G.U.I.D.E. For Life

Welcome to Season 3 of the G.U.I.D.E. for Life podcast!

Episode 1: Dr. Laura Bakosh - Mindfulness Matters

Join us as Dr. Laura Bakosh shares the benefits of mindfulness for students and teachers, as well
as how consistent mindfulness practices can impact academic outcomes.

Transcript:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mnCPsxQ0llGKBlgv3sIBhbzGkI_47JD3/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102414495116396977572&rtpof=true&sd=true

Resources:

Division of Elementary and Secondary Education G.U.I.D.E. for Life webpage:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Personal Competency Standards:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Files/20201229101338_OFFICIAL_GUIDE_for_Life.pdf

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Curriculum:
https://sites.google.com/pdarkansas.net/guideforlifecurriculum/home

Inner Explorer - Mindfulness Practice Program:
https://innerexplorer.org/


Books:

Master of Mindfulness- Laurie Grossman (a book written by kids for kids):
https://www.amazon.com/Master-Mindfulness-Superhero-Times-Stress/dp/1626254648

The Mindful Child- Susan Kaiser Greenland- how to bring mindfulness to kids, lots of
games and stories:
https://www.susankaisergreenland.com/mindful-child

The Mindful Brain- Dan Siegel- great summary of how the brain works and is adaptive:
https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393704709

Full Catastrophe Living- Jon Kabat-Zinn- the grandfather of this movement, creator of
MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction)- mindfulness isn't just about everything being
perfect and calm, it's about how we respond to the events in our life with more
awareness and compassion:
https://www.amazon.com/Full-Catastrophe-Living-Revised-Illness/dp/0345536932


Websites:

UMASS Medical Center for Mindfulness:
https://www.ummhealth.org/center-mindfulness

Inner Explorer:
https://www.innerexplorer.org

MBSEL- mindfulness based social emotional learning (focuses on the
intersection of mindfulness and SEL):
https://mbsel.org

Panorama- measuring MBSEL in schools:
https://www.panoramaed.com/

Discovery Education- they have an entire section (including Inner Explorer) on
mindfulness in schools:
https://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/tag/mindfulness/

Discovery Education- why mindfulness:
https://vimeo.com/264103000


Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Join us for a conversation with Shavon Jackson, Principal at Crawford Elementary School in Russellville, as she shares about the importance of culturally responsive pedagogy, equity, and inclusive practices.

Summer 2021 Arch Ford Equity and Cultural Responsiveness Professional Development Sessions:
https://sites.google.com/archford.org/summer2021/equity?authuser=0

G.U.I.D.E. for Life website:
http://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/divisions/learning-services/guide-for-life

G.U.I.D.E. for Life video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IkDogvInAGyDubj0e_Ou3qGG9r3yPKo2/view

G.U.I.D.E. for Life In Focus Blog:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life/guide-for-life-in-focus-blog

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Manual:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/admin/Files/20201229101338_OFFICIAL_GUIDE_for_Life.pdf

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Curriculum - Units and Lesson Plans for grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12
https://sites.google.com/pdarkansas.net/guideforlifecurriculum/home
Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Join us for a conversation with Anne Canada, Media Specialist at Paris Middle School as she shares ways to cultivate the competency of mindfulness and discusses how school libraries impact social emotional learning.

G.U.I.D.E. for Life website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life

G.U.I.D.E. for Life video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IkDogvInAGyDubj0e_Ou3qGG9r3yPKo2/view

G.U.I.D.E. for Life In Focus Blog:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life/guide-for-life-in-focus-blog

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Manual:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/admin/Files/20201229101338_OFFICIAL_GUIDE_for_Life.pdf

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Curriculum - Units and Lesson Plans for grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12
https://sites.google.com/pdarkansas.net/guideforlifecurriculum/home

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

John Norlin - Cultivating a Positive, Powerful School Culture through Servant Leadership

Join us for a conversation with Leadership Consultant and speaker John Norlin as he discusses creating a school culture that cares and the power of servant leadership.

Leadership Consultant and speaker, John Norlin has committed his entire time as a student, and now his professional career, toward helping people, schools and organizations transform themselves into places that truly care about the well-being of others. John helps organizations, leaders and educators learn how to become servant leaders through intentional character development and training. His mission is to spread the word of the power of servant leadership while teaching others how to build influence in the lives of those around them.

The Servant: A Simple Story about the True Essence of Leadership by James C. Hunter
https://www.amazon.com/Servant-Simple-Story-Essence-Leadership/dp/0761513698/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Servant&qid=1616181116&sr=8-1

Leadership Conference for Visionary Principals
https://www.characterstrong.com/adminconference

A Mastermind Group for Visionary Principals
https://www.characterstrong.com/principalsmastermind?inf_contact_key=2dd03e13e17ce47f9da992255b68eb37f651f238aa2edbb9c8b7cff03e0b16a0

Character Strong
https://characterstrong.com/

Character Strong Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-characterstrong-podcast/id1454582540

Character Strong Blog
https://characterstrong.com/blog

G.U.I.D.E. for Life website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life

G.U.I.D.E. for Life video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IkDogvInAGyDubj0e_Ou3qGG9r3yPKo2/view

G.U.I.D.E. for Life In Focus Blog:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life/guide-for-life-in-focus-blog

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Manual:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/admin/Files/20201229101338_OFFICIAL_GUIDE_for_Life.pdf

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Curriculum - Units and Lesson Plans for grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12
https://sites.google.com/pdarkansas.net/guideforlifecurriculum/home

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

THRIVERS: Seven Teachable Strengths That Help Students Succeed - Dr. Michele Borba

Dr. Michele Borba is an educational psychologist, former teacher, and mom recognized for offering research-driven advice culled from a career of working with over one million parents and educators. A frequent Today show contributor and recipient of the National Educator Award, she is the author of 25 books including UnSelfie, and her latest, Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine. She also appears on Dr. Phil, The View, CNN, The Doctors, Dr. Oz, as well as U.S. News & World Report, The Chicago Tribune, TIME, and the NY Times.

Resources:

Twitter: @micheleBorba

www.micheleborba.com

Instagram: @drmicheleborba

Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine - Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Thrivers-Surprising-Reasons-Struggle-Others/dp/0593085272

G.U.I.D.E. for Life website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life

G.U.I.D.E. for Life video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IkDogvInAGyDubj0e_Ou3qGG9r3yPKo2/view

G.U.I.D.E. for Life In Focus Blog:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life/guide-for-life-in-focus-blog

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Manual:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/admin/Files/20201229101338_OFFICIAL_GUIDE_for_Life.pdf

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Keeping Students Safe: Understanding Child Trafficking - Genevie Strickland - Morgan Nick Foundation

Genevie Strickland of the Morgan Nick Foundation helps us deepen our understanding of human trafficking as well as how educators play a vital role in keeping Arkansas students safe.


The internet is one of the single biggest factors affecting our children and their safety in society today.

We need to understand why and what affect it has on students learning and beyond. Teen Internet usage and attitudes about safety present potential risks, but also opportunities for education. Internet safety, risky behaviors such as sharing too much information online and sexting, cyberbullying, dangerous internet sites and apps all aid in the harm and exploitation of children.

These risky behaviors can be a common link leading to a global issue commonly referred to as Human Trafficking/Sex Trafficking. We need to understand how schools are impacted, why it is critically important for those in educational environments to be involved in the process and understand exactly what trafficking looks like amongst students today. Our safety and prevention education curriculum is taught to children in the school system, providing real world safety, internet safety skills, and abduction prevention education.

In March 2020 the world was hit by the COVID 19 pandemic and our education system was greatly impacted as schools revamped to virtual learning. To date we have provided education to more than 850,000 children, families and teachers in Arkansas schools, so the shut down of onsite learning impacted the message we know children so desperately need at this time.

Understanding that kids would be online even more while spending time at home doing virtual learning, our office immediately switched gears in search of new ways to get these safety messages to students. We hired two more educators with various backgrounds in education and began the process of constructing a new curriculum from the discipline we already use to educate. This curriculum will support Arkansas Educators, caregivers, parents, and students. Our presentations use the latest technology to create high-impact educational activities for even the most tech-savvy kids of any age group, with the end goal of expanding the safety awareness of children and empowering them to make responsible decisions online and in real life. The Firefly Project was created because the Morgan Nick Foundation believes education is the key to safety. When children recognize the dangers they can make good choices. This curriculum is written to bring the light of truth into a sometimes dangerous and scary world.

Morgan Nick Foundation website:
https://morgannickfoundation.com/

The Firefly Project - Morgan Nick Foundation Curriculum:
https://sites.google.com/morgannick.com/curriculum/home


G.U.I.D.E. for Life website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life

G.U.I.D.E. for Life video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IkDogvInAGyDubj0e_Ou3qGG9r3yPKo2/view

G.U.I.D.E. for Life In Focus Blog:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life/guide-for-life-in-focus-blog

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Manual:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/admin/Files/20201229101338_OFFICIAL_GUIDE_for_Life.pdf

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

G.U.I.D.E. for Life and the School Counselor - Andrea Fortner

Andrea Fortner, Guidance and School Counseling Coordinator at DESE, shares practical ways that school counselors can support the G.U.I.D.E. for Life personal competencies in their everyday work with students and teachers.

DESE-2021-Navigating Grief and Loss in the School Setting: Supports for School Counselors (Virtual):
https://www.escweb.net/ar_ade/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=438187

Listen to Andrea on the Arkansas A.W.A.R.E. podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/43551900

Guidance and School Counseling webpage on the DESE website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guidance-and-school-counseling

Andrea Fortner
Email:
[email protected]

Governor Asa Hutchinson has designated March 15 - 19 as G.U.I.D.E. for Life Week in the state of Arkansas, and the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is encouraging schools to celebrate with daily activities. DESE has developed a number of sample activities and resources to help schools plan their celebrations and support the personal competency standards in the G.U.I.D.E. for Life.

Sample activities for daily celebrations:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vhbqXHU6HUcxwH2jcTlnfLRAWRWjgJ5d/view?usp=sharing

I hope that you will actively promote celebrating G.U.I.D.E. for Life in your respective schools. Be sure and tag us on your social media posts so that we can recognize all the amazing things you are doing! I hope this will be a fun way for your school to support your students as you “MARCH” into Spring Break!

Thank you for all that you do for Arkansas Students!

G.U.I.D.E. for Life website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life

G.U.I.D.E. for Life video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IkDogvInAGyDubj0e_Ou3qGG9r3yPKo2/view

G.U.I.D.E. for Life In Focus Blog:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life/guide-for-life-in-focus-blog

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Manual:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/admin/Files/20201229101338_OFFICIAL_GUIDE_for_Life.pdf

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Helping Students Build Their Emotional Vocabularies - Faith White

Emotional vocabulary includes words like happy, worried, excited, and scared. Emotional vocabulary is one component of emotional literacy, which is necessary for children to regulate their emotions and engage in social interaction. Faith White, teacher at Crestwood Elementary School in North Little Rock shares classroom strategies for supporting students in building their emotional vocabularies.

Faith’s website:
https://whenchangechoosesyou.wixsite.com/resilience

Emotion Cards and Suggested Activities:
https://hope4hurtingkids.com/emotions/understanding-emotions/emotion-cards/

Good Mourning Grief Support Groups will happen by Zoom this spring beginning with a Parent Orientation the first week in March. The spring groups will be provided by Zoom due to safety concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic. On a positive note, providing groups by Zoom will offer the opportunity for participation for families anywhere in Arkansas.
Good Mourning Groups are for children and teens, kindergarten through 12th grade, who have experienced the death of a family member, relative, or friend. Participating children and teens will be divided into four different age-groups, and there will be nine weekly sessions. Adults related to child and teen participants are also invited to participate in adult support groups. With the generosity of the Arkansas Children's Hospital Auxiliary, there is no charge for participation. Applications are required for participating children and teens. An online application can be requested under Support Groups at:
www.goodmourningcenter.org.

G.U.I.D.E. for Life website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life

G.U.I.D.E. for Life video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IkDogvInAGyDubj0e_Ou3qGG9r3yPKo2/view

G.U.I.D.E. for Life In Focus Blog:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life/guide-for-life-in-focus-blog

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Manual:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/admin/Files/20201229101338_OFFICIAL_GUIDE_for_Life.pdf

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Cultivating Personal Competency Skills through Community Service Learning - Melissa Starkey

Join Susan Jobe as she interviews Melissa Starkey, Social Studies Specialist at the Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. They will discuss how the G.U.I.D.E. for Life is related to her work in supporting Community Service Learning and what that means for Arkansas students, teachers and their communities. Melissa will also talk about what's new for Social Studies in Arkansas education and how to find resources for teachers on the new DESE website. This is a fascinating journey into what Community Service Learning is doing for students in and out of the classroom and how it shapes their futures in becoming adults within their local communities.

Links:

DESE Social Studies Website and Resources page:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/social-studies-resources

Arkansas Declaration of Learning Program:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/curriculum-support/arkansas-declaration-of-learning-program

Parker’s Chapel High School 2019 Civic Engagement Project Short Film: Forgetting
Ourselves:
https://adesandbox.arkansas.gov/iframe?v=YzZiN2JhMDk2ZWZjOTI5ZTllZTBiMDZjODc5OWQxMjQ

Empathy in Action: Cultivating Social Awareness Through Civic Engagement (Full Podcast):
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/24177502

G.U.I.D.E. for Life website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life

G.U.I.D.E. for Life video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IkDogvInAGyDubj0e_Ou3qGG9r3yPKo2/view

G.U.I.D.E. for Life In Focus Blog:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life/guide-for-life-in-focus-blog

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Manual:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/admin/Files/20201229101338_OFFICIAL_GUIDE_for_Life.pdf

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Join us for a conversation with Ashleigh Cromer of Be Strong. Be Strong is a non-profit empowering youth to prevent bullying, isolation and suicide by igniting change in peer behavior through a comprehensive student – led approach to encourage ALL students to reveal challenges they are facing, train and equip students to become more resilient, arm them with the Be Strong App to access real time and local resources that can help, and unite them to change their families, schools, communities, states, and country.

Be Strong Website:
http://bestrong.global

G.U.I.D.E. for Life website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life

G.U.I.D.E. for Life video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IkDogvInAGyDubj0e_Ou3qGG9r3yPKo2/view

G.U.I.D.E. for Life In Focus Blog:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/guide-for-life/guide-for-life-in-focus-blog

G.U.I.D.E. for Life Manual:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/admin/Files/20201229101338_OFFICIAL_GUIDE_for_Life.pdf

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts