A Little Hope Everyday
After two years of uncertainty, mostly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it feels time to start looking forward again. Let's start by doing this exercise to think about a little hope everyday.
Strategies
Articles
Slow it Down: A Self-Regulation Strategy
Next time you're feeling stressed, take a moment to check in with your body. You may notice that everything has sped way up. Try this simple strategy to calm your brain and body.
Three Easy Strategies for Sneaky, In-the-Moment Stress Management
Here are three quick, easy in-the-moment strategies to manage stress... that those around you won’t even notice you're doing.
Changemaker Chronicle: A Free Changemaker Lesson Plan
This free lesson plan, Changemaker Chronicle, introduces students to what it means to be a changemaker and can be adapted to fit any elementary or middle school classroom. Age it up or down with your choice of books and vocabulary!
Heroes of History: A Free Resilience Lesson Plan
This free lesson plan, Heroes of History, helps teach resilience to students and can be adapted to fit any elementary or middle school classroom. Age it up or down with your choice of books and vocabulary!
My Own Best Friend
Of course we are teaching our kids about how to be good friends. But are we teaching them to be good friends to themselves?
It Just Takes 30 Seconds
"One of the most successful research-based strategies I used in my classroom was free and only took 30 seconds." Curious? Keep reading.
Kindness Calendar
Use a kindness calendar to encourage kids to keep kindness a regular part of their lives.
Prioritizing Students' Cultural Identity
This post comes from former Momentous School teacher, Jorgelina Marin, on helping students' develop a strong sense of self.
Videos
Modeling in the Classroom (After Covid)
This past school year was was incredibly hard for teachers and here at Momentous Institute that was no different. Our pre-k teacher, Crystal Ramirez, talks to us about some of her struggles and how she worked through them coming back from virtual learning.
The Number Corner
Here's how our 2nd grade teacher, Brenda Ortega, utilizes SEL practices with one of her favorite classroom tools - the number corner.
Classroom Culture
What is classroom culture and how do you create one? Our own 3rd grade teacher, Anthony Castro, can help!
The Regulation Station!
Here's how we use a conflict corner during phys. ed. at Momentous Institute. Please feel free to adapt this to have it fit your learning space!
Where To Find Joy - with Ingrid Fetell Lee
Watch this short video featuring Ingrid Fetell Lee, author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, for a little help on how to find joy. Ingrid was a featured speaker for our 2021 Changing the Odds conference - plans for our 2022 conference will be announced soon!
Park on Positive | Animated
Let’s take a moment today to pause the juggling and think about the positives.
Gratitude When Things Are Hard | Animated
Check out a few ways to practice gratitude with children even when hard things happen.
Three Easy Strategies For Sneaky, In-The-Moment Stress Management - Video
Here are three quick, easy in-the-moment strategies to manage stress... that those around you won’t even notice you're doing.
Back to School: Six Ways to Build Emotional Safety this School Year
Here are a couple ways to increase emotional safety for students this school year.
Starfish Breathing | Animated
Your hand can be a breathing tool! This is a great breathing activity that can be done in the classroom but easily works by video as well. Be sure to mute students during this time so that there are no distracting sounds.
Hot Chocolate Breathing | Animated
How can you make breathing visual and fun for your little ones? Ask them to imagine blowing on a cup of hot chocolate!
Home Strategies | Interactive Playful Songs
Songs are an amazing tool to use for connecting with a child! Use these 3 examples of adding some physical interaction to well known jingles, or as a guide to create your own motion to your child's current favorite song!
Home Strategies | Pillow Course
Here's a fun, quick strategy you can do with your little one at home! Using pillows can help with motor skills, balance, and overall connection with your child!
Home Strategies | Blanket Play
Blankets are a great tool for you and your partner to use for building better connection with your child, though, depending on the age or excitement of your child, they can be a little risky. So, it's important to know your child and figure out the best way to use this tool to your advantage!
Toss that Thought! | Animated
It can be hard to be optimistic when negative thoughts are weighing us down. Sometimes kids need a way to get rid of the negativity before they can move on.
Feelings Thermometer - Animated
When a child is stuck in a feeling, it can be hard for them to even imagine feeling any differently. Enter the feelings thermometer! Watch the video to learn more!
The Breathing Stick Tutorial
By using a pipe cleaner, some beads, and a little bit of twisting, you could help kids make a tool that helps reinforce the self-regulating power of breath awareness.
Home Strategies | Beep Honk
This fun activity is great for introducing new sounds and words to your little ones! Activities drawn from Theraplay by Booth & Jernberg and The Parent’s Guide to Play by Masi & Leiderman.
Home Strategies | Cheerios
Use Cheerios for working on fine motor skills with a peanut jar, water bottle, or any container you have! Activities drawn from Theraplay by Booth & Jernberg and The Parent’s Guide to Play by Masi & Leiderman.
Home Strategies | Puff Balls
Use puff balls for tracking, sensory learning, and as objects to find around the house! Activities drawn from Theraplay by Booth & Jernberg and The Parent’s Guide to Play by Masi & Leiderman.
Home Strategies | Bubbles
Here's how you can use bubbles for learning! Activities drawn from Theraplay by Booth & Jernberg and The Parent’s Guide to Play by Masi & Leiderman.
2nd Grade Service Project
For our 2nd grade service project, the students worked together in organizing the different grades and faculty to bring in hats and gloves to the Joppa community here in South Dallas.
Teaching Strategies | Thankful Pumpkins
Thanksgiving is around the corner and a great way to be festive while teaching gratitude is utilizing Thankful Pumpkins! Use this with your students or children!
Classroom Strategy: Pass the Bell
This classroom strategy teaches students how to focus on one activity while also learning spatial awareness and teamwork.
Kids Talk: Amygdala Breathing
Momentous School second-grader Derek takes us through his amygdala breathing exercise.
Flipped Classroom Agreements
We're all familiar with classroom agreements, but have you considered adding agreements for what students can expect from their teacher? Learn more in this quick video.
Kids Talk: Chimes
Kindergartner Natalie teaches us about using the chime and breathing time - Thanks, Natalie!
Breathing Strategy: Flower and Candle
A quick and easy breathing strategy we use here at Momentous, which gives our students something concrete to imagine and help with deep breathing. It can be done anywhere at anytime!
Kids Talk: Hoberman Sphere
3rd grader, Faith, tells us why she likes using the Hoberman Sphere to help with her breathing!
How are Feelings Like a Rollercoater?
Life can be full of ups and downs, just like riding a roller-coaster. Visit our blog to download your own sheet so kids can draw out their emotions like a rollercoaster.
Breathing Strategy: Box Breathing
Momentous School Principal, Daniel Knoll, tells us how he utilized box breathing in the classroom. Take this strategy with you anywhere since no materials are needed!
Breathing Strategy: Anchor Breathing
5th grade Teacher, Meredith Gunter, shows us how to utilize anchor spots when breathing.
Classroom Strategy: Friendly Wishes
Try using Friendly Wishes to have your students practice empathy for their friends and classmates!
1 Minute Breakdown: Building Cognitive Empathy
What's a reliable way to build cognitive empathy with your kids? Sometimes just talking about feelings is the best route to take.
1 Minute Breakdown: Perspective Taking
Practicing perspective taking is a great way to help kids form empathy!
Mindfulness in the Classroom
Want to know how we incorporate mindfulness into the classroom at Momentous School? Watch this short video to learn more.