Early Childhood Education at Region 13 - Distinguished Speaker Series
ESC Region 13 ECE team hosts experts in the field to support teachers and specialists in learning strategies and best practices to support students in the early childhood classroom.
Join us for a two-day workshop with James Butler, author of Mindful Classrooms & Austin ISD’s SEL Mindfulness Specialist to learn about Making Mindfulness Work In Your School for PK-2nd grade teachers.
Mindfulness is a big buzz word in education right now, but how can you actually make it work and more importantly keep it going in your school? This 2-day mindfulness workshop taught through a trauma-informed and culturally-responsive lens for PK-2nd grade teachers will explore adult self-care, science of mindfulness, classroom & school-wide implementation, family involvement and student leadership in the mindfulness in education movement.
As the country's first public school mindfulness specialist and former Austin ISD Teacher of the Year, James has a lot of tips and easy to use tools for you to use at home and at school to help you deal with the stress that comes with being an educator.
Day 1 - It Starts With The Adults
By far the most important part of mindfulness succeeding and sustaining in schools is for adults to truly understand and have a practice of mindfulness. Through many interactive, engaging activities, participants will learn about the science behind myself and have ample opportunities to practice mindfulness for self-care. The day will consist of instructor led practices and participant-focused interactive activities to gain a rich and authentic understanding of mindfulness through practice and interdisciplinary learning with a trauma-informed and culturally responsive lens. Participants will leave the day with many different mindfulness practices to try at home as well as a starter kit for use in the classroom.
Day 2- Sustainable Mindfulness In Your School
On Day 2, we will take a deeper dive into learning how to sustain mindfulness in your classroom/school community. There will be more opportunities for mindfulness practice, but with more explicit focus on how to transfer the practices to the classroom/school setting. Participants will learn strategies for using student leadership in your schools mindfulness movement, ideas for involving families, and suggestions on how to make mindfulness a part of the climate & culture of your entire school.
Objectives:
- Teachers will practice and understand the importance of mindfulness as a tool for adult self-care.
- Teachers will understand how mindfulness benefits the brain and nervous system.
- Teachers will learn how to ensure their mindfulness practice in the classroom is trauma-informed and culturally responsive.
- Teachers will learn mindfulness tools to use consistently in class and during transitions.
- Teachers will explore different ways of practicing mindfulness.
- Teachers will create a plan for personal practice, classroom practice, involving families, and school-wide practice.