Volume 4, Issue 7 | September 2024 | | |
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Your Monthly News
& Updates
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Supporting You Supporting Students | |
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Welcome back educators! We hope you’re getting back into the swing of things as the new school year is kicking off. Whether you are returning with years of experience or are beginning a new chapter in your teaching journey, know that your dedication and passion are the heartbeat of our community. As always, a new school year holds fresh opportunities to inspire, engage, and empower our students.
In this month’s newsletter, we have a variety of exciting resources. Chandni shares a new children’s yoga book chock full of yoga, mindfulness, and breathing exercises specially designed for children. She also shares information on Dr. Mason’s upcoming breathwork and yoga session at the Nepal Yoga festival. In the second article, Jill and Meghan share three ways you can start promoting empathy and multiculturalism today. And finally, Meghan and Jill share information on SEL4MA’s exciting virtual SEL resource showcase in October. We hope you find these resources helpful and think about how you can integrate them in your daily work!
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Meet Our Research Assistants | |
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Margaret Bass
Margaret graduated from Hunter College as a Yalow Scholar, earning both a Bachelor’s in Clinical Psychology and Sociology and a Master of Science in Education in Mental Health Counseling. With a strong passion for mental health advocacy and clinical work, she is currently a clinical psychotherapist and mental health counselor based in New York City. Margaret's goal is to significantly contribute to the mental health and education scope through clinical work and research.
At CEI, Margaret has been involved with the NIEA Whole Child Initiative and the Cultivating Resilience Series. She works to support background research, newsletter articles, and drafting upcoming webinars and series. Margaret has been able to integrate her clinical skills with her research interests, enriching her professional work and supporting her graduate studies and career development. She hopes to continue to assist in CEI's journey and initiatives.
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Sarah Sanchez
Sarah Sanchez is deeply passionate about improving education and serves as the Director of Operations for the Center for Educational Improvement, a role she began in April 2024. With a Master of Science in Business from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Sarah brings expertise in financial management, marketing, and business administration. Her remarkable achievement of earning her graduate degree by age 21 highlights her dedication and drive to excel in her field.
In addition to her operational role, Sarah is a curriculum writer for the Compassionate School Leadership Academy (CSLA), a collaboration between the Center for Educational Improvement and Yale University’s Program for Recovery and Community Health. Sarah is committed to supporting schools by guiding the development of compassionate leadership strategies. She finds fulfillment in working with the Yale team on research and project management, using her skills to promote positive change in education and foster environments where students and educators thrive.
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Meghan Wenzel
Meghan is a Senior Researcher, Writer, and Co-Editor of HeartMind e-News with the Center for Educational Improvement. With a background in developmental cognitive neuroscience and education, Meghan is very interested in early brain development and subsequent school performance and life opportunities. She has studied how early life stress negatively impacts the brain and examined how well-designed and timely interventions might alleviate these deficits. She studied Cognitive Neuroscience at Brown University and Neuroscience and Education during her Masters at Teachers College.
She’s worked at a policy and advocacy non-profit as well as an educational technology company focused on building an adaptive learning platform to provide more personalized learning experiences.
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Cultivating Happiness and Mindfulness in Nepal Schools
Chandni Lal, CEI Research Assistant
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We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Christine Mason, founder of the Center for Educational Improvement (CEI), will be presenting at the Nepal Yoga Festival on October 16-19, 2024. Dr. Mason will lead a breathwork and yoga session for all attendees, sharing more information on CEI’s Cultivating Happiness in Schools project during her time in Nepal.
An exciting addition to this festival is the debut of a new resource for children: the Yoga for Happiness children’s book. This book has been specially translated into Nepali, thanks to Dr. Mason's and Chandni Lal's efforts, and it will be distributed to schools throughout Nepal.
Designed for both teachers and students, the book offers simple yet profound techniques for bringing yoga and mindfulness into everyday school activities. Dr. Mason will be implementing the Cultivating Happiness in School program in four government schools in Nepal by training teachers and leading yoga and mindfulness practices in classrooms...
Read more.
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Ways to Start Nurturing Empathy Today
Jill Flanders, Executive Director, and Meghan Wenzel, Co-Editor
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Where do I start?
Starting with our youngest children, how can we prevent, or at least reduce, the racial abuse BIPOC children experience?
In the face of this complex issue, as Orinthia Harris and I (Jill) have been presenting on our book Little Learners, Big Hearts: A Teacher’s Guide to Nurturing Empathy and Equity in Early Childhood, we find the first question many educators ask is “Where do I start?”
This does not have a simple answer. Our book addresses cultural competence, historical racism, identifying conscious and unconscious bias, antiracism, emotional safety, family engagement, and the models for HEART+ and compassionate, mindful centered programs. That is a lot! But where do you start?
Three Ways You Can Start Promoting Empathy and Multiculturalism Today
Our suggestion is to look at where you are, starting with yourself...
Read more.
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SEL4MA's October Resource Showcase
Meghan Wenzel, Co-Editor, and Jill Flanders, Executive Director
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Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is crucial for students because it equips them with the emotional and social tools they need to succeed both in school and in life. SEL helps students develop self-awareness, manage emotions, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions (Lawlor, 2016; Gimbert et al., 2023; Lintunen & Gould, 2014). By teaching these skills, educators help students become more resilient, enabling them to cope with stress, setbacks, and challenges more effectively (LaBelle, 2023; Greenberg et al., 2017).
SEL also plays a significant role in improving students' academic performance by fostering better focus, motivation, and engagement in their learning (Greenberg et al., 2017). Students who understand their emotions and how to manage them are better prepared to navigate the demands of the classroom, reducing behavioral issues. All of these improvements not only improve the lives of students individually, but also contribute to a positive learning environment overall
Educators should prioritize SEL because it directly impacts student well-being, academic success, and the overall classroom dynamic. SEL improves social skills, such as empathy, communication, and teamwork, all of which are critical for student development and contribute to the aforementioned broader positive outcomes. When students feel emotionally supported and collaborate effectively, it creates a more inclusive and respectful school environment. SEL also benefits educators by reducing classroom disruptions, fostering stronger teacher-student relationships, and promoting a more engaged and positive learning atmosphere...
Read more.
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The Compassionate School Leadership Academy | |
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Are you looking to foster a more inclusive and compassionate school environment?
Learn more about the Compassionate School Leadership Academy (CSLA)! The CSLA prepares school leaders in high-need districts to implement trauma-informed practices in the classroom to meet the urgent mental health needs of American children.
Gain insight into your school culture. The CSLA is supported by a customized assessment tool—the School Compassionate Culture Analytical Tool for Educators (S-CCATE) —designed to gauge and change school cultures to ensure more equitable and compassionate school practices.
To learn more and complete the S-CCATE, click here.
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Upcoming Events and Announcements | | |
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Available for Pre-Order!
Advancing Empathy and Equity in Early Childhood Education: A Leader's Guide to Little Learners, Big Hearts
Check it out and consider pre-ordering from Solution Tree here.
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Our New Book!
Little Learners, Big Hearts: A Teacher’s Guide to Nurturing Empathy and Equity in Early Childhood is out now!
Buy it here.
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You are also invited to join the HeartMind Community to receive discounts on publications and workshops, networking opportunities, and special offers for virtual consultations and additional resources from the Center for Educational Improvement.
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Editors: Lauren Kiesel and Meghan Wenzel | | |
CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT
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