The Balanced Educator Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Transform Your Perspective by Changing Your Routine May 28, 2018

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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!