Over the course of the school year, we are excited to be offering a program called MindUP™ (published by Scholastic, 2011 and developed by the Hawn Foundation). MindUP™ is an award winning classroom-based social emotional learning (SEL) program designed to enhance a child’s self-awareness, social awareness, focused attention, self regulation, problem solving, pro-social behaviours (helping, sharing, and cooperating), and positive human qualities, such as happiness, optimism, and altruism. Research has shown that students who participate in SEL programs like MindUP™ enhance their overall learning, and the resulting positive behaviours lead to lower dropout rates, a decrease in anxiety and depression rates, a decrease in classroom conduct problems and increased academic success.
MindUP™ was created to help children understand the ways their brains work as well as how their thoughts and feelings affect their behaviour. It has four goals:
Through a series of simple lessons, students learn strategies to calm their minds, focus their attention and become more aware of themselves, others and their environment. Each lesson also teaches students about their brain (anatomy and function), and how they can positively influence their own brain development. Along with the classroom lessons, there is a short, three times a day practice of calming the mind through focused breathing and listening.
We hope that as your child experiences MindUP™ in the classroom, you will talk with them about what they are learning about focusing attention, social emotional learning, and brain development.
If you would like to learn more about the research around Social and Emotional Learning, please visit www.casel.org You can learn more about the MindUP™ program at www.thehawnfoundation.org. If you have further questions about the program or would like more information, please feel free to contact us.
MindUP™ was created to help children understand the ways their brains work as well as how their thoughts and feelings affect their behaviour. It has four goals:
- To foster mindful focused awareness;
- To increase positive human qualities, such as empathy, perspective-taking, helpfulness and kindness;
- To increase optimism and well-being, and
- To foster a cohesive, caring classroom climate.
Through a series of simple lessons, students learn strategies to calm their minds, focus their attention and become more aware of themselves, others and their environment. Each lesson also teaches students about their brain (anatomy and function), and how they can positively influence their own brain development. Along with the classroom lessons, there is a short, three times a day practice of calming the mind through focused breathing and listening.
We hope that as your child experiences MindUP™ in the classroom, you will talk with them about what they are learning about focusing attention, social emotional learning, and brain development.
If you would like to learn more about the research around Social and Emotional Learning, please visit www.casel.org You can learn more about the MindUP™ program at www.thehawnfoundation.org. If you have further questions about the program or would like more information, please feel free to contact us.