The Invisible Boy
So-called "invisible" kids are all around us. How can we help them have the happy ending this story gives us?
So-called "invisible" kids are all around us. How can we help them have the happy ending this story gives us?
Perhaps the simplest way to build resilience in kids is to just switch our language. Try this!
Kids will love this funny read-aloud book about a kid named Louie whose story just keeps getting ruined. Poor Louie! He can’t tell his story because it keeps getting messed up. Keep reading...
We've all done it: focused all of our energy on that one negative comment rather than the 100 positive comments. Dr. Rick Hanson explains why.
We all want our children to be kind and successful, and yet we often don’t fully articulate those visions. Try this!
Momentous School families write vision statements for their children. Watch this video to learn about the incredible impact this has on our families and teachers.
There are plenty of books about persisting with something and thinking outside the box, but few as funny and creative as Stuck. Read our review!
I know "easy" isn't a bad word in the traditional sense. But here's why I banned it in my classroom.
Imagine this: a child gets an A on her spelling test. You tell her, “Great job! You are really smart.” Nothing wrong with that, right?
All year long my fifth grade class talks about champions. What is a champion? Are champions only athletes? Are champions only famous people? Heavens no! All of us can be champions!
Our response to a question via Twitter on how to manage test-taking anxiety. Read our tips!
We’re diving into a series on trauma. We hope to give you a greater understanding of trauma and how it might be affecting the children you work with.
It has been estimated that each year, over one million children in the United States are misdiagnosed with a mental illness that could be better explained by trauma.
The rougher your childhood is, the more challenges you’ll face later in life. This is the premise behind the ACE study. What is it? Learn more...
Transitions can be tricky. Especially for kids who have experienced trauma. Try these simple strategies to help.
It's not what's wrong with you, it's what's happened to you. Keep reading...
Many of us are able to bounce back from failure. But for kids who are in trauma, failure can sometimes feel like the end of the world.
This time of year can be downright stressful. Here's how to manage.
Are you navigating your first holiday season since the loss of a loved one?
Take it beyond teaching kindness - try this activity to put kindness into action.
You get that feeling in your throat. You don’t know what to say or do. Ask him follow-up questions? Send him to the counselor? Change the subject?
We love this TED talk from Dr. Nadine Burke Harris about trauma and health.
Read our book review of The Tooth by Avi Slovdovnick, and check out the video!
There’s nothing wrong with a good Black Friday deal, but if you’re looking to avoid the crowds this year, we’ve got an Anti- "Black Friday" suggestion for you.
We reached out to everyone on the Momentous staff and asked what everyone does in their own families to show gratitude on Thanksgiving. Here are some of the responses.
We previously got rid of chairs in one of our classrooms. What? Keep reading!
When adults go on an airplane, we understand why we’re lining up, or taking our shoes off. But a 2-year-old might find the whole thing a little crazy.
This is a great tool to use for any big experience – the holidays, a trip, a new house, a new baby, a doctor’s appointment.
What does my family hope for me? Momentous School students find out.
Have you ever had a wonderful idea? You can just picture it in your head – it’s going to be amazing! Then you go to execute your idea, and – well…
Is social media becoming a huge part of your teens' social world? Try this activity to connect with them.
"We were blown away by their responses." Read more about this amazing brain project!
Do you have a child who struggles with anger? Check out this must read book.
When kids have a hard time verbalizing their behavior, try this strategy from our therapeutic group leader, Eric.
This is around the time of year when teachers start feeling overwhelmed. Here are Sandy Nobles’ top three self-care suggestions.
We’ve all been there. A child acts out just to get your attention. What do you do?
A family flag can help identify values and help children have a stronger sense of self. Read on…
If we want kids to be good friends, we have to teach them what makes someone a good friend. Try this!
There’s one thing that is found in every single classroom in our school. Read on to learn about the most important classroom display.
Kids have different parts of themselves that they show to others. Use this strategy to help learn more about a child's complex self.
Time for a recap on day two of our Changing the Odds Conference!
We are all feeling inspired from an amazing two days of learning! Read the recap on day one of the Changing the Odds Conference.
Have a child fill a bag with a special item from home. Read more...
One way to show a child that he is seen and understood is to have him create a self-portrait. Read more...
Safe, predictable, nurturing and loving relationships, especially in the early years of childhood, are critical. Why?
What do you do when your 8-year old decides she no longer likes soccer halfway through the season? Do you ask her to stick it out so that she’s not a quitter? Do you teach her to follow through with her commitments? Do you let her walk away?
The goal is to help families find hope in moments of despair. Read on...
Do you know a kid who gives up when things aren't working out for him? Read "Ish" and remind him that just because we didn't get it right the first time, we definitely shouldn't give up.
There's no way to protect children from encountering obstacles. The best we can do is teach them how to overcome challenges, learn from them, and grow stronger as a result.
Who better to explain kindness than Momentous School student Camila? Couldn't have explained it better ourselves.
"We have to treat everyone like they are the butterfly, not the ugly caterpillar." Read this post from Momentous School Music Teacher Kevin Roberts about a lesson in kindness.
How often do we call attention to kindness? Try this simple strategy!
"Kindness comes backs to you." Let Leo and Kyndall teach you about the importance of kindness in this adorable video.
A simple tool to encourage kind words is to see if the words would get past the three gates.
One of our favorite books about kindness and treating other people with respect!
Momentous School teachers visit each student in his/her home at the start of the school year. Watch this video to learn more about the impact that home visits make on the kids, parents, and teachers all year long.
It's important to teach kindness to young children, but finding ways to be kind can be tricky. Try this: Make a magic wand.... Read more.
Use a kindness calendar to encourage kids to keep kindness a regular part of their lives.
The answer to this question seems pretty obvious. But read on to see why kindness is so important to teach kids.
We love this short video that showcases a fun and easy activity that can help build empathy with kids.
Check out this great Sesame Street video on empathy. Perfect for teaching empathy to kids!
This is a simple game that can be played anywhere, any time with no props! Read on...
Kids who have experienced trauma or neglect may have a more difficult time empathizing with others. Read on for strategies.
Those Shoes is a great book to help teach the concept of empathy. Check out our review.
Momentous Institute staff and students share their definition of empathy in this video. Take a look!
Research tells us that kids who engage in meaningful conversations about emotional experiences have higher levels of empathy. Read more...
What is empathy? Delilah, an 8-year old and second grade student at Momentous School can tell you!
Kids always notice when another student in class is absent. So try building upon that. Send well wishes!
We love love love this animated video from Brené Brown about the difference between empathy and sympathy.
We’re raising tomorrow’s adults. What kind of friend do you want to be surrounded by? What kind of employee do you want to hire?
Get yourself a large magnifying glass and use it as your "perspective lens" to help kids see another person's perspective.
How would someone feel if he found out that his best friend was moving to a new city far away? Try this and other questions to help kids think about another person's perspective.
For a great game that helps develop perspective taking, look no further than your mismatched Lego collection.
Like the seven blind mice, kids need to learn the important lesson that we don't always see things in the same ways as others, but that another person's perspective is just as important as our own.
Stop the cycle of winning/losing a battle. Introduce the reset and stop the battle right in its tracks.
Remember the game Battleship? Take the game to a new level by building in some perspective-taking questions.
Want to feel hopeful about the future? Start prioritizing social emotional health.
Just like cities are made up of small and large buildings, so are our brains! Read how one Momentous School teacher got creative with this idea and created Brain City.
An important element of social emotional health is kindness. In each interaction, we have the choice to be kind or unkind
At Momentous Institute, we talk all the time about social emotional health. We say, “This stuff matters” and “This stuff works!” As a researcher, I wanted to substantiate these claims with data. So I began a research study about the effects of our social emotional curriculum on academic outcomes.
The glitter ball is our favorite tool for helping kids (and adults) learn to calm down their brains to make good decisions and think clearly.
We believe that kids should be taught at an early age about the basic working of the brain. Why? Read on.
What does a child need to know about the brain? We break it down and share the three basics that we believe children should learn.
A simple art project that teaches us about the brain and helps us calm down? Sign us up! Read on to learn how to make your very own glitter jar.
One simple three-letter word can totally transform a message and encourage kids to keep trying. Read on to learn more about this magic word!
Our work at Momentous Institute is based upon a model we developed for social emotional health. Read this post to learn about what steps are involved in building and repairing social emotional health in children.
How can an understanding of core values help guide families to success in a therapeutic setting?
The Whole-Brain Child is one of our favorite books for anyone who works with kids. Read this quick review, and then grab a copy and read the whole thing!
Just when you think you know where you are, the perspective changes. Check out our book review for Zoom by Istvan Banyai.
How do we talk about core values with the families at Momentous School? Read this post from first grade teacher Ashley Stephenson.
Momentous Institute Psychologist Dr. Matt Leahy discusses using mindful analogies to answer the question, "Why am I in therapy?"
Try this simple name change trick to have a deep, rich conversation with a child.
Perspective taking is all about looking at things in a different way. Sometimes that can be really, really difficult for kids. The magic sunglasses are a concrete way to get the idea through to them, and it makes a huge difference.
Harllee's new principal, Amber Shields, talks about her excitement in starting her first year as Principal for Harllee Early Childhood Center and working with Momentous!
Non-Directive play can be critical in developing meaningful relationships with children. Clinician, Jeannette Grisales, fills us in!
Trying to build Safe Relationships with students who pull away is very difficult, but it's important to be consistent. Stephanie McGary talks about ways to pull those kids back in.
Momentous School teacher Jennifer Hartmann shares a simple classroom strategy that helps all students develop a sense of belonging in the classroom.
Momentous School Pre-K3 teacher Juanita Cabrales explains how she uses mindful breathing three times each day.
Learn how Momentous School's art teacher, Talitha Kiwiet, uses mindfulness practices to help students transition in and out of the art classroom.
Here's a quick strategy to help students focus attention. All you need are cups and water!
Momentous Institute's Director of Education shares how she approaches discipline with social emotional health in mind.
Momentous School student Eric leads you through an original breathing exercise
Momentous Institute staff and students share the definition of empathy.
Before the start of each new academic year, Momentous School teachers visit students at their homes. This helps build a great relationship between home and school.
Learn more about how Momentous School visits each of our Pre-K families in their home throughout their first year. Home visits help strengthen the parent-school connection and set students up for success both at school and at home.
Got Stress? Try this simple strategy: just breathe. John Edmonson of Momentous Institute shows you how.
Got Stress? Try this simple strategy: shake it off. John Edmonson of Momentous Institute shows you how.
Got Stress? Frankie Perez and Fred Lines of Momentous Institute explain stress in a way that is easy to understand. Make sure to check out our Got Stress? strategies!
Got Stress? Try this simple strategy: take a knee. Fred Lines of Momentous Institute shows you how.
Got Stress? Time to find out what your cat hair is. Fred Lines of Momentous Institute explains.
Got Stress? Watch Momentous Institute experts explain toxic stress and four simple strategies to combat it.
Got Stress? Momentous Institute experts share four simple strategies to combat it.
Momentous School student Delilah shares about empathy in the Kids Talk series
Momentous School Kindergarten student Taryn shares about the brain in the Kids Talk series
Momentous School Pre-K student Faith shared about breathing in this adorable video
Momentous School second-grader Jared talks about feeings in the Kids Talk series.
Momentous School student Camila wants to teach you a lesson about kindness.
Flash Focus on Relationships, a presentation from staff at Momentous Institute. Jennifer Hartmann shares about Relationships: The Difference that Makes a Difference.
What is a typical day for Momentous School? Check out this video to learn more about how we infuse social emotional health into everything that we do.
We believe that all parents truly want the best for their children and have high hopes and dreams for their futures. At Momentous School, we ask all parents to complete a vision statement for their child. We use these to help guide our students and to refocus on the big picture if things go off-track. We encourage every school to add vision statements to their beginning of the year routine!
Momentous School student Kai talks about how he used mindful breathing at home.
Momentous School 3-year-old class, led by Juanita Cabrales, do a mindful activity from Susan Kaiser Greenland called Tic-Toc.
Momentous School student Angelo tells us about a time when he had empathy for a friend.
Momentous School kindergarten students want us to know that we all have emotions.
Momentous School students Trent, Sussan, and Adriana teach us about our favorite tool, the glitter ball.
Cute alert! Practice your mindful breathing with Momentous School student Faith.
Want to know how we incorporate mindfulness into the classroom at Momentous School? Watch this short video to learn more.
Learn more about Momentous School, a lab school in Dallas, Texas dedicated to social emotional health.
Momentous School students teach us about the three main parts of the brain.
This classroom strategy teaches students how to focus on one activity while also learning spatial awareness and teamwork.
Momentous School second-grader Derek takes us through his amygdala breathing exercise.
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.
3 self-care practices to help teachers prepare for the upcoming school year.
Classroom expectations and procedures for teachers to consider in preparation for the school year.
Parents, as you're getting your little one prepared for the first day of school, getting yourself prepared is just as important.
Parents, the big day is almost here! Here are a few tips to help with your child's transition into the new school year.
Most teachers are familiar with the classic clip chart, a behavior management technique designed to help students control their behavior and make good choices. Flip the Clip turns this concept into a method that is positive, respectful and results in a classroom culture with strong social emotional health.
Learn more about how we define social emotional health - and why we believe it is so important.
Momentous School 3 year olds perform "The Brain Song" by their teacher, Juanita Cabrales. Enjoy!
Kindergartner Natalie teaches us about using the chime and breathing time - Thanks, Natalie!
Testing can be just as stressful for teachers as it is for our students, so it's important to remember to take time for ourselves during this time.
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!
3rd grader, Faith, tells us why she likes using the Hoberman Sphere to help with her breathing!
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.
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!
The glitter ball is our favorite strategy for helping kids understand the power of breathing to calm their big emotions.
Creating safe relationships in the classroom can be your number one priority as a teacher, but it can be daunting. Each student is different, so how can you connect with them in a safe and meaningful way? Our very own, Keisha Wright, opens up the conversation!
5th grade Teacher, Meredith Gunter, shows us how to utilize anchor spots when breathing.
If you're looking to create safe relationships with students in the classroom, one easy way is to connect with them through shared, common interests. Our own Matthew Leahy, Ph.D. explains!
As teachers, we tend to focus on the negative of what students are outputting, but when building safe relationships, it's important to not be afraid to praise students on their efforts! Lauren Mann, Ph. D. tells us more about it!
Summer's can be especially daunting for parents, but we're here to help give a few tips on how to make the most of your child being home over the break.
Ever wondered how the simple act of breathing can affect your body? Well, you're in luck! Our own Jordan Watts gives a quick rundown in our new series.
Here are two postures to consider while teaching: a posture of Curiosity and a posture of Playfulness. The most important thing with utilizing these postures in the classroom - do what feels the most comfortable and genuine for yourself!
Try this quick way to explain the brain with your hand. We love this concept from Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson.
Have you wondered how language can affect your relationship with the children in your home or classroom? Our own Karen Dumas explains!
Try using Friendly Wishes to have your students practice empathy for their friends and classmates!
Our own Fred Lines explains attunement and mindful tracking in the classroom!
One of the keys to building safe relationships with students is making sure the adults on campus have safe relationships among themselves. Vickie Echols fills us in!
Building Safe Relationships with your students is not an easy task, especially when you're working under academic pressure. We all want our kids to do well, so Kelly Richmond gives us 3 easy steps to remember when working towards safe relationships (chances are you might be doing them without realizing!).
Trying to build Safe Relationships with students who pull away is very difficult, but it's important to be consistent. Stephanie McGary talks about ways to pull those kids back in.
Non-Directive play can be critical in developing meaningful relationships with children. Clinician Jeannette Grisales fills us in!
Harllee's new principal, Amber Shields, talks about her excitement in starting her first year as Principal for Harllee Early Childhood Center and working with Momentous!
What's a reliable way to build cognitive empathy with your kids? Sometimes just talking about feelings is the best route to take.
Practicing perspective taking is a great way to help kids form empathy!
When hoping to build safe relationships with a new class after summer break, it's important to consider your space (the learning environment) and time!
Ruptures and mistakes can be fairly common to classrooms and, although they are unfortunate, they can be used to further build repairs with your students by focusing on repairing those mistakes or ruptures.
My brain is the most important part of me! Allow these Perea Elementary Students in Memphis, Tennessee to teach you about their brain in this catchy song written by LaChelle Walker.
Our own Dr. Aileen Fullchange explains how someone can earn a secure attachment style throughout their lifetime.
When dealing with children who might be dealing with some overwhelming emotions, it's important to remember that it's not personal.
Next time your child or student is having a hard time handling their emotions, remember that their cup is still growing!
Momentous School Principal, Daniel Knoll, gives us a little insight into our brains!
Can being grateful actually benefit your health? Listen in to our own Tina Robertson as she explains how there's more to gratitude than just saying "thank you."
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!
Trauma is a pretty daunting word, but it doesn't have to be! Our own Summer Rose lays the foundation on what trauma means and how you can battle it.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What is empathy and why is it important? Whether its for creating long lasting relationships, or just helping to understand different perspectives, empathy is a vital tool that everyone has access to! Learn more!
From our May 15, 2020 webinar, Stephanie F. McGary, LPC, RPT and Tara Becker, LMSW discuss parenting tips for sharing COVID-19 news, managing fears and how to keep learning going at home.
From our April 24, 2020 webinar, Daniel Knoll, M.Ed., and Tina Robertson, LCSW, discuss ways to support teachers' mental health as they navigate distance learning.
From our April 30, 2020 webinar, Daniel Knoll, M.Ed. and Rhonda Vincent, Ph.D., discuss ways to facilitate social emotional learning while teaching remotely.
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.
Try this quick way to explain the brain with your hand. We love this concept from Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson. Be sure to check out our other brain related content here on this blog!
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!
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.
In this episode, we talk all about the brain. How are children's brains wired and developed over time? What should parents know about the growing brain? Learn this and more in the first episode of The Growing Brain.
We've never met a child who has never misbehaved, so every parent needs to know how to effectively use discipline. In this episode, we learn discipline strategies that help build children's capacity to make good choices.
The amazing Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, co-author of New York Times best-sellers The Whole-Brain Child and No Drama Discipline gives us the run down on attachment. What is it, and why should parents know about it?
Teenagers! There's so much to love, and also… a few things to be curious, worried or just confused about. In this episode, we dive into what's happening in the brain of teenagers, and how parents can respond.
Children moving to new homes, switching schools, dealing with a parent's divorce... learn strategies for helping children manage these important moments in their lives.
Each child has his or her own temperament, and each parent does, too. In this episode, we explore different temperaments and how this knowledge can help parents best respond to their children.
Pre-teen begging for a smart phone? Toddler anxious for more screen time? In this episode, we talk about the good and the bad with technology, including social media, texting, cyber bullying, and more.
Every parent who sends a child to school deals with appropriate ways to communicate effectively with the school. We talk about parent conferences, how to respond when things aren't going well, and other tips for getting started on the right foot.
How can we raise children who are aware of their own feelings and the feelings of others? Looking for simple ways to weave emotional intelligence into your daily life? Look no further.
In today's 24-hour news cycle, it can be difficult to know when - and how - to talk to kids about what is happening. How much is too much? How do we talk about difficult things in an age-appropriate way? How do we respond to their questions? In this episode, we'll look at answers to these questions and more.
Two or more kids? This episode is for you. We’re talking about ways to build strong relationships between siblings, how to manage competition, sibling rivalry, and much more.
We’ve all been there. There’s nothing worse than a poorly timed tantrum in the middle of a busy day. But in this episode, we discuss ways to manage tantrums in the moment, and even how to avoid them altogether (at least sometimes!).
We all know sleep is important. But why? What happens when children sleep? How much do they need? How can we ensure they get quality sleep? Learn all about sleep in this episode with guest Dr. Laura Vogel.
Certainly all children are different, but there are many commonalities among boys. Diving into all things boys is guest Dr. Matthew Leahy who shares his learning from the past decade of working with boys.
What should parents know about how girls operate in the world? How should we prepare for the teen years? What is important to girls? In this episode we dive into all things girls with guest Tania Loenneker.
Itchy tags, bright lights, loud noises, a constant need to be touched – these can all be signs of children with sensory challenges. Join guest Amelia Baladez to learn more about what parents can know to help manage sensory challenges at home and out in the world.
In this two-part series, we’ll discuss what anxiety looks like in children, and what we can do to best support children who suffer from anxiety. This episode features guest Dr. Ernie Fernandez, a local pediatrician, about the medical aspect of anxiety – what is happening in the brain, medication, and more.
This episode features therapist Gaby Satarino who dives into the mental health aspect of anxiety. What does social anxiety look like in children and teens, what is behind the behavior, and what can we do about it?
In this episode we dive into all things ADHD with guest Ivette Lampl, a therapist who has spent her career working with kids with ADHD, and is a mom of two kids with ADHD.
For parents who are starting the journey of special education services, this episode is for you.
Learn the warning signs of unhealthy relationships and tips for conversations with kids with guest Dena Kohleriter.