00:51:19.000
Afterward, because so many times we go from crisis to crisis putting out fires to put out fire and we're never refilling our bucket. So when we have these skills, we're able to then after that fact go back and fill ourselves back up so that we can do

00:51:19.000 --> 00:51:34.000
it again, and we can continue to be that change and be that ripple effect, and the icing on the cake is that then we have the language to go back and talk with children or adults about really tense situations that are filled with emotions and stress and

00:51:34.000 --> 00:51:50.000
give them concrete skills and strategies to work through them from our lived experience so it just ends up being this really amazing way that we're able to be that change, and I, whatever way we find these skills I just wish them for everyone.

00:51:50.000 --> 00:52:06.000
And I was so excited to be here today to talk a little bit about, about them with, with the folks all over, friends, thank you for sharing time with us time is probably the most precious gift you can give so we're grateful to have spent this portion of

00:52:06.000 --> 00:52:21.000
an hour with you, Becky Fisher is the Director of Development and integration and growing minds and if you would like to explore the topics more and develop your skills, please consider the 10 hour course that's a collaboration between growing minds and

00:52:21.000 --> 00:52:39.000
teaching channel. At the very least, take away the message of the pause, remember to put your oxygen mask on, and then watch tomorrow to enjoy transcript from the chat because he will offered one another really substantial contributions in conversation

00:52:39.000 --> 00:53:06.000
there. And then if there's a colleague, that may appreciate, watching this webinar on demand please share the link and certainly the that will take you to the, the other parts of this three part series of mindfulness so today we focus on being the change,