Do you feel stressed out already about the new school year? Let’s talk about time and how we can spend it this school year.
Read this post: Personal Growth for Teachers
Read this post: Self-Care in the Summer for the Tired Teacher
Did you know that December 2 is recognized as Women’s Brain Health Day? After learning this information today, I instantly wanted to learn more. I will talk about my interest in brain health and share a few resources I’ve found, including the best website on women’s brain health.
Just a little backstory for you. When I chose the name, “Minds to Grow” for my website and blog, there were several different reasons for the selection. It resonated with me because it connected to the following: being a teacher and working with young children, my recent interest in caring for plants since the start of the pandemic, as well as the fact that I absolutely love learning new things each day.
I have been interested in learning about the brain for quite some time now. As a teacher, I enjoy helping my students learn about having a growth mindset. They always like learning that their brain is like a muscle and that they can grow their brain by doing challenging things. Check out this short video to learn more about growth mindset.
From a self-care and wellbeing perspective, I have been interested in learning more about brain health over the last decade. I feel blessed to have many special seniors in my life and so I have been learning a lot about health and aging. In that learning, I discovered that concerns about brain health and potential cognitive decline are not just limited to when we’re older, but instead an important focus at any age.
Most recently, I ordered and started reading a book with a title that caught my attention. Of course, the title makes it sound too good to be true, yet after reading through it, I learned that key lifestyle changes can help people take better care of their brain. I see the importance of physically working out, and surely see the importance of focusing more on brain health, too.
The book, “The 30-Day Alzheimer’s Solution: The Definitive Food and Lifestyle Guide to Preventing Cognitive Decline”, was written by Dean Sherzai, MD, PhD, and Ayesha Sherzai, MD, MAS. This book is divided into four parts:
I learned a lot from the explanations and descriptions, appreciated the practical tips included in the book, as well as the delicious, easy-to-make recipes. I’ve already tried out a few recipes multiple times! Quick example: the Chickpea Omelet on page 99 is a new favourite for me!
Read this! Self-Care for Teachers: My Favourite Beverages
Video: Women’s Brain Health Day: Advocates say brain-aging disorders under-researched in women
Today is the third annual Women’s Brain Health Day in Canada. It started in 2019 and I’m so glad to know that it is something being recognized.
A most wonderful resource that I found today is the Women’s Brain Health Initiative (WBHI). On the website, it shares its mission:
“Women’s Brain Health Initiative (WBHI) helps protect women’s brain health by focusing its resources on research to combat brain-aging disorders that disproportionately affect women, and by creating compelling preventative health education programs, grounded in science, so there is a greater understanding by the public of the best ways to prolong their cognitive vitality.” (https://womensbrainhealth.org)
Now that I know about this website, I look forward to visiting often and learning as much as possible. It is a resource that will help me continue to build my knowledge on brain health and ultimately be of help to me, and hopefully even others reading today.
“70% OF ALZHEIMER’S SUFFERERS ARE WOMEN.
YOU CAN’T IGNORE A NUMBER THIS BIG
Women’s brain health initiative (WBHI), www.womensbrainhealth.org
Have you been interested in learning more about brain health, too?
If so, what kinds of new learning do you have?
Have you changed any particular habits or behaviour to help focus more on self-care and wellbeing?
Let’s chat on social media! Stay connected with Minds to Grow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. You can also keep in touch with linktr.ee/mindstogrow.
Self-care for teachers is important! As fulfilling as teaching can be, it is also very draining. As a result, my goal is to focus more on self-care each day. I’m sure many fellow educators can identify with the physical and mental exhaustion that often comes in our profession, and for that reason, I invite you to join me in meeting this goal, too!
In the past, I viewed “self-care” as somewhat of a special event. A key example would be spending time at a spa. Sounds lovely, right? The problem with that is that it would be a rare event, not to mention, one that could potentially be quite costly.
Read This! “Why Teacher Self-Care Matters” by www.waterford.org
I’m thankful to see self-care in a different light now, but I must admit, I still need to work on taking better care of myself on a regular basis. That is why I have decided to purposely start sharing some of the ways I already practice self-care, as well as some things that I wish to try out.
What does self-care for teachers look like to you?
I will be sharing some of my own personal favourite beverages. These special drinks can be comforting and warming, while others give me a taste of some favourite flavours. Read on to view some of my own go-to beverages (in no particular order).
I personally enjoy drinking herbal tea and love the variety of flavours available. From peppermint tea to ginger lemon tea, I really like trying out various flavours across different tea brands.
The one that I recently discovered is an instant new favourite. It’s Spice Dragon Red Chai (Caffeine-Free) by Stash. This herbal tea is absolutely comforting to me. The ingredients include cinnamon, rooibos, ginger root, and clove. I use it without sugar and add a tiny amount of almond milk. Click on the images below for more details about this tea.
If you also enjoy herbal tea like myself, have you tried any of the following flavours? If not, give them a try.
This is an “instant herbal beverage with dandelion”. A friend of mine introduced this one to me a while back after I mentioned that I don’t drink coffee. I love the taste and scent of this beverage. I usually add some almond milk and a bit of honey for taste. It also makes a great iced drink, too!
Smoothies made at home are perhaps one of the easiest ways I can ensure that I grab breakfast in the morning. Making them at home helps me monitor the amount of sugar and types of ingredients in the smoothie. I love the versatility of smoothies and constantly try out different kinds. Some go-to ingredients for me include the following:
Read this! Mango Spinach Smoothie Recipe by simplegreensmoothies.com
Hot, warm, or cold, I am one that savours each sip from a beverage of choice each day. It can be that smoothie in the morning to get an energy boost, or that warm cup of herbal tea in the evening as I settle in at home after a day at work. Self-care in a cup (or mug, or glass, or whatever container it may be). That’s just one simple little way I practice self-care. It is like a a few moments of peace, a few moments to get energized or reset.
How do you practice self-care?
www.mindstogrow.ca
Let’s chat on social media! Stay connected with Minds to Grow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. You can also keep in touch with linktr.ee/mindstogrow.
Encouraging students to move and exercise during the school day is of extreme importance. In this blog post, I will share a few ways that I help my students move intentionally during the school day.
Students need to move throughout the day in order to help keep them engaged in learning. Movement during the school day is also necessary to help focus on physical and mental health with exercise. Movement activities can be woven into the school day during lesson planning as well as done spontaneously. Either way, it’s another way for students to have fun.
Move to Music
I give students some instructions to follow while moving to music. When the music is playing, students choose how to move and exercise. Some simply walk around the classroom, while others do repeated exercises such as Jumping Jacks or running on the spot. Others choose to dance! When the music stops however, they need to complete a task and then freeze. Here is a sample task: “When the music stops, use movement to create an A-B-B pattern. Repeat it three times, then freeze.” Some students may do “clap-snap-snap” three times to complete the task, then freeze on the spot. We continue this for 3 – 5 times.
I usually use the music feature at www.classdojo.com when we do “Move to Music” each day.
Relay Races Outdoors
Nothing gets my students going like having relay races on the field outside of our school! For those who are competitive, it’s a great way to engage them with something they enjoy. I put my class into two groups and form two lines. Two students at a time run to a designated location and back. Those waiting to run eagerly cheer on both students. Before all of this even starts, we discuss how this is a way we can exercise in a fun way outdoors. It is not about finding the fastest runner, or about winning. It’s about moving around and helping to stay healthy. For most, it’s just seen as having fun.
Go Noodle
Have you ever used the exercise videos and brain breaks at www.gonoodle.com? If you haven’t, please check it out! Teachers can sign up for a free account and have access to many videos that promote movement in the classroom. Exercises can be as short as 1 – 2 minutes or even 20 minutes. My students enjoy using several of these exercises throughout the day. I personally enjoy joining them, too.
Obstacle Challenges
Students love a challenge! Creating short and simple obstacles outdoors surely helps my class exercise and build their stamina. A sample obstacle course can include the following:
Obstacle courses are great for my Grade 1 or 2 students because I can change the courses easily to help make challenges different and engaging.
Gym Equipment Bin
Each recess break, students can choose to take out an item from our gym equipment bin. Examples of what is kept in the bin are listed below:
PREVIOUS TEACHER TIP: Celebrate Our Names
Let’s chat on social media! Stay connected with Minds to Grow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. You can also keep in touch with linktr.ee/mindstogrow.
Keep going. Keep growing.
Some days may feel tougher than others, but be encouraged to keep going.
This past year has surely been and continues to be challenging, yet we have been gifted with being here now.
To the teacher who feels frustrated by all of the changes that need to be made in order to create learning experiences for students during this time: keep going.
To the parents who feel more exhausted than ever, trying to balance their own work at home along with remote learning for their children: keep going.
To the students who may feel confused about the times we live in and feel isolated because they cannot connect with their friends as before: keep going.
It’s harder to think so on some days, but it will get better.
It’s my hope (today or one day) that we can see the experiences we have gone through (and continue to go through) as ones where we grew because we kept going.
One step at a time. One day at a time.
Let’s keep encouraging one another.
Keep going. Keep growing.
#grow #growthmindset #keepgoing #keepgrowing #pandemic #pandemiclife #teachers #teaching #learningathome #betterdays #encouragement #thoughts #youmatter #blessed #grateful #mindstogrow
