7 Mindsets, the national leader in mindsets-based social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and activities, today announced the publication of Ridiculously Amazing Schools: Creating a Culture Where Everyone Thrives. The new book is co-authored by Tracey Smith, the principal of Brookwood (GA) Elementary School, and Jeff Waller, 7 Mindsets’ co-creator and vice president of educational services.
If we want to truly invoke Equity in education, it will happen at the tip of the spear; when more of us educators truly appreciate the circumstances of our students and adapt our curriculum and systems to meet them where they are at…
ENERGY FLOWS WHERE ATTENTION GOES!! Its the things that we focus on that expand in our life. If we focus on the negative, it is negative things that will become the foundation of growth in our lives. However, if we use the positive as the underpinning of our thinking, our joy and happiness will grow. Why does the negative tend to stay at the forefront in our minds? Negativity just has a bigger impact on our brains. And that is due to the brain’s “negativity bias”: Our brain is simply built with a greater sensitivity to unpleasant news. The bias is so automatic that it can be detected at the earliest stage of the brain’s information processing.
Social and Emotional Learning is only as good as, will only ever be as good as, the teacher who stands and delivers it. If teachers are engaged, if they have bought into the program, students’ lives will forever be transformed. If teachers are not engaged, then you have most likely implemented “one more thing,” one more tool that will sit on a shelf collecting dust. If you win the teachers, you win the students, their parents, and ultimately the community. We are very proud of our solution. We believe it is the most comprehensive and engaging curriculum on the market. I have witnessed its tremendous impact on thousands of students and educators around the country. I have also seen it fall short. Lessons that are dynamic and powerful in one classroom come off as mechanical and cheesy in others.
Online schools offer an ideal platform for fostering meaningful one-on-one relationships. This is especially true for students who struggle with anxiety or other social disorders. These virtual environments are safe places for students to express themselves, find acceptance and develop friendships.
