Mindshifting: Mastering Your Resourceful Brain (6 sessions June 2024)

Mastering your resourceful brain, and preparing students to master theirs

Thinking takes place in the mind, which is why we begin with learning how to understand and control our own minds. The course starts with practical examples of how our minds fool us into positions of powerlessness and tapping into our natural resourcefulness, and progresses through a framework for understanding how our minds work and techniques to consciously tap into executive function, critical thinking, and perseverance, for ourselves and to develop those habits of mind for others, such as students.

Unlock your full potential and develop invaluable life skills not only for your students but also for yourself. This transformative workshop emphasizes creative thinking, critical thinking, recovering from fight/flight/freeze response, and recognizing when we are reacting instead of thoughtfully responding. Here's a snapshot of the key takeaways:

1. Equip yourself and your students with the skills and strategies necessary to foster a growth mindset, creative and critical thinking, and emotional resilience, enhancing their learning experience and setting them up for lifelong success.
2. Creative and Critical Thinking: Enhance creative and critical thinking abilities, empowering you and your students to generate innovative solutions and make well-informed decisions in all aspects of life.
3. Growth Mindset Principles: Learn how to embrace failure as a means of improvement, and discover how this can lead to increased motivation, perseverance, and overall success for both you and your students.
4. Habits of Mind Mastery: Delve into the essential habits of mind that foster problem-solving, effective decision-making, and emotional intelligence, enabling you and your students to tackle challenges with confidence.
5. Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: Participate in thought-provoking exercises designed to help you identify and break free from self-imposed barriers that hinder personal and professional growth, and learn how to support your students in overcoming their own limiting beliefs.
6. Recovering from Fight/Flight/Freeze Response: Learn to use the Intercepter and Self Commander to recognize and manage your five limbic reactions, promoting healthier emotional regulation and resilience in the face of stress, and teach your students how to do the same.
7. Mindful Responding: Develop the skills to recognize when you are reacting impulsively and cultivate the ability to thoughtfully respond to situations, fostering healthier relationships and improved decision-making for both yourself and your students.
8. Enhanced Self-Awareness: Cultivate greater self-awareness through introspection and self-reflection, fostering a deeper understanding of your strengths, weaknesses, and unique potential, and guide your students in their own self-discovery journey.
9. Nurturing a Supportive Community: Connect with like-minded educators in a collaborative environment, exchanging ideas, experiences, and encouragement as you work towards your personal growth goals and create an empowering learning atmosphere for your students.

Reserve your spot today to develop the skills and mindset necessary to thrive in an ever-changing world, and set yourself and your students on the path to a more successful, fulfilled, and resilient life.

Comments by past participants:

• This has been a meaningful class. It is adjacent and complimentary to so many areas I have been working in during the past 6 or 7 years---it is helping me to add context to the work I was trying to do, to expose teachers to how brain function impacts how kids can and will react to their teaching.
• This class is my favorite PD class I've ever taken. It is relevant to all aspects of my life; personal, professional, family, relationships, etc.
• I have a student I know who is often in limbic mode due to social issues and because she thinks she's "not good at math." I sat with her at lunch and explained the fight or flight response and how it prevents our brain from making rational decisions. She agreed that her limbic brain is often making decisions for her. I had chosen some items from each of the self-commander to discuss with her and let her chose which ones she thought might work. She was able to choose three techniques of the Self Commander that she felt would help her reset her mind.
• I can use this material daily especially in my middle school classes where we are always talking about emotions and how to deal with them! – Middle School Teacher
• I am excited to teach my students and coworkers about how the brain takes in information and can be processed in different ways depending on what part of the brain you are in. Is the person reacting from their limbic mind or are they using their prefrontal cortex. – Curriculum Director
• I had a student who was upset about a situation in class. I used the 3-Minute Breath exercise to reset from the situation, I then followed up with the “Perhaps I can …” strategy. What was interesting is that the breath exercise calmed him down enough to talk him through the "Perhaps I can ..." strategy. By doing the "Perhaps I can ..." exercise the student regained their confidence and self-control. — Special Education Teacher