Returning to Us

By Lauren Spigelmyer & Jessica Doering

To help people who help people, the organization needs to be healthy and have practices in place that consider the trauma of those they serve. Lauren Spigelmyer and Jessica Doering have helped thou

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FAQs about Returning to Us:

How many episodes does Returning to Us have?

The podcast currently has 235 episodes available.

Returning to Us episodes:

September 11, 2023How to Get and Keep Student's Attention
Every moment of every day, your brain and body are subconsciously working to appraise your current situation. While you aren’t conscious of this, your nervous system is.
In this episode, Lauren walks you through how to set up your routines to help students prepare to learn, AS well as the UDL engagement guidelines: recruit interest, sustain effort and persistence, and self-regulate.
Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How can we help students deal with stressful situations?
Try-at-home tip: Evening routine
References for this episode:
Teaching with the Brain in Mind - Eric Jensen
Brain-based learning: Teaching the Way Students Really Learn
Neuroteach: Brain Science and the Future of Education
The Plainer Truths of Teaching, Learning and Literacy: A comprehensive guide to reading, writing, speaking, and listening Pre-K-12 across the curriculum. - Botel and Paparo
Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:
Blog Post:
Children’s Emotions: How They Work and Behavior Strategies to Try
The first step to emotional regulation
Podcast:
4 Steps to Teach Emotional Intelligence
Categorizing Emotions
Calming & Coping Strategies
Problem-solving steps
Our Online Courses:
Classroom Design with the Brain in Mind
From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings: How to Self-Regulate
Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog
Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
...more
15min
September 04, 2023How Emotional States Impact Learning
When your emotional networks impact your state of mind it disrupts your ability to be present, neutral, and ready to learn. Emotional states impact attention, memory learning, and they are contagious. So, how do you teach students who have dysregulated emotions?
Today Lauren discusses how to use non-verbal cues to help understand someone’s current emotional state and how to change your emotional state.
Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How do we help teachers effectively manage their own stress and trauma?
Try-at-home tip: Hot-cold exposure
References for this episode:
Teaching with the Brain in Mind - Eric Jensen
Brain-based learning: Teaching the Way Students Really Learn
Neuroteach: Brain Science and the Future of Education
The Plainer Truths of Teaching, Learning and Literacy: A comprehensive guide to reading, writing, speaking, and listening Pre-K-12 across the curriculum. - Botel and Paparo
Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:
Blog Post:
Children’s Emotions: How They Work and Behavior Strategies to Try
Emotional Brain: The Barking Dog (Limbic System)
Podcast:
Meet the Decision Maker of your Emotional Brain: The Amygdala
Leave Unwanted Behaviors Behind! Teaching Emotional Regulation
Putting Self-Care into Practice with Routines
Our Online Courses:
Classroom Design with the Brain in Mind
Stress and Trauma and Behaviors, Oh my!: Stress & the Brain
Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog
Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
...more
18min
August 28, 2023How Does a Child’s Brain Actually Work?
In this episode, Lauren delves into how the brain works and what to do at each stage of childhood to best help your child. She walks through suggestions from toddlers/preschoolers all the way through the difficult teen years. Two of the biggest requirements for children and adults are sleep and water intake.
Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How can I know that a student is too stressed to learn?
Try-at-home tip: Sobriety
References for this episode:
NIH: Places Where Neurons Connect
Teaching with the Brain in Mind - Eric Jensen
Brain-based learning: Teaching the Way Students Really Learn
Neuroteach: Brain Science and the Future of Education
Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:
Blog Post:
Does Food Really Impact the Brain and Emotions?
Podcast:
Food and the Brain
How to Teach Based on Our Knowledge of the Brain (pt.1)
How to teach Based on Our Knowledge of the Brain (pt.2)
How the Brain Stores Information
Leave Unwanted Behaviors Behind! Teaching Emotional Regulation
The Effects of Chronic Stress and Abuse
Our Online Courses:
Classroom Design with the Brain in Mindg Children
Stress and Trauma and Behaviors, Oh my!: Stress & the Brain
Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog
Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
...more
18min
August 21, 2023How the Brain Stores Information
When a person is under stress, especially chronic stress, they struggle to focus, can’t make smart or wise decisions, and have trouble remembering information they learn. In this episode, Lauren starts by walking through how the brain takes in and stores information. She uses that as the explanation for how the amygdala short circuits that process when under stress or trauma.
All of this affects emotional regulation and learning. So, how do you handle children when they are suffering trauma or stress? Listen to today’s episode to find out.
Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How can we help students who are stagnant? They might have stress but don’t give us anything at all in terms of positive or negative behaviors.
Try-at-home tip: Drink less coffee and more water
Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:
Blog Post:
Emotion Regulation with the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
Children’s Emotions: How They Work and Behavior Strategies to Try
Emotional Brain: The Barking Dog (Limbic System)
The Brain in the Palm of Your Hand: Dan Siegel Hand Model
Reptilian Brain: Better Known as the Brainstem
Thinking Brain: The Wise Owl
Podcast:
Meet the Decision Maker of your Emotional Brain: The Amygdala
Emotion Regulation using the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
The Barking Dog: Our Emotional Brain
Fight or Flight: Our Sympathetic Nervous System
Leave Unwanted Behaviors Behind! Teaching Emotional Regulation
The Effects of Chronic Stress and Abuse
Our Online Courses:
From Conflict to Calm: How to Communicate with Challenging Children
From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings: How to Self-Regulate
Stress and Trauma and Behaviors, Oh my!: Stress & the Brain
Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog
Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
...more
17min
August 14, 2023Questions and Answers, Round 2!
Today’s Q&A continues the discussion around stress, trauma and emotional regulation. How to recognize it and how to help those who are struggling with their emotions and stress.
How do you guide the student that uses the stress as a way to avoid work?
What are some suggestions for self-regulation curriculums and coping strategies for students?
What are some strategies we can use with our students who are experiencing trauma/stress?
What is the most common stressor for students?
How many ways can a student react to stress?
Try-at-home tip: Focus on one.
Mentioned in this episode:
Generation Mindful
Wendy Mogel
How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk
Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:
Blog Post:
Emotion Regulation with the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
How Other Cultures Teach Emotional Control - Pt 1
How Other Cultures Teach Emotional Control - Pt 2
Communicating with Kids: Saying How You Feel
Podcast:
The Effects of Chronic Stress and Abuse
Emotion Regulation using the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
4 Steps to Teach Emotional Intelligence
Our Online Courses:
From Conflict to Calm: How to Communicate with Challenging Children
From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings: How to Self-Regulate
Stress and Trauma and Behaviors, Oh my!: Stress & the Brain
Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog
Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
...more
24min
August 07, 2023How Selfish Are You Really?
Today’s episode is a shift from the last two. In this episode, Lauren focuses on the “continuum of self-values” created by Ross Rosenberg in his book “Human Magnet Syndrome.” This continuum orders human behavior based on 11 numerical values to represent the full range of self in relationship to others. These numerical values range from -5 to +5. A zero is the perfect balance of one’s self and another’s orientation, very few, if any people fall in the zero category. The negative side of the spectrum puts the needs of others before your own with the higher number being more mentally ill. The positive side of the spectrum puts their own needs before the needs of others with the higher numbers becoming more selfish and narcissistic.
The goal of a relationship is to find someone and make your number come closer to zero. So a -2 partnering with a +2. This is called a zero sum relationship.
Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How can we best identify signs of stress in students?
Try-at-home tip: Notice the sounds around you.
Mentioned in this episode:
Ross Rosenberg Website
Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:
Blog Post:
Emotion Regulation with the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
How Other Cultures Teach Emotional Control - Pt 1
How Other Cultures Teach Emotional Control - Pt 2
Communicating with Kids: Saying How You Feel
Podcast:
The Effects of Chronic Stress and Abuse
Emotion Regulation using the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
4 Steps to Teach Emotional Intelligence

Our Online Courses:
From Conflict to Calm: How to Communicate with Challenging Children
From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings: How to Self-Regulate
Stress and Trauma and Behaviors, Oh my!: Stress & the Brain
Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog
Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
...more
26min
July 31, 2023How to teach based on what we know about the brain (Pt. 2)
Last episode Lauren discussed the five ways to solidify content in your students’ brains. This episode follow-up on that knowledge with a teaching model which prepares your learners and creates an optimal environment for learning using the before, during, and after teaching model.
Before: prepare for your diverse students’ needs in advance, visualize your lessons and how you'll engage your students.
During: engage the students by getting emotionally invested, frame learning to make it relevant, important, and compelling.
After: setting the learning with time for passive processing like breaks, lunch, or the end of the day, rehearsing and incorporating the learning,
According to Jim Kwik, you lose 80% of the information you learn in the first 48 hours. Try using the tips in this episode to help prevent that learning loss.
Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: I would like to know some strategies to use class for students who have trauma and are struggling in class.

Try-at-home tip: Read more to promote mindfulness.
Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:
Blog Post:
Room Temperature: How it Affects Learning
Lighting: How it Affects Us both mentally and physically
Emotion Regulation with the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
Communicating with Kids: Saying How You Feel
Podcast:
5 Needs - Decoding Unwanted Behaviors
Emotion Regulation using the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
4 Steps to Teach Emotional Intelligence
Leave Unwanted Behaviors Behind! Teaching Emotional Regulation
How Other Cultures Teach Emotional Control - Pt 1
How Other Cultures Teach Emotional Control - Pt 2
Our Online Courses:
From Conflict to Calm: How to Communicate with Challenging Children
From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings: How to Self-Regulate
Stress and Trauma and Behaviors, Oh my!: Stress & the Brain
Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog
Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
...more
18min
July 24, 2023How to Teach Based on Our Knowledge of the Brain (pt.1)
This episode switches gears a bit in order to focus on how to teach people to listen, attend, engage, learn and remember. There are 5 steps to this:
Pre-exposure: covertly preparing students for future learning of content. This is done days, weeks or even months ahead of the teaching.
Preview: this involves setting the stage for the content minutes or hours ahead.
Priming: introducing words, concepts, or skills in advance then coming back to those moments before you teach.
Review: Going over what students learned.
Revision: Reconstructing the learning. Correcting errors. Reteaching
Today Lauren reviews each of these steps in depth and gives examples on how to apply this in your life and teaching.
Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How has COVID affected stress in our kids?
Try-at-home tip: Recognizing the 12 signs of high anxiety
Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:
Blog Post:
Emotion Regulation with the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
Sound in the Classroom: How it Can Trigger a Stress Response
Communicating with Kids: Saying How You Feel

Podcast:
5 Needs - Decoding Unwanted Behaviors
Emotion Regulation using the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
4 Steps to Teach Emotional Intelligence
Leave Unwanted Behaviors Behind! Teaching Emotional Regulation
The Effects of Chronic Stress and Abuse

Our Online Courses:
From Conflict to Calm: How to Communicate with Challenging Children
From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings: How to Self-Regulate
Stress and Trauma and Behaviors, Oh my!: Stress & the Brain

Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog

Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
...more
23min
July 17, 2023Question & Answers
After a summer break, Lauren returns with a question and answer episode focusing on stress in both kids and adults and how to process, deal, and return to stable emotional regulation after increased stress and trauma.

How do we help students cope with stress and/or trauma so that they can learn as well as process their stress/trauma?
How can we limit our stress as teachers to better serve our students?
How can we help students handle stress from home that is making things harder for them at school?
What are some practical strategies I can teach my students to help them cope with stress?
What are the most common signs and symptoms for students experiencing trauma related stress?
In what ways are wide swaths of our students now dealing with post-traumatic stress in a Covid impacted world?

Try-at-home tip: Space Design

Mentioned in this episode:
Zones of Regulation Set

Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:

Blog Post:
How Exercise Impacts Emotional Regulation
Emotion Regulation with the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
Sound in the Classroom: How it Can Trigger a Stress Response
Communicating with Kids: Saying How You Feel

Podcast:
5 Needs - Decoding Unwanted Behaviors
Emotion Regulation using the Top-Down or Bottom-Up Approach
Self Care Quiz and Continuum
Resources for Well Being
Leave Unwanted Behaviors Behind! Teaching Emotional Regulation
The Effects of Chronic Stress and Abuse

Our Online Courses:
From Conflict to Calm: How to Communicate with Challenging Children
From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings: How to Self-Regulate
Stress and Trauma and Behaviors, Oh my!: Stress & the Brain

Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog

Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
...more
29min
June 12, 2023Book Study Series: Limitless part 2
In the second part of our book study on Limitless by Jim Kwik, Lauren discusses how to make new habits stick.
Want to know which activity you do everyday is worse than smoking?
How to unlock your limitless brain?
Do you give speeches and want to know how to remember your talking points so you don’t have to read from a script?
This episode covers all that and more.
Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How do we help students navigate stressful situations?
Try-at-home tip: Lalah Delia
Mentioned in this episode:
Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life
Jim Kwik Website
Kwik Brain
Tiny Habits
Atomic Habits
Lalah Delia
Other related resources from The Behavior Hub:
Blog Post:
Creating Rituals, Routines, and Habits
Improve Communication: Information instead of Instructions
Effective Communication: The Power of a Written Note
Communicating with Kids: Saying How You Feel
Podcast:
5 Needs - Decoding Unwanted Behaviors
Small Changes that lead to a calmer (and happier!) you
Food: First of the Big 5 in Self-care
Self Care Big 5: Movement and Exercise
Leave Unwanted Behaviors Behind! Teaching Emotional Regulation
Our Online Courses:
From Conflict to Calm: How to Communicate with Challenging Children
From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings: How to Self-Regulate
Stress and Trauma and Behaviors, Oh my!: Stress & the Brain
Do you have a question? I can answer it in a future episode!
Email questions to [email protected] or send via text to 717-693-7744.
Subscribe to our mailing list and find out more about the Emotional Brain.
Check out our Facebook Group – Raising and Teaching Respectful Children
The Behavior Hub website
The Behavior Hub blog
Are you struggling with behaviors and not sure where to begin? Let me help!
Schedule a free discovery call and let me be your Guide.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
...more
18min

FAQs about Returning to Us:

How many episodes does Returning to Us have?

The podcast currently has 235 episodes available.