10/19/2023 0 Comments JumpStart Name Your Car Day (10/2/23)It's also Custodian Day. Last week we honored food service workers. This week, let’s thank our custodians! At one of the schools I used to work at, Mr. Hudson was way more to our community than someone who kept the place spotless. He was a mentor to students, the girls’ basketball coach, and one of the nicest humans ever. Who deserves a shoutout in your building?
Do you name your car? I do. I have a red Subaru Forester named Merlin. The car before that was a 2002 Honda Accord coup that my 4-year old named Gadget because it had power everything (…so it’s fitting that it’s now his car). Quote: "Pleasure is the lightheadedness you get from a bit of grain alcohol; enjoyment is the satisfaction of a good wine, properly understood." -Arthur Brooks This last week, I had the honor of watching Illinois State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders’s conversation with author Simon Sinek. Several interesting points were made (that may pop up in later newsletters), but one in particular caught my attention: the difference between pleasure and enjoyment. After digging into this difference a bit further, I found a couple interesting definitions: Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks says pleasure happens to you; enjoyment is something that you create through your own effort. Simon Sinek says that pleasure is personal; enjoyment is pleasure with another person. Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi writes that pleasure is when we feel our biological needs are met within the context of our societal expectations. Enjoyment comes when we go beyond meeting biological needs and push ourselves forward into the realm of novelty and accomplishment. In my trainings, I’ve often said that in order to remain in your resilience zone, you should choose activities that are inside > out rather than outside > in, meaning that contentment and resilience after a long day come when you choose activities that involve part of your inner self, for example writing instead of reading. I think it’s all along the same idea. This week, try this: At the end of a long day, regain your equilibrium with another person or by engaging in an activity that will challenge you to grow. You may not find immediate pleasure, but you’ll find the enjoyment afterglow will stick around longer than the hangover. Educator Resource: Positivity, Energy, & Purpose Conference (PEP Con) Michael Bonner, Joe ‘Mr. D.’ Dombrowski, and Monica Genta all in one place. FREE! February 21, 2024 at the Gateway Center in Collinsville, IL. 8:30 am - 3:00 pm. Lunch on your own, Funded by the ISBE SEL Hub #5. Limit 300 people. Dad Joke: My principal asked me why I only get sick on school days. Must be my weekend immune system. October! I say that Fall is now officially here. Find some time to go outside and enjoy the cooler weather. ~Matt
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10/19/2023 0 Comments JumpStart One-Hit Wonder Day (9/25/23)It’s also Food Service Worker Day.
I heard once that Turkey Tetrazzini was the overall favorite cafeteria food. What does your cafeteria make that’s amazing? At one of my former schools, Tanya and crew made the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had - Texas toast that was crunchy on the outside and extra cheese inside. Need procrastination fodder? Check out “10 One-Hit Wonders and the Stories Behind Their Brief Fame.” Quote: "Anxiety is extremely contagious, but so is calm." -Harriet Lerner Research has shown that day-to-day anxiety (as opposed to diagnosed chronic anxiety) is one of the most contagious emotions. Therefore, it’s more a function of groups than of individuals. How we respond to this type of anxiety is most likely a product of our first family. How did your family respond to stress? What was your role in the family in times of stress? Harriet Lerner says that there are two types of responses: over- and under-functioning. Brene Brown summarizes them well in this podcast episode. Over-functioners go into hyperdrive, making lists, doing all the things, leaning into doing rather than feeling. Under-functioners retreat into themselves and lean into their emotions rather than taking action. Understanding how we show up in stressful situations is a huge piece of becoming self-aware. Once you have an idea of how you respond when something goes sideways in your life, you can name it. And when you name it, you can tame it. This week, try this: The next time you enter into a stressful situation, try these calming strategies, because just as there are people who radiate anxiety and stress, there are also people who exude calm.
Dad Joke: When does a joke become a Dad Joke? When it becomes apparent. We’ve got this! I hope this last week of September is relatively stress free, and that (more importantly) you are able to navigate the stress with aplomb. ~Matt It's also Cheeseburger Day! But let’s celebrate the dessert. Our daughter makes the best Rice Krispies treats (is it ‘Rice Krispies or Krispy Treat?). Her hack is to mix in MORE mini marshmallows with the cereal so that there are whole marshmallows mixed throughout. So. Good.
Quote: "Identity is not inherent. It is shaped by circumstance and sensitivity and resistance to self-pity." -Dorothy West In my opinion, the key to grabbing onto your life so that you don’t feel like you are constantly in overwhelm mode is to truly understand who you are. What makes you who you are? I don’t think anyone knows for sure, and it’s probably completely different for each of us. Back in the 60’s, my parents believed in nurture over nature - that when they adopted me and then my sister 18 months later, the home they created would determine our outcome, not our genes. Even though we were besties growing up and still have a good relationship, my sister and I have always been very dissimilar in our identities. Clearly, Dorothy West (major female author of the Harlem Renaissance) believes the opposite. It sounds as though in her mind, our identity is defined by how we respond to things - in our resiliency. I feel as though we treat people as though they are mirrors of ourselves. We expect things out of them that we would expect from ourselves. We assume they will react to situations, humor, gossip, etc. in the same way that we do. However, perhaps they way we respond to situations is REALLY tied up in our identity and that each of us is REALLY different from the next. This week, try this: Stop for a minute and describe yourself.
Educator Resource: Identity Lesson Plans:Grades K - 2: “Teach Young Kids About Identity” This page describes lessons that are for sale, AND has a great list of books to read to your kiddos. You could absolutely generate your own lesson around the book list and the pictures of her lesson cards. Grades 3 - 5: “Discovering My Identity” In this lesson, students will describe aspects of their identities such as race, gender, ability, religion and more. Then after exploring Marley Dias' Black Girls Books campaign, students will analyze book illustrations and write their own book review noting how characters are similar and different from them. https://www.learningforjustice.org/classroom-resources/lessons/discovering-my-identity Secondary: “Personal Identity Wheel” The Personal Identity Wheel is a worksheet activity that encourages students to reflect on how they identify outside of social identifiers. The worksheet prompts students to list adjectives they would use to describe themselves, skills they have, favorite books, hobbies, etc. Dad Joke: I was really confused when my printer started playing music. Turns out the paper was jamming. We’ve got this! Last week, I ended by saying that this week, I was going to add another paradigm shift. (Un)fortunately, I can’t remember what I was thinking. Maybe next week… We are already half-way through September! The pelicans have shown up around here on their way to Mexico for the winter. ~Matt 10/19/2023 0 Comments JumpStart is Baaack! (9/11/23)I'm sure you're off to a great start! By this point, I’m hoping you’ve learned the kids’ names, they know(ish) your procedures, and this email won’t automatically get archived. For those of you who were teaching on 9/11/01, tell your students about that day - keep the story alive. If you don’t remember that day, ask a veteran teacher what it was like. I’ll bet they remember EXACTLY what they were doing when they heard the news (I do!). Also take a moment to reflect on how your community came together after that time. How can we bring that back in our own small way?
Quote: "Avoiding mistakes is an underrated way to improve. It's easier to fend off a bad day than acheive a perfect day. Rather than do you best, avoid your worst." -James Clear This past summer was super busy for me. In addition to fitting in some travel, we have been working with the people at Mindful Practices in developing a new framework and toolkit for schools to use as they work toward Collective Well-being. Our hope is that this framework will one day be as famous as the CASEL Wheel! :) Of the hours of conversations we’ve had as a design team, one of the biggest shifts that will need to happen (in my opinion) in order for organizations to be well, is to move from ‘Whatever it takes!’ to ‘Give today’s best.’ Just the idea that not striving for 100% everyday is OK makes my stomach flip. Yet everyone is worn out, fragile, and not coping well. What if we backed of just a bit? Everything would still get done, and we will be able to be more present in the moment and actually take an easy breath at the end of the day rather than feeling out of breath when we finally climb into bed for less than 7 hours of sleep (but that’s another week!). This week, try this: Pick a day this week. Maybe it’s on a weekend for starters, or perhaps it’s today. Follow James Clear’s advice and avoid your worst for one day. At the end of the day, reflect on your expectations, your emotions (and how they are in your body), and how it affected your interactions with other people. Just notice those things, name them, and set them aside to think about later. Educator Resource: First Five by EdTomorrow. I shared this last year, but if you’re new or didn’t jump on last year, it’s a biggie and worth getting in with at the beginning of the school year. You receive an email every day that has links to a PRIMARY and a SECONDARY webpage. On each page, there is a whole list of quick resources to use in your classroom under these headings: Connect (Meme, Questions, At the Door, Quick Connect); Care (Check-In, Mindfulness, Positivity); Character (Quote, Video). That’s 8 resources for one day. Every day. Oh, and it’s free. Dad Joke: Why is a pirate a pirate? Because they ARRRR. Main Idea: Self-awareness is the key to everything.
I’ve had several conversations this year with other people in the SEL space, and the one thing we all come to by the end of the chat is that self-awareness is the key to everything. As in - truly - the world would be a different place if every person took even 10 seconds each day to think about what they’re thinking about. The Illinois SEL Standards and the CASEL Wheel are both built on the foundation of Self-Awareness. A Harvard Business Review article summed up some research:
This week, try this: As you look to become more self-aware, shift your questioning from WHY to WHAT. Rather than, “Why am I so miserable at school?” try, “What can I do to make my day more enjoyable?” According the article, “‘What’ questions help us stay objective, future-focused, and empowered to act on our new insights.” Quote of the Week: "I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion." (Billie Jean King) Educator Resource: The Salesman [Greg Warren Standup Comedy Routine] - This family-friendly comedy special is by St. Louis native Greg Warren. It actually has nothing to do with SEL or education other than if you were part of our SEL Summer Summit in 2022 or will be attending in 2023, he’s part of our final celebration. Well, I guess laughing is definitely SEL-related! :) Dad Joke: What did the sushi roll say to the bee? Wasabi This is the last installment for the 22-23 school year. I'll see you back here (or in your inbox) in September! ~Matt Weld, ROE #40 SEL Coach Main Idea: Joy comes from within. Shifting your mindset is key to finding (and keeping) joy.
Those of you who know my wife, Martha, will probably agree that she is the most positive person you’ve ever met. She would never cause anyone pain, is always looking to help other people be their best, and is positive 99.9% of the time (y’all wouldn’t believe me if I said 100%). Where does all this positivity come from? It’s just there. She doesn’t read self-help books to learn what to say. She somehow just knows that the secret to personal peace is internal joy. Jon Gordon talks about bringing your own positivity in The Energy Bus. Simon Sinek has heartwarming and motivational conversations on A Bit of Optimism. But each one will tell you that ultimately, the joy comes from within. At last summer’s SEL Summit, we gave out a tumbler that had the phrase, “Happiness is an inside job” emblazoned on the side. (It was the most popular) This week, try this: As your inner reserves are wearing down, remember what good things happened. As you look at your calendar in the morning, take a minute and bring to mind each person you’ll be interacting with that day. Then consider how much each of those people enhance your life. Quote: "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Educator Resource: Determine the Size of the Problem - Last week, I had the pleasure of working with a first grade class on ‘Big Deal / Little Deal’ where I used the visual of a traffic light (even though they don’t have one in their town!) to illustrate the size of a problem, and (probably more importantly) discuss what appropriate responses to each size would be. The link above has an elementary lesson and a secondary lesson, because I know of adults who will respond to little problems with big actions. Dad Joke: I paid $1 for a hair piece today. It was a small price toupee. The joke is especially funny to my since I'm bald! Main Idea: It's human nature to compare ourselves to the people around us.
How many saying are there about comparison? “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence,” or “Keeping up with the Joneses.” Back when the human brain evolved, we had a small group of up to 80 people to compare ourselves with. This comparison kept us all together. Now we have the ability to compare ourselves to anyone in the world with access to the Internet. I’ve noticed that I tend to play the comparison game harder when I’m weaker: physically tired, emotionally exhausted, or in pain. I also am on my phone more often when I’m tired (or as my Grandma used to say, “I’m tired, worn out, broken down, and undone”). And thus the downward spiral into self-pity, feelings of unworthiness, and search for like-minded connection and a community intensifies (and can lead to unhealthy relationships). Remember three things:
This week, try this: Ask yourself these two questions: 1) Who is your go-to person when things are tough? 2) For whom are you the go-to person when things are tough? People who can answer the first question are happier than those who can’t. People who can also answer the second question are even happier. The government of Bhutan actually uses these two questions to measure their Gross Domestic Happiness Quote of the Week: "We struggle with insecurity because we compare our behind-the-scenes to everyone else's highlight reel. Educator Resource: Self-Esteem Worksheets - This treasure trove of resources is intended for therapists, but there are some things here that I could see using in the classroom. If nothing else, they are a good idea generator/starting point for creating your own stuff, too. Dad Joke: Did you know that 10+10 and 11+11 are the same? 10+10=20; 11+11=22. Now’s the time when the self-care practice you’ve been cultivating will really show its benefits. Don’t have one yet? It’s never too late to start. Main Idea: Sleep is Underrated
May is also Better Sleep Month Dov Davidoff may be a comedian, but sleep is very real, and our need for good, restorative sleep is way overlooked. It’s often the first thing we skimp on when we get busy. My wife and I recently gave into the Smart Watch craze and now have Pixel watches with FitBit that tracks your sleep and gives you a Sleep Score every morning. The skeptic in me wonders how much it can really tell about your sleep based on your heartbeat, but if nothing else, I’m very aware of my sleep now. Part of a good night’s rest is good sleep hygiene. Part of what enables you to sleep well is your behavior and choices leading up to bedtime. Matthew Walker has written a great book on sleep and outlines some important actions to consider for a decent sleep:
This week, try this: Keep a sleep log. Record when you go to bed, when you wake up, and a general sense of how well you slept (how rested do you feel, what does your body feel like, etc.). Maybe a simple 1-10 rating. Even something simple like this ensures that sleep becomes more of a priority and you will start to see correlations between daytime behaviors and success with sleep. Quote: "Lack of sleep is only bad if you have to drive, or think, or talk, or move." ~Dov Davidoff Educator Resources: Amazon’s Best Sellers in Children’s Sleep Issues - Not sure why it’s ‘Sleep ISSUES’, but these look like good ones, even for the kid in all of us adults. Top 13 Books on Sleep - If you’re more into big-kid books, here’s a list of books on sleep (who knows? Reading one may just put you to sleep!). Dad Joke: Where to rainbows go when they've been bad? To prism, but it's a light sentence. May?! What? Looks like we're heading into the home stretch, y'all. Stay healthy! Matt Weld, Area 5 SEL Coach Main Idea: Avoiding things can be more harmful than good.
I had a conversation with the wise and wonderful Lisa Dinhofer this week, and one word leapt out at me: AVOIDANCE. That had me thinking about my day-to-day and how much I avoid doing things that I think will be uncomfortable. Not just the painful stuff, but the merely uncomfortable. Then I got my butt out of my chair and went for a walk and ‘had a think’ (one of Lisa’s phrases) about the significance and the prevalence of avoidance in schools.
And let’s be honest: actually doing it is (99.9%) never as bad as we imagine it will be. This week, try this: On your to-do list, find the thing you least want to do. Take a few seconds and figure out why that’s so, and then do it first. Quote: "The avoidance of suffering is a form of suffering. The avoidance of struggle is a struggle. The denial of failure is a failure. Hiding what is shameful is itself a form of shame." ~Mark Manson Educator Resource: First Five - Jumpstart reader April B. recommends this resource. Her school uses it and loves it. You receive an email everyday that has a bundle of resources for primary, and a bundle of resources for secondary. Some are super-quick (a meme or a joke you can use in class), some are longer activities. Produced by Edtomorrow. Register. Dad Joke: What can't you breed an eel with an eagle? It's eeleagle. Wherever you are, keep one eye on the sky and stay safe! Matt Weld, Area 5 SEL Coach Main Idea: Where I work through the concept of "You are enough."
To be completely honest, I’ve always had a bit of a “hmmm” + *scrunchy face* reaction when it comes to the phrase, “You are enough.” I mean, doesn’t ‘enough’ imply you’re not quite there yet? According to Mirriam-Webster, the second definition is ‘fully, quite”. The third definition, “in a tolerable degree” was more what I had in my mind when I scrunch my face. Without going down a semantics rabbit hole, let’s agree to use “fully, quite” as the definition behind this phrase’s intention. Then I read an interesting blog post by Makeda Pennycooke on ‘What Being Enough Means’. She writes that it means:
As I leaned into Ms. Pennycooke’s writing and contemplated Mr. Blake’s quote, I remembered when I first learned about using non-examples as a way of defining something. I was in a first grade classroom as a tech coach helping them make books on iPads about amphibians. One of the pages the teacher required was a non-example. #mindblown! I was not taught about using non-examples as a junior high teacher, but what a useful tool! This week, try this: I think that remembering you’re enough is partly a stand against perfectionism (see JumpStart on this topic). The next time a student asks you, “have a written/run/done/whatever enough?” ask them what more than enough might look like. OR, think about this: “Am I more than enough?” / “When am I more than enough?” Quote: "You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough." ~William Blake Educator Resource: Lose the Very - OK, so this isn’t necessarily SEL-related, and it’s most likely the ELA teacher/writer/tech coach in me that geeked out, but it’s a simple, handy tool when you’re looking for a better word than ‘very something’. For example, very + pretty = statuesque. Dad Joke: I found stir fry all over my bed this morning. I must've been sleep wokking again. |
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