Generation Wellness Announcements, Resources, and Spotlights

Morning Meetings are a great way to kick off the school day with success... building community, setting intentions, and preparing the brain for learning.

In this episode of the Generation Wellness Spotlight, you will:

- Understand "the why" of Morning Meetings.

- Hear how this school in Eatonville, WA begins each morning together (yes, ALL students and staff in the gym).

- Learn ideas and specific strategies for implementing successful Morning Meetings. 

For more information about Anne Malver (School Counselor in Eatonville School District) and her new book, click here.

The Generation Wellness Spotlight highlights educators around the world who have attended the Generation Wellness training. We believe in sharing the good work that our #wellnesswarriors are doing to create a better school, community, and world. If you have a story you would like to share, email us at: [email protected].

Surrounded by poverty and escalating violence, a San Francisco middle school committed to peace and embraced a program of meditation that has made students feel safer, teachers more productive, and brought unity and purpose to the school.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9-phWL8t08&feature=youtu.be

Teachers are asking for tools for the kids and themselves in their classrooms to get deeper with the kids, to create a community in their classrooms. 

This training provided us with just fun ideas to get kids motivated, to get them calm,  so being able to monitor kind of their level and engagement with fun activities instead of raising voice.

Currently at Mt. Stuart we're doing Wellness Wednesdays, we know that as educators as people working with children we need to be healthier so we started the wellness Wednesday in our staff room to be able to have our staff feel taken care of, to have them feel connected.

20% off all tools + apparel except Compassion It bracelets. Sale ends May 10th.

Use promo code: SUMMERSALE

https://generation-wellness.store/

Happy shopping!

Feedback is the return of information that is provided following an activity, process, or event.

You may have heard the quote, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” Research proves that many of us desire feedback because we want to know what’s expected and strive for improvement, yet the feedback that we want may not be clear or consistent: 

• Research has found roughly 87 percent of employees want to “be developed” and receive feedback, but only a third report actually receiving the feedback they need to engage and improve.
• Subjects in a study felt equally anxious offering feedback and receiving it, which might explain why so much workplace feedback — particularly in the United States — amounts to a series of polite statements, with few suggestions for improvement.

So, let’s dive into three strategies that promote effective feedback. Keep in mind, you can use these strategies in the workplace and in your personal life.

...

Service projects are a great way to build community, empower students to dream big, and help others.

In this episode of the Generation Wellness Spotlight, you will:

- Find out why two WA state educators decided to create this service project and the ripple effect it created.

- Hear how a school district and local community raised over $20,000 to build two schools in Kenya.

- Learn ideas and specific strategies for implementing successful service projects. 

The Generation Wellness Spotlight highlights educators around the world who have attended the Generation Wellness training. We believe in sharing the good work that our #wellnesswarriors are doing to create a better school, community, and world. If you have a story you would like to share, email us at: [email protected].

Interested in starting a service project at your school? Access the complete kit with example forms, flyers, emails, and more here:

Wellness is the foundation for learning and thriving. During Covid-19, many students, staff, and families have experienced stress, grief, and trauma. What is your school doing to intentionally address wellness and social/emotional learning? School districts need a strategy and online resources for staff, student, and community wellness. Generation Wellness has partnered with government agencies and school districts around the country to provide support in three phrases: 

• Phase 1: Staff Wellness: All district staff will have access to Workplace Wellness Academy (online course).
• Phase 2: Family Wellness: All families with students enrolled in the district will have access to the Family Wellness Toolkit which includes morning messages, social/emotional mini-videos, audio relaxations, daily routines, and more.
• Phase 3: Start the school year with safety, connection, reflection, and tools: Every staff member will experience a live virtual PD at the beginning of the school year...

While traveling around the country and facilitating trainings, I get to meet extraordinary educators. Not only do we share a day or two of laughter, tears, stories, and strategies, but we stay connected through email, the app, webinars, and the Facebook group.

Last week I received an email from an amazing person who attended the Generation Wellness Training earlier this year and I feel that many of you may be going through the same thing, so I felt it was necessary to share:

Wellness Warrior Spotlight

Name: Kris Connors
Occupation: K-5 School Counselor

How have you been teaching the happiness habits in your setting?
I have been teaching happiness habits to individual students and small groups in my office and extending this to classroom lessons so that teachers can continue this on in community circle time or when they see the class needs reminders about what is truly important.

What results have you noticed from teaching these skills?
Wow!  I have a success story about a 4th grade student who was in an EBD class last year (as a 3rd grader)! This student would have anxiety attacks at school, scream when upset, and not attend school due to having difficulties controlling her behavior or being overwhelmed.  She started this year at our school and I began implementing Generation Wellness strategies/lessons and happiness habits from the get go with her.  She was reluctant at first because she had a hard time trusting adults due to being new...

We've got a simple practice for you that will increase student engagement, focus, and the overall learning experience! Are you ready for it? Drum roll please....

Get up and move!

Simple, but profound.

The science is clear: In order for students to learn, they need to be able to pay attention. In order to pay attention, we need to let students move.

Brain breaks re-energize the brain, so that more learning and retention can occur. According to Wendy Suzuky, "Movement is the most transformative thing we can do for our brains." Let's examine the reasons why according to research.

Benefits of Brain Breaks:

• Increase focus
• Increase productivity
• Improve student problem solving
• Improve cognitive skills
• Decrease stress
• Reduces disruptive behavior
• Promote physical fitness
• Improve mood
• Improve short-term memory
• Improve long-term memory

What We Can Do (Simple Action Steps):

• Research shows that more learning occurs when taught in smaller chunks of time with many short breaks,...