172. How Meditation and Yoga Helps Children in School with Giselle Shardlow from Kids Yoga Stories
Jun 05, 2024
Are you looking for strategies to improve classroom management?
A great place to start is by teaching emotional regulation skills to your students. This will help them better self-regulate and better manage their behaviours. But how do you teach self-regulation skills to kids?
Yoga and mindfulness is a great way to teach emotional regulation to students in a fun and engaging way!
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we interview Giselle Shardlow from Kids Yoga Stories. We ask what is kids yoga and how is it different from adult yoga? Giselle shares how to teach yoga to kids and teens and how to bring yoga and mindfulness into the classroom. We also talk about how to make yoga and mindfulness fun for kids so they’ll enjoy it and want to participate. Finally, we discuss how to prepare for bringing mindfulness and yoga into your classroom or school. Learn easy ways to get started!
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171. New Teacher Tips: Practical Strategies to Help New Teachers Thrive
May 06, 2024
Are you a new teacher feeling overwhelmed by all there is to figure out in the classroom? Do you want practical strategies for how to avoid teacher burnout?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast we’re interviewing Alisha, a seasoned educator and co-host of the teacher podcast, Rainbow Skies for New Teachers. We discuss the challenges that new teachers face. Plus, Alisha gives advice for new teachers that will help to prevent teacher burnout.
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170. Time Management Strategies to Prevent Teacher Burnout with Shawna Lapointe
Apr 01, 2024
Is there a way to live your best life without constantly feeling overwhelmed and burnt out?
Learn how to improve your work-life balance and avoid teacher burnout with these time management tips from Shawna Lapointe of Too Busy Livin’.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re interviewing Shawna Lapointe, teacher, entrepreneur, and mom of 4. Shawna shares concrete strategies that will help you leave work at work and enjoy your time at home to the fullest.
Shawna will teach you:
an important question you need to ask yourself in order to maintain work-life balance.
strategies she uses to complete all her work during contractual hours – no planning or grading at home in the evenings!
time management skills she uses at home to reduce the burden of cooking and cleaning, freeing up more time to enjoy her family.
meal-prep tips that will help you save time and ensure you eat what you love without wasting energy.
By the end of this episode, you’ll have simple and powerful strategies that you can start using right away to prevent teacher burnout and improve work-life balance!
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10 Short Mindfulness Winter Activities for All Grades
Nov 06, 2023
Today, we’re tackling a fun topic on The Balanced Educator Podcast… who doesn’t love a good seasonal topic!
We share concrete ways to incorporate social emotional learning and mindfulness on the theme of winter!
With the winter season upon us, it’s an opportune time to explore mindfulness in winter and dive into some calming breathing exercises that will help with self-regulation and classroom management!
Today, we’ll be sharing 10 activities you can do with your students of all grades, though some will work better with some grades than others.
You will leave this episode with ready to use, no prep winter activities you can use right away for a calm classroom environment.
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168. How to Help Your Students Self-Regulate with Mindful Coloring
Oct 02, 2023
There are so many great ideas for classroom mindfulness activities!
In this super practical episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we talk about one of our favorites: mindful coloring (and hint: we share a link to some free coloring pages for kids for your use in the classroom!).
We share the what, why and how to use kids coloring pages in your classroom to help with self-regulation and classroom management.
We give concrete, no prep ideas you can start using right away!
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5 Habits of the Least Stressed & Most Empowered Educators with Grace Stevens
Sep 04, 2023
Today on The Balanced Educator Podcast, we are chatting with Grace Stevens all about feeling less stressed as teachers and more empowered. A perfect episode to listen to in the first few months of the school year to set yourself up for success!
A former corporate girl, Grace quit VP life to pursue her dream job as a public school teacher. After 20 years in the classroom, she focuses full-time on helping educators have a more positive teaching experience. Grace combines her signature mantra, “Your energy teaches more than your lesson plans,” with two decades of study in behavioral therapy and positive psychology to create science-based habits for overwhelmed educators. She has authored three books on teaching, including the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers and the One New Habit book series.
We are excited to dive into the 5 habits of the least stressed most empowered educators with you!
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166. Focus Teaching Strategies for Distracted Students
Aug 07, 2023
Tired of managing off-task students? Or having a hard time in the classroom distracted students that lack focus?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we walk you through a simple and easy lesson plan for K-12 classrooms that will show you how to explicitly teach your students focus strategies in a systematic and efficient way (and make classroom management easier for you!).
Just like we can’t expect students to learn how to read on their own, we also can’t expect them to learn to focus on their own.
Listen to this episode if you want some concrete teaching strategies to help your students be able to focus on their academic learning, increase their problem solving skills and apply self-regulation strategies on their own!
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Nurturing Resilience: Exploring Child Stress with Lindsay Miller from The Stress Nanny
Jul 04, 2023
Join Lindsay Miller, a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator, and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast, as we embark on a captivating exploration of child stress. Lindsay’s expertise, backed by 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification, equips us with invaluable insights to support children’s emotional well-being.
Discover how to recognize stress symptoms in kids. Explore effective strategies for emotion regulation and social-emotional learning, and unlock the power of mindfulness in promoting kids’ mental health. Tune in to this enlightening episode and discover the secrets to nurturing resilience and fostering a mindful, balanced life for children.
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164. Emotion is ME and WE. Interpersonal Neurobiology in the Classroom
Jun 09, 2023
Have you noticed that when you arrive to the classroom stressed, your students’ behavior problems increase?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, Kailey explains the neurobiology of why emotions seem to be contagious. She talks about how emotions have the function of communication internally and interpersonally. Then, Kailey explains how we can work with this system of interpersonal neurobiology instead of fighting against it.
You’ll learn how to create a social and emotional teaching plan in your classroom that allows everyone to prepare their brains and bodies for effective teaching and learning. Furthermore, you’ll learn why this whole brain teaching routine will lead to greater academic success.
Use the information learned in this episode for your teacher toolbox to simplify your classroom management plan, to improve your behavior management strategies and to help your students develop their emotional intelligence!
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SHOW NOTES
Book: The Developing Mind by Dr. Daniel Siegel
Book: The Whole Brain Child by Dr. Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
163. A Calm Classroom Mindfulness Activity for Self-Regulation
May 01, 2023
Are you looking for simple, yet highly effective classroom ideas to get your students ready for learning?
In this to-the-point episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share an excellent easy-to-teach self-regulation strategy that will help to create a calm, respectful and focused classroom environment.
This teaching strategy won’t take more than 5 minutes of your precious class time… We know how busy every single school day can be! However, we also know how important it is to get students into a state where they are ready for academics if we want them to learn! And this strategy is a tried-and-true winner with students!
You will leave this short and practical episode with everything you need to implement this calm classroom activity right away, and we even share some extra free resources you can download for free to make this activity even more seamless with your K-12 students!
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162. Six No Prep Breathing Exercises: Make Classroom Management Easier
Apr 03, 2023
Do you want to make classroom management easier for yourself and your students (and be able to focus better and enjoy your time in class together a whole lot more)?
In this short and sweet episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share how to make classroom management easier by teaching your students emotional regulation through breathing exercises.
Specifically, you will learn 6 breathing exercises you can teach to your students that can then be added to your students’ coping skills toolbox. Plus, you’ll learn the secret to getting them to actually use those self-management skills on their own when they’re feeling a big emotion (if you listen to this education podcast often, you may already have an idea as to what it is!).
You will leave this episode with everything you need to start implementing these awesome teaching strategies right away and to create a well-managed, respectful and focused classroom environment.
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161. A “Tech-Intentional” Approach in the Classroom with Emily Cherkin
Mar 06, 2023
A big struggle in the classroom, especially in middle and high school, is managing students’ use of technology.
Smartphones and other devices can be powerful tools in the classroom. However, they can also be major distractions for students and a constant struggle for teachers.
In this episode, we interview Emily Cherkin, The Screentime Consultant. Emily has a masters in Education. She is an internationally recognized consultant who has worked with families and schools over the last fifteen years. A former classroom teacher and current parent, Emily helps families go from tech-overwhelmed to tech-intentional. She’s been featured on The Today Show (twice), Good Morning, America, and in The New York Times. She can be found on the major social media platforms and at www.thescreentimeconsultant.com.
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SHOW NOTES
Connect with Emily on her website and social media:
160. The Best Picture Books for Social-Emotional Learning and How to Use Them in Your Classroom with Andrea Burns
Feb 06, 2023
Looking for books to help you teach social-emotional skills in your classroom? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited 4th grade teacher Andrea Burns, to share her list of the best books to read with your students to support social-emotional development.
Andrea Burns is extremely passionate about all things bookish. This includes children’s literature, the smell of a brand new book, or adding new picture and chapter books to her already full bookshelf. Andrea is also passionate about Social Emotional Learning. She is an author and has a children’s book coming out that is SEL related. Andrea lives in Kansas. She is a teacher and has a Masters of Science in Curriculum & Instruction. She loves helping other educators implement SEL into their classroom.
In this episode, Andrea also shares her method for incorporating SEL and mindfulness in her classroom and the planning strategy she uses to connect the books she chooses with the learning outcomes and standards in the curriculum. You’ll leave this episode with social-emotional learning and mindfulness ideas, resources, and strategies that you can start using in your K-12 classroom right away.
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SHOW NOTES
Try the Educalme mindfulness and social-emotional learning program for free: www.educalme.com/free
159. Mindful Nature Activities for the Classroom with Sandi Schwartz from the Ecohappiness Project
Jan 02, 2023
Looking for simple, no cost ways to practice mindfulness with your students and help them to manage their emotions?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we talk to Sandi Schwartz, the founder and director of the Ecohappiness Project, about how to mindfully engage with nature.
In this episode, you’ll learn the science behind why time mindfully engaging with nature is beneficial to children’s emotional health.
You will also discover how to implement nature programming in your classroom in a creative way to help students better manage their emotions. You’ll will walk away with tons of fun, simple nature activity ideas to add to your curriculum.
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158. Letting go of Perfection with Shibani Joshi
Dec 05, 2022
Feeling overwhelmed? Burnt out? Unmotivated? Perfectionism might be the problem! In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we talk with Shibani Joshi about the expectations that are put on women in the workplace, how to let go of perfectionism and how to speak up for ourselves.
Shibani Joshi is an experienced journalist who has covered business, technology and general news for global media outlets, including ABC News, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, Yahoo! Finance and Huffington Post.
She previously anchored a daily markets show on the Fox Business Network and had her own tech segment across Fox’s networks. Shibani has interviewed hundreds of corporate CEOs and executives from companies, including Apple, Citigroup, Ford, Google, McDonald’s and Uber. She has also reported extensively on the floors of the NYSE, Nasdaq and NYMex exchanges.
Shibani is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School. She currently lives in the Bay Area with her 3 children.
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157. Social Media and Teen Mental Health with Richard Capriola
Nov 07, 2022
Sixty percent of teen girls and forty percent of teen boys experience negative social comparison on Instagram.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited Richard Capriola to talk about how social media is affecting teen mental health.
You’ll learn shocking statistics on how teen mental health is evolving in the recent years. Plus, you’ll leave with strategies you can use in the classroom to support your students in this complex social media and pandemic era.
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SHOW NOTES
Visit Richard’s website to learn more about his book and read his blog: helptheaddictedchild.com
Netflix documentary on social media: The Social Dilemma
155. Is Educalme the Right Mindfulness and SEL Program for Your School?
Sep 05, 2022
Is choosing the right resource for teaching mindfulness and social-emotional learning in your classroom stressing you out?
With so many programs out there, it can be overwhelming to choose the best option for your goals.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share the outcomes, benefits and evidence behind the Educalme social-emotional learning and mindfulness program.
This episode will help you decide if this is the right program for you.
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153. Mindful Media Literacy with Amy Jussel
Jul 04, 2022
With screen time doubled via online learning, now more than ever critical thinking skills specific to media and devices are a necessity to help kids navigate the ever-changing influences of the digital landscape.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited Amy Jussel to teach us how to integrate media literacy, mindfulness and SEL in the classroom for a transdisciplinary approach that replicates real-life.
Amy is the Founder of ShapingYouth.org, a media literacy organization using critical thinking tools to educate and embed habits of inquiry, enabling children to deconstruct media messages presented to them from all walks of life.
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152. Beginner Mindfulness Exercise for Teachers & How to Use it with Kids
Jun 06, 2022
Starting a mindfulness practice can feel overwhelming when there are so many resources to choose from.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share a beginner mindfulness practice. One that you can listen to over and over to start, reinvigorate or deepen your mindfulness practice.
We also talk about how you can use this exercise with the kiddos in your life and/or in your classroom.
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SHOW NOTES
Purchase a membership to Educalme to get more guided mindfulness audios for yourself as well as daily audios to practice with your students that intentionally build, mindfulness, self-awareness and self-regulation over time. Go to https://www.educalme.com/classroom/ for more information.
Share this post on Pinterest so other teachers can benefit from this mindfulness practice too!
151. What Teachers Need to Know About Adolescent Substance Abuse with Richard Capriola
May 02, 2022
What do teachers need to know about adolescent substance abuse today?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited Richard Capriola, a mental health and addictions counselor and the author of The Addicted Child: A Parent’s Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse, to share his expertise on adolescent mental health and substance abuse.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
which drugs teens are using,
the warning signs of substance abuse that educators should be familiar with,
how drugs work in the teen brain,
how the pandemic has impacted teen mental health and compulsive behaviors,
and how teachers and schools can reach teens in a meaningful way that can impact a child’s decision to not use illicit drugs and alcohol.
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SHOW NOTES
Richard Capriola’s website where you can find his book and other resources for parents and teachers: https://helptheaddictedchild.com/
150. Co-Regulation Before Self-Regulation
Apr 04, 2022
Are your students struggling to self-regulate?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast we explain why you will have more success is you focus on co-regulation first.
You will learn concrete ways to co-regulate with your students in the classroom so that everyone can benefit from emotional regulation and be ready for effective teaching and learning.
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149. Work Less, Teach More: How to be an Effective Teacher and Live a Life you Love with Dan Jackson
Mar 07, 2022
Are you feeling overworked, stressed or like you never have time to complete your to-do list?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, Dan Jackson, educator and author of the book Work Less, Teach More, shares strategies from his book. Strategies that will help you better manage your time so you be an effective teacher AND live a life you love.
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148. How to Increase Student Engagement in Learning
Feb 07, 2022
Isn’t it frustrating when a student doesn’t engage in classroom learning experiences?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share our tried and true methods for increasing student engagement in any classroom activity, but especially with mindfulness and social-emotional learning.
You’ll leave this episode with concrete strategies that you can start using right away to get even your most reluctant learners to participate.
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147. A No Prep Classroom Calming Strategy: A Joyful Memory
Jan 03, 2022
Are you like us, always looking for social-emotional learning and self-regulation strategies to add to your teacher toolbox?
In today’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share an awesome no prep mindfulness activity for your toolbox! An all around feel-good activity, and a student favourite, too!
It’s called A Memory That Brings Me Joy.
We tell you exactly how to do this exercise in your classroom, and we provide you with everything you need to do it right away!
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146. 5 No Prep SEL Activities for the Tired Teacher
Nov 22, 2021
When you’re tired, you need some no-prep activities that you can do on the spot, with short notice and next to no supplies, that can fill time while still being enriching for you and your students.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re sharing our go-to no-prep social-emotional learning and mindfulness activities that you can do with all ages whenever you need a filler activity but don’t want to feel guilty that you’re wasting time.
These are great activities for when a lesson goes faster that you expected. Or, for when holidays are coming up and both you and your students need a break or any other time that you want to infuse some SEL at the last minute.
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SHOW NOTES
Sign up for the Educalme Free Trial to get no-prep SEL activities that you can enjoy too. Just press play and feel calm and focused alongside your students.
Share this post on Pinterest so other teachers can get these 5 activities too!
145. Teach Your Students to Manage Their Time – A Step-by-Step Strategy
Nov 08, 2021
Do your students hand assignments in late? Do they feel stressed about completing their tasks on time?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share the exact strategy we teach high school and university students to help them reduce stress and overwhelm and better manage their time all while prioritizing their wellbeing.
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144. Your Ideal Week: Teacher Productivity Hacks
Oct 25, 2021
Do you feel like you’re pulled in so many directions as a teacher? That at any given moment that you can never complete the tasks you planned to do, then have to catch up before and after school?
No More!
Learn a highly effective strategy to keep you on track! Plus, find more work-life balance (and avoid teacher burnout) in this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast!
We’re going to walk you through a quick process we follow each week to plan our tasks and be more efficient than we ever thought possible.
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143. How to Talk to Kids About Complex Social Justice Issues with Shelby Kretz from Little Justice Leaders
Oct 11, 2021
How can we talk to kids about complex social justice issues in an age-appropriate way… And without watering down the realities of the issues?
Oftentimes, kids have no issue understanding and being comfortable with these concepts. It’s often adults who need help to facilitate conversations.
So how can adults get to the point where they feel comfortable talking about really important issues with kids: topics like racism, sexism, human rights, and all the intersections that lie within?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited Shelby Kretz to teach us how. Shelby is an educational researcher at UCLA and creator of Little Justice Leaders subscription box. Little Justice Leaders is a monthly box for parents and teachers of elementary school students, which provides resources each month to learn about a new topic of social justice.
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | YouTube
142. Free Lesson! Intro to Mindfulness for Middle and High School
Sep 27, 2021
The biggest hurdle to starting a mindfulness practice in your classroom is often the fear of the first lesson.
How do you introduce mindfulness to your students so that they will be on board and understand the benefits of this practice?
We’ve decided to completely remove this barrier for you by creating an introduction to mindfulness video lesson that you can show to your middle and high school students to give them the pre-teaching they need to have a successful mindfulness routine whether you’re teaching in person or online. Just press play!
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we explain why we included what we did in this lesson, how to use it in your classroom and how it fits together with the Educalme Classroom Free Trial and with the full mindfulness program.
We’ve also included the audio version of the video right in this episode so that you get an idea of what’s in store for you and your students when you play the video in class.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | YouTube
SHOW NOTES
Sign up for the Educalme free trial and watch the Introduction to Mindfulness lesson with your students!
Share this post on Pinterest so other educators can use this free lesson too!
141. Free Lesson! Introduction to Mindfulness for Primary Students
Sep 13, 2021
The biggest hurdle to starting a mindfulness practice in your classroom is often the fear of the first lesson.
How do you introduce mindfulness to your students so that they will be on board and understand the benefits of this practice?
We’ve decided to completely remove this barrier for you by creating an introduction to mindfulness video lesson that you can show to your primary and middle school students to give them the pre-teaching they need to have a successful mindfulness routine whether you’re teaching in person or online. Just press play!
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we explain why we included what we did in this lesson, how to use it in your classroom and how it fits together with the Educalme Classroom Free Trial and with the full mindfulness program.
We’ve also included the audio version of the video right in this episode so that you get an idea of what’s in store for you and your students when you play the video in class.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | YouTube
140. How to Teach Kindness & Compassion
Aug 30, 2021
As teachers, we want to create a safe space for our students where they feel comfortable being themselves and advocating for their needs.
So, we do our best to treat our students with kindness and compassion.
However, conflicts between our students, or worse, bullying can create a classroom atmosphere that goes against our values.
But how do we ensure that our students are treating each other well and contributing to the caring classroom culture we want to create?
By deliberately giving our students the opportunities to practice kindness and compassion and build on these skills over time.
Just like anything else we teach in the classroom, structure, routine and repetition are keys to success.
So, in this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re going to teach you how to systematically teach the skills of kindness and compassion so that you can meet your goal of creating a positive classroom culture for both you and your students.
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139. How to Teach Self-Regulation (Part 2)
Aug 16, 2021
Today we’re diving into part 2 of this topic on The Balanced Educator Podcast, all about how to teach self-regulation in the classroom!
Last episode, we talked about how to teach for self-awareness and self-regulation, which, in turn, makes classroom management easier and allows us to be more productive in the classroom. If you haven’t listened to that one yet, we highly encourage you to go back to episode 138 to listen to it before diving into this episode!
Today, we’re going to give you a step-by-step roadmap that you can follow to teach self-regulation to your students using the Educalme method. We’ll give you concrete ideas to implement in your classroom right away.
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138. How to Teach Self-Regulation (Part 1)
Aug 02, 2021
Teaching self-regulation to our students allows them to manage their emotions and behaviours independently. In turn, this makes classroom management easier and allows us to be more productive in the classroom.
But, teaching self-regulation can feel daunting! There’s so much information out there and lots of different advice on how to do it… It’s difficult to piece all of that information together so that we can teach it in a step-by-step, coherent way.
So, in this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we break self-regulation down to the basic. We show you that it can actually be much easier to teach than you think.
Once you know the basics, you’ll probably realize that you already have a lot of the skills and knowledge to be able to confidently support your students in their emotional regulation journeys.
This is part one of two episodes. Next episode, we are giving you a step-by-step roadmap that you can follow to teach self-regulation to your students using the Educalme method.
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137. How to Build Student Self-Confidence
Jul 19, 2021
What can we do as teachers to help our students gain self-confidence? Where do we start?
In this episode of the Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re sharing a step-by-step approach on how to teach self-confidence in the classroom.
First, we break down how we incorporate positive self-talk practices in elementary school, middle school and high school. We talk about the activities we do to help students understand how beliefs are created and how our beliefs about ourselves impact our wellbeing and our success in school and life.
You’ll leave this episode with concrete strategies to help your students build their self-confidence and positive self-talk.
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136. The Why & How of Mindful Movement in the Classroom
Jul 05, 2021
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re talking about how using mindful movement in the classroom helps students manage their emotions and be ready for calm and focused learning.
We talk about why movement breaks are effective and how to incorporate them into your classroom routine to support learning and simplify classroom management.
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135. How to Create a Safe Space Where Kids From all Cultures Feel Valued with Noreen Sibanda
Jun 21, 2021
Talking about racism can feel scary.
Especially when we don’t want to offend or say the wrong thing.
However, this fear can hold us back from learning how to support all of our students in their unique needs.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited Noreen Sibanda, a Provisional Psychologist, to teach us how to create safe spaces where kids from all cultures feel valued.
Kailey asks Noreen questions that have been on her heart this year as she’s been learning more about systemic racism and white privilege. Noreen talks about how to help immigrant students in our classroom feel valued and supported. She explains how language and cultural perspectives of mental health and spirituality can differ and how to be inclusive when we discuss mental health.
Noreen encourages us to be curious about different cultures and to take the time to ask questions to learn more about our all of our students’ lived experiences without making assumptions.
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134. Executive Functioning and Motivation with Rachel Kapp and Stephanie Pitts from Learn Smarter the Educational Therapy Podcast
Jun 07, 2021
Supporting struggling learners can be a challenge when we don’t know the root of the problem or which strategies to employ.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited educational therapists Rachel Kapp and Stephanie Pitts from Learn Smarter, the Educational Therapy Podcast to teach us about how educational therapists support learners, teachers and families.
Rachel and Stephanie teach us about the role of executive functioning in learning and how to support students in developing their executive function skills.
They also give practical tips for motivating disengaged learners.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | YouTube
132. Integrating Mindfulness at a School Level with Erith Thompson
May 10, 2021
In this episode of the Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited Erith Thompson to share how she uses Educalme, our social-emotional learning and mindfulness program, with her grade 6 team.
Erith shares why she started using Educalme with her students and what resources she found really useful when she was getting started. Then, she talks about the process of using Educalme with her grade 6 team.
This episode is perfect if you’re thinking of using Educalme in your classroom or with a team of teachers at your school and you’d like to hear an example of how it has worked for Erith and her team.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | YouTube
131. A Letter of Gratitude Lesson Plan
Apr 26, 2021
How do we teach our students to be grateful?
Today on The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re discussing concrete ways to explore gratitude in the classroom! We share an awesome letter of gratitude project that teachers can do with their students right away. This interdisciplinary classroom activity will help students understand the power of gratitude and being kind to others.
You will leave this episode with many ways to incorporate gratitude in the classroom and a clear step-by-step gratitude writing activity!
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | YouTube
We teach your students how to manage their emotions and behaviours so that you can both thrive in a calm and focused learning atmosphere through the Educalme program. Try it for free!
Share this post on Pinterest so other educators can learn about this gratitude project too!
130. How to Create a Trauma Sensitive Classroom with Kimberly Mackey
Apr 12, 2021
Trauma can negatively affect a student’s ability to learn and there might be more students in your classroom that have experienced trauma than you think.
Creating a trauma sensitive classroom supports all learners and equips students with skills that will support them in coping with difficult experiences that they might face in their future. In this episode, we’ve invited Kimberly Mackey to teach us about trauma and give us concrete strategies that we can implement in elementary to high school classrooms.
Kimberly is a School Social Worker and is certified as a Trauma Practitioner with Starr Commonwealth. She is well-known as an advocate for the role of school social work in supporting staff and students, and for building trauma-sensitive schools.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What is trauma and why is it important for teachers to understand it?
Why teachers support all learners when they teach in a trauma sensitive way.
What are concrete ways we can create a trauma sensitive classroom at both the elementary and high school levels?
Good resources on trauma for teachers who want to learn more.
129. Raising Good Humans with The Mindful Mama – Hunter Clarke-Fields
Mar 29, 2021
Have you ever reacted to your child’s or student’s behaviour in the heat of the moment then wished you would have handled the situation differently? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re interviewing Hunter Clarke-Fields, host of The Mindful Mama Podcast and author of the book Raising Good Humans about mindful parenting.
Hunter shares how she transformed her reactive parenting style which was leading to more conflicts and tantrums to mindful parenting which created more peace in her family. She talks about how to cultivate a mindfulness practice as a parent and how it leads to more skillful interactions with your children.
Hunter shares how to be okay with making mistakes as a parent and how self-compassion leads to growth. She coaches on how to handle big emotions and tantrums more effectively with less stress and judgement.
Finally, Hunter gives expert advice on managing conflicts between siblings.
Whether you’re a parent, an educator or both, this conversation will help you to interact with children with less conflict and more grace.
This year, everyone has been telling teachers to practice self-care.
But, when do we find the time?
Self-care doesn’t have to be restricted to outside of your workday and doesn’t have to be an added task on your to-do list.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ll teach you how to integrate self-care into the school day so that both you and your students can benefit.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | YouTube
SHOW NOTES
Try Educalme, the ready-to-use online mindfulness program for the classroom for free!
Share this post on Pinterest so other educators can learn about wellness in the classroom too!
127. The Do’s and the Don’ts of Mindfulness in the Classroom
Mar 01, 2021
How can you practice mindfulness in the classroom with success?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re sharing the 4 do’s and don’ts for teaching mindfulness in the classroom so that you can avoid making the same mistakes we did early on in our careers.
When you follow the tips we share in this episode, you’ll have success teaching mindfulness in your classroom and see results quicker.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify
126. Social-Emotional Learning in High School
Feb 15, 2021
In this episode, Kailey shares how she teaches mindfulness and social-emotional learning in her high school classroom.
She explains how she introduced mindfulness to her students at the beginning of the semester, how she created a social-emotional learning routine and how her students reacted to this daily mindfulness practice.
Kailey addresses common worries about teaching mindfulness in high school like : What if the students think it’s not cool and don’t want to participate? How will I find the time when I have so much curriculum to cover? And What do I do when students arrive late to class?
Finally, Kailey shares her student’s feedback on the daily mindfulness practice and what she plans on doing differently next semester.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify
125. Have More Fun, Reduce Behaviour Problems with Dr. Marcie Beigel
Feb 01, 2021
If you have students in the classroom displaying problem behaviours, having more fun might be the solution! In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited behaviour specialist Dr. Marcie Beigel, onto the show to teach us how having more fun in the classroom can help students manage their behaviours.
We talk about how having fun can help to create positive relationships with our students. Dr. Marcie explains how these connections lead to proactive solutions to behaviour challenges.
Dr. Marcie gives examples of activities we can do in the elementary or high school classroom to have more fun with all of our students. She also gives examples of ways to have fun with our students when we’re teaching online.
This episode will remind you to lighten up even in times that feel heavy . You will gain ideas for ways to bring more play, laughter and relationship building to your in-person or online classroom.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify
124. An Interdisciplinary Growth Mindset Lesson and Project
Jan 18, 2021
How do we help students go from I can’t to I can?
Today on The Balanced Educator Podcast, we are sharing practical and applicable lessons, activities and projects you can do in your classroom to teach your students about growth mindset and how to adopt this mindset, which we believe is extra important now with the hurdles students have had to face during the pandemic!
This mindset will help your students to become more focused learners, help them do hard things with a positive attitude and give them the tools to overcome challenges both in and out of the classroom.
We take you through a step-by-step interdisciplinary lesson and project we did with our own students this school year that you can do in your classroom too!
By the end of this episode, you will have everything you need to take a growth mindset deep dive in your classroom with success!
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
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This year is one for the books. Finding balance as a teacher has always been difficult but…throw in a pandemic…and teacher stress and overwhelm is at an all time high!
I don’t know about you, but we’re ready to make a change! What if 2021 is the year that we set healthy boundaries and prioritize self-care?
BUT let’s be real…as a teacher, taking time for self-care can feel impossible.
That’s why we decided to create a quick and easy set of resources that you could use before, during or after your workday. De-stress in 5 minutes or less!
Introducing the Self-Care Teacher Toolkit!
The Self-Care Teacher Toolkit makes taking care of your wellbeing feel possible, even when you have mountains of teacher tasks to cross off your list.
Imagine a toolkit of ready-to-use self-care strategies that help you to shift your body out of the stress response so that you can be more present for yourself and others, so that you can feel more focused and so that you can feel more energized and motivated.
The Self-Care Teacher Toolkit is organized into themes or toolkits. Each toolkit offers a different self-care practice that will help you to process and manage your emotions mindfully. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, tired, or just in need of a quiet moment, choose a toolkit that fits your mood and enjoy 5 minutes of self-care.
Wellness that you can actually fit into your daily routine!
Mindfulness Toolkit
In the Guided Mindfulness Toolkit, you’ll find a 5 minute guided mindfulness practice that will help you to reduce feelings of overwhelm and connect to the present moment, one breath at a time. Simply sit in a comfortable position in a quiet place and press play.
Journaling Toolkit
In the Journaling Toolkit, you’ll find journaling prompts to help you process your emotions and shift your mindset. Set a timer for 5 minutes and use the writing prompts to guide you through a reflective process.
Kindness & Gratitude Toolkit
In the Kindness and Gratitude Toolkit, you’ll find a bingo style card with gratitude and kindness prompts. These prompts will encourage you to take actions that will focus your attention on the things you have to be grateful for. It will also help you shift your emotional state.
Movement Toolkit
When we’re feeling big emotions, especially stress, a great way to process those emotion messengers in our bodies and shift your state is with movement! In the Movement Toolkit, you’ll find a list of short and effective movements. You can do them just about anywhere to to help calm or energize you.
Affirmation Toolkit
Our mindset and our emotional state begins with the words we say to ourselves. In the Affirmation Toolkit, you’ll find a list of affirmations to help you when you’re feeling overwhelmed, tired or like you aren’t doing enough.
Podcast Toolkit
Finally, in the Podcast Toolkit, we’ve curated a list with links to our most helpful The Balanced Educator Podcast episodes. Listen to an episode on your way to work, during your lunch hour, while you’re cooking or at any other time that you’d like to learn something new, feel uplifted and support your wellbeing.
Think of the Self-Care Teacher Toolkit as a grab bag of wellness strategies for when you want to process or shift your emotions. Just log in, choose a Toolkit and de-stress in 5 minutes or less!
122. The Zero-Waste Classroom with Heidi Rose
Dec 21, 2020
With so much talk about the climate crisis, you might be wondering what you can do in your personal life and in your classroom to care for the environment.
We’ve invited Heidi Rose from zerowasteclassroom.org to teach us about the zero-waste movement and how we can make changes at home and in our classrooms to reduce the amount of trash we send to the landfill.
You’ll learn:
What zero-waste means and what mindsets can set you up for success.
How to reduce the guilt you might feel for “not being perfect” at zero-waste living.
Tips for reducing waste in your home.
Tips for reducing waste in your classroom.
How to teach your students about zero-waste living and why it’s important for the environment in an age-appropriate way.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | Google Play
Share this post on Pinterest so other educators can learn about how to get started with their zero-waste classroom journey!
120. Teaching about Financial Wellbeing with Andrea Ferrero of Pockets Change
Nov 23, 2020
Money can bring joy or cause stress!
Our finances are tied to our emotional and physical wellbeing. Yet, many of us didn’t learn much about personal finance in school.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited Andrea Ferrero of Pockets of Change to share how we can help our students build financial literacy and resilience in any course that we teach (not just math!).
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | Google Play
Try Educalme, the online ready-to-use social-emotional learning & mindfulness program for free!
How many of you really love budgeting? Yeah, me neither. It’s something I learned to do through mistakes, missteps, and way too much worry. You’re not alone if you think it’s difficult or an obligation like brushing teeth.
Studies show that thinking about money is stressful and talking about it is even more stressful. We form our relationship with money around age five the same time our early literacy skills are setting the stage for future success or challenge. Unlike reading skills, families are not receiving support and encouragement in having financial conversations and as educators we’re not receiving training or resources to foster those intergenerational learning moments. We have the opportunity to change that and get more comfortable with money in our own lives in the process.
Almost two decades ago, I stepped into my first classroom with a $50 supply budget. Creativity out of necessity inspired me to start a classroom store and begin exploring teaching entrepreneurship. I co-founded Pockets Change to make financial education more accessible, reaching the communities that are often overlooked. We build financial resilience through Hip Hop pedagogy with K-12 & college students, parents, educators.
Understanding our finances impacts more than our wallets, it gives us the skills to thrive. Early and ongoing financial education has tremendous power to increase intergenerational outcomes including the skills to manage decision-making, navigate the unexpected, and chart the path to reach goals consistently. Now more than ever, financial education is a tool for self-care and social justice.
Getting Started with FinEd: Find Your Money Personality
So where do we start, financial education is about more than numbers, it’s crucial to develop an understanding of our relationship with money.We begin forming our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors around money in early childhood. These tendencies inform life-long decision-making. Check out our money personality quiz for yourself and with students to start a conversation.
Wants are Needs too! Go Beyond Budgeting with Spending Values
When it comes to looking at our money in action. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard came from a high schooler who said, “if I don’t create a plan for my money, it will have a plan for me.” Our curriculum goes beyond basic budgeting to creating a spending plan that focuses on personal values. When we move away from arbitrary formulas it allows us to create a budget that works for our lives and prioritizes what matters most to us. Whether you’re 6 years old or 60, talking through our values is a powerful way to plan for the future and take action in the present. Check out our Spending Values Matrix and create your own plan by visiting: http://www.pocketschange.com/spending-values
Money is Emotional: Take the Next Step with Money Buddies
Perhaps the most powerful thing we can teach our students about money is to ask questions and create conversations. Money is still a taboo topic for many and the result is that we end up feeling wrong and alone in dealing with financial decision-making. We’ve had a six year old walk into a workshop and declare she was “bad at money”, by the end of the day she was discussing ways to make money with a sticker business. We want students to know that money is a tool and that we can all make finance personal.
If you’re interested in more tips and tools for talking and teaching about money, sign up for our monthly newsletter. http://www.pocketschange.com/newsletter
Share this post on Pinterest so other educators can learn how to teach financial literacy in their classrooms too!
Let us know in the comments, how will you apply what you’ve learned in your classroom?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast we’re explaining the biology of how we experience our 5 senses. We talk about how our brain processes our senses and how we interpret what we see, hear, feel, taste and touch.
We explain how our 5 senses can help us to stay present and be mindful. Then, we give examples of simple mindfulness activities you can do with your students.
Alright, we’re going to keep this one short so you can get on with your… Mindful Scavenger Hunt!!!
Our 5 senses are how we engage with the world around us. Through the exploration of one sense at a time, our students learn how to fully appreciate what they are experiencing in each moment.
Plus, they will understand that when you choose to focus on one thing at a time, your senses become amplified. This helps to develop attention and awareness.
In this Mindful Scavenger Hunt PDF, you will find two worksheets and a lesson plan. This is a perfect mindfulness activity to do with your kiddos to fill a bit of time in your schedule. Also, a great one to leave to a sub since the lesson plan is already written for you!
This activity is a part of the Mindfulness and the Five Senses unit inside Educalme, our ready-to-use mindfulness program for the classroom (there are lessons for the entire school year!). In this unit, students develop their mindfulness practice through the exploration of their five senses.
118. A Cross-curricular Approach to SEL and Mindfulness with Julia Carreiro
Oct 26, 2020
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited grade 5 French Immersion teacher Julia Carreiro onto the show. We talk about how Julia integrates social-emotional learning and mindfulness across the curriculum for a holistic approach to teaching.
Julia gives concrete examples of cross curricular projects she’s developed that integrate:
English creative writing
French grammar
coding
with Mindfulness and social-emotional learning.
Plus, she talks about the benefits she’s observed from teaching mindfulness and social-emotional learning on student wellbeing, mental health and learning. She discusses creating a positive classroom and school culture by integrating mindful strategies into her classroom and in morning announcements.
This episode will give you great ideas for how you can create a greater sense of wellbeing across the curriculum with your students and have a positive impact on your whole school culture. You’ll also get ideas for how you can use the Educalme online mindfulness program to support your teaching.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | Google Play
117. Kindful Moments with Student Services Teacher Krista Labossière
Oct 12, 2020
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast we’ve invited Krista Labossière to share about how she integrates mindfulness into her role as a student services teacher.
Krista talks about her journey of integrating mindfulness into her life, her family life and her work with her colleagues and students. She explains how she built her mindfulness practice slowly over time and how mindful moments turned into kindful moments in the classroom.
This episode illustrates the big picture of how mindfulness can support us and our students and also gets into the details of how to integrate this practice with staff, in one-on-one and small group interactions with students and at the classroom level.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | Google Play
116. Well-being and Well-Becoming: An Integrated Systems Approach for Education with Thomas Falkenberg, Ph.D
Sep 28, 2020
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited Thomas Flakenberg, Ph.D to share his research on well-being and well-becoming in schools.
Thomas teaches the The Five Components of Well-Being and Well-Becoming. Furthermore, he explains how to use those components as a framework to ensure that our teaching and our school culture contributes to our students living a flourishing life.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to use well-being and well-becoming as a framework. One that will guide your teaching and your interactions with your students in a way that will help your students to live a flourishing life.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to The Balanced Educator Podcast so you don’t miss our upcoming episodes: iTunes | Spotify | Google Play
115. Building Student Resilience with Teacher Brandi Raehal
Sep 14, 2020
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited Educalme Teacher Brandi Raehal. Brandi shares how she adresses social-emotional learning and mindfulness in her grade 2 classroom.
Brandi talks about how her daily routine supports student resilience and growth mindset, especially during the challenges of remote learning. She also shares how the online mindfulness program for the classroom, Educalme, influenced her personal and professional growth.
Brandi explains the outcomes and transformations around social-emotional development, self-regulation, classroom management, time management and classroom culture that she noticed from using Educalme. Plus, she shares how the skills students learn from this program reach far past the classroom.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
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114. Supporting Student Mental Health Through Mindfulness and SEL with teacher Maria Costaki
Aug 31, 2020
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’ve invited Maria Costaki, teacher of 27 years, onto the show. Maria shares her reasons for implementing a social-emotional learning program with her students.
Maria shares how she uses the resources in the Educalme program. She also explains what she does to create a safe and compassionate classroom culture that supports student mental health and wellbeing.
Maria gives her sage advice to teachers that are considering starting an Educalme Classroom practice.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
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113. The Importance of Routine and Repetition for Learning
Aug 17, 2020
In this episode of The Balanced Educator podcast, we discuss the importance of routine and repetition in the classroom. We talk about how routines free up brain space for learning. We also explain how repetition helps the brain to create stronger connections and make learning last.
This episode will help you to plan for student success this school year.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
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112. Social-Emotional Learning and Classroom Management with Teacher Amélie Bauch
Aug 03, 2020
Being a first year teacher comes with many challenges.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re interviewing Amélie Bauch. Amélie is a first-year grade 2 French immersion teacher.
We talk about what Amélie does in her classroom for social-emotional learning and what the routine is in her classroom. She shares the hurdles she’s encountered and how she overcame them. She also talks about how if affected her classroom management.
Lastly, Amélie shares her advice for first year teachers and any teacher that wants to incorporate social-emotional learning and mindfulness into their classrooms to improve classroom management.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
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111. Strengthening School Communities Through Social-Emotional Learning With Tre’ Gammage
Jul 20, 2020
In this episode, we’re talking about how social-emotional learning strengthens school communities with Tre’ Gammage. Tre’ is an Educational consultant with the Gammage Consulting Group. He helps k – 12 schools implement school-wide social and emotional learning programs.
In this episode we talk about:
How Tre’s experiences led him to helping schools implement SEL programs.
Common problems that schools are struggling with and which solutions are working.
How implementing social-emotional learning programs can help students and teachers to have success and strengthen school communities.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
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110. Self-Love and Personal Growth with Amy Tung of the I Am Love Project
Jul 06, 2020
In this episode we’ve invited Amy Tung of the I Am Love Project onto the show. She shares about self-love, relationships and letting go of what isn’t working in our lives to make space for intentional change.
Kailey and Amy discuss mindfulness, self-love, self-reflection, living with intention, surrender, and choosing again from a space of love.
Sign up for the full Educalme program to get all the resources you need to teach your students about Positive Self-Talk, Self-Acceptance and Self-Love, mindfully.
Thank you to Amy for sharing a guest blog post. Here it is!
Letting go of being a perfectionist is a gift to yourself. This was the absolute biggest challenge for me, yet the most rewarding. Does this sound familiar to you?
I use to set absolute ideals. There was only black and white, no grey. I had an all-or-nothing approach and feared failure because it suggested imperfection. I was my harshest critic and would beat myself up for the smallest things.
Finally, I got sick of mulling and crying over outcomes if they did not turn out as envisioned. I realized I was being a perfectionist to prove to everyone that I AM WORTHY, not realizing that I am already worthy in many ways. I am perfectly imperfect!!! My journey is to strive for growth and development. I am deemed worthy because I will drive my goals forward. When you lead with intention, when you embrace who you are, the impossible becomes POSSIBLE.
By all means, this didn’t happen overnight. It did take 35 years of hardship in order for me to realize and to finally seek out help. I am so blessed to have met some incredible coaches, therapists, counsellors, and mentors along my journey. They have given me the tools to help me succeed in my career, relationships and finances.
Do you want to achieve success and live an abundant life? Join our monthly pop-up events, where you’ll be engaged in self-enquiry and be given the right tools and strategies from professionals. Wear comfy clothes, our workshops always end with a workout session!
Share this post on Pinterest so other educators can learn about growth, self-love and living with intention too!
A special thanks to our sponsor:
Use the code EDUCALME to receive 15% off your order!
Let us know in the comments, how do you live with more intention?
Gratitude Meditation for Teachers: Boost Wellness & Calm After a Busy School Year teacher Carolina Smith from the Living in Alignment Project
Jun 22, 2020
Feeling overwhelmed after a long school year?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, Carolina Smith from the LIA Project guides a gratitude meditation to support teacher mental wellness.
She explains how nurturing our own well-being not only helps us, but also benefits our students.
This calming meditation will help you unwind from the school year, feel relaxed, and prepare for a rejuvenating summer.
Making Your Classroom a Safe Space for Students Experiencing Trauma with Jacob Chastain
Jun 08, 2020
In this episode, Jacob Chastain, a teacher with a powerful story, shares how his childhood in a traumatic home shaped his approach to teaching.
Jacob opens up about how school was his safe space, and he highlights the teachers who made a lasting impact on his life.
Learn how to support students facing trauma, create a classroom environment of safety and trust, and build a space where every student feels valued.
Boost Emotional Well-Being with Laughter Yoga: A Fun Way to Improve Joy & Resilience in Your Classroom with Rolande Kirouac
May 25, 2020
Looking for a burst of joy and laughter?
In this episode, Rolande Kirouac shares the healing benefits of laughter and teaches laughter yoga exercises to boost your mood!
Learn how to use laughter to improve emotional well-being and enhance your classroom atmosphere. Plus, discover how mindfulness can help you and your students feel more connected and resilient.
Remote Teaching Tips: Strategies for Managing Emails, Staying Focused & Connecting with Students
May 11, 2020
Feeling overwhelmed by remote teaching?
In this episode, we share strategies to manage emails, stay focused, connect with students, handle tech, and set parent expectations.
Tune in for tips to make teaching from home easier and more enjoyable.
Plus, gain perspective shifts to tackle those tough days!
Navigating Remote Teaching with Less Stress: Tips for Teachers & Parents on Connection, Balance, and Success with Jennifer Scott from Peg City Teachers
Apr 27, 2020
Are you navigating remote teaching and learning?
In this episode, Jennifer Scott, mother and support teacher, shares how to succeed with less stress and more grace.
Discover tips for both teachers and parents to prioritize connection, intentionality, and perseverance. Jennifer discusses a less-is-more approach to teaching and working from home, helping you focus on what matters most.
Learn how to create balance and support your students’ success during remote learning.
Are you a credible teacher?
Apr 13, 2020
Are you a credible teacher?
In this episode, Mike Huebner from The Credible Teacher shares how teacher credibility impacts student learning. Discover how to build trust, connect with students, and improve your classroom presence with mindfulness and storytelling.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The importance of teacher credibility in student learning and classroom success.
- How to connect with your students through authenticity and human connection.
- The power of storytelling and how it enhances classroom engagement.
- The role of self-awareness and self-love in becoming a more effective teacher.
- How mindfulness and meditation can improve your teaching and classroom dynamics.
- Tips for making a deeper impact on your students' well-being and learning.
Mindfulness in Schools: Research-Backed Benefits for Student Wellness & Learning
Mar 30, 2020
Mindfulness is transforming classrooms—want to know why?
In this episode, we dive into the latest research proving the powerful benefits of mindfulness for students.
Discover how mindfulness boosts student wellness, improves learning outcomes, and supports social-emotional development. We’ll explain what mindfulness is, how to get started, and why it’s such a game-changer for classrooms.
How to Overcome Teacher Burnout: Focus on What Matters with Angela Watson
Mar 16, 2020
Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list as a teacher?
In this episode, Angela from Angela Watson’s Truth for Teachers Podcast shares strategies for overcoming burnout, setting boundaries, and focusing on what truly matters. Learn how to work smarter, not harder, and make teaching more effective, enjoyable, and sustainable.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to challenge the “super teacher” narrative and prioritize self-care.
- The importance of defining your values and focusing on what brings you joy.
- How to be more intentional with your time and energy.
- Tips for saying no without guilt to tasks that drain you.
- Ways to do fewer things, better.
Teaching Mindfulness and Mindful Movement with Phys Ed Teacher Stéphanie Van der Linde
Feb 24, 2020
Are you looking for ways to teach mindfulness to your students, no matter what subject you teach?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, Stephanie van der Linde, a Physical Education teacher for elementary and middle school, shares how she successfully integrates mindfulness and movement using the Educalm program.
Stephanie explains how she adapts mindfulness practices for different age groups, aligns them with the Physical Education curriculum, and incorporates student choice into her Educalme sessions. She also discusses which Educalm resources she uses across various grades to foster self-regulation, emotional intelligence, and overall student well-being.
Whether you teach Physical Education or any other subject, this episode is packed with practical tips and strategies on how to incorporate mindfulness, self-regulation, and social-emotional learning (SEL) into your classroom.
Mindfulness and Growth Mindset with Grade 4/5 Teacher Jenelle Gagné
Feb 17, 2020
Are you struggling to find time for mindfulness in your busy classroom routine?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, Jenelle Gagné, a Grade 4/5 teacher and mom of two, shares how she successfully integrates mindfulness and social-emotional learning (SEL) into her classroom with Educalm.
Jenelle reveals her daily mindfulness routine, how she links Educalm lessons to her language and health units, and how she incorporates a growth mindset activity that connects with Educalm’s Growth Mindset units.
Plus, she talks about how Educalm helps her create a strong sense of community and connection in the classroom, while also supporting her well-being and boosting teacher productivity.
How to Create an Inclusive Classroom with SEL & Mindfulness with Teacher Sara Tham
Feb 03, 2020
Looking to build an inclusive, caring classroom community that promotes student well-being, growth, and self-regulation?
In this episode, Sara Tham, a Grade 2 French Immersion Teacher, shares how she uses the Educalme Classroom social-emotional learning (SEL) program to create a supportive environment that fosters risk-taking and emotional growth.
Sara talks about how she integrates mindfulness practices into her daily routine and the positive impact it has on her students' emotions and behaviors. From overcoming initial hurdles to witnessing incredible transformations, Sara offers practical advice and inspiring stories to help you bring mindfulness into your own classroom.
Why Social-Emotional Learning is Key to a Smooth-Running Classroom
Jan 27, 2020
Want to know why social-emotional learning (SEL) is the foundation for a well-functioning classroom?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into the psychology and biology behind SEL and explain why it's essential for student success.
We explore Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and how it relates to learning, along with the biology of stress and its negative impact on learning from a physiological perspective.
Plus, we share how a daily mindfulness practice can help meet your students' basic needs, reducing stress and preparing them for academic success.
Teaching Mindfulness for Social-Emotional Learning in Primary School with Kindergarten Teacher Katelyn McGuffin
Jan 20, 2020
Are you looking for ways to teach mindfulness for social-emotional learning in your primary school classroom?
In this episode, Katelyn McGuffin takes you behind the scenes of her French Immersion kindergarten classroom, where she uses Educalm to integrate mindfulness into her daily routine.
You'll discover how Educalm helps with classroom management, improves academic outcomes, and supports students' emotional regulation through ready-to-use, bilingual mindfulness practices in English and French.
Katelyn shares practical tips on incorporating daily mindfulness activities and how Educalm’s guided social-emotional learning audios and printables make it easy to create a calm, focused learning environment for your students.
Create a Calm & Focused Classroom with SEL & Mindfulness Foundations
Jan 13, 2020
Are you ready to transform your classroom into a calm, focused, and engaging environment where your students thrive?
In this episode, we share how you can easily achieve a classroom atmosphere where students' brains and bodies are primed for learning.
Discover the power of mindfulness with Educalm, a bilingual social-emotional learning program designed to help students manage their emotions and self-regulate—no prep required!
Educalm provides simple, ready-to-use daily mindfulness practices in both English and French. All you have to do is press play and guide your students through a 2 or 5-minute practice to set the stage for a positive, productive day.
Whether you're a teacher or administrator, this program is perfect for helping students (and you!) find calm and focus quickly.
From Burnout to Thriving in a Calm Classroom Environment
Jan 06, 2020
New Year, new mindset!
In this episode, Josianne shares how asking yourself the right questions can help you transform your life and teaching experience.
If you’re feeling burned out, stressed, or overwhelmed, listen in to learn practical steps for creating a calm, focused classroom and finding balance.
Holiday Stress Relief: Guided Mindfulness Meditation for Teachers & Families
Dec 16, 2019
The holiday season can bring stress and overwhelm.
Reclaim calm with this guided mindfulness meditation designed to help you stay present and appreciate the now.
Tune in to The Balanced Educator Podcast for your moment of peace.
Stress-Free Meal Planning for Teachers: Simplify Your Evening Routine & Family Meals With Shawna Lapointe from Too Busy Livin’
Dec 09, 2019
Feeling stressed about meal planning after a long day of teaching?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, Shawna Lapointe, a full-time teacher and mom of 4 from toobusylivin.com, shares her top tips for simplifying your evening routine and making meal prep stress-free.
Learn how to apply your teaching skills to meal planning, find joy in cooking, and create a balanced family meal plan that works for your busy lifestyle. Shawna’s expert advice will help you save time, reduce stress, and keep your family fed without the overwhelm.
Master Your To-Do List: Productivity Tips for Teachers to Reduce Stress & Boost Focus
Dec 02, 2019
Overwhelmed by your to-do list?
Learn how to take back control, prioritize, and boost your productivity with simple mindset shifts and mindful habits.
Tune in for tips on managing your workload, reducing stress, and focusing on what matters most in your teaching life.
How to Find Time for Social-Emotional Learning in the Classroom
Nov 25, 2019
Are you struggling to find time for social-emotional learning in your classroom?
In this episode, we share how daily mindfulness practices can boost focus, reduce distractions, and save you precious teaching time.
Hear how teachers are using Educalm to create more time for academics while fostering self-regulation and emotional growth in their students.
Overcoming Teacher Burnout: Wellness & Self-Regulation Strategies for a Positive Classroom with Dr. Ilana Nankin
Nov 18, 2019
Struggling with teacher burnout, stress, and anxiety?
Learn how to prioritize your well-being and model self-regulation in the classroom with Dr. Ilana Nankin of Breathe For Change.
In this episode, discover powerful wellness practices that support both teachers and students, creating a positive classroom environment.
How to Apply for School Grants: Funding Your Classroom Projects with Brigette Depape from The Winnipeg Foundation
Nov 11, 2019
Applying for grants to fund school projects can feel overwhelming, but it’s a fantastic way to support your students when the budget falls short.
In today’s episode, we walk you through the essential steps to find and apply for grants to fund your school project.
We’ll cover key grant vocabulary, tips for defining your project, researching the right foundations, and crafting a compelling application.
Whether you're looking for mental health and wellness grants for your classroom or need support for social-emotional learning initiatives, we’ve got you covered.
Tune in for practical advice that will help you secure the funding your classroom deserves.
Mastering Self-Regulation in the Classroom with Occupational Therapist Lauren Casey
Nov 04, 2019
Struggling to help a student manage behavior despite offering strategies?
In this episode, Lauren Casey, occupational therapist, shares how to reframe behavior and teach self-regulation effectively.
Learn how explicit teaching, mindfulness, and self-awareness can transform your classroom dynamics.
Plus, get tips on how to fill your own cup as a teacher and model self-regulation.
Unlocking Success: How Developing a Growth Mindset Transforms Learning and Leadership with Ryan Gottfredson
Oct 28, 2019
Unlock the secret to success!
Are you stuck in a fixed mindset, or are you embracing growth?
In this episode, Dr. Ryan Gottfredson dives into how developing a growth mindset can unlock limitless possibilities in your life and classroom.
Learn the impact of mindsets on learning, leadership, and personal growth, and get practical tips for shifting from a fixed to a growth mindset.
5 Effective Strategies to Cultivate a Growth Mindset in the Classroom
Oct 21, 2019
Want to unlock your students' full potential?
In this episode, we explore five effective strategies to cultivate a growth mindset in your classroom.
Learn how framing, affirmations, coaching, explicit teaching, and mindfulness can help your students embrace challenges, build resilience, and thrive.
Discover practical tips to guide your students from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, improving their learning journey and motivation.
From Fixed Mindset to Growth Mindset
Oct 16, 2019
In this episode, Kailey shares a personal story about how a growth mindset shifted her approach to education, transforming her learning experience.
Discover how adopting a growth mindset can help your students thrive and overcome setbacks.
Learn practical strategies for teaching growth mindset in the classroom, plus how to create a culture of resilience and effort.
Building Classroom Community with Morning Meetings & Mindfulness for Deeper Learning
Oct 07, 2019
Creating strong classroom connections doesn’t have to be time-consuming!
In this episode, we share how to build community with daily morning meetings and mindfulness practices.
Learn how to make your students feel safe, seen, and heard, and start fostering compassion and connection in your classroom today.
How to Introduce Mindfulness in the Classroom for the First Time
Sep 30, 2019
Starting a classroom mindfulness practice can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be!
In this episode, we share a simple, effective way to introduce mindfulness to your students using a sparkle jar.
Learn how this fun and engaging activity can help your students manage emotions, improve focus, and build emotional intelligence.
Plus, discover how Educalm can take your classroom mindfulness practice to the next level!
Simple Strategies to Streamline Lesson Planning and Overcome Teacher Burnout with EB Academics
Sep 23, 2019
Feeling burnt out and overwhelmed with lesson planning?
Discover how to shift from chaos to clarity with three game-changing strategies to streamline your teaching process.
In this episode, we dive into how to organize your yearlong curriculum, create a structured daily format, and determine if your lessons are “into,” “through,” or “beyond” to save time and reduce stress.
These strategies will help you create engaging lessons with ease, freeing up time for the things that matter most—like self-care and spending time outside of school.
How to Instill Lasting Classroom Habits: Boost Student Routines & Reduce Teacher Stress
Sep 16, 2019
Struggling with repetitive classroom instructions?
It’s time to stop repeating yourself and start building habits that stick!
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into how to instill lasting routines and procedures in your students by working with their brains instead of against them. We’ll walk you through James Clear’s 4 Laws of Behavior Change, which will help your students catch on to classroom expectations faster, saving you time and energy.
Plus, we’ll show you how mindfulness can become a natural, beneficial part of your daily routine.
Avoid Teacher Burnout: 10 Self-Care Practices to be Your Best Self in and out of the Classroom (Part 5 of 5)
Sep 09, 2019
Are you struggling to find time for self-care as a teacher?
In this episode, we share 10 easy self-care practices that can help you recharge in less than 10 minutes.
Learn how to make self-care a habit using James Clear’s Four Laws of Behavior Change to avoid teacher burnout and become your best self in and out of the classroom.
Plus, we’ll show you how to incorporate mindfulness into your routine to support your emotional well-being.
Avoid Teacher Burnout: Shift Your Perspective to Feel More Calm, Balanced and Joyful in and out of the Classroom (Part 4 of 5)
Sep 02, 2019
Teaching is tough, and the pressure to meet all our students' needs can feel overwhelming.
But what if shifting our perspective could help us manage stress and avoid burnout? In this episode, we dive into how the way we view situations—like parent-teacher meetings—affects our emotions, actions, and experience in the classroom. Learn how to shift your mindset, feel more balanced, and embrace a calmer, more joyful teaching approach.
Join us as we explore practical steps to break negative thought cycles, boost your confidence, and create a healthier emotional environment for both you and your students.
Avoid Teacher Burnout: How to Manage Your Emotions in the Classroom (Part 3 of 5)
Aug 26, 2019
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed as a teacher?
In this episode, we’re diving into how to manage emotions in the classroom and break the cycle of burnout.
Discover practical strategies to shift your emotional state from frazzled to calm, using proven mindfulness techniques.
We’ll explore the four stages of habit formation and how to create new, positive emotional responses that last.
Avoid Teacher Burnout: How Being Mindful of Your Thoughts can Change Your Experience in the Classroom (Part 2 of 5)
Aug 19, 2019
Struggling with teacher burnout?
Discover how being mindful of your thoughts can change your classroom experience!
In this episode, we dive into the powerful thought-emotion-perspective loop and how to break negative thinking patterns that lead to stress and burnout.
Learn how to create new habits of thought with mindfulness practices and simple strategies to shift your mindset, build emotional resilience, and foster a calm, focused classroom.
Avoid teacher burnout: How to Create Good Habits that will last Throughout the School Year (Part 1 of 5)
Aug 12, 2019
Teacher burnout is real, but it doesn’t have to be inevitable.
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into how creating positive habits can help you avoid teacher burnout and stay calm, balanced, and joyful all year long.
Learn how to form lasting habits that support your well-being, using James Clear’s proven framework from Atomic Habits. Whether it’s starting a daily mindfulness practice or making self-care a priority, we’ll guide you through the four laws of habit creation to build the routine you need.
How Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Boosts Academic Success: Strategies for Supporting Students with Jen Kreitz
Aug 05, 2019
Want to boost your students' academic success?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re joined by Jen Kreitz, a resource teacher with a master’s in special education and an Educalme Ambassador, who shares how supporting social-emotional learning (SEL) leads to improved academic performance.
Jen provides valuable insights, practical strategies, and proven ideas to help you effectively serve your students’ SEL needs, ultimately setting them up for success both emotionally and academically.
Grounding Mindfulness Practice: Reduce Stress and Anxiety with the Growing Roots Meditation
Jun 24, 2019
Do you want to feel calm, grounded, and stress-free right now?
Tune in to this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast as we guide you through a growing roots mindfulness practice—a calming and grounding meditation designed to help you manage stress and anxiety.
This simple mindfulness exercise is perfect for teachers, parents, and anyone looking to reduce stress, build self-regulation, and promote a sense of peace. Whether you're at home, in the classroom, or on the go, this visualization will help you reconnect with the present moment and find inner calm.
5 Powerful Visualization Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Jun 17, 2019
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into 5 effective visualization techniques that can help you reduce stress and anxiety—whether you’re a teacher, student, or anyone looking to find calm in the chaos. These simple, mindfulness strategies tap into the mind-body connection to help you quickly shift out of stress and into a state of relaxation and peace.
When we focus on stressful thoughts, our body reacts as if we’re actually in those situations. The good news? We can use this connection to our advantage! By visualizing calming, positive imagery, we can reduce our body’s stress response and create feel-good emotions.
In this episode, we’ll walk you through 5 powerful visualizations:
- Scuba Diving Visualization: Dive into deep calm beneath the surface of the ocean.
- Light Bath Visualization: Fill your body with soothing light to reduce tension.
- Flashlight Visualization: Use your mental flashlight to focus and ground yourself.
- Bones Outward Visualization: Tune into your body from the inside out for calm and awareness.
These strategies are perfect for anyone looking to build mental resilience and improve self-regulation. Whether you’re an educator, a parent, or simply someone looking for quick tools to reduce anxiety, these visualizations will help you feel calm, centered, and focused.
Master Classroom Organization: Expert Tips for Simplifying Your Teaching Life with Kelly Jackson
Jun 10, 2019
Struggling to stay organized in your classroom? You're not alone!
In this episode, Kelly Jackson from The Simply Organized Teacher shares expert tips on simplifying your classroom setup, from organizing your desk to managing student tasks and files.
Learn how small organizational changes can reduce stress and make your teaching life easier.
5 Life-Changing Personal Development Books Every Teacher & Parent Should Read
Jun 03, 2019
In this episode, we share 5 personal development books that have had a major impact on our lives. These books offer valuable lessons on living with balance, building emotional intelligence, and developing a growth mindset.
Whether you're a teacher, parent, or someone looking to improve their life, these books provide practical tips to help you grow personally and professionally.
Struggling to Get a Good Night’s Sleep? Try These 8 Teacher-Tested Strategies!
May 20, 2019
As teachers, sleepless nights can be all too familiar—especially during stressful seasons. In this episode, we share 8 proven tips to help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up refreshed. From guided meditations and bedtime yoga to creating a calming nighttime routine, these strategies are easy to implement and highly effective.
Here’s what we cover:
- How guided meditations and body scans can quiet a racing mind.
- Why a calming Yin Yoga session sets the stage for restful sleep.
- The benefits of lavender and cedarwood essential oils for relaxation.
- Journaling to release worries and shift into gratitude before bed.
- Daily exercise tips for better sleep (without disrupting your cycle).
- The importance of screen-free time and minimizing caffeine intake.
- How to create a bedtime routine that signals your brain it’s time to sleep.
Start experimenting with these tools and discover what works best for you. Teachers, you deserve restful nights and energized mornings!
Finding Balance: Social-Emotional Learning vs. Academics in the Classroom
May 13, 2019
Are you torn between focusing on social-emotional learning or covering the academic curriculum in your classroom? You’re not alone.
In this episode, we dive into the challenges of balancing academics with social-emotional development, sharing insights that every educator can relate to. We know the pressure of trying to "teach it all," but what if the secret to better learning outcomes lies in supporting students' emotional well-being first?
Here’s what we discuss:
- The brain science behind emotions and learning: Why students can’t absorb new material when they’re emotionally dysregulated.
- The deeper purpose of teaching: Is it academics or preparing students for life?
- Reflective journaling prompts to clarify your teaching values and priorities.
- How to align your classroom practices with the lasting impact you want to make on your students' lives.
Plus, we guide you through thought-provoking questions to help you define what you want your students to remember about their time with you.
How to Structure a Mindfulness Practice Into Your School Day
May 06, 2019
In today’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re diving into the essential steps for starting a mindfulness practice in your classroom. Whether you’re new to mindfulness or looking to build a stronger routine, this episode will guide you through a simple, actionable plan to set your students up for success.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
- Creating a Daily Routine
We discuss the importance of scheduling mindfulness into your daily routine and why consistency is key to helping students develop emotional regulation and self-control.
- Setting Expectations for Mindfulness Practice
Learn how to set clear expectations with your students for mindfulness practices. We cover how to co-create these expectations as a class to ensure students understand what mindfulness looks like, sounds like, and feels like.
- Using the Right Tools
You don’t have time to search for mindfulness resources – so we’ve created an easy solution! We share our free, bilingual (English & French) 5-minute audio guided mindfulness practices and walk you through how to use them effectively in the classroom.
- Reflection and Discussion
After mindfulness practice, it’s essential to reflect and discuss. We provide tips for engaging students in reflection to help them understand how mindfulness can support them in challenging situations.
By the end of this episode, you’ll have all the tools you need to launch a mindfulness routine that supports your students’ emotional and social growth.
How Long Does Mindfulness Take to Work in the Classroom? Tips for Successful Implementation & Classroom Transformation
Apr 29, 2019
How long does it take for mindfulness to work in the classroom?
Habits take at least 6 weeks to solidify – and that’s for adults! If you’ve started mindfulness practices in your classroom and haven't seen immediate results, don’t worry—STICK WITH IT! It’s normal for students to need time to adapt. Setting clear expectations for behavior during mindfulness practices is key. Start with simple guidelines, like quietly listening to a guided audio, and involve your students in setting the expectations to make them feel more engaged.
Though it may seem like your students aren’t “getting it” at first, be patient. Even if they fidget or whisper, they’re still learning valuable self-regulation skills. With consistent practice, you’ll start noticing amazing changes. Here’s what you might see after a few weeks of mindfulness in your classroom:
- A student walks away from a fight instead of escalating it.
- A student takes a deep breath before tackling a difficult task.
- A student feels more confident in taking risks in the classroom.
As one grade 5 student shared: “It’s easier to learn when I’m not feeling stressed and agitated. Educalme helps me calm down, deal with big emotions, and get through hard things.”
Effective Classroom Transitions & Mindfulness Techniques for Calm
Struggling with classroom transitions and finding calm?
In today’s episode, we share practical tips to make transitions smoother and strategies to bring mindfulness into your classroom.
Learn how to reduce transitions, simplify routines, and teach your students calming techniques like 5-Finger Breathing.
5 Fun Mindfulness Activities for K-12 Classrooms
Apr 01, 2019
Looking for fun and easy mindfulness activities for your classroom? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re sharing 5 engaging mindfulness exercises to boost your students' focus, calm, and emotional regulation:
- Five Finger Breathing – A simple visual breathing exercise.
- Flower Petal Breathing – A printable exercise to guide deep breathing.
- Mindful Eating – A script to engage your students' senses through mindful eating.
- Mindfulness Scavenger Hunt – A worksheet to explore the environment using the 5 senses.
- A Memory that Brings Me Joy – A guided practice to help students connect with positive memories.
These no-prep activities are perfect for busy educators looking to integrate mindfulness into their classroom.
Mindfulness for K-12 Students: Easy Self-Regulation Strategies & Tools for the Classroom, Part 2 with Nicola Harvey
Mar 25, 2019
Feeling stuck when it comes to practicing mindfulness with your students? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re continuing our conversation with Nicola Harvey, author of Mindful Little Yogis. Nicola, a qualified Special Needs Educator and Children’s Yoga and Mindfulness Practitioner, shares concrete, actionable strategies for building self-regulation in kids.
From mindful movement and yoga to breathing exercises, visualization, and even LEGO-based therapy, Nicola covers a wide range of techniques to help students develop their emotional and physical mind-body connection.
If you’re looking for easy-to-apply mindfulness activities to use right away in your K-12 classroom, this episode is for you!
Mindfulness for K-12 Students: Easy Self-Regulation Strategies & Tools for the Classroom, Part 1 with Nicola Harvey
Mar 18, 2019
Looking for ways to support emotional regulation in the classroom? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re joined by Nicola Harvey, author of Mindful Little Yogis, who shares her expert insights on using mindfulness to help kids self-regulate.
Nicola, an experienced Special Needs Educator, Therapist, and Children’s Yoga and Mindfulness Practitioner, talks about how mindfulness can transform emotional regulation in students. She introduces the S.T.A.R. model and explains how it supports children’s development. We also dive into Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson’s “Flipping Your Lid” hand model and how to use it with students to manage big emotions.
Mindfulness for Academic Success: SEL Strategies with K-4 Resource Teacher Jen Kreitz
Feb 25, 2019
Want to know how mindfulness can enhance academic success? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we chat with Jen Kreitz, a K-4 resource teacher and Educalme ambassador, about how to prioritize social-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom.
Jen shares her journey from a Master’s in Education to specializing in Special Education and how focusing on SEL before literacy and numeracy creates a solid foundation for academic success. Learn how mindfulness tools can help your students thrive, how to respond when students are in the red zone, and how Jen integrates mindfulness into her work as a resource teacher.
Shifting Limiting Beliefs: How to Recognize and Change Unhelpful Beliefs
Feb 18, 2019
Are your beliefs holding you back? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, Kailey dives into how our childhood beliefs shape us as adults and how to change them for the better.
Learn how beliefs are formed, how they influence our thoughts and actions, and how to identify when a belief is no longer serving you. Kailey also shares her top four powerful methods for shifting limiting beliefs into ones that empower your life.
Mindful Parenting: Strategies for Reducing Anxiety with Melissa Russell
Feb 11, 2019
Looking to bring more peace and intention to family life? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we welcome back Melissa Russell from Simple Lionheart Life to dive into mindful parenting.
Melissa shares how minimalism and mindfulness have transformed her life, giving her more time, freedom, and joy with her family. Discover her insights on:
- Practicing mindfulness and breathing techniques with young kids
- Supporting her daughter through anxiety and OCD with simple strategies
- The power of humor and positivity in navigating family challenges
- Tips for creating a clutter-free, intentional home
5 Quick Anxiety-Calming Techniques for Teachers and Students
Feb 04, 2019
Struggling with stress or anxiety? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re sharing five easy, proven techniques to quickly shift from anxious to calm.
Discover simple strategies like:
Belly breathing to regulate your body with deep breaths
Using calming essential oils like lavender to ease tension
Practicing legs-up-the-wall for instant relaxation
Repeating positive affirmations to center your mind
Focusing on gratitude to redirect to the positive
These quick and effective mindfulness techniques are perfect for teachers and students alike!
Top Strategies for Motivating Students, Managing Negativity, and Boosting Teacher Wellness
Jan 28, 2019
Curious about creating a positive, motivated classroom environment? In this special Q&A episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into your top questions on social-emotional learning, student motivation, and mindfulness in education!
Join us as we explore powerful strategies for:
- Motivating students to be excited about learning and building intrinsic motivation
- Effectively using classroom reward systems to boost engagement
- Navigating negativity—how to handle challenging relationships at work and shift the atmosphere
- Simple, actionable steps to improve mood and get out of a funk
- Staying motivated to incorporate physical activity into our daily routines for overall wellness
Mindful Learning: Inspiring Calm & Self-Compassion in Kids Through Creative Children's Books with Tamara Hackett
Jan 22, 2019
Discover how to bring mindfulness to children with author-illustrator Tamara Hackett of Mindful ABCs and Mindful 1, 2, 3 in this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast.
Tamara shares her journey into mindfulness and her experiences creating purposeful, awareness-centered books for kids. Learn how teachers use her books in the classroom, explore the process of self-publishing, and hear her tips for cultivating presence and self-compassion.
Teaching Mindfulness and Heartfulness with Finnigan’s Bliss Author Charlotte Jackson
Jan 08, 2019
Discover how mindfulness and heartfulness can transform lives in this special episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast.
We sit down with Charlotte Jackson, a special education teacher and author of Finnigan’s Bliss, a heartfelt children’s book on mindfulness. Charlotte shares her journey into writing, the inspiration behind her book, and how her student Helen Yang brought the story to life with beautiful illustrations. She also opens up about her personal mindfulness practice, how she integrates heartfulness in her teaching, and the positive impact it has had on her and her students. Charlotte’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of self-regulation, resilience, and compassion in the classroom.
Transforming Education with Mindfulness with Amanda Warren
Dec 17, 2018
In this episode of The Balanced Educator podcast, we chat with Amanda Warren, an Educalm Teacher alumni and Educalm program user, about her unique teaching approach at Bridge School, a small independent elementary school in Vermont. Amanda shares how the school's values of community, creativity, exploration, and communication shape their student-led learning environment. She also discusses how looping with students allows for deep connections and how they tackle challenges, like fidget spinners, through creative learning.
Amanda, a trained yoga and mindfulness teacher, explains why she chose Educalm Teacher and the Educalm program for her own classroom, and how these resources are helping her students transfer mindfulness practices into their daily lives. She also shares her biggest takeaways from the Educalm Teacher course and who would benefit from it.
Prioritizing Self-Care and Building Community with Carolina Smith
Dec 10, 2018
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re interviewing Carolina Smith, a Grade 1 teacher, Educalm Teacher alumni, and Educalm ambassador from Calgary, Alberta. This is Carolina's second appearance on the podcast, and she’s back to share exciting updates about her new venture, the LIA project—a community empowering women to connect with themselves and others.
Carolina discusses how she’s implemented her morning routine and self-care practices since taking the Educalm Teacher course, incorporating affirmations into her day to start with intention. She talks about how she sprinkles mindful moments throughout her school day and shares how this has impacted her overall well-being.
This year, Carolina has faced new challenges, and she opens up about how she’s managing them with a focus on self-care and balance. She also shares how she’s created a seamless transition from work to home in the evenings and her strategies for overcoming feelings of guilt.
Carolina's journey emphasizes the importance of mental health and self-care for teachers, and her perspective on sick days offers valuable insight into taking care of yourself as a teacher.
How a First-Year Teacher Found Balance and Success with Educalm
Dec 03, 2018
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re interviewing Renée Lapointe, a first-year grade 1 teacher and Educalme ambassador. Renée shares her journey of starting her teaching career on the right foot by taking the Educalm Teacher course before her first day in the classroom. She reveals how the course helped her establish healthy self-care habits and mindfulness routines, setting her up for success in both her personal and professional life.
Renée explains how she applies the practical, real-life strategies from the Educalm program in her grade 1 classroom, teaching mindfulness to her students and creating a calm, focused learning environment. She emphasizes the importance of taking care of her mental and physical health, so she can be the best version of herself as a teacher.
Renée also shares her biggest takeaways from the teacher course, including how holding herself accountable for a month helped her build sustainable routines that fit into her busy day.
Transform Your Classroom with Mindfulness: Kailey's Daily Routine for a Calm, Focused Environment
Nov 12, 2018
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, Kailey shares her daily classroom routine and how she creates a calm, focused environment for her students. She discusses how she starts each day with mindfulness, shares tips for managing a calm classroom, and explains how she integrates mindfulness practices into her curriculum.
Kailey also opens up about the challenges she’s faced in establishing mindfulness routines and how she’s overcoming them with her students. She emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment that encourages good behaviour and enhances learning.
Embracing Minimalism and Mindfulness: Simplify Your Life for More Joy and Freedom with Melissa Russell
Nov 05, 2018
Ready to Declutter Your Life and Embrace More Joy?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re joined by Melissa Russell from Simple Lionheart Life, a minimalist and simplicity advocate. Melissa shares her journey of embracing minimalism to create a simpler, more intentional life. By decluttering and owning less, she’s gained more time, space, and financial freedom—transforming her household into a more joyful place.
Melissa discusses how minimalism has positively impacted her family life, allowing her to spend more time with her kids, go on adventures, and experience greater happiness. She also talks about how minimalism has led her to mindfulness and how she incorporates mindfulness practices into her home.
If you’re ready to simplify your life and create more space for what truly matters, you won’t want to miss this episode!
Unlock the Magic of Growth Mindset and Flow for Kids with Catherine Greer
Oct 22, 2018
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we chat with Catherine Greer, the Canadian-Australian author of Jacaranda Snow, a picture book that beautifully teaches kids about growth mindset and finding flow. Catherine shares her creative journey, from writing the book to collaborating with composers, illustrators, and Educalm to create an engaging lesson for classrooms.
Catherine discusses the power of growth mindset and the importance of teaching children to embrace challenges and approach life with joy. She emphasizes how Jacaranda Snow can help students develop resilience and a love for learning, all while fostering a positive and growth-oriented mindset.
Are You a Perfectionist? Here’s Why Making Mistakes is Key to Growth
Oct 15, 2018
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive deep into the power of mistakes and why embracing imperfection is a game-changer for both teachers and students. If you're a recovering perfectionist, this one’s for you!
We explore the concept of "perfect" and why it often leads to unnecessary stress and self-criticism. You’ll hear how these unrealistic standards can affect your well-being, teaching style, and classroom environment. Plus, we discuss the importance of modeling failure for your students—it’s not about achieving perfection, but about the growth and development that happens along the way.
Through our personal stories, we reflect on how striving for perfection has taught us valuable lessons about resilience, self-compassion, and the power of mistakes.
5 Strategies to Stop Bringing Work Home & Improve Teacher Work-Life Balance
Oct 08, 2018
Struggling with work-life balance?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share 5 strategies to stop bringing work home. Learn how setting boundaries benefits both teachers and students.
Feel more productive, less guilty, and reclaim your evenings. Tune in to find out how!
Unlocking Growth Mindset: How to Foster Resilience & Motivation in the Classroom
Oct 01, 2018
Unlock the power of a growth mindset in this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast.
We dive into the science behind learning, discuss the importance of staying motivated through challenges, and how repetition and breaks fuel progress.
Learn how a growth mindset can help students and educators thrive in any age or stage. Plus, get insights on how to foster this mindset in your classroom!
Preparing Kids for the Future: Mindfulness, Compassion, and Skills for Jobs That Don’t Exist Yet with Sam Squire
Sep 24, 2018
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we chat with Sam Squire about preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet.
Sam, a yoga teacher, meditation guide, and entrepreneur, shares how the skills she gained from yoga and meditation helped shape her success in an ever-changing world. We discuss the importance of teaching compassion, creativity, and communication to equip students for the future. Plus, discover how mindfulness practices like meditation can foster these qualities in the classroom.
10 Ways to Infuse Mindfulness into the School Day
Sep 17, 2018
Want to bring more mindfulness into your classroom?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we explain the difference between formal and informal mindfulness practices. Discover how the Educalm mindfulness program can guide you and your students, and learn 10 simple, no-prep ways to add mindful moments throughout your school day.
These practices will help students calm down, prepare for learning, and boost self-regulation and self-awareness.
Start a Mindfulness Practice in Your Classroom in 5 Steps
Sep 10, 2018
Looking to introduce mindfulness into your classroom?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, Kailey interviews Josianne about how she successfully implemented the 5 steps to starting a mindfulness practice in her grade 5/6 classroom.
Josianne shares her experience communicating with administrators and parents, scheduling mindfulness into the school day, and setting her students up for success. She also talks about how she introduced mindfulness on the first day of school and how she plans to use Educalm’s mindfulness program in her classroom.
This episode is a must-listen for teachers interested in starting mindfulness in their classroom and using Educalm’s resources for success!
Starting Mindfulness in the Classroom: Tips for K-8 Teachers
Sep 03, 2018
Are you ready to bring mindfulness into your classroom?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we chat with Danielle Lefko about her journey teaching mindfulness in both kindergarten and grade 8 classrooms.
Danielle shares how she successfully introduced mindfulness practices to younger students and how she plans to integrate Educalm with her grade 8 students this year.
Learn practical tips for creating a daily mindfulness routine, setting students up for success, and overcoming challenges. Whether you teach K-8, Danielle’s insights will help you start your own mindfulness journey in the classroom!
Start the School Year with Intentional Goal-Setting
Aug 27, 2018
Ready for a purposeful school year?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into how to set intentional goals for the year ahead and align them with your values. We walk you through our goal-setting process for our business and share how you can apply the same strategy in your classroom.
Learn how to prioritize your time, make intentional choices, and stay focused on what truly matters to make this school year your most impactful yet!
Mindful Classroom Management
Aug 20, 2018
Struggling with classroom management?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we challenge the traditional idea of classroom management and explore how to empower students with the skills to self-regulate and stay intrinsically motivated. Instead of managing behavior, we focus on teaching kids how to manage their emotions and actions independently.
Discover two powerful classroom routines—mindfulness practices and intentional daily discussions—that can help foster self-regulation, focus, and motivation in your students.
How to Reclaim Your Time and Shift the “Busy” Mindset
Aug 13, 2018
Feeling overwhelmed by a “busy” schedule?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we explore time perception, productivity, and the stories we tell ourselves about being “too busy.” Discover how to shift your mindset, prioritize what truly matters, and make the most of your 24 hours. Learn practical tips to recognize where your time really goes and how saying "yes" to one thing means saying "no" to another.
We also dive into strategies to break free from unproductive habits, like endless social media scrolling, and cultivate awareness to make intentional choices with your time.
Infuse Mindfulness in Your Classroom with Expert Tips from Teacher Carolina Smith
Aug 06, 2018
Want to create a calmer classroom?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we chat with Carolina Smith, a Grade 1 French Immersion teacher from Calgary, who shares how she weaves mindfulness into her life and teaching.
Carolina, who overcame burnout by embracing self-care and mindfulness, offers real strategies for bringing calm, focus, and balance into K-12 classrooms. From Breathe Grow Thrive resources to morning routines and breathing techniques, Carolina reveals her top tips for mindfulness and self-care for teachers and students alike.
Get inspired by her daily practices, including mindful breathing and self-checks that help her respond, not react, to classroom demands. Carolina also discusses creating boundaries between work and home to sustain her balance and well-being.
Move from Negative to Positive Emotions with This 2-Step Mindfulness Strategy
Jul 30, 2018
Struggling with negative emotions? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share a simple, science-backed, 2-step strategy to help teachers and students shift from feeling low to finding emotional balance and positivity. Learn how to recognize, understand, and move up the emotional scale toward happier feelings—a tool that’s as helpful for educators as it is for kids!
We dive into the Emotional Scale from Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther and Jerry Hicks, which ranks 22 emotions from the most challenging to the most uplifting. Discover practical steps for sliding up the scale one emotion at a time, and gain insights on how self-compassion is crucial when the climb feels tough. Embracing negative emotions is part of being human—learning how to manage them can empower you and your students for a calmer, more balanced classroom environment.
Finally, we share tips on teaching kids to use this emotional scale to manage their own emotions, building emotional resilience and mindfulness skills.
Why Self-Care Makes You a Better Teacher: 5 Strategies for Educators to Reduce Stress and Boost Classroom Well-Being
Jul 09, 2018
Feeling guilty about taking time for self-care as a teacher? It's time to let go of that guilt and prioritize your well-being! In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share why self-care is crucial for educators and how it makes you a better teacher.
We discuss 5 key ways self-care positively impacts your teaching:
1. You’ll feel calmer, which will reflect in your students' behavior.
2. You’ll have space to respond mindfully, not react impulsively.
3. You’ll develop more compassion for yourself and your students.
4. You can’t pour from an empty cup—self-care helps you be the best version of yourself for your students.
5. You’ll gain a toolkit of strategies you can share with your students to help them develop their own emotional regulation and self-care habits.
By filling your own cup first, you’ll create a more balanced, mindful classroom.
Ditch Overwhelm: Mindfulness Strategies to Shift Perception and Find Balance in the Classroom
Jul 02, 2018
Are you feeling overwhelmed? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share powerful strategies to ditch overwhelm and regain balance in both your personal and professional life.
We discuss how we, as teachers, often create feelings of overwhelm ourselves and how shifting our perception—rather than the situation itself—can help us regain calm. This practice takes time, but it’s one of the most effective ways to feel more in control. We also share 3 actionable steps to shift your perception and reduce stress.
By cultivating mindfulness and becoming aware of our emotions, we can catch ourselves before overwhelm takes over. We also discuss how to teach children about perception using a simple visual exercise to help them manage their emotions more effectively.
Making Sense of Mindfulness: Practical Strategies for Teachers with Keith Macpherson, part 2
Jun 25, 2018
Ready to bring mindfulness into your classroom? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we continue our conversation with Keith Macpherson, mindfulness trainer, life coach, and author of Making Sense of Mindfulness. Keith reveals his powerful five-principle framework that simplifies mindfulness and helps you integrate it into daily life—both in and out of the classroom.
Keith's mindfulness framework includes:
Principle 1: Everything begins as an inner dream
Principle 2: Expose the saboteur
Principle 3: Open your mind
Principle 4: Be mindFULLY aware
Principle 5: I am
Beyond his mindfulness expertise, Keith is also a professional musician and a global speaker who has toured in over 20 countries. His insights are now inspiring thousands around the world through social media and his column in The Balance Magazine.
If you're looking for practical ways to reduce stress, boost focus, and enhance emotional well-being in your classroom, Keith’s framework will help you create a calm, balanced, and mindful teaching environment.
Making Sense of Mindfulness: Practical Strategies for Teachers with Keith Macpherson, part 1
Jun 18, 2018
Unlock the power of mindfulness both in and out of the classroom! In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we sit down with mindfulness expert, life coach, and author, Keith Macpherson, to dive into practical strategies for integrating mindfulness into your daily life and teaching practice.
Keith, author of Making Sense of Mindfulness, shares his unique five-principal framework that helps simplify the concept of mindfulness and shows how it can be applied to reduce stress, increase focus, and promote well-being. We explore how mindfulness goes beyond seated practice and becomes a holistic way of living, improving our connection with ourselves, our bodies, and our surroundings.
In this inspiring conversation, Keith also touches on:
- How to listen to your body and trust your instincts
- The power of living in the present moment and how to harness it for better focus and creativity
- Practical tips for overcoming creative blocks and integrating mindfulness into your teaching
- The importance of teaching from intuition and not just focusing on the curriculum
- Keith's journey to writing his new book, Making Sense of Mindfulness
If you're looking for ways to incorporate mindfulness and SEL into your classroom, Keith’s insights will leave you inspired and ready to bring more balance and joy to your teaching practice.
Creating Calm Classrooms & Cultivating Growth Mindset
Jun 11, 2018
In this week’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share valuable insights from our work in various schools across different divisions and the key factors contributing to positive school atmospheres.
We reveal the common thread between the happiest schools with the calmest classrooms, focusing on how mindfulness and growth mindset play crucial roles in creating a thriving educational environment.
We discuss the importance of teaching growth mindset, how we’ve applied it in our own journey as business owners, and why it’s more essential than ever. Plus, we walk you through one of our guided mindfulness practices from the Educalm’s growth mindset unit, designed to help both students and teachers cultivate resilience and embrace challenges.
Transform Your Perspective by Changing Your Routine
May 28, 2018
In this week’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into how changing our routines can provide a fresh perspective and transform our lives.
We explore simple, practical ways to shake up your daily habits and break free from the regular routine. Whether it’s through travel, mindfulness, or trying something new, we discuss how stepping out of our comfort zone opens up new ways of seeing the world and can lead to positive change.
Travel has been a huge influence on us, broadening our minds and teaching us to intentionally choose habits that serve us. We also share how our transformative experience of completing yoga teacher training changed our outlook and gave us new tools for self-care and mindfulness.
Simplifying Life Through Mindfulness
May 21, 2018
In this week’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we explore how mindfulness inspired us to simplify many areas of our lives—both personally and professionally.
We share how our mindfulness journey began with formal seated meditation and evolved into being more present throughout our day. Through this practice, we learned to observe our thoughts, catch ourselves when we drift into past or future thinking, and become more mindful of the present moment. As we became more present, life seemed to slow down, and we gained a deeper appreciation for the moment.
We also discuss how mindfulness led us to simplify our environment. From decluttering our classrooms to streamlining our wardrobes, simplifying helped us reduce overwhelm and bring more calm into our lives. In the classroom, mindfulness prompted us to simplify the school day, reduce transitions, and seamlessly connect subjects, which helped us create a smoother flow for ourselves and our students.
Letting Go of Negative Emotions: The Power of Mindful Awareness
May 07, 2018
In today’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re exploring why it’s essential to feel and acknowledge negative emotions as they arise, so we can move past them and return to a positive state. Often, we try to ignore or suppress our difficult feelings, but this actually keeps us stuck.
We dive into the mindfulness practice of observing the present moment with non-judgment, which includes allowing ourselves to feel uncomfortable emotions without trying to change them. Interestingly, by simply observing these emotions, they tend to pass more quickly than if we try to resist them.
We explain how holding in negative feelings drains our energy, and how the fear of experiencing tough emotions is often more painful than allowing ourselves to feel and release them. All emotions pass, and sitting with a difficult emotion often helps it move through us faster.
In the episode, we share practical ways to observe and release negative emotions, creating space for positive feelings. We also discuss how to support children when they experience tough emotions and teach them to do the same.
Our Educalm program includes two units that help children and teachers practice emotional awareness without judgment, giving them tools to navigate and release difficult emotions.
If you want to learn how to manage negative emotions and create a more balanced emotional state for yourself and your students, this episode is for you!
How to Start Mindfulness in Your Classroom with Teacher Janelle Laflèche
Apr 30, 2018
In today’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re bringing back Janelle Laflèche, an inspiring Grade 2 teacher from a French school who has been integrating Educalm into her classroom since 2017.
Janelle shares how easy it was to implement mindfulness in her classroom, thanks to the simple, audio-guided practices in the Educalm subscription. With just the press of a button, mindfulness became a regular, impactful part of her students' day.
She opens up about her biggest challenge—how to begin the practice—and how Educalm answered all her questions. Janelle also talks about her students’ amazing reactions to mindfulness and how they now use breathing techniques instead of reacting when conflicts arise, like at recess!
One of the most heartwarming parts of the episode is how her classroom has developed a shared language around emotions, which has created a strong sense of understanding and connection among her students.
If you're curious about Educalm and want to learn how to introduce mindfulness in your own classroom, this episode is for you!
The Power of Gratitude in the Classroom
Apr 23, 2018
In today’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re diving into the transformative power of gratitude! Gratitude isn’t just a feel-good practice—it’s backed by science, and the more we practice it, the more grateful we become.
We explore the true meaning of gratitude and share powerful “rampages of appreciation” to shift our mindset. Plus, we’ll talk about how you can cultivate gratitude both in your own life and in the lives of the students you work with. For both of us, gratitude is where our mindfulness journey began, and we’re excited to share ways it can support mental and emotional well-being in the classroom.
If you’re looking for practical strategies to incorporate gratitude into your daily routine and create a positive, mindful environment for your students, this episode is for you!
How Mindfulness Transforms the Classroom with Teacher Janelle Laflèche
Apr 16, 2018
Today’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast is extra special because we’re joined by the incredible Janelle Laflèche, a passionate Grade 2 teacher who has been using Educalm in her classroom since 2017!
Janelle shares how building strong relationships with her students brings light and joy to her teaching practice, helping her stay energized and connected. She and Kailey dive into how, as we age, we learn more about ourselves and how embracing what makes us happy can create a more fulfilling life—both personally and professionally.
Janelle also reflects on the unique perspective educators have as both former students and current teachers. She talks about the power of mindfulness in her life and how she integrates Educalm practices into her classroom. For Janelle, mindfulness isn’t just for her students—it’s essential for her too.
In this episode, you'll learn how mindfulness practices can transform your classroom dynamics, improve relationships, and create a more joyful teaching experience.
How Shifting Your Thoughts Can Transform Your Classroom Experience
Apr 09, 2018
In this week’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re diving deep into how reality isn’t real—and how shifting your thoughts can completely transform your experiences, both inside and outside the classroom.
Did you know that your thoughts create your emotions? What we think about any experience directly influences whether we feel good or bad about it. Two people can watch the same movie, but their experience can be drastically different—one may love it, while the other dislikes it. It’s not the movie; it’s the thoughts about it that create the emotional response.
In this episode, we break down how society’s stories shape our perceptions and explore ways to look at situations differently—so that we can feel better, more positive, and more empowered.
You’ll learn practical steps to shift negative experiences into positive ones by simply changing the story you’re telling yourself. We’ll also share strategies for helping your students shift their perspectives, allowing them to transform negative experiences into opportunities for growth.
Don’t miss this powerful conversation on the power of thought and perspective!
Teach Kids to Manage Emotions with Mindfulness and Thought Awareness
Apr 02, 2018
In this week’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into how to teach children about emotions and empower them to understand that their thoughts shape their feelings.
By learning how to choose the thoughts that create the emotions they want to feel, children gain emotional intelligence and self-regulation.
We share a mindfulness practice from our SEL & Mindfulness Foundations for K-12 program, including the 5-finger breathing strategy—ideal for managing big emotions.
Plus, discover how to use stories and imagination to help children connect thoughts, sensations, and emotions.
Unlock the Power of Your Thoughts: How Mindset Shifts Impact Emotions
Mar 26, 2018
In today’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re diving into one of the most empowering things we’ve learned: how our thoughts create our emotions.
It’s not the situations we encounter, but our perception and thoughts about them that determine how we feel. We share mindset shifts that helped us move from negativity to positivity simply by changing our thinking.
This episode is perfect if you want to learn how to manage your thoughts and create positive emotions, both for yourself and your students!
How to Make Time for Mindfulness: Simple Strategies for Busy Teachers & Parents
Mar 19, 2018
In today’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we explore how to make mindfulness a daily habit, even when you think you don’t have a second to spare.
We dive into the mindset shifts needed to prioritize mindfulness, and share practical tips for starting a mindfulness practice—no matter how busy you are.
We discuss how habits are formed in the brain, why it’s tough to create new ones, and how to get past the excuses our brains throw at us. Plus, we share how we tricked our brains into making mindfulness part of our daily routine.
For teachers and busy parents, we also offer creative ways to practice mindfulness with your kids during everyday tasks—when seated practice feels impossible!
How to Start a Mindfulness Practice with Kids: Tips for Teachers & Parents
Mar 12, 2018
In today’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into how to start a formal mindfulness practice with kids and infuse it authentically into your daily routine—whether in the classroom or at home.
We share step-by-step logistics for practicing mindfulness with students, including the do’s and don’ts to ensure a smooth start. You’ll also learn how mindfulness can deepen students’ learning and improve their focus.
For parents, we offer practical ideas on how to bring mindfulness into your home with your children, helping them build emotional regulation and focus.
We reflect on the major benefits mindfulness has brought to our students and classrooms—students often ask for their practice when they miss it, understanding its importance!
Ready to get started with mindfulness? Sign up for SEL & Mindfulness Foundations for K-12, which includes teacher training videos, audio-guided mindfulness practices, curriculum, and lesson plans.
This episode is perfect for teachers and parents looking for clear, easy steps to start a mindfulness practice with their kiddos—at school or at home!
How to Start Your Mindfulness Practice: Easy Tips for Teachers, Parents, and Kids
Mar 05, 2018
In today’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we define mindfulness and explore how to start your own practice, whether you're a teacher, parent, or student.
We discuss the two sides of mindfulness: the formal practice with specific exercises and the informal practice, where mindfulness is woven into everyday activities.
We share our own challenges in getting started with mindfulness, and how with time, we’ve noticed positive changes in our self-awareness, compassion, and emotional responses. Mindfulness has helped us respond, not react, to difficult situations.
If you’re ready to explore mindfulness for self-regulation and emotional well-being, this episode is for you.
Start Your Day with Joy: How to Create a Brain-Boosting Morning Routine
Feb 26, 2018
Start Your Day with Joy: How to Create a Brain-Boosting Morning “Rootine” for Teachers, Parents, and Kids
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into the power of a joyful morning “rootine”—yes, rooting into positive emotions from the start of the day! Discover practical steps to design a morning routine that’s rooted in happiness, self-regulation, and calm.
Kailey, our science expert, explains the brain science behind how a morning “rootine” can help train your brain to create the emotions you want to experience each day.
Whether you’re a teacher or parent, tune in to learn mindfulness activities to incorporate with your kids, supporting their self-regulation and setting a positive tone for the day!
Experimenting with Slowing Down: Simple Mindfulness Practices
Feb 19, 2018
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we explore what it means to truly slow down and be present—it’s not just about moving slower but savoring each moment, like actually smelling your morning coffee!
We share our experiences as teachers practicing mindfulness in the classroom and the positive impact it had on both our own well-being and our students’ focus and calm.
Whether you’re a teacher or parent, tune in to discover practical tips for bringing mindfulness into your life and creating space to breathe, both at home and in the classroom.
Fill Your Cup First: Self-Care Strategies for Teachers and Parents to Thrive Guilt-Free
Feb 06, 2018
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into the “fill your cup first” experiment and explore why self-care for teachers and parents is essential—not selfish!
We open up about the guilt we felt when prioritizing self-care and share how, with time, we learned to release those feelings. Using the metaphor of an apple tree, we show how nurturing ourselves allows us to give more—producing "delicious apples" for students, kids, and others around us.
Join us to learn about the positive changes we’ve experienced by putting self-care first and how to start your own self-care journey, guilt-free.
Perfect for educators, parents, and caregivers looking to create a balanced, joyful life!
Our Story
Feb 06, 2018
Want to create a calm, focused, and happy classroom but don’t know where to start?
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re sharing our journey—from overwhelmed teachers to creating an easy-to-use mindfulness curriculum for K-12 classrooms.
We dive into:
✅ The simple mindfulness practices that transformed our own lives and our students’ well-being
✅ The real challenges we faced introducing mindfulness in our classrooms—and how we made it work
✅ Why we stepped away from teaching to help educators like you bring social-emotional learning (SEL) and mindfulness into the classroom with confidence
If you’re looking for actionable strategies to start a mindfulness practice with your students, this episode is for you
Welcome to The Balanced Educator Podcast – Meet Your Hosts!
Feb 05, 2018
Feeling burned out or overwhelmed as an educator? You’re not alone!
In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we share our personal journey as teachers—from facing the struggles of perfectionism and burnout to discovering mindfulness and creating Educalm to help others thrive.
We open up about the challenges we faced early in our teaching careers and how our passion to be “amazing teachers” left us feeling exhausted. We also dive into the small but powerful changes we made to practice self-care, regain balance, and bring calm into our lives.
Whether you’re curious about starting your own mindfulness journey or looking for simple habits to bring balance to your day, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable tips.
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