Tag: minds to grow

Image shows a woman reading a book at a table. The words say, "Women's Brain Health Day"
Self-Care and Wellbeing for Teachers

New Learning: Women’s Brain Health Day

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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.

I only learned of this today! I’m so happy to now know that it is recognized in Canada as of 2019.

Why the Interest in 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.

a book, summer reflection guide for teachers, on a table

What’s the Name of the Book?

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:

  1. A Proven Plan for Alzheimer’s Prevention
  2. What to Eat, What Not to Eat, and Why
  3. The Neuro Plan: 30 Days of Brain-Boosting
  4. Recipes

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

See below for a picture of the planner!

Important Topic, Important Day

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.

This image shows photographs of different groups of women. The text beside them say, "Did you know that it's Women's Brain Health Day on December 2?"

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

Closing Thoughts

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?

Stay Connected!

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.

peppermint tea on teacup
Self-Care and Wellbeing for Teachers

Self-Care for Teachers: My Favourite Beverages

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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!

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Past Thoughts on Self-Care

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

Present Thoughts on Self-Care

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.

Image shows a cup of tea with words above saying, Self-Care for Teachers - Favourite Beverages
Teachers, do you have a go-to beverage each day?

What does self-care for teachers look like to you?

Image shows a white ceramic mug with four colourful fall leaves, with words "So thankful" on it

Self-Care for Teachers: Enjoy your Favourite Beverage

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).

click for free weekly planning page template

1. Herbal Tea

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.

2. Dandy Blend

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!

3. Smoothies

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:

  • berries (e.g., frozen strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, etc.)
  • kale or spinach
  • almond milk
  • seeds (e.g., pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, etc.)
  • collagen powder
  • protein powder

Read this! Mango Spinach Smoothie Recipe by simplegreensmoothies.com

An inspiring, short video from Simple Green Smoothies

Closing Thoughts

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

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Stay Connected!

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.

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Teaching

Teacher Tip: Students Love Surveys!

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Students enjoy learning about each other with the use of surveys. It’s also an easy way to learn more about the young people I work with each day, too. In this blog post, I will share a few ways I use them in my primary classroom.

click for free weekly planning page template

Why Is This Important?

Surveys are part of my Math instruction during the school year (e.g., the math strand of Data Management ). Due to the often interactive nature of doing surveys, students enjoy using them in class at any given time. One of my students’ favourite thing to do is talk to their peers during class time. What they may not realize is that encouraging them to talk in such purposeful ways is integral to their learning! It’s a win-win!

Image shows a picture of several different simple surveys for young students to do in class.

a book, summer reflection guide for teachers, on a table

A Favourite and Helpful Video

Here’s a favourite video I love sharing with my students when we start learning about Data Management and collecting data. It’s by Scratch Garden on YouTube.

Skills Students Learn With Surveys

  1. Thinking of great questions to ask others (e.g., “What season do you prefer: Winter of Spring?”).
  2. Creating a variety of surveys (e.g., “I will create a T-chart or graph the responses with a pictograph.”).
  3. Collecting and sorting data (e.g., “I will use tally marks as I ask my friends the survey question.”).
  4. Reading data (e.g., “Five people said they prefer winter. Three people prefer Spring.”).
  5. Interpreting data (e.g., “More people prefer winter. I wonder why winter is the more popular season in my class?”).

Samples of Simple Surveys Used in My Classroom

image shows four simple surveys suitable for primary classroom
Four examples of simple surveys I use in my classroom.

How I Engage Students with Surveys in My Classroom

Whiteboard and Dry Erase Markers: When I ask my students to use these tools, any task becomes a more interesting one! My primary students enjoy drawing simple surveys (e.g., a T-Chart) and collecting data from their peers on their individual whiteboards.

Paper and Markers or Pencil Crayons: For my students who enjoy using various tools as they learn each day, having the choice to use markers or pencil crayons to do their math adds to the fun. I’ve noticed how some of my students even like using these tools to colour-code their data or design their surveys.

Clipboards: This has been a game-changer for me from a few years ago. When I hand a clipboard to each student, for some reason, they become like superstars and become engaged, excited to start working! They enjoy clipping their papers onto them, then moving around the room to speak to peers and record their answers. A clipboard for each student is a resource I love having in my classroom.

Click on the images below for more details on these helpful classroom resources! *non-affiliate / unsponsored links*

Using Surveys Outside of Math Instruction

Teaching my students how to use surveys in class helps them experience success in other areas of their learning, too. For example, once they know how to create a survey, students are ready to create them or use the skills to read one at any time.

Here are some other ways I use surveys in my primary classroom:

Science: When students are learning about animals, they enjoy making surveys on various animals. After learning about animal groups, I encourage them to create surveys for each animal group. Example: “What is your favourite type of mammal: a tiger or a fox?”

Homework Task: When my students are encouraged to create a survey, then use it at home with their family, it’s always great fun when they share their results the next day with their peers. It’s real-world information for them and a great discussion opener in class.

I’m done, now what? I’m sure you can think of at least one student in class who seems to finish assigned tasks in what may seem like a few moments. Here’s a great way to engage that student in a purposeful way and keep them occupied on a different task. I encourage that student to create their own survey template and keep it in their desk (e.g., folder, binder, etc.). They will be able to use it in class at a later time (e.g., ask their peers and record their responses).

Read the previous Teacher Tip: Try Something New: Phonemic Awareness Instruction

Questions to Consider

  1. How do you use surveys in your classroom?
  2. What types of surveys do your students enjoy creating the most?
  3. What part of data management is the most challenging for your students?

Stay Connected!

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.

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Professional Growth for Teachers, Teaching

Try Something New: Phonemic Awareness Instruction

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In order to further assist my students as they learn to read, I am using the book, Shifting the Balance by Jan Burkins and Kari Yates, as a resource. I will share my learning about the importance of phonemic awareness instruction from the second chapter, “Shift 2: Recommitting to Phonemic Awareness Instruction” and reflect on some ways I intend to use it in my classroom. It has also inspired me to try something totally new and I can’t wait to see how it all works out over the year.

READ THIS: “Shifting the Balance: Professional Reading for the Summer”

*non-affiliate / unsponsored link*

What is Phonemic Awareness Instruction?

In the opening of this chapter, there was a description of how certain terms like phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, and even phonics are often used as if they all mean the same thing. I have also been confused over the years with the terms. Reading this chapter has helped clarify it more for me, but I will surely revisit this chapter often to build upon and review my learning.

According to the text, Shifting the Balance, phonemic awareness “involves only spoken sounds, without letters attached” (page 38), while phonemic awareness instruction is “teaching children to notice, articulate, and manipulate the smallest sounds in words” (page 35).

READ THIS: “Talking Builds Comprehension: Create Opportunities to Talk”

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Phonemic Awareness Develops Naturally?

This was one of the topics of “misunderstanding” in this chapter, that “phonemic awareness develops naturally” (page 36). Learning to listen, learning to read, is a whole lot of work! It takes great time and effort to develop these key skills. For that reason, students need the time and regular practice to work on becoming stronger in these areas.

Reading through this chapter made me realize just how necessary it is to consistently and explicitly teach students about the sounds they hear, especially as they learn to read. It made me think about how I’m going to plan for phonemic awareness instruction in my daily routines. I definitely want to approach teaching phonemes differently this year.

brown wooden blocks on white surface
Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

What are Phonemes?

Phonemes are the smallest sounds in words. These small, individual sounds (phonemes) are what I need to help my students learn more. There are 44 phonemes in the English language. Check out Jake Pool’s post, “44 Phonemes in English and Other Sound Blends” to see a nice breakdown of phonemes.

Here is a great video that models the 44 phonemes in English.

This Chapter is So Important!

This chapter is extremely important and I’m so glad that it’s part of this book. I have to admit, however, that it was overwhelming. There is so much helpful information packed into this chapter. It is why I will revisit the chapter many more times this year in order to try out different things!

A recommendation for making this shift calmed me down after wondering how I would be able to “do it all”. The authors suggest that educators “gather what you need for thoughtful phonemic awareness instruction” (page 50). Here are the four things they suggest teachers really need to do this:

  1. Instructional Routines
  2. Word Lists
  3. Multisensory Scaffolds
  4. Assessment Plan

WEBSITE: www.TheSixShifts.com

*non-affiliate / unsponsored links*

A Routine I Will Use for Phonemic Awareness Instruction

One suggested routine is to help students learn to observe how sounds are made. The reasoning behind this routine is to give children the opportunity to see how their mouth, lips, etc. make different phonemes. I instantly loved the recommendation to have students look in a mirror to see what their mouths look like when they make certain sounds…then I remembered that it won’t work this year in class since we are wearing masks due to the pandemic.

That’s when I decided I needed to find another way to help this process start in the classroom, despite the fact that we cannot see our mouths as we manipulate sounds.

I decided that I will use a Sound Wall, one with images of mouth shapes connected to the sounds being made.

I searched through many resources online and finally selected one by Simply Kinder. Check out this awesome resource here!

I plan on instructing my students carefully and not simply placing the images on the wall before explicitly teaching them about a specific sound. I want to encourage them to use it as a reference.

letter blocks
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Other Routines I Will Try Out This Week!

  1. Blending – Students will listen to the individual sounds (phonemes) I make, then guess the word! I already know my students will enjoy the mystery of it all.
  2. Isolation and Discrimination – This routine will help students identify words that have the same beginning, middle or ending. For example, which words have the same sound at the beginning: down, dog, tag?

Closing Thoughts on this Chapter

I have learned that I truly need to be intentional about phonemic awareness instruction. If I consistently and explicitly help my students focus more on this, it is my hope that I can especially help those who may be struggling readers and writers.

How do you use phonemic awareness instruction to help students learn to read and write?

Stay Connected!

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.

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Teaching

Teacher Tip: Encourage Exercise Throughout the Day

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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.

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Why Is This Important?

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.

Some Ways I Get My Students Moving

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.

a book, summer reflection guide for teachers, on a table

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:

  1. Run to the tree (or designated spot).
  2. Use a Hula Hoop for ten seconds.
  3. Run to another designated spot.
  4. Toss a bean bag into a bucket.
  5. Return to the starting point.

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:

  1. skipping ropes
  2. basketball
  3. soccer ball
  4. hula hoops
  5. scoop and ball

PREVIOUS TEACHER TIP: Celebrate Our Names

Questions to Consider

  1. How do you keep your students moving during the school day?
  2. What particular movement activities do your students enjoy the most?
  3. Does your class prefer opportunities to exercise indoors or outdoors?

Stay Connected!

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.