Tag: mental health

Master Your Mountain™ — Empower Student Success and Get Student Engagement with Goal Setting

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I Want to be a Doctor but I Don’t Think That Will Ever Happen!

One day, I asked two of my students who were buddies what they wanted to do when they were older. “Doctors — pediatricians,” they excitedly responded. They wanted to help little kids. But immediately after, they said they didn’t think it would happen. If kids don’t see a way, then we need to empower student success with goal setting…

Master Your Mountain™ For Student Success

Often young people haven’t had the opportunity to explore their future with guidance and information and opportunities to practice their goal setting and planning skills. That’s why I created Master Your Mountain™. It’s a fun activity that empowers middle school thru high school student success with goal setting.

Well Maybe I Can…

Master Your Mountain™ is an easy-to-use lesson plan for teachers, homeschoolers, or parents. The creative and colorful activity walks students through the process of planning for their future. First, students identify their dreams or goals. Then, the things they need to do to get there. In Master Your Mountain™, kids see how goals can be accomplished. By breaking down what seems overwhelming and impossible, they see the value of a step-by-step plan.

With Master Your Mountain™, you will see the lightbulbs go on and the wheels start turning! When the unattainable fog lifts, clear possibilities shine 1

A Great Classroom Management Tool

Master Your Mountain™ settles students into their own world and space. The resource also provides community building with peer to peer and group tasks. The activity can be accomplished in 1-3 classroom periods. All required materials are provided — just three fun worksheets— and scripts for teachers/parents, if needed.

Additionally, Master Your Mountain™ can be used in any classroom and with any subject.

This Won’t Work with my Students

And it won’t if you don’t follow up. But follow-up is easy. Once a month (though the more the better) check-in with your student or have them journal an update.

Boost your middle school, junior high, and high school students’ confidence and engagement with  Master Your Mountain™!
Click here to Find out more!

An Easy-to-Use Communication Resource for Parents of High School Students

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A picture of the cover of the aws Studios.art resource, The Five Basics of Parenting Adolescents Pamphlet

An Accessible Parent Communication Resource

The “Five Basics of Parenting Adolescents Pamphlet” is a handout created from the findings of “Raising Teens: A Synthesis of Research and a Foundation for Action.”  The resource is a two-sided pdf that “boils down” the research into a foldable, user-friendly, easy-to-read, and sharable pamphlet.

Make Parent Communication Easy

Importantly, one reason adults are often wary of science and research is due to the complexity of the published results. Hard to read and difficult to understand, research-based texts go over our heads and dissipate into the great beyond.  Unfortunately, this results in ignoring the good stuff or “meat” that’s there – somewhere in the muckety-muck of scientific jargon.

The “Five Basics of Parenting Adolescents Pamphlet” to the rescue!

Clearly, when it comes to information about the best ways to parent or care for teenagers, the “Five Basics … Pamphlet” delivers a concise, easy-to-read resource that can be effortlessly and discreetly accessed again and again (because, I don’t know about you, but I sure need to read these things multiple times until it sinks in)!

Teachers and Parents and Teens, Oh My!

As a teacher, it’s not always easy to connect with caregivers and parents raising teens. Establishing parent communication with them sometimes requires taking it up a notch:

  • Treat the “Five Basics of Parenting Adolescents Pamphlet” as a gift from you to them at the beginning of the school year. Make copies of the resource, fold them into the pamphlet and put it in a business-size envelope addressed to the parent (and maybe even tie it all up with a ribbon. Heaven knows anyone parenting a teenager deserves a pretty little gift just for them)!
  • Use your on-hand resources and take more of those pamphlets you folded up and put one in each teacher’s school mailbox.
  • Furthermore, you can always:
    • Send a copy of the pamphlet via email to parents.Post it on your teacher website and the school’s website.Give parents the pamphlet at parent-teacher meetings and
    • Share it with your friends and family.

Download the “Five Basics of Parenting Adolescents Pamphlet” here

Undoubtedly, if you’re a teacher, start the new school year off on the right foot! Add to your classroom management strategies and build relationships with your students’ parents with the Pamphlet. Start spreading the good word of the importance of parent-adolescent communication and its impact on teenagers’ well-being and development today!

More aws Studios mental health skill-building resources here and here.

The “Power of Permission” Slip™ – a Mental Health, Social Emotional Learning Resource Every Teacher Should Have

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Unlock Mental Health and Empowerment

When handing out the “Power of Permission” Slip™ you may notice a collective sigh of relief. Along with a room full of relaxing shoulders. Giving people permission to practice positive, safe, and healthy self-empowering behaviors is powerful. It reminds recipients of their obligation to their mental health and social emotional learning. Instead of the inhibiting mantra “How dare I?,” the “I owe it to myself” self-care refrain empowers.

What is the “Power of Permission” Slip™?

The “Power of Permission” Slip™ is a small, 3” x 8” slip that gives the recipient permission to do something that would improve their mental health. The small and easy-to-give resource generates transformative feelings and change. It’s an easy way to make someone’s day – giving them “permission” to do that thing that keeps them from feeling good.

Give students the power of permission slip for their mental health and social emotional learning

Solves Mental Health and Social Emotional Learning Problems and Enhances Learning

The …Slip solves the problem of people feeling they shouldn’t or can’t do something. But, if done, it would improve their mental health and social emotional learning. The “Power of Permission” Slip™ is a simple prompt, a mild nudge that motivates inaction into action. The resource enhances learning by making the connection of getting or giving permission. This allows the practice of a positive mental health skill. It is also a great behavior management tool.

But what about…

Don’t worry that it’s simple. Be glad that it is and it works! There’s not much to understand. Fill in the recipient’s name on the …Slip or have them fill in their name and either suggest something they need permission for or have them come up with their own. The “Power of Permission” Slip™ can be given over and over again. There is no limit to how many times someone has received a …Slip.

Features include:

  • The simple, all-inclusive permission slip is all done for you, just print out, cut out, hand out, and start making your students’, staff’s, family’s, friend’s, or even YOUR OWN day! Yes, you can give yourself permission! It’s the best kind.
  • The “Power of Permission” Slip™ gives its providers easy access to providing their constituents with joy and builds trust and relationships. What could be better than that?

The “Power of Permission” Slip™ is FREE!

To celebrate the remodel of my Teachers Pay Teachers aws Studios Store, I am giving away The “Power of Permission” Slip™ for free!  Once you receive it, make a lot of slips because once you start your students, staff, family, and friends will beg for more!

My Future Story Documentary, a fun and inspiring goal setting and planning activity

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A Favorite Goal Setting Activity

A picture of the My Future Story Documentary goal setting worksheet

One of my favorite mental health/social-emotional learning activities I developed is “My Future Story Documentary.” It teaches a goal setting and planning skill I wish I had learned when I was in grade school.

My Future Story

Back then, my future story was to sing, dance and act on stage. My mother pointed out New York City was probably the best place to pursue these goals but she didn’t think I should go. In her mind, NYC was a scary place and that was enough to stop me from moving forward with my idea.

In the “My Future Story Documentary” goal setting resource, one crucial step is for the “filmmaker” to identify their “Supporting Film Crew.” These are friends, family members, teachers, coaches, and clergy, etc. who support the maker’s future story, an important part for turning dreams into reality. And, like in my case, they may not always be a friend or a family member.

An aws Studios.art illustration of a adolescent ballerina - if only they had a goal setting activity like My Future Story.

Goal Setting and Support

My mother (whom I love dearly) may not have embraced my dream, but Marion, her best friend, did. Marion, who herself dreamed of performing and later became an award-winning ballroom dancer, noticed my talent. Though, I never shared my dancing and acting dreams with her. The “My Future Story Documentary” activity prompts students to identify supportive adults and share their dream with them.

It’s tough when immediate family are unable to be supportive. Nevertheless, there are many success stories where dreamers found support elsewhere.

Get the “My future story documentary” activity here!

Now as a picture book author/illustrator and mental health curricula supplier (with no regrets!), my supports are everywhere —family, friends, and colleagues — and it’s great!

What about you? What is your success story and who was your supportive “crew?”  

Give them a shout out in the “Comments” below!

You May Need Permission to Practice Mental Health

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You have my permission to practice mental health!

It’s national “May is Mental Health Month” and what better time to take a mental health day! Plus, you could use the national celebration and month-long recognition of mental health as an excuse to take your deserved, though often neglected, time off! But for those of you who may need permission to practice mental health, I have a free Gift Certificate for you!

Get Your Free Gift Certificate

While in my studio the other day, I spied a Christmas present I made a few years ago for my work colleagues. And I thought how it’s also a perfect mental health activity especially in honor of the national recognition month.

I am giving everyone who subscribes to my free blog a free downloadable aws Studios Gift Certificate! This certificate entitles each holder “permission to” practice mental health such as doing something they might need permission from someone else to do.

Remember permission slips we needed from our parents to go to an away game on the bus or to a doctor’s appointment during school hours? My Gift Certificate is like that except you don’t need your parents! I am giving you permission to do mentally healthy things for yourself.

So, like taking a mental health day, some people may need this type of “permission” to encourage them to follow through and take a day off. By taking a mental health day, you are practicing good mental health and taking time to focus on your social and emotional well-being.

Of course, the aws Studios Permission Slip is good for anything you may need to give yourself an extra healthy nudge like taking a nap in the middle of the day, or not going through with something you really don’t want to do. There are numerous things we can give ourselves permission to do.

What will you give yourself permission to do? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for spending time at the Studios and don’t forget to get your Gift Certificate!

A Fun and Easy Way to Support “May is Mental Health Month”

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Supporting “May is Mental Health Month”

When I’m not working on a picture book or this blog, I am playing with my granddaughter, socializing with friends and family or participating in outdoor activities like kayaking and biking with my husband. Like many people, I have a “health” app on my phone that tracks the number of “steps” I take in a day. But it always frustrated me with its inability to track non-stepping activities like kayaking and bike riding.

Our kayaks on the Myakka River in Florida

A good tracking app with “challenges”

A few years ago, a friend and avid cyclist suggested I use Strava. Strava is an app that has the ability to track time and miles for just about any activity which, when I’m not taking steps like walking or jogging and doing non-stepping activities, I like. Strava also offers users “challenges.” These are opportunities for users to best their personal record while boosting motivation and goal attainment (a mental health skill)!

A great “May is Mental Health Month” partnership

So, it was nice for me as a mental health educator and a member of Mental Health America’s Advocacy Network to see that MHA is partnering with Strava for their May is Mental Health Month campaign.  Mental Health America is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit addressing mental illness and promoting mental health. To raise awareness, MHA is partnering with L.L. Bean in the L.L. Bean Feel-Good Challenge on Strava. If all challenge takers spend a combined 500,000 hours participating in outdoor activities during the month of May, L.L. Bean will donate $50,000 to MHA for their advocacy efforts.

Go Outside

Strava challenges are fun and easy. The app takes care of all the tracking and lets you know when you have completed the challenge. It then provides an overview of your activity such as the number of miles and time spent.

For me, the L.L. Bean Feel-Good Challenge on Strava hits all the right buttons – promoting mental health, being active outdoors and participating in a Strava challenge!

There couldn’t be a better May is Mental Health Month activity for me! I hope it can be yours too!

Click here to join me in this fun challenge and support mental health!

Strong Suits™: A Game to Boost Social Emotional Learning

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Making Social Emotional Learning Fun

 Strong Suits™, a game for communication skills, engages young players in a fun card game. In it, participants identify and communicate their strengths, personality, and individuality.

In addition, this quick and easy game builds mental/social-emotional health skills. These communication skills include self-confidence, resilience, self-knowledge, self-respect, and the respect of others.

The game, designed for 2 or more players, works well played at home or in groups in the classroom. Along with its ability to work for camps and after-school programs.

This image shows an abstract illustration of a diverse group of people with different interests and vocations. Because groups are often diverse, a game for communication skills is not only engaging but critical.

Get Strong Suits™ in the new aws Studios Store!

Other social emotional learning activities and games currently on the shelves at the aws Studios Store:

  • “Circle of Community™” – a fun team-building activity that works well with groups or teams. The activity presents well in the classroom or in the home! “Circle…” shows teams/groups how to work together. This includes keeping conflict to a minimum. This gives groups/teams a better chance of reaching their goals or going for a win.
  • “Reframe It™” is a fun game that builds empathy and an understanding. In particular, it does this exploring child and parent behavior or why kids and parents do what they do! The engaging and interactive game offers players a chance to think about modifying their reactions to challenging behaviors. And it offers ideas on how to alter the environment for more positive behaviors. In addition, this game for Parenting Educators and their parent groups works with pre-teens and teens.
  • “DIY Hardcover Picture Book,” on how to craft your own hardcover picture book.

To purchase this and other activities and a game for communication skills and social emotional learning at the aws Studios Store, you will need to make a FREE Teachers Pay Teachers account. Anyone with a FREE Teachers Pay Teachers account can purchase materials at the aws Studios Store!

And be sure to Like the aws Studios Store, give me a Rating or Review or Ask Me a Question! Check it out here!

Reduce Your Anxiety and Boost Your Mental Health: New SEL Resources

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NOW OPEN! The aws Studios Store!

Parents, grandparents, teachers and educators!

You can count on the effectiveness of the SEL resources in the aws Studios Store! As a mental health educator and curriculum developer, hundreds of students, young and old tested and approved my activities and curricula.

Furthermore, I am excited to provide you with my most popular SEL resources and curricula.

Check out my new store here!

SEL resources currently on the shelves at the aws Studios Store:

“Circle of Community™” is a fun team-building activity that can be used with any group or team, in the classroom or in the home! “Circle…” shows teams/groups how to work together, keeping conflict to a minimum giving groups/teams a better chance of reaching their goals or going for a win.

Picture shows cover of one of the SEL resources at the aws Studios.art Teachers Pay Teachers Store
Another picture from an aws Studios.art SEL resource in the TPT store

“Reframe It™” is a fun game that builds empathy and an understanding of child and parent behavior or why kids and parents do what they do!

The engaging and interactive game offers players a chance to think about ways to modify their reactions to problematic or challenging behaviors and offers ideas on how to alter the environment for more positive behaviors.

Particularly, this game is for parents, Parenting Educators and their parent groups. In addition, it plays well with pre-teens and teens.

“DIY Hardcover Picture Book”:

A one-pager on how to craft your own hardcover picture book. Great for art class! Plus, it’s a FREE download.

Picture from an aws Studios.art picture book used for an SEL resource art project

To purchase the resources at the aws Studios Store, you will need to make a FREE Teachers Pay Teachers account. Anyone with a FREE Teachers Pay Teachers account can purchase materials at the aws Studios Store!

Like the aws Studios Store, give me a Rating or Review or Ask Me a Question! Check it out here!

Swept into Mental Illness? Assess Your Mental Health

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Beware the media!

aws Studios is all about helping you have mental health! Saturated with issues of “mental health,” the media is often reporting on mental illness and its treatment,  not mental health. At large, the focus on anything related to mental health is actually a focus on the “downstream” area of mental health – the place where mental health becomes illness requiring treatment. At aws Studios, the focus is upstream, on your mental health skills not mental illness!

Upstream? Downstream? What Does it Mean?

This image of a river running in front of a mountain illustrates the public health concept of catching health problems early - upstream - before they become more dangerous and costly downstream.
From the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Albany, NY circa 2011. Artist unknown (if it’s yours, I’d love to know and give you credit)!

In explaining the overall health of people in a community,  this parable about a river “slowly filling with drowning people” (representing illness) is often used. Due to their overwhelming numbers, many are unsavable. They are the end of the river, in the “downstream.” By taking a look “upstream,” we can see what is getting them into the water unable to save themselves in the first place — do they need lifejackets or, better yet, swimming lessons or a fence to keep them slipping into the river, etc.?

If we use this parable to represent mental health, there are actions that, for the most part, could prevent “overwhelming numbers” of “drowning people” or mental illness. For some, mental illness is inevitable due to genetics. But for most, mental illness can be prevented and reduced or “cured” for those experiencing its symptoms. The upstream area of mental illness includes acquiring and maintaining the skills associated with mental health and implementing and enforcing policies that support both mental health and skill building.

How are Your Mental Health Skills?

The skills of mental health or social-emotional learning include self-management, relationships, and resource management:

Self-Management:

is the development of self-awareness and self-management skills such as the ability to take care of ourselves, building and maintaining resilience and identifying and managing our feelings or emotions.

Relationships:

include the development of healthy relationships to promote mental health such as building and maintaining communication skills, skills of empathy, compassion and acceptance and the ability to express gratitude and forgiveness.

Resource management:

Is to know what, when, where and how to ask for help for yourself and others.

So, what do you think? How are your mental health skills? Do you have them down pat or might they need a little tweaking? Like all areas of health, our mental health will take a bit of managing and checking in on, on an ongoing basis.

Check out the aws Studios mental health skill building activities here and give your mental health a boost today!

Reframe It!™: A Game for Parents Looking to Solve Behavior Problems

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Reframe It!™ game reduces anxiety and boosts social emotional mental health!

Reframing is a social-emotional mental health tool or strategy that helps to understand the function of human behavior. The American Psychology Association defines reframing as “a process of reconceptualizing a problem by seeing it from a different perspective.” This, then, creates possibilities for parents and others to solve child problem behaviors. Reframing shows how to foresee behavior and bypass it while building empathy and reducing anxiety.

As a parent, I loved learning about reframing. It showed me ways to try to get to the source of my child’s behavior problems. I was able to predict what might happen and diffuse their triggers.  It also helped me improve relationships with family members and friends. Reframing showed me how by to see behaviors from another’s perspective.  I enjoyed learning and teaching reframing so much that I developed “Reframe It!™,”* a game that teaches reframing. It shows a way to see why children or adults behave the way they do. The games also helps to build compassion for others and ourselves.

Reframe It!™ is a fun game!

“Reframe It!™” is a game for parents and others who are parenting to help them understand child behavior and behavior problems. The game can also help parents understand their own behavior, building self-compassion.  With reframing, we gain an understanding of “the function of behavior,” or why people – children and adults – do what they do.

An aws Studios.art cartoon illustration showing a bunch of celery reframing two onions with behavior problems

Reframe It!™ offers players:

  • A chance to think about ways to modify their reactions to challenging or problem behaviors
  • Ways to predict difficult behaviors and then
  • Make changes to the environment or situation to bypass potential problems.
  • For example:

A parent learns that sibling conflicts often arise from children seeking attention or they are bored or jealous. The parent sees the connection and plans ahead to give each child positive attention regularly. Or they change the environment by helping the child engage in a personally stimulating activity.

Reframe It!™ objectives include helping parents:

  • Learn about reframing.
  • Learn how to reframe behaviors to understand the function of behavior.
  • Begin a practice of reframing to help plan for and modify behavior/reactions and the environment.
  • Build empathy.
  • Build an understanding of personal behavior and “why we do what we do.”
  • Enter into discussions about behavior, stress, family roles, tasks, conflict or anger management, etc.
  • Increase comfort in communicating with each other.
  • Improve parent-child communication.

More about reframing here, here and here!

Click here to purchase Reframe It!, a downloadable pdf for $12.00

* Reframe It!™ is a trademark of aws Studios and was developed using the child and parent behavior reframes in Intervening with troubled families: Functional family therapy and Parenting Wisely. D.A. Gordon, author. 2003.