@BMoreEdChat Good Evening #BMoreEdChat participants. Thank you for joining us tonight as we discuss wellness; for us and our kids. My name is Chris Hersl and I'll be moderating. Who is out there tonight?
Danna Thomas, kindergarten teacher, and founder of Happy Teacher Revolution, tuning in tonight from northwest Baltimore...and my fave sport is Bocce!! #BmoreEdchat@bmoreedchat
For tonight we will be using the traditional Q and A format. Please type A#: and answer the question. Don't forget to tag us with #BMoreEdChat First ? comes at 9:06
#BmoreEdchat I'm Eleanore and I am a senior at Loyola. I am interning in a 4th grade classroom right now in Baltimore County. My favorite sport is swimming!
hi #bmoreedchat. I'm Sara, a kindergarten teacher in Lake Tahoe, NV. I love to run and ski and am super excited about the Winter Olympics next month and looking forward to the Super Bowl this weekend. :)
A1: I’m tired, but well...still finding the humor in life...sad that one of my kinder babies has the flu for the second time in 2 weeks 😢😷 #BmoreEdchat
#bmoreedchat Travon Morgan, 6th grade ELA in Cecil County. My favorite sport is the one where it all started...I’ll be mostly a causal observer tonight.
A1: I look for body language with teachers, students, & families. We all have tough days and good days, but we must be aware of our own wellness first to ensure we can interact with others positively. #BmoreEdchat
A1) I made a conscious decision to step away from the day to day classroom role because I wasn’t well and I knew it would negatively impact my students. #BmoreEdchat
A1 Was just texting with a friend about this. Our Ss like coming to school and are becoming life long learners. They are lucky to get PE at school and have lots of after school athletic & arts options in our town. I think they are well. #bmoreedchat
A1. My students are a little stressed out because of MAP testing this week but we tried some deep breathing and relaxation exercises this morning to destress before testing! They seemed to enjoy it! #bmoreedchat#ed446
A1: I do not workout the way I need to -- I find myself getting busy with work and staying committed to the gym. My students I feel good about with physical health -- we offer a lot of movement in the classroom and numerous athletic opps for students to stay active. #BmoreEdChat
A1. My students are a little stressed out because of MAP testing this week but we tried some deep breathing and relaxation exercises this morning to destress before testing! They seemed to enjoy it! #bmoreedchat#ed446
Movement is so key. We advocate for a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Plan that has PE, PA in class, after and before school options. #BMoreEdChat
#bmoreedchat A1 I'd like to think I'm well but I could always use more sleep! I think my students are pretty well for the most part too. Not too many illnesses this winter (knock on wood) and they love getting their energy out during outdoor recess even in this cold!
A1: “An escalated adult can’t de-escalate a student.” I know I’m well b/c I was able to de-escalate a student without escalating myself, & that helped my student develop their SEL competencies b/c I’ve been working on my own SEL through HTR, acupuncture, &self care #BmoreEdChat
A1: What my Ss talk to me about first is usually a huge indicator as to what's going on personally/at home/occupying their head space... Still working on acknowledging that & setting aside "lets get started" to meet those basic human needs first! #BmoreEdChat
A1: My students took a Math unit exam and post-exam we allowed them extra outdoor play! All students went home stress-free and all need exercise after sitting for so long #ED446#BMoreEdChat
My coworker just tried Life Ingredients (they have a free trial) with her kiddos, who are doing their ERBs this week. Positive feedback so far. #bmoreedchat
A1. I make sure to self assess and not reach a point where I am overstressed by stepping away from work/ other activities. My class and I focus on our zones of regulation and are open about where we are and what we need to reach a green (well) zone. #bmoreedchat
A1: My students took a Math unit exam and post-exam we allowed them extra outdoor play! All students went home stress-free and all needed exercise after sitting for so long #ED446#BmoreEdchat
A2: Everyone and anyone! We all have to take care of ourselves and keep an eye out for the wellness of others. Use the oxygen mask analogy!! #BmoreEdchat
A2) We all are! One ELA teacher will gauge how students seem when they enter and will offer a free write if she can sense they need some catharsis. They always leave a little lighter. #BmoreEdchat
A2: Everybody is in control of their own wellness however little pump ups and acts of kindness between students and teachers can be the fuel to get things moving in the right direction. #BmoreEdchat
A1: Feeling a bit tired. Kids are getting tired of indoor recess. We had to think of creative ways to get them moving. Indoor snowball fight ! #BmoreEdchat
A2. Everyone should be. Teachers, students, administration- it’s important to come together as a community to ensure wellness for all its members #BmoreEdchat#ED446
A2: everyone needs to advocate for their own self-care & wellness as a best practice for the students we teach...But there needs to be more workplace wellness initiatives like HTR as an investment in Teacher retention and professional sustainability #BmoreEdChat@bmoreedchat
A2: Who does the responsibility usually end up falling on? Classroom teachers... Who should be responsible? Every Teacher Ss interact with in that building on a daily basis.. It takes a village... #BmoreEdChat
Q2: Everyone should be responsible for wellness within the school. If everyone is being mindful of how we feel, everyone can work and learn together peacefully. #ED446#BmoreEdchat
@GoNoodle provides quick, super fun dance breaks, meditation breaks, breathing breaks, learning dances, tons of call and response & reading opportunities. All movement oriented! #bmoreedchat
Lots of students have been out sick recently but so far we have had a fun and productive week of learning and everyone seems to be doing well! #BmoreEdchat#Ed446
A1: We start our morning with morning meeting and we say good morning to each student, then we all go around and say how we are feeling- most students will say happy/ excited but there are always a few who are feeling sad/tired so we talk to them individually after! #bmoreedchat
A2: Everyone is responsible for the well being of students. Building relationships, educators know then something is 'off' for a student and has a responsibility to keep up with our Ss #bmoreedchat
Hello! My name is Kelly, I am a senior at Loyola, I am currently in an internship placement in Anne Arundel County, and my favorite sport is soccer! #BmoreEdChat#ED446
A2 Everyone is resp for wellness. I saw our social worker hugging a distressed weeping mother yesterday. It was a great reminder that adults need support too. #BmoreEdchat
oh good for you! I was trying to drag my elderly lab around on a very early run so I could see the eclipse and exercise and get her out. Not successful for me -- she's too old & wonderful to be dragged around! #bmoreedchat
Agree. If wellness is not in a school improvement plan, it can't be prioritized, or therefore, funded. Add CSPAP to Wellness Policies will help too. #BMoreEdChat
A2. Everyone should be responsible for wellness. If we as educators are able to be responsible for wellness and promote this to our students, then our students will be able to take care of themselves and keep an eye out for their peers' well being. #bmoreedchat
A2: Everyone should be responsible for wellness within schools. If we all look out for each other's well-being, we will have healthier school community #ED446#BmoreEdChat
A1 physically doing okay. It’s more my social emotional that’s been hard . My students are pretty well physically same thing socially emotionally very high or low #BmoreEdchat
A2: community effort for sure. I personally think Teacher-Student relationships are so important for student self-esteem and overall wellness. Connections mean everything to students no matter what age they are! #BmoreEdchat#ED446
A2. As a school community, we are all responsible for the wellness of our students. We should be caring towards each other and supportive no matter what! #BmoreEdChat#ED446
A2: I believe everyone should be responsible for wellness. It’s important that every knows how others are feeling and doing. However, I think teachers, principals and other faculty are responsible for the wellness of all students and staff in the school. #BmoreEdchat#ED446
I sure hope so! This is my first year as a Reading Specialist without my own class...man how that perspective shifts.. I find myself doing everything I can to support the Ts I work with.. THEY are the superheroes. #BmoreEdchat
Wow! What a great way to show students that you truly care about them. Taking the time to get to know them as individuals and show interest in their lives is incredible! I definitely can learn from this! #edfb4338#BmoreEdchat
A2: I think everyone is responsible for wellness! My principle makes announcements to remind teachers to greet students as they arrive in the halls each morning and to learn three new names / make each student feel welcomed!! #BmoreEdchat#Ed446
A3: We take time to conduct class circles when problems arise that are affecting the whole class. Students share how they feel, listen to one another, and come up with solutions together. It gives us an opportunity to reach the "green zone" by working together #BMoreEdChat
A3: I love running. It provides not only physical exercise but it also provides the mental space time for me to think and reflect. Going for 2,000 miles this year thanks to motivation from @awelcome & the #runlap group! #BmoreEdchat
Q3: I do a lot of breathing exercises and take a moment to pause and reflect on why I’m feeling that way. It is important to show and practice this with students so they are aware that it is okay to feel unwell. #ED446#BmoreEdchat
A2: I think everyone is responsible for wellness! My principal makes announcements to remind teachers to greet students as they arrive in the halls each morning and to learn three new names / make each student feel welcomed!! #BmoreEdchat#Ed446
A3: I've gotten back into the routine of exercising regularly-- important for my mental as well as physical health. I also look for opportunities to chat w/students about healthy habits-- my lunch duty is when I have a lot of wellness conversations! #bmoreedchat
A3) I care for myself by making time for myself to do the things I love. I teach this to my students by allowing them choice and free time when I can. #bmoreedchat #466
We added student-student greetings this month and I just love them! We did @responsiveclass microwaves (pinky waves) and graduated to high fives. They are fantastic & Ss can rarely not smile at each other! #bmoreedchat
#bmoreedchat A3. Sometimes it feels like there are not enough hours in the day to make time for myself but I try to do at least 1 small thing every day whether it be getting to bed a little earlier, eating a healthy meal or even just going on a walk or to the gym with friends!
A3cont: In class we try to use a ton of community circles to build relationships with each other & solve conflict. Physically we move around the room daily with @GoNoodle & small group rotations. Today our student cogen circle asked for more movement activities! #BmoreEdchat
I absolutely love this! I think making time for for students to write in a daily journal and reflect on their day or week is another way that student wellness can be achieved! #edfb4338#BmoreEdchat
This is like the financial advice of paying yourself first. You must take time for you FIRST. The world never stopped spinning because a chore didn't get done...#BMoreEdChat
#bmoreedchat A3. Sometimes it feels like there are not enough hours in the day to make time for myself but I try to do at least 1 small thing every day whether it be getting to bed a little earlier, eating a healthy meal or even just going on a walk or to the gym with friends!
A3: set priorities-read the book you’ve wanted to read, check out the new brewery, make time for exercise. Students need exposure to a plethora of activities to drive their wellness goals #BMoreEdChat
A3: When I am stressed or not well, I take care of myself by either going for run or getting some rest. I think exercise is a good outlet and positive way to deal with stress. I recommend that my students play sports and go to sleep early! #BmoreEdchat#ED446
A4: Yardsticks: Children in the Classroom by @responsiveclass.. So much insight re: Ss developmental needs. Helped me to see Ss as individuals@different phases, & not all "kinder" or "firstie". Eye-opening to realize u can have 3 different dev. phases in ONE room! #BmoreEdChat
A4: The Power of Yoga...we’re still searching for a local partner who could come in and support this for our campus #BmoreEdchathttps://t.co/hLT1HyXWUl
A3. Recently I have found that going to the gym helps me burn off any stress Ive had throughout my day. What I do to promote wellness in my classroom is to allow time for free choice. #bmoreedchat
#bmoreedchat A3. I also think recess is a great time for the kids to blow off some steam! They seem recharged afterwards and ready to finish the day off strong.
A4: I loved the book Spark. It really changed how I see the relationship between exercise and movement to learning-- and I changed my practices as a result. #bmoreedchat
A4: The Power of Yoga...we’re still searching for a local partner who could come in and support this for our campus #BmoreEdchathttps://t.co/hLT1HyXWUl
A3. I really enjoy doing yoga and breathing exercises to destress! I am starting to introduce yoga poses and deep calm breathing to my students during morning meeting! #bmoreedchat#ed446
#BmoreEdchat had a 92 year old professor who always stressed self care. He’s the one who preached to me to always do something for myself everyday. Never forgot it. If we’re not well, we can’t drive effectively drive student achievement. Peer reviewed, no. Best advise ever, yes.
Q3: I schedule and prioritize what really matters, and I prioritize the relationships that matter. I think it is all about setting intention and priorities, and scheduling self-care just like we schedule IP meetings, SST meetings etc. @bmoreedchat#BmoreEdChat
A4: It's especially crucial in low-income areas where people generally don't take care of themselves. I have to teach my kids what healthy looks like. #BmoreEdchat
A4: I think the best research I have is my own personal action research. My conclusion...when I am fitter, I teach better. More energy. More swag. More pop. More student engagement. More student achievement. #BmoreEdchat
A4 #BmoreEdchat One of the secrets in research that we sometimes leave out in P.E. discussion is that the QUALITY of the movement really doesn't matter for the health benefit. (However, skilled movers tend to choose to move more)
A1 My students are always so engaged and ready to learn in the morning, but once the afternoon hits they begin to drag a little bit. They become a little less focused and unengaged #BMoreEdChat#ED446
A3: Hydration, hydration, hydration. Followed by adequate rest. I also try to take a walk right after school for 20-30 minutes. Finally, leaving work at a reasonable hour. #BmoreEdchat
Q4: An Arizona State University study about how Teacher depression is linked to low student math scores. I believe happy teachers= Happy students, and now happy teachers = student achievement according to ASU! @bmoreedchat#BmoreEdChat
It's been a pleasure #BmoreEdchat ... I'm falling asleep as I type.. until next week.. Stay strong, keep the faith, and fight for what you believe in your heart to be right for kids!! ✌️ 💪✨
#BMoreEdChat Let's use the power of our community to help each other here. We have one expert cup stacker and one elite track and field coach among us. What are our other talents we can share?
A3. I enjoy going to the gym to keep myself active and healthy. I encourage my students to eat well and stay active during recess and after school! #BmoreEdChat
Thanks so much!! I will look into it -- this month's virtue is kindness at Elmwood, so I could definitely see myself incorporating those 4 components into morning meeting :) #bmoreedchat#ed446
YAY! The entire @responsiveclass is a LIFE-changing approach to leading a classroom of learners.. Worth checking out.. especially in these days of PBIS! #BmoreEdChat
In reply to
@KateDwyerLUM, @responsiveclass, @responsiveclass
I would like to learn about incorporating more movement into my lessons and while I'm teaching and while they're learning! I would also love some more resources for quick brain breaks or relaxation techniques! #bmoreedchat#ed446
#bmoreedchat recently changed positions from elementary PE teacher to district office employee where I’m stuck at a desk A LOT! Curious if there’s anything I can do differently to mirror the activity level I had as a teacher.
I suggest you look up the term food deserts and then rethink this tweet. Unfortunately, low income areas lack the opportunities and resources found in other communities. #bmoreedchat
#bmoreedchat a5 How to stress less on the weekends! I feel like there is so much to do and so little time that I often find it hard to make time for myself even on the weekends!
A5: I would like to learn how to manage my time better. I feel like I sometimes struggle to find a balance of work and doing things for myself. #BmoreEdChat#ED446
A6: For staff, pushing past exhaustion and making healthy a priority...for kids, access and understanding of what healthy really means...chips for breakfast not a wise choice #BmoreEdchat
Q5: I want to learn more about vicarious or secondhand trauma, how it relates to Teachers working with populations of students who have experienced trauma first hand, and what are ways to be proactive about addressing vicarious trauma for new teachers @bmoreedchat#BmoreEdchat
And, if we want to go further down this path, we can ask if all schools should remove unhealthy choices from vending machines in staff and student spaces #bmoreedchat
#BMoreEdChat Time is a barrier... makes it vital that we as teachers consider every time task we ask kids to do (Homework...shall we debat?) and administration the same for teachers.
Q6: barriers include school districts not realizing the economic benefit of investing in Teacher wellness intiatives like HTR: our country is losing $2.6 billion per year in terms of recruiting teachers rather than RETAINING teachers! @bmoreedchat#bmoreedchat
A4: When we are taking care of ourselves (eating right, exercising and sleeping) we are at our best and can achieve anything we set our minds to. #BmoreEdchat#ED446
I agree! Considering homework load is especially important when afterschool is a key time for students to engage in sports! (Speaking as a teacher and as a mom...) #BmoreEdchat
A7: #BMoreEdChat Also there are currently bills in Annapolis addressing health and physical education and many other student issues. Share your opinion with our state legislature about what you think is important. Advocacy is key.
A7: Talk about wellness with kids and our communities. The more people who believe in the power of wellness the more change will occur. Additionally, engage in some action research in your classroom to gauge the wellness opportunities you experience. #BmoreEdchat
Q7: I believe we need to spread the movement to #stopteacherguilt! We must encourage setting boundaries, disconnecting and detaching with love, and practicing mindfulness and gratitude as a self-care practice in order to foster those qualities in our students too #bmoreedchat
A7: This is going to take a movement. Start with a group of like-minded people at school, then branch out into the district and community. #bmoreedchat
I am offended at the fact that people who live in low income communities were just categorized as "people who generally don't take care of themselves." Obviously, that is extremely offensive and I hope that if someone truly believes that, they do some research. #BMoreEdChat