2018 VATE Conference: We Are The Change

With heightened concerns regarding mental health in our society, many teachers are searching for ways to help our students (and ourselves!) find balance and develop healthy approaches to managing stress and anxiety. Over the past several years, I have reflected on a number of my own practices and have developed routines and activities that all work towards establishing a safe, welcoming classroom environment where students can develop and practice strategies for managing stress while also working on their reading, writing, and speaking skills. 
By incorporating supplemental day-of-the-week activities such as “Mindful Monday,” “Museday Tuesday,” and “Free Reading Friday” into the class routine, teachers can reflect even more on their practices and actually do more with seemingly less. We want to help students develop both a reading and a writing life, but we must also recognize that students need to be in a healthy place mentally and emotionally before they can focus on the skills we’re teaching. These 15-20 minute supplemental activities integrated in the classroom routine emphasize student choice, mindfulness, and reflection, while also promoting students’ well-being and confidence as well as classroom community. At the same time, they provide low-stakes opportunities for students to practice and strengthen skills.
I will provide research, strategies for implementation, and resources for teachers to use in their schools.Teachers will have the opportunity to reflect and consider their own variations on the routines and activities shared. Time will be provided for exploration and planning. Participants will leave the session with activities they can incorporate in their classrooms immediately as well as possibilities for making connections to current texts and concepts of study.  
The session is intended for high school ELA teachers of all levels. Participants should bring their laptops or other devices so they can explore resources, plan, and collaborate.