Teaching With The Body In Mind

Latest Episodes:

TWTBIM_0318 The Joys of Hide and Seek Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

Joey's recent experiences with her students playing hide and seek triggers happy memories amoung the group of playing Russian Piglets, Ghost in the Graveyard and Bloody Murder. Playing with the idea of disappearance and separation can provide just the right amount of feeling scared, brave and in control.

TWTBIM_0317 Empathy and Perspective Continued Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

In a continuation of last week's conversation, there's more to discuss around empathy and perspective taking. What does it feel like to know that others perceive you as the "bad" kid? What narratives support children's flawed perspective about other people and how adults help to expand their thinking? The group gets into some thorny issues that connect our experiences in the classroom with children's experiences in the larger world.

TWBIM_0316 Perspective Taking and Empathy Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

Perspective taking and empathy are skills that often get lumped together in talking about children's development. Mike argues that they develop separately but often work together. Ross reminds us that babies (who lack perspective taking abilities) show care towards others. Joey wonders how to apply Mike's idea to recent puppy paw conflict in the classroom. Tom recalls a time when his team decided to look for empathy and kindness among the children and found an abundance of it.

TWTBIM_0315 Snow! (Encore Episode) Dec 31, 2024

Show notes

The time is here to share our "Snow!" episode.

Tom wants to talk about beautiful, wonderful snow. Children love snow and the myriad opportunities it brings. Adults need to keep their snow-related hassles to themselves and let children have the joy. The discussion includes some practical tips for sledding with young children. (Originally recorded in 2019)

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year!

TWTBIM_0314 Musical Pairings Dec 24, 2024

Show notes

Just for fun, some suggestions for musical pairings that fit the themes of our conversations.

TWTBIM_0313 Conditions for Flow Dec 17, 2024

Show notes

Tom leads a follow up conversation about creating conditions for flow in the classroom. Mike draws on his days as a drummer to highlight the needs of shared understanding among players and repeated experiences with materials to build mastery. But where is the tipping point between mastery and boredom? Ross introduces the hotplate theory of creativity. Tom emphasizes the need for meaningful choices. Joey highlights schedule predictability and routines as conditions that also support flow.

TWTBIM_0312 Flow Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

Tom reflects on whether children achieve flow states in their play. According to a recent article--that, of course, Tom read--flow occurs when someone has expertise that allows them to release conscious control and go on autopilot. Do children have the expertise required to create flow? Mike argues that children achieve flow in play, which is their area of expertise. The conversation closes with a look at how to avoid interrupting children's flow states with transitions or intrusive questions.

TWTBIM_0311 Collective Energy Dec 03, 2024

Show notes

As a follow up to recent talks about energy levels, Ross invites us to look at the collective energy created by groups of children. It's hard to pinpoint the source of this energy and what makes it shift. Things can quickly turn from joyful noise to chaos. What is the impact of timing, friendships or tensions within the group? Mike cites a perfect example of "collective energy" from his time in the toddler room.

TWTBIM_0310 Cave and Treehouse Nov 26, 2024

Show notes

Mike leads a discussion about environments that support children when they are upset. Some children will need "caves" while others need "treehouses." Tom observes that children can also create their own spaces for regulation within the classroom. Ross wonders, can you have a treehouse in a cave?

TWTBIM_0309 Relax Nov 19, 2024

Show notes

Do children have the right to relax? How do we set the atmosphere to allow for relaxation? Does it work when we tell children, "I need you to relax"? Maybe we all need to learn how to play the ukele so we have something to do while children play.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Teaching With The Body In Mind

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected