The Mindful Educators Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Mindful Educators
Hosts Dave and Erin are long time educators committed to using the power of mindful awareness in their lives and classrooms. Join us in creating a community of educators who are cultivating a positive school culture one mindful classroom at a time.
Dr. Dana Dorfman has 30 years of clinical practice treating children, adolescents, parents, and adults in New York City and is also the author of When Worry Works: How to Harness Your Parenting Stress and Guide Your Teen to Success. In this episode we talk all about the most identifiable emotion today: anxiety. It’s a timely conversation! Her book is available on Amazon.
Show and Tell:
Dave: Parenting Anxiety Type Reaction (PART) Quiz
Erin: I'm Glad My Mom Died
Dana: Oprah's Super Soul Conversations - David Brooks: The Road to Character
If this episode resonated with you, please share it with your teacher friends and administrators, and most importantly on social media and tag us!
And if you are so inclined and really want to support us there are 2 other ways you can do that. First you can go to the Apple Podcast app and give it a 5 star rating and a review and the second is to buy us a Cup of Coffee. Thank you as always for your support!!
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram: @themindfuleducators
Facebook: @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter: @themindfuleds
Email: hello@themindfuleducators.com
Sign up for 3 From Me ♥️ Erin’s newsletter on our website: Themindfuleducators.com!
As educators, we again find ourselves in the aftermath of yet another school shooting. This time in Nashville, TN. In today’s podcast we try to find some agency over what is, for some, a terrifying part of our jobs as teachers. Feeling physically and emotionally safe is what we all strive for as human beings. But how can we feel that as these horrific shootings are increasing? We are not sure we have answers, but in this episode we talk about some ways we can build in some feelings of safety during such trying times.
Show and Tell:
Dave: We Can Do Hard Things Podcast with Vanessa Marin
Erin: The Rich Roll Podcast with Cory Booker
If this episode resonated with you, please share it with your teacher friends and administrators, and most importantly on social media and tag us!
And if you are so inclined and really want to support us there are two other ways you can do that. First you can go to the Apple Podcast app and give it a 5 star rate and a review and the second is to buy us a Cup of Coffee. Thank you as always for your support!!
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram: @themindfuleducators
Facebook: @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter: @themindfuleds
Email: hello@themindfuleducators.com
Sign up for 3 From Me ♥️ Erin’s newsletter on our website: Themindfuleducators.com!
Recharging is such an important way to step back and find inspiration. In today’s episode Erin shares her experience at SXSW EDU, an educational conference in Austin, TX where she was inspired through amazing connections and learning opportunities.
She left the week feeling that the profession is alive and well. There are some very motivated, highly creative educators out there working hard to stay inspired, connected and educated.
Show and Tell:
Dave: The Love Prescription, Seven Days to More Intimacy, Connection, and Joy. By Dr. John and Julie Gottman
Erin: Instagram follow: @Elarroyo_ATX
If this episode resonated with you, please share it with your teacher friends and administrators, and most importantly on social media and tag us!
And if you are so inclined and really want to support us there are 2 other ways you can do that. First you can go to the Apple Podcast app and give it a 5 star rate and a review and the second is to buy us a Cup of Coffee. Thank you as always for your support!!
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram: @themindfuleducators
Facebook: @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter: @themindfuleds
Email: hello@themindfuleducators.com
Welcome back to the Mindful Educators Podcast. In this episode we catch our listeners up on what’s new with us, what we have been up to, and share our continued vision on how we want to support educators in our community. Plus we lean into the power of self-awareness as a skill and discuss several strategies we use to increase our awareness.
Show and Tell:
Erin: Pink’s Documentary on Netflix Prime Exclusive
Dave: Pickleball Paddle - Dick’s Sporting Goods
If this episode resonated with you, please share it with your teacher friends and administrators, and most importantly on social media and tag us!
And if you are so inclined and really want to support us there are 2 other ways you can do that. First you can go to the Apple Podcast app and give it a 5 star rating and a review- and the second is to buy us a Cup of Coffee. Thank you as always for your support!!
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram - @themindfuleducators
Facebook - @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter - @themindfuleds
Email - hello@themindfuleducators.com
In this episode, we discuss the concept of educators teaching this year as if they were training like a wrestler. We talk about ways to take care of our physical, mental and emotional health while also acknowledging all the blood, sweat, and tears. With the proper training and mindset, we can all finish this year in a better place than where we began. We got this!
Show and Tell
Dave's Share - Survivor - Season 41
Erin's Share - The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram: @themindfuleducators
Facebook: @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter: @themindfuleds
Email: hello@themindfuleducator.com
Welcome to Season 3 and to what seems like another challenging year in education.
In this week’s episode listen in as we share our new transitions in the world of education. We also break down some of the new challenges educators are facing this year and share our thoughts on how our mindsets, support systems, and clarity on time and energy will be everything this year.
Show and Tell:
Dave: Alex Trebek’s book: The Answer Is…
Erin: Hard Core on the Foor Facebook Group for awesome workouts. Portable Microphone on Amazon
So hopefully this episode felt supportive and helpful.
We continue to wish you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, let’s keep supporting one another.
If you are looking to support the podcast, please consider dropping us a rate and review on iTunes.
Lastly, if you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram @themindfuleducators
Facebook @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter @themindfuleds
Email @themindfuleducatorspodcast.com
As many districts are starting to transition more students back to in-person instruction, provide longer days of in-person instruction, or are preparing for the Fall 2021, we all need to know that these changes can be stressful for teachers, students and parents.
In this episode we explain our long delay between episodes as well as offer some gentle reminders and new strategies for incorporating more SEL into our lives, schools, classrooms, and homes.
Show and Tell:
Erin: Believe IT: How to go from Underestimated to Unstoppable by Jamie Kern Lima the founder of IT cosmetics
Dave: CASEL's website: REFOCUS ON THE SEL ROADMAP ACTIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SECOND SEMESTER
So hopefully this episode felt supportive and helpful.
In this year that just might be the hardest year many of us have ever experienced personally and in education, we want you to know we see you, we are here for you and we love that you are part of our tribe. THANK YOU! And friends, don’t forget to reach out to us and let us know how this episode landed for you. You can connect with us at:
DM on IG @themindfuleducators
On Twitter @themindfuleds
Or shoot us an email at hello@themindfuleducators.com
Stay well and safe- and please take care of yourself and each other!
If you are looking to support our podcast, we would love it if you could find your way over to rate and review it wherever you are listening. We appreciate it very much!
Teacher friends, are you feeling it? That piling on that is happening in our profession right now is at an all time high. Listen in to this week’s episode as we discuss the impact this is having on teachers everywhere and what we can do about it.
Show and Tell:
Erin: Personanutriton - personalized supplements
Dave: Podcast: Renegades: Born in the USA is a series of conversations between President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen about their lives, music, and enduring love of America—despite all its challenges
So hopefully this episode felt supportive and helpful.
In this year that just might be the hardest year many of us have ever experienced personally and in education, we want you to know we see you, we are here for you and we love that you are part of our tribe. THANK YOU! And friends, don’t forget to reach out to us and let us know how this episode landed for you. You can connect with us at:
DM on IG @themindfuleducators
On Twitter @themindfuleds
Or shoot us an email at hello@themindfuleducators.com
Stay well and safe- and please take care of yourself and each other!
If you are looking to support our podcast, we would love it if you could find your way over to rate and review it wherever you are listening. We appreciate it very much!
Friends this week on the podcast we sat down with Paria Hassouri, MD the author of Found in Transition: A Mother’s Evolution During Her Child’s Gender Change. Paria is a pediatrician, mother of three, and transgender rights activist and lives in LA.
Erin was lucky enough to read her book as part of an educator book club and was so captivated by her story, by her honesty, and by her vulnerability. Since we are all doing the work around being mindful educators and broadening our awareness, we strongly suggest you pick up a copy of her book. You won't be disappointed. We hope you enjoy this very heartfelt and meaningful conversation.
Show and tell:
Paria: Selfie Cork and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Erin: Jamboards/ Connect Four
Dave: Use the link Green Chef and the code FY-FMRAX to receive $55 off your first order
Also don’t forget to connect with Paria at her website and run, don't walk to get her book on Amazon.
And friends, don’t forget to reach out to us and let us know how this episode landed for you.
You can connect with us at:
DM on IG @themindfuleducators
On Twitter @themindfuleds
Or shoot us an email at: hello@themindfuleducators.com
Lastly, if you are looking to support our podcast, we would love a rate and review on iTunes.
Join us this week for our first ever fireside chat where we sit down with every day educators deep in the trenches. We are hoping to amplify the voices of our fellow educators and remind each other that we are all in this together.
This week we chat with Dr. Dan Johnson. Dan has been an educator for the past 25 years, 20 of which have been spent as an administrator. He started his career as an English teacher and then served as a department supervisor, assistant principal, elementary/middle/high school principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. During his career, he has been recognized as the New Jersey Principal of the Year and as a National Distinguished Principal. He is a proud husband and father of two fine young men.
Dan’s enthusiasm for educators is infectious and his energy will lift your spirits and remind you just how valuable you all are to the students we serve.
Show and Tell: Dan: John Malecki The Builder | Metal & Wood Projects
Erin - Salad chopper
Dave - Daily Stoic Podcast
And friends, don’t forget to reach out to us and let us know how this episode landed for you. Also, if you have recommendations for fireside chat guests, we would love to hear from you!
Connect with us
On IG @themindfuleducators
On Twitter @themindfuleds
Or shoot us an email at the mindfuleducators.com
If you are looking to support our podcast at all, we would greatly appreciate it if you could leave us a rate and review on iTunes. It helps us become more visible and show up more frequently in searches.
And lastly, a shameless plug as our pod squad is growing here can we have a big ask that you share it with your teacher friends and administrators AND most importantly on social media tagging us so we can reshare.
Thanks so much for listening. Stay well and healthy in the week ahead.
This week on the podcast we are fortunate enough to be sitting down with Amber Harper to talk about teacher burnout, a very timely topic. Amber is an educator, author, speaker, Google Certified Trainer, and Teacher Burnout Coach. She’s the founder of www.burnedinteacher.com, author of Hacking Teacher Burnout and is dedicated to empowering burned-out teachers to believe that they deserve and can achieve a happier and more fulfilled career and life with her 8-step BURNED-IN process. She also hosts a weekly podcast dedicated to action, inspiration, and support for teachers dealing with teacher burnout called The Burned-In Teacher Podcast. So as you are in the midst of probably the hardest year of your career, we hope this conversation leaves you feeling supported and seen.
Show and Tell:
Erin: The Target Challenge
Amber: 21 Day Abundance Challenge
Dave: Snapfish - Arctic Fleece Photo Blanket
And don’t forget to connect with Amber at www.burnedinteacher.com and get her books and check out her podcast The Burned-In Teacher Podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen.
And friends, don’t forget to reach out us and let us know how this episode landed for you- you can connect with us at:
DM on IG @themindfuleducators
On Twitter @themindfuleds
Or shoot us an email at the mindfuleducators.com
Lastly, if you are looking to support our podcast, we would love a rate and review on iTunes.
After taking a bit of a break, this week on the podcast we reflect on the events of the last year looking for clarity. We share our gentle reminder that the experiences that are happening to us are really happening for us and if we can just lean into that pain, that discomfort of whatever we are feeling, we can really be transformed by it. We can also uncover what we want more of, what we will no longer allow, and what we will no longer tolerate in both our lives and in our professions. It’s an opportunity to refocus on what values and hold true.
Show and Tell:
Dave: Student and/or Staff Check-ins (Google Slides)
Erin: Found in Transition
So hopefully this episode felt supportive and helpful. We would love to hear about some of the clarity you have gleaned from these challenging times. We continue to wish you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this!
If you are looking to support our podcast at all, we would greatly appreciate it if you could leave us a rate and review on iTunes. It helps us become more visible and show up more frequently in searches.
And lastly, If you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram @themindfuleducators
Facebook @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter @themindfuleds
Email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com
Friends, for many of us in education, our job has not only changed and continues to change on a daily basis but it has in fact doubled. The job has broadened and developed into one that is so multi-faceted and multi-layered that it is truly unsustainable. As we move into our much needed winter break, we honor that educators everywhere are not ok.
They are exhausted.
We see you. We feel for you. We are here for you.
Listen in to this week’s episode of The Mindful Educators Podcast to hear:
- the implications of teacher burnout that is on the horizon
- how burnout is impacting teachers of all generations
- our ideas of how we can come to grips with the unsustainability of it all
Hopefully this episode felt supportive. We would love to hear how you are doing right now.
Reach out to us and let us know what you think by connecting with us at:
On IG @themindfuleducators
On Twitter @themindfuleds
Or shoot us an email at the mindfuleducators.com
Show and Tell:
Erin: Jenn Sherman from Peloton
D - Virtual Bingo and Trial 4 on Netflix
And lastly, if you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit.
Please take some much needed time for yourself this winter break.
We will see you in 2021.
Friends, if you've been following along sequentially and listening to our podcast you know we have gleaned and shared a lot of wisdom from the book Coaching for Equity: Conversations that Change Practice by Elena Aguilar. Elena is a writer, coach, speaker, teacher and leader. She has trained thousands of educators around the world to have conversations that count—conversations that help us create a more just and equitable world. We were lucky enough to sit down and have one of those conversations with her and we are super excited to share it with you.
Listen in to this week’s episode of The Mindful Educators Podcast to hear Elena:
-
identify the daily habits of emotionally resilient educators.
-
share strategies teachers can use to help their students thrive and honor their humanity
-
define educational equity
-
discuss how teachers should not be taking the brunt of all that is needed in education to achieve equity
-
highlight the power of words and the language of oppression as it relates to teachers and classrooms.
Hopefully this episode felt supportive and insightful as you journey on towards mindfully achieving equity in your teaching and classroom. We would love to hear your thoughts on the ideas shared in this episode.
Reach out to us and let us know what you thought by connecting with us at:
On IG @themindfuleducators
On Twitter @themindfuleds
Or shoot us an email at the mindfuleducators.com
Show and Tell:
Dave: This is Us: Season 5
Erin: Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
Elena: Fat and the Moon Face Oil Braiding Sweetgrass and HBO’s Lovecraft Country
And lastly, if you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
And don’t forget to connect with Elena at:
https://brightmorningteam.com/
@Elena_aguilar_writer
Bright Morning Podcast
Links and people mentioned in this podcast:
Elena Aguliar
Coaching for Equity: Conversations That Change Practice
Onward:Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators
We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this!
In this week’s episode we talk to author Andrew Jordan Nance about his journey to mindfulness and education. Andrew shares his passion for bringing mindfulness to students through storytelling and the arts. He is the author of three children’s books as well as Mindful Arts in the Classroom, a user friendly curriculum written especially for teachers that uses stories, arts and games to share mindfulness and build social emotional awareness tools with their students. Andrew’s work and offerings are a gold mine for teachers who are looking to support their students emotionally this year.
Show and Tell:
Dave: The Social Dilemma on Netflix
Erin: Brene Brown's Podcast with Joe Biden
Andrew: Meditation Station by Susan B. Katz
So hopefully this episode felt supportive and helpful. We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this!
And lastly, if you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram @themindfuleducators
Facebook @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter @themindfuleds
Email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com
Connect with Andrew Jordan Nance and view his many resources and offerings at www.mindfulartssf.org
This week on the podcast we look at invisible teacher narratives that we have developed over the course of our careers, and we begin to question them.
The subliminal messages from society set impossibly high standards about how teachers should be showing up in the classroom which results in high stress and teacher burnout. Listen in as we walk you through a practice teaching you how to show up this year on your own terms by redefining your guidelines that align with your educational values and belief systems.
When we teach from a place that reflects more of who we are, we can combat the stress of this crazy year and move through it on our own terms.
Show and Tell:
Dave: Mindful Arts in the Classroom by Andrew Jordan Nance
Erin: This Just Speaks to Me by Hoda Kotb
So hopefully this episode felt supportive and helpful. We would love to hear about the guideposts you uncovered to help you move through the year on your own terms.
We continue to wish you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this!
And lastly, If you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram @themindfuleducators
Facebook @The Mindful Educators
Twitter @themindfuleds
Email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com
Last week on the podcast we talked about having what we called “the willingness to begin to look at our own hidden biases” and the willingness to look at how we are contributing to equity in education. We based a lot of what we talked about on the book Coaching for Equity: Conversations that Change Practice by Elena Aguilar. This book started to spark some deep conversations between the two of us and we thought that was the opportunity for us to begin to dive into this very important conversation.
So on this week’s episode we dive in a bit deeper and discuss what it means to come to this conversation with an open mind and heart. Approaching a conversation with an open mind allows us to be able to listen to new ideas, concepts, beliefs, or points of view without shutting them down. It also means being curious and asking questions of ourselves and others.
Listen in with the willingness to look at our own hidden biases and with an open mind.
Show and Tell:
Dave: John Biewen’s TedTalk "The lie that invented racism."
Erin: @theconsciouskid @theafroeducator (Alexis Shepard )
Hopefully this episode felt supportive and helpful. We would love to hear about what kind of promises you are making to yourself this year. We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this!
And lastly, If you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram @themindfuleducators
Facebook @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter @themindfuleds
Email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com
Links and people mentioned in this podcast:
Elena Aguliar
Coaching for Equity: Conversations That Change Practice
Onward:Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators
Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People
@theconsciouskid
@theafroeducator (Alexis Shepard )
In this week’s episode we are diving into a topic that we feel is very timely both globally and educationally. We hope this is the beginning of many conversations where we bring mindful awareness to the topic of equity in education and more specifically how we are thinking and working towards equity in our schools and classrooms. Listen in as we share our own hidden blind spots showing up as we are developing our own awareness.
Show and Tell:
Dave: Ginger beer margarita
Erin: @teachercarecrate Teachercarecreate.com
A subscription Thematic monthly boxes designed for just teachers that come every month with very intentional hand picked items in each box.
So hopefully this episode felt supportive and helpful. We would love to hear about what kind of promises you are making to yourself this year. We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this!
And lastly, If you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram @themindfuleducators
Facebook @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter @themindfuleds
Email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com
Links and people mentioned in this podcast:
Ginger Beer Margarita Recipe:
Ingredients
- 1-2 ounces of Casamigos Blanco Tequila (Dave's choice)
- 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
- 3 ounces Gosling's Ginger Beer (Dave's choice)
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- Coarse salt (optional)
Fill a tumbler glass (9 oz.) to the top with ice. Add ingredients. Mix well, garnish (lime wheel and salt rim if desired), and enjoy.
Elena Aguliar
Coaching for Equity: Conversations That Change Practice
Onward:Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators
Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People
Last week on the podcast we discussed teacher stamina and whether teachers will be able to sustain the emotional, mental and physical energy that teaching remote, hybrid or in person takes and it seemed to hit home with a lot of people.
So this week, in an effort to support ourselves and our community, we are sharing a small practice, one we are personally working on to help in the stamina and sustainability department.
The practice of making one small promise to yourself, shared by Dr. Nicole LePera, a holistic psychologist is a small and a powerful shift to connecting with ourselves. We think this supportive practice will be very impactful for educators right now as we are all being asked to care for so many people and do so much outside of our own needs.
Show and Tell:
Dave: Cobra Kai on Netflix
Erin: Triloka Maui Rose Incense sticks
So hopefully this episode felt supportive and helpful. We would love to hear about what kind of promises you are making to yourself this year. We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this!
And lastly, If you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram @themindfuleducators
Facebook @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter @themindfuleds
Email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com
Links and people mentioned in this podcast:
Mic for classroom use
Dr. Nicole LePera
https://yourholisticpsychologist.com/
Our podcast process is one where we get together to discuss episode ideas that are born from what’s going on in education, in our life personally, or showing up globally. But this week we had a lot on our minds. So we thought we would use today’s podcast to share and have a conversation about what we are wondering about in this new state of education and the world.
So no teachings in this podcast, just a whole host of musings and wonderings.
There is a lot on our minds and we imagine there might be a lot on your minds too.
We would love to know what you are thinking about. Reach out and share it with us!
Connect with us:
Instagram @themindfuleducators
Facebook @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter @themindfuleds
Email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com
Show and Tell:
Dave: WeVideo Exit Ticket Templates and Control K to personalize links in Google Documents
Erin: Ashely Bible @buildingbooklove
Products: Fast and Focused Feedback Grading Essays Faster and Provide Focused Feedback and Dolly Parton’s America Bundle
And lastly, If you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this!
Surrendering.
It feels scary, out of control, and down right hard.
In this week’s episode we discuss how well (or not so well) we practice surrendering to what is, especially in school, and especially now. If you are like us, you might find it easy to resist, control, muscle or complain your way through challenging times like these. Listen in as we share our techniques for leaning into surrender allowing us to learn about ourselves which will help grow as people and as educators in new and amazing ways.
Join us in letting go of the reigns this year and practice surrendering during THE hardest time in education. We believe this mindful act of self-care will serve all of us well this year.
Show and Tell:
Dave: Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II
Erin: Dr. Zach Bush
If this episode resonated with you in any way please share and tag us @themindfuleducators and consider rating and reviewing the podcast. We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this!
And lastly, If you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at: https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram @themindfuleducators
Facebook @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter @themindfuleds
Email: hello@themindfuleducators.com
Criticism. Anger. Judgment.
These are harsh words that can be very impactful on our emotions and mindset.
In many places, the tides have turned right now on education and educators. In the spring, society as a whole were singing the praises of educators everywhere while we pulled off the unimaginable with very little training or time. And here we are now, with the pendulum seemingly swinging in the opposite direction.
This profession is one that we both chose, love, and are so proud of and hearing what people are saying about teachers is something we are really struggling with and you may be too.
So listen in to this episode where we discuss how to mindfully handle what seems to be a timely issue across the country right now.
Criticism. Anger. Judgment.
And don’t forget to check out the end of our podcast where we offer our own version of Show and Tell, where we share what we are into this week.
Show and Tell:
Dave: Sir Ken Robinson Ted Talk linked here.
Erin: Email autoresponder as a tool. Tweet mentioned in the podcast linked here.
And lastly, If you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up.
We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom.
Don’t forget to connect with us:
Instagram @themindfuleducators
Facebook @ The Mindful Educators
Twitter @themindfuleds
Email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com
If you like what you are hearing and want to support us please don’t forget to rate and review our podcast.
Please share with your friends, colleagues and on social media. We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this!
Welcome back friends to season 2 of our podcast. It’s a hard time in the world right now and a hard time to be in education, and so in this week’s episode we focus on how we as educators continue to show up and teach when we feel like we can’t or don’t want to? We discuss how looking too far ahead right now keeps us stuck and unmotivated while focusing on the smaller chunks allows us to feel less like we can’t do it and more like we can do it. When we focus on these smaller chunks, things become more manageable and sustainable, And that brings hope. So listen in to how we are approaching our first day this year (our small chunk) to make it comfortable for us as well as for our students. Don’t forget to check out the end of our podcast where we offer our own version of Show and Tell, where we share what we are into this week. Show and Tell: Dave: Outcry on Showtime Erin: Monkfruit sweetener We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this! And lastly, If you are looking to build resilience this year and are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed on our podcast, please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com or shoot over to our website @themindfuleducators.com to find the details and sign up. We will gladly follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for use in the classroom. Don’t forget to connect with us: Instagram @themindfuleducators Facebook @ The Mindful Educators Twitter @themindfuleds Email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com
It’s been a few weeks and while we are preparing for our second season of our podcast, we thought we would pop in with a personal update mainly because education has been at the forefront of everyone’s mind right now as we are planning for the return to school. In this week’s episode we share about the success of our summer as well as the struggle we are having about the impending return to school. We offer a few ways we are dealing with all of the emotions (and there are a lot of them!) about school return plans and what is expected of our profession right now. Lastly, don’t forget to check out the end of our podcast where we offer our own version of Show and Tell, where we share what we are into this week. As we enter this very uncertain season of teaching, are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind and spirit. Friends, we‘ve got this! If you are interested in our Bite Sized PD offerings discussed in this podcast please register at https://www.themindfuleducators.com and we will follow up with an email with details for access to the PD as well as the SEL PDF’s for the classroom. Connect with us: Instagram @themindfuleducators Facebook @ The Mindful Educators Twitter @themindfuleds Email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com Show and Tell: Dave: HIIT Workouts (High Intensity Interval Training) Erin: FB group for digital notebooks Digital INBs & Binders HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE PODCAST? Tell your friends and share on social media! Subscribe, rate and review on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, Stitcher
It’s summer, now what? We think it is the perfect time to invest in yourself! So, in today’s episode we are super excited to share our bite-size summer PD: 5 Days and 5 Ways: The Power of Mindfully Navigating Teaching in the Fall of 2020 This has been a long spring and if you are like us, we are tapped out! Knowing that summer is the perfect time to recharge, we very intentionally crafted 5 two hour PD sessions designed to support YOU as you begin to prepare for the uncertainty of the future in education. Summertime is so valuable to teachers, and it’s important to us that you are able to decide when and where you want to engage in professional development. So this video PD series will be offered in a live stream format via Zoom, recorded and available for rewatching after the live event. You can utilize them however you need. Watch them live or when it makes the most sense for you. Each session is a small investment, one that we think will be worthwhile. Sessions will be offered live every Monday from June 29th to July 27th. This professional development is for YOU. YOU are now in the driver’s seat after navigating the uncharted waters of months of distance learning. YOU now get to decide how you are going to prepare mentally, emotionally, and academically for next year. So YOU can return to school in September armed with tools and resources to mindfully support you in any kind of teaching and learning environment. Listen in as we share a bit about each session and why we think it is a perfect way to support, invest, and take care of yourself. We know you will be glad you did! Lastly, please consider sharing this PD series with your colleagues and teacher friends. We all need to support each other in this way. Sign up for 5 Days and 5 Ways as individual sessions or buy the bundle of all 5 sessions for a discounted rate. Register Here https://www.themindfuleducators.com/events Or In our bio on IG @ themindfuleducators Or Or email us for information hello@themindfuleducators.com Show and Tell: Erin: Mote an extension on Chrome and @ misterteach youtube channel Dave: Gas fire pit Connect with us: Instagram @ themindfuleducators Facebook @ The Mindful Educators Twitter @ themindfuleds Email @ hello@themindfuleducators.com with your podcast ideas so we can better support you.
In this week’s episode, we piggyback off of last week’s podcast on uncertainty and how we can harness it to build resilience. We have been on such a unique and challenging trip during quarantine and to extend the metaphor, today we discuss how this transition into a world and life getting ready to open up a bit, is an opportunity to mindfully pause and reflect on what we will be bringing with us in our suitcase into the next stage of life. Through mindfulness we understand that we have no control over the external happenings in life. We don’t know when school will open up, we don’t know what our classes will look like, we don’t know if we will be doing a split session, if we will be wearing a mask, or if our students will be sitting 6 feet apart. We don’t know and probably won’t know until it actually happens. But what we DO have control over is what our life will look like in terms of how we look at our time, relationships, activities, habits, and intentions. So listen in as we walk through a very simple reflective practice that yields a lot of wisdom, clarity, and freedom. And may we also suggest that this is not just a great end of the year reflection activity for you, but for your students, your children, your partners, and your colleagues to walk through as well. After listening, check out our student version of this end of the year activity to use in class by hopping over to Instagram @themindfuleducators and grabbing it from the link in our bio. And don’t forget to check out the end of our podcast where we offer our own version of Show and Tell, where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind, and spirit. So this week let’s pack our bags, set our intentions, and focus on controlling what we can control. Connect with us: Instagram @ themindfuleducators Facebook @ The Mindful Educators Twitter @ themindfuleds Email @ hello@themindfuleducators.com with your podcast ideas or how this reflection activity reasoned with you so we can better support you. Our Schedule for the week: Monday’s Meditation IGTV Monday’s at noon EST Friday’s Instagram Live Community, Connection and Cocktails Happy Hour at 4:30 EST This week’s guest: Jim Stroker (Our first guest on the podcast) way back in October 10/2019. Show and Tell: Dave: Tap Sports Baseball App Erin: Giant Jenga Game
Are you feeling as uncertain as we are? In this week’s episode, we dive into the universal feeling of uncertainty surrounding us these days and unpack how we can use it to help build resilience. The feeling of not knowing or not being in control spirals us towards feelings of anxiety, fear, worry, and anger. Listen in as we unpack 3 ways to flip uncertainty on its head, which will help us and our students adapt during this difficult time. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Take a listen and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time. We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind, and spirit. Connect with us: Instagram @themindfuleducators Facebook @ The Mindful Educators Twitter @themindfuleds Email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com with your podcast ideas to let us know how we can better support you. Our Schedule for the week: Monday’s Meditation IGTV Monday’s at noon EST Friday’s Instagram Live Community, Connection and Cocktails Happy Hour at 4:30 EST Show and Tell: Dave: Waco on Netflix Erin: Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant
This week on the podcast we talk to our good friend Dr. Dana Dorfman, a New York City psychotherapist with over 28 years of experience and a passion for mental health education and awareness. Dana offers great insight into how our global pandemic impacts both children as well as parents. She shares her unique perspective on how we can help children and adolescents with the challenges they face while dealing with remote learning, isolation, and new family dynamics. She talks about the stages many of us are traversing from shock into the anxious uncertainty of when life will return back to normal and gives us hope by reminding us of the value of staying present. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time. We wish you the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind, and spirit. Connect with us on Instagram @themindfuleducators or via email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com to let us know how you are or with podcast ideas. Show and Tell: Dave: Using zoom virtual backgrounds to help with connections Erin: Maria Shriver and her son Patrick Schwarzenegger daily lives on Instagram Dana: Dan Harris’ Ten Percent Happier live streaming at https://www.tenpercent.com/live at 3 pm Eastern Time. You can also access the past episodes in the Ten Percent Happier app for free. You can contact Dr. Dana Dorfman at https://drdanadorfman.com
Dr. Marc Brackett is on the podcast today and you are in for a real treat! He has not only influenced the way we teach and live but he is someone who has transformed our thinking in the area of emotional intelligence and learning. In this episode, you see our fangirl and fanboy emerge as we sit down and talk about his book Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive. Marc shares his early backstory and how his Uncle Marvin gave him permission to feel and how that shaped and influenced his life’s work. He offers insight into dealing with our emotions as we begin to think about the reopening of schools and returning to our new normal in education. Friends, this chat was not only insightful and helpful but at times, funny. Enjoy and please share with your colleagues and friends. Show and Tell Erin: Infrared Sauna Blanket by Higher Dose https://higherdose.com/products/infrared-sauna-blanket-v3 Dave: Kahoot as an extended family game on Zoom. Keeps family lore and stories alive. Marc: How to support the emotional needs of kids in countries where children are not valued (which will be part of his next book) www.marcbrackett.com
Welcome to The Mindful Educators Podcast Covid-19 edition! We know it has been a few weeks since we have released a podcast. Truthfully, we were feeling that the world felt instantly crowded and inundated with content and we were both feeling the need to pause with the intention that when we had something of value to share, we would record. And so here we are, coming up for air with something to share. In this week’s episode of the podcast, we reflect on our current status of virtual teaching and quarantine living. We use the mindful practice of reflection to share what we have uncovered about ourselves during these challenging times, as well as share our insights into redesigning our new normal for the coming weeks. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time! We are wishing you all the space and grace you need to remain in good health, body, mind, and spirit. Connect with us on Instagram @themindfuleducators or via email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast.com to let us know how you are or with podcast ideas.
Friends, We are in unprecedented times right now. As educators many of us, if not most of us, will be teaching in a whole new way for a quite a while. In the time of Covid-19, we are finding ourselves navigating teaching through distance learning which just might make us feel disconnected and overwhelmed. In this episode we offer 5 mindful ways to stay connected and support yourself during this challenging time. Know that we are thinking about all of you and are here for you. Remember we can’t control the events in our life, only how we respond to them. We've got this educational rock stars! If you have ideas to share for distance learning please reach out to us on Instagram @themindfuleducators or via email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast@gmail.com Mentioned in the podcast: Remind.com Flipgrid.com Screencastify.com
Marc Brackett director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of the book Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive writes “The three most important aspects of learning- attention, focus and memory- are all controlled by our emotions NOT by cognition.” So if we want kids to learn, we have to help them deal with the emotions that may be impacting their ability to learn. In this week’s episode listen in as Dave walks us through these 6 steps teachers can use to help a student who is struggling emotionally. 1. Do not allow yourself to emotionally attach to the situation 2. Do a quick assessment of the situation 3. Find a calm/safe place to work with child to begin processing their emotions 4. Help the student name the feeling 5. Try strategies to regulate their emotion 6. Follow-up with the student Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time! Show and Tell Erin: Show: Schitt's Creek Dave: Picture book: We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T Higgins Also, register for our event this spring. Early bird tickets are available through March 15: The Mindful Educators Event April 4, 2020 8:45- 3:30 Doubletree Hilton Nanuet, NY Link Below Registration and information Questions, PO’s and more information email: Themindfuleducatorspodcast@gamil.com FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @themindfuleducators
EMOTIONS Part 2: Managing your teacher emotions. Once I am aware of how I am feeling, now what? This week we dive into part 2 of our 3 part series on emotions. Last week we discussed the role emotions play in our lives and in our classrooms. In this week’s episode, we break down real actionable takeaways to work through our emotions allowing us to the ability to respond rather than react. Because we know, you can’t teach what you don’t practice. Listen in to increase your own emotional toolbox allowing you to experience your classroom and your students in a new way. Research now supports that teachers with more developed emotional skills report less burnout and more job satisfaction. They feel more inspired, less frustrated and have a warmer relationship with their students. All good reasons to up level your own emotional IQ! Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time. Show and Tell Erin: Brainstorming technique for the classroom: mind mapping Dave: Using a quote of the week for connection. Also, register for our event this spring: The Mindful Educators Event April 4, 2020 8:45- 3:30 Doubletree Hilton Nanuet, NY Link for tickets and registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mindful-educators-event-tickets-92564040537 Registration information via PDF https://drive.google.com/file/d/158lCbwoiOLbtIbbDoLI1BgMzVpmIcxCZ/view?usp=sharing Questions, PO’s and more information email: Themindfuleducatorspodcast@gamil.com FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @themindfuleducators
Have we got an episode for you this week! It’s a relevant and huge topic that we are breaking into 3 parts simply because there is so much ground to cover. For three weeks we will be talking about emotions and the role they play in our lives and in our classrooms. We will be sharing from our own personal database of what we are hearing from educators, and from the wisdom of Dr. Marc Brackett director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of the book Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive. We discuss how unregulated emotions or the avoidance of emotions are playing out in our world and in our schools. We also dive into the current research proving that the three most important aspects of learning: attention, focus and memory are all controlled by our emotions NOT by cognition. All indicating the importance of strong SEL (social-emotional learning skills) in the classroom. The big takeaways from this podcast are: Emotions matter to learning- they drive it. Research now supports that teachers with more developed emotional skills report less burnout and more job satisfaction. They feel more inspired, less frustrated and have a warmer relationship with their students. Deepening our understanding around our own emotional world and how we process and manage these emotions will allow us to see our classroom and life differently. Show and Tell Erin: Lotion: Pure Grace / Perfume: Casual Dave: Quote: An impulse to discipline was meant to give way to an impulse to listen and understand. - Caroline Preston The Mindful Educators Event April 4, 2020 8:45- 3:30 Doubletree Hilton Nanuet, NY Link for tickets and registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mindful-educators-event-tickets-92564040537 Questions, event PO’s and more information email: Themindfuleducatorspodcast@gamil.com
Teacher friends! Do you think your family and friends understand what you do day in and day out? Would it help if they did? We say YES and in this week’s episode we share the parts of our job we thought our NON-teacher friends and family should know about as well as ways in which they can support us in our demanding profession. Why is it so important to share the nuances of our work? (Note: this is NOT a gripe session but rather a sharing) To develop empathy and understanding - the social-emotional skills that build strong, healthy relationships. However, we don’t just think this is important for teachers to do all of the sharing. We encourage everyone to find a way to open up about the hardships, as well as the joys of their job, and then ask for what they need from their family and friends in terms of support. Share and ask for what you need- great communication skills for us and to teach our students. We hope you try this technique with your friends, partners, and loved ones. The awareness will strengthen your relationships we are sure of it. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time! Show and Tell Erin: SEL technique: Forget about it Friday Dave: TedEd video: The Backwards Brain Bicycle: Un-doing Understanding https://ed.ted.com/featured/bf2mRAfC The Mindful Educators Event April 4, 2020 8:45- 3:30 Nanuet, NY Link for tickets and registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mindful-educators-event-tickets-92564040537
We have a special episode this week and we are super excited about it because despite the title, it’s chock full of wisdom for all classroom teachers. We were lucky enough to sit down with Deirdre Azzopardi in our basement studio to discuss how mindfulness positively impacts the special needs population in our schools. Deirdre is an occupational therapist with over 25 years of experience working with children with special needs. She has a doctoral degree in occupational therapy and a master’s degree in psychology. Deirdre is also a registered yoga teacher for adults and children as well as a trained mindfulness instructor. Deirdre has presented extensively on the benefits of mindfulness, yoga, and self-regulation and has created several mindful movement programs that have been used with children in early childhood programs. Deirdre is not only an extraordinary OT and educator, she passionately radiates positive energy in all aspects of her life. In this episode you will hear how mindfulness impacts students of all ages but Deirdre especially shares her experience with early education students with special needs as well as the importance of buy in and the benefits of mindfulness for the classroom teachers. Deirdre’s website: https://weinsteadofme.com/ Our shares: Dave: Adult connecting through board games: Code Names Erin: The documentary: Game Changers on Netflix Deirdre: The podcast: Connecting Parenting by Jennifer Kolari
How to change your energy when you need to in the classroom. Have you ever been in such a mood that teaching seems impossible? We have for sure and in this episode we talk about the reality of teaching while trying to manage our personal emotions. It can be overwhelming at times but we need to show up each and every day despite what’s happening personally so that we can be there for our students. What do you do, when life has just become too much and you want to show up as your very best self in your classroom? Awareness is the key and in this episode we talk about 5 strategies to help deal with our moods when we have to teach. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time! Our shares: Dave: Just 3 practicing mindfulness for three days a week will start to move your nervous system into a more relaxed state and rewiring neural pathways in the brain. Erin: the impact of relaxing music in the classroom
The new year brings about a lot of hope and possibility. In 2020 we have decided to begin the new year remembering and reflecting on why we teach. On the surface, this seems like a pretty simple question. But with a little mindful awareness the answer just might surprise you. In today’s episode, we dig into our why and have decided to use this as our focal point for the rest of the year. Listen in and feel free to share your ‘why you teach’ with us via email @ themindfuleducatorspodcast@gmail.com or @themindfuleducatorspodcast on Instagram. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time! Our shares: Erin: Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday on audio Dave: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood the film
Reflection is fitting for this time of year as we are closing out 2019 and beginning a new decade. It is also a mindful practice we feel passionate about. In this week’s episode we discuss how reflection, both personally and in school, can support the growing and learning process. It offers clarity, challenges our thinking and develops self-awareness and self-acceptance- all critical social emotional skills. We know that finding time to reflect and be alone with our thoughts is harder than ever and as a society, we lack opportunities for stillness and reflection in our daily lives. However, with a little intentionality, prioritizing reflection both personally and in school is an incredibly powerful tool. Reflection allows us the opportunity to pause and untangle our thoughts and sort through our experiences, helping us form new ways of thinking. Which can lead to more intentional and less reactive actions. And who doesn’t want a bit more of that? To support you in deepening your reflective practice, this week on Instagram we will be offering our best questions as we discussed on this episode. So if you are interested in this free resource you can grab it on Instagram @themindfuleducators and click the link in the bio. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time! Our shares: Erin: Nutpods creamer Dave: Laundry racks
Q and A with Dave and Erin Have we got answers for you! On today’s podcast, we respond to the questions we received via email, DM or from our professional development sessions in the hopes of sharing how to begin a more formal mindfulness practice in the classroom. We talk about everything from teacher fear, to students not cooperating, to letting go of perfection when it comes to introducing any mindfulness activity. Some of the questions we dive into: How do you define mindfulness to your students? How would you suggest teachers explain it younger kids? What are your daily practices? Which mindfulness practices are the hardest to sustain? If someone is as listening right now and said I am going to start my mindful journey today, which practices would you recommend? Why did you decide to transition your practices into the classroom? How did you roll them out and what were the benefits? How do kids respond when you ask them to practice mindfulness? What advice would you give a teacher who is considering introducing mindfulness to their students? How did you find that introducing mindfulness to your students impacted them academically? Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time! Our shares: Erin: Naming a class pet: using the opportunity to create anticipation, engagement and a strong classroom culture and Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer Mocha flavor Dave: Our podcast: Taking on a project with someone that is important to you can be very challenging but rewarding. Connect with us on Instagram @themindfuleducators or check in via email with questions, comments, podcast ideas or to just say hi at Themindfuleducatorspodcast@gmail.com
Are you ready for it? The question we are asked the most: Do you have to meditate to have a mindful classroom? Our answer: NO! Would it be great and ideal if you did? Yes. But as with all things, the key to making something part of your life is taking baby steps. And because we thought there might be teachers listening who may want to up level their mindfulness game in the classroom but for whatever reason are not ready to begin with meditation or breath work, we created this episode. So if you are interested in building a more mindful classroom we suggest looking at what you are already doing and layer it with mindfulness. With our heavy workloads, no one needs more to do but adding some intentionality around practices you are already using will anchor your classroom in a more mindful way. In this episode we discuss these 5 ways to create a more mindful classroom: 1. Focus on all things connection 2.Use metacognition to connect students to their thinking brain as much as possible 3. Reflect, reflect, reflect 4. Implement relaxation exercises during transition times 5. Practice gratitude Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time! Our shares:: Erin: Fantastically_fourth_grade on Instagram Dave: Playing Connect-4 or any game, as a way of connecting with kids
Have you ever fallen into the trap of trying to make everything “perfect” or fearing making a mistake? Well, if you are like us, the answer is yes. On today’s podcast we are talking about perfectionism in teaching, and how historically, teachers have been held to high standards where mistakes and not having all of the answers was frowned upon. These perceptions, we believe, have all contributed to the mounting stress teachers feel to get it right all of the time which fuels the perfection game. We dive deep into the conversation around conscientiousness vs perfectionism and share some of Brene Brown’s wisdom in this area from her book Dare to Lead. Finally, we leave you with 3 ways to use mindful awareness to move through these feelings of perfectionism in order to relieve some of your stress and become more transparent and vulnerable making all of us more approachable as teachers and leaders. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time! Our shares: Erin: Facebook watch show: Returning the Favor with Mike Rowe Dave: The concert documentary by Bruce Springsteen: Western Stars
In today's episode, we are talking about something that impacts most people in the workforce. Stress. However, according to a recent Gallup poll 46% of teachers report high daily stress, tying them with nurses for one of the most stressful occupations in America today. We could recite lots of alarming statistics about stress, the burnout rate and the trend of new teachers leaving the profession in alarming numbers but our major concern here on The Mindful Educators Podcast is what can we do with this information? Teachers are stressed, burnout is real, and clearly educators who are under too much stress are less likely to be able to deliver high quality instruction or connect in positive ways with their students. While this systemic problem isn’t going to be solved overnight, hopefully we can offer you some support in combating stress associated with teaching. Specifically, listen in as we share how we both experience stress differently and how we are becoming more aware of our stress by answering the critical question, “How do you know you are doing too much?” Reflecting on this question will allow teachers to relook at their self care practices to support their emotional needs. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Please take a listen and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time!
In this episode of The Mindful Educators Podcast we discuss the power in habits, those structures and routines we try to implement in order to live our best lives. While all of our episodes tend to be geared towards teachers, we also think teaching our students how to create impactful habits supports their social and emotional learning. As mindful educators, we believe habits are an important part of goal setting and if you are setting and achieving goals, you must be crushing it in life. And if you're crushing it in life, you must be crushing it in the classroom. Which all means you are creating a positive school and classroom cultures one mindful habit at a time. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week.
Jim Stroker is a life coach, motivational speaker, teacher, father and personal friend to both of us. Intentionally chosen as our first guest, Jim has had a huge influence on our lives. In this episode, Jim personally shares his struggles both in and out of the classroom and the tools he uses to get through them. He also offers his top tips to support educators in the challenge of their day to day jobs. If you are looking for pure motivation and inspiration, this episode is for you! If this interview inspired you on any level, feel free to share it on social or with your friends and fellow educators. Lastly, please listen in to the end of our episode where we rope Jim into our version of Show and Tell. This is one episode not to be missed!
Today we share the last part of our four part series on connection. In this episode we talk about the power in connecting to the content you are teaching. We feel strongly in connection as the foundation of a strong school and classroom culture and mindfully connecting or reconnecting to your content in a new way can reignite your passion for teaching. Specifically listen in for 3 ways to reconnect to what you are teaching so you can inspire your students in a deeper way. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Please take a listen and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time!
Today we are sharing part 3 of our 4 part series on the power of connection. In this week’s episode, we focus on the importance of forming connections at work. In a profession that can be pretty isolating at times, we discuss how we can foster these meaningful relationships in order to increase our happiness and productivity. Take a listen as Dave specifically shares what it’s like to start over again forming new connections as he embarks on a new position this year, and the strategies he is putting in place to help him mindfully create those connections. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Please take a listen and join us in creating a community of mindful and connected educators one classroom at a time!
In today’s episode we are sharing part 2 of our 4 part series on connection. The beginning of the year is a great time to pay attention to the different ways connection can be used as the foundation for the year. In part 1 we highlighted ways to create more self awareness and inner connection as educators and this week in part 2, we are discussing the power of connecting with students. Knowing students perform better if they are feeling understood, valued and cared for by their teachers, this connection is the critical cornerstone of building a safe learning environment. Listen in for ideas on new ways to help deepen this powerful student/teacher relationship.
Happy September friends! New beginnings are such a good time to bring a mindful awareness especially in the area of supporting yourself as you begin the year. In this episode we talk about using September to mindfully focus on the power of connection. It’s so powerful, we thought we would try something new: a four part series all around connection. Each week in September, our podcast will dive deep into using the power of connection to align your year and build a strong foundation for you, your students and your staff. This mindful awareness will help you build a positive classroom and school culture. So it’s going to roll out like this: The first week of September we will be talking about the power of connecting with yourself. The second week of September we will be discussing the power of connecting with your students or staff. The third week of September we will be focused on the power of connecting with your colleagues. The fourth week of September we will be highlighting the power of connecting with your content or what you are teaching. We purposely aligned the series in this order because we truly believe in teachers taking care of themselves first so they can then support their students in the classroom. The result? A month focusing on connection which we are predicting will lead to an amazing start! If you are listening to this podcast any time after September, you can apply the 4 part series at any time. Let’s go!
In today’s episode, we discuss our plan to mindfully step into the new year. It is perfect to think about at the start of school or honestly at any time you want a reboot! Both of us have unique dreams and visions for our upcoming year but our intention is to commit to an idea that has to do with our own mindfulness as teachers, not a classroom goal we will be trying to achieve to benefit students. Those are great too, however, we are suggesting a “teachers first” motto this year. We want our ideas to support us in managing our stress and emotions throughout the year. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Please take a listen and join us in creating a community of mindful educators one classroom at a time!
Can you hear me? Can you hear me now? In today’s episode, we are talking about listening, specifically the power of mindful listening as it relates to teaching and relationships. As with most ideas we discuss, this came about because as a couple we were struggling with hearing and listening to each other. While it may have something to do with our physical hearing, we tend to think it has more to do with our connection energetically and how mindful we are of our speaking and listening skills. The good news is with a little intention, mindfulness, and hard work, you can improve your listening and change your relationships in and out of the classroom. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share what we are into or what we have recently learned this week. Please listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful educators one classroom at a time!
Is balance a myth? Is it even possible? Is the school/life balance achievable? In today’s episode, we dive deep into the idea of balance and it’s attainability- especially as it relates to educators. We share our mindfulness around when we know we are out of balance in work and in life and offer the 3 strategies we mindfully implement to bring more harmony to our lives. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share with our audience what we are into or what we have recently learned. Please listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful educators one classroom at a time!
We are thinking all day long and as we become more mindful of the thoughts in our heads, we also become aware that these thought patterns eventually narrate a story. Sometimes these stories serve us well in life but more often than not, these story patterns become negative and charge us with strong emotions. In this week’s episode we candidly share 4 typical story arcs that we have become aware of in our own minds and share how we are trying to challenge and release these negative thought patterns in an effort to help us manage our emotions. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share with our audience what we are into or what we have recently learned. Please listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful educators one classroom at a time!
The slump is real! Have you felt it? In this episode, we go full in on the school slump. That time of year where the newness of school has worn off and the end is nowhere in sight! We discuss the power of becoming mindfully aware of the slump and share 4 ways to motivate yourself even when you just aren’t. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share with our audience what we are into or what we have recently learned. Please listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful educators one classroom at a time!
In today’s episode, we discuss leading and managing in schools and in classrooms. To gain clarity, we break each role down into actions and identify the mindful practice of becoming aware of when we are leading, when we are managing and why we need to do both as effective educators. This episode also features useful strategies showing how to move from managing to leading to support learning communities with high student engagement. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share with our audience what we are into or what we have recently learned. Please listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful educators one classroom at a time!
Teaching has changed, kids have changed, the demands have changed and as educators, we are trying to find our way through it! In our very first episode, we take you through the backstory in our becoming more mindful educators and our intention for creating the podcast. We offer insight into the changes in education today and the shift we think most educators are feeling. In an effort to manage the stress that teaching brings, we share our own ideas and definitions of mindfulness and offer 3 easy ways to add more mindfulness to your classroom and school experience. Lastly, in our own version of Show and Tell, check out the end of our podcast where we share with our audience what we are into or what we have recently learned. Please listen in and join us in creating a community of mindful educators one classroom at a time!