jaimi cabrera lisw-s corey hatfield m.a. · as your partner shares, check off strengths that you...

Jaimi Cabrera LISW-SCorey Hatfield M.A.

Setting the Stage

By the end, we will have answered these questions:• What is mindfulness and what are

character strengths?• What are the benefits to me and my

students? • How to I start to practice these ideas in

my classroom?• How do I start my own mindfulness

practice? What are my strengths?

Engaged Teaching

Successful Classroom

Flexible social &

emotional learning

©2019 Beech Acres Parenting Center

Everyone brings their whole story through the classroom door.

Social & Emotional Learning

Benefits to Students…

Adapted from CASEL - Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning

Self-Awareness

Self-Management

Social Awareness

Relationship Skills

Responsible Decision-Making

Positive relationships

Positive academics

Positive emotions/self-confidence


Positivity & Presence


Source: Peterson, Christopher & Seligman, Martin EP. (2004).

Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification.

New York, NY: Oxford University Press, cop.

The Benefits of Utilizing Strengths in the Classroom

Use four or more signature strengths at work and teachers will have:

• Increased satisfaction • Increased likelihood of viewing your

work as a calling• Increased sense of personal well-

being

For students:• Increased classroom cohesion and

relatedness• Increased school enjoyment• Increased classroom engagement• Increased academic achievement

* Source: Durlak, et al., 2011; Quinlan, et al. 2014; Seligman et al., 2009

Strengths in Action Think about and write to yourself…

A time when you felt that you accomplished something important.

Or you felt really connected to other people in a positive way.

Or a time when you felt a very strong sense of purpose/meaning in your life.

Find a Partner…

Take turns sharing your story

As your partner shares, check off strengths that you notice they used in their story.

When they are done, tell them the strengths you saw them using and why you saw those particular strengths.

Then switch.

Source: Niemiec, R. M. (2014). Mindfulness and Character Strengths: A Practical Guide to Flourishing. Boston, MA: Hogrefe Publishing.

Strengths in Action “I scheduled 22 parent-teacher conferences. I knew it would be a long day.

I had folders for students filled with test scores, fluency results, curriculum

documents and other academic materials that I planned to discuss with parents.

This was all very ritualistic, and I had done in hundreds of times before in my

24 years of teaching. This time, however, was slightly different. Before parents

left, I handed them the little Character Effect cards. I asked what strengths they saw

in their child that defined who they were as individuals. Every single parent took it

seriously. Some spent several minutes thinking before circling a single

word. When there were two parents, they discussed the list and chose together. I

then shared some observations I made about their child.

I want to share that from my perspective, every conference ended on a happy

note with a deeper appreciation for each and every student. We talked about

how amazing the child was and what gifts they have been given. We smiled,

laughed, and even teared up in some conversations. Parents didn't leave upset or

angry, as in many conferences of the past. Some still left with serious concerns

about academics, classroom performance, and behavior, but it felt like we were all

talking, thinking, and planning what we can do to help make things better for this

great child we have.”

– Teacher in Northern Kentucky


“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.”- Jon Kabat Zinn,Founding Executive Director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care,and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School


A recent study on the Oakland-based

Mindful Schools program, which serves

low-income, ethnic-minority elementary

school students, showed encouraging

results immediately following the 5 week

curriculum and 7 weeks later:

• Increased ability to pay

attention

• Increased self-control

• Increased classroom

participation

• Increase in respect for others

*Source: Black, D. S. & Fernando, R. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2013.

The Benefits of Mindfulness in the Classroom


“For children, mindfulness can offer

relief from whatever difficulties they

might be encountering in life.

It also gives them the beauty of being

in the present moment.”

- Annaka Haris, an author who teaches mindfulness to children

Mindfulness in the Classroom


Mindfulness in Action


Teacher Impact-Strong Results


8.9 rating (out of 10) for: “How likely is it that you would recommend The

Character Effect™ to a friend or another teacher?”

Source: Teacher end of year satisfaction survey – 88 respondents

79%

82%

83%

84%

90%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

The school culture is more positive

My students perform better academically

I am less stressed at school

My students are better able to manage their behavior

I am better equipped to manage student behavior

The Character Effect™ Program ImpactSchool Year 2018/2019

% Agree

Student Impact-Strong Results


After Participating in The Character Effect™ Program, Elementary

School Students Showed Significant Improvements in Overall SEL

Skills:

• 55% of elementary schools showed improvements

• 56% of preschool students showed improvements

*Pre/post comparison of 2018-2019 teacher-reported DECA & DESSA

scores. Preschool students (n = 80); elementary school students (n =

1303).

Parent Impact-Strong Results


9.2 rating (out of 10) for: “How likely is it that you would recommend The

Character Effect™ to a friend or another parent?”

• The Character Effect™ is truly amazing for my family and I really

appreciate the fact that my children are able to experience the

program at their school. I LOVE THIS PROGRAM!!!

• It provides parents and children with the opportunity to see the

strengths in each other.

• The Character Effect™ is a great benefit for child and parent.

TCE Integration Into PBIS


Complete the VIA Character Survey

Begin Strength Spotting your family

Begin practicing mindfulness

Get Started with 3 Easy Steps


1 Idea you want to implement in your

classroom (or life!) going forward

What will you walk away with?

3 Insights (Are they new or a reminder?)

2 Take-aways you want to remember


Questions

Questions?

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