Thank You!

Dear Friends,
     Thank you for all that you do and all that you give.  I wanted to share this very beautiful video with you.  Best wishes to you for a most wonderful day!
Most Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin

Stress Reduction and Relaxation for Midterms

Dear Friends,

     Last week, I had the good fortune of working with the Ninth Grade Students in their Seminar Class.  Within the class we talked about some simple stress reduction and relaxation techniques for studying and for taking midterms.  Students shared many of the techniques they were already using for studying, taking exams, and for performance in other areas of their life too.  We talked about how breathing, visualizing, and thinking positively can enhance our performance not only in the classroom but on the athletic field and for our future.

     We also talked about how the more we practice these techniques in small ways, over a long period of time, the quicker they will become an automatic response for our bodies and brains.  We have the power to feel at peace quickly and to shift our response to a more positive one, the more we employ these strategies.  I am very grateful for their input, their stories, and their willingness to take part in these exercises for greater relaxation and resilience.  They are such an inspiring group of young people! Below are the topics we discussed:

• How we learn - Understanding how the brain learns and why it is important to calm down the reactions of the amygdala so we can learn (with our prefrontal cortex) and remember and retrieve information (with our hippocampus)
• The impact of stress - Understanding how stress can prohibit our learning, memory, and retrieval of information
• The manifestation of stress - Stress what it is, and how it manifests itself differently in each of us
• Stressful factors - How lighting, too much stimuli, poor posture, and negative thinking, poor study habits, and more contribute to stress
• The importance of mindfulness - How mindfulness and learning to slow down can help us to have more awareness of our stress and empower us to manage it
• Breathing slowly - We learned simple techniques for becoming aware of our breathing and learning to slow down the breath
• Positive thinking - We learned how to notice what we say and think to ourselves and how to shift our language to exclude negative phrases and include positive ones
• Visualization - We talked about visualization and how important it is to incorporate as many details and senses as possible when visualizing a positive outcome.  We even had the chance to practice visualization using the above stress reduction techniques.  We learned that practicing visualization often and in small moments - over a long period of time, allows us to have a more automatic response when we need to feel relaxed and encouraged.  Allowing the body to be relaxed is also important because we know that the mind responds to positive words and images when we feel at ease.

     Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions about the above topics.  Best of Luck to you on your exams!
Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin

Inspiring Books for the New Year

Dear Friends,

As we move into 2013, I though I would share some simple yet very inspiring books for children and the child in all of us.  These books encourage us to connect with one another, pursue our hopes and dreams and take the time we need to feel at peace.  Some of the books are older but can still be found on Amazon or other sites.  I hope you will find one or two of these nourishing for you and your children too!

Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin


P.S. Many of these are perfect for Valentine’s Day too!

Connecting and Celebrating
I Love You Rituals, Activities to Build Bonds and Strengthen Relationships with Children by Dr. Becky Bailey
My Mama Had a Dancing Heart by Libba Moore Gray
I’m in Charge of Celebrations by Byrd Baylor

Wishing and Dreaming
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Frazee
DREAM, A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes by Susan V. Bosak
Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Peace and Peacefulness
The Peace Book by Todd Parr
Peaceful Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee MacLean
What does PEACE feel like? by V. Radunsky

Wishing You Peace and Hope!

Dear Friends,

     Jane Addams wrote in her book, Peace and Bread in Time of War (1922),  "... From the time we were little children we have, all of us, at moments at least, cherished overwhelming desires to be of use in the great world, to play a conscious part in its progress."
     We all have hope that we can achieve our goals and in the process, make the world a better place.  In her book, Jane Addams talked about how people could help bring about world peace by doing simple things, like making, baking, and serving bread in thoughtful, caring, and loving ways.
     She believed that if everyone made bread with tenderness and care that this bread would nourish everyone, not only physically but emotionally too.  She believed that small, humble actions had the potential to create a ripple effect and in turn, bring peace to many people throughout the world.  That is a lot to think about!
     We know that all of our actions matter.  Even the small things we do like smiling, breathing, playing, eating mindfully, and setting goals can make a positive difference in the world.  Trust that in this New Year, you will continue to bring peace to others, just by being yourself and doing small things with care.  Know that you matter, you are important, and you make a positive difference!  Thank you for being you!

Wishing you every peace and hope in the New Year.  Happy 2013!
Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin

Mural by Kimberly Ann Borin, Photo by Kimberly Ann Borin

Resources for You

Dear Friends,

     In the coming days, you may feel overwhelmed with what is happening in the news about the incident in Connecticut.  Your children may also have many questions about what is happening and why - and how their lives are affected by what they are seeing or hearing.

     These tragedies are incomprehensible - leaving us with more questions than answers - and often in shock.  Below are some resources on helping children learn to deal with and process this situation.  Please know that everyone is here for you as we move forward to understand and process what has happened.

Wishing you every comfort,
Kimberly Borin

• The Holland Sentinal, "Helping Children Deal With and Understand Crisis": http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x1665849680/Help-children-deal-with-understand-crisis
• Kids in Crisis Organization: http://www.kidsincrisis.org
• American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/AAP-Offers-Resources-to-Help-Parents,-Children-and-Others-Cope-in-the-Aftermath-of-School-Shootings.aspx
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, "Talking to Children About Community Violence": http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/resources_for_families/talking_to_children_about_community_violence
• Public Broadcasting System, "Talking with Kids about the News": http://www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/news/
• American School Counselor Association - "Helping Kids During Crisis": http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=672
• National PTA – "Discussing Hate and Violence with Your Children": http://www.pta.org/programs/content.cfm?ItemNumber=985
• The National Traumatic Stress Network: http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/natural-disasters
• Celebrate Life-Long Learning Blog Post about "Helping Children Deal with Crisis": http://celebratelifelonglearning.blogspot.com/2011/08/helping-children-deal-with-crisis-and.html

5 Techniques to Strengthen Memory

5 Techniques to Strengthen Memory

1.   Repetition: Look at it, say it aloud and write it – many times.

2.   Association: Connect something you already know into groupings or relate unknown ideas to something you already know.

3.   Application: Apply the new information in a way that makes sense (to self, the world, etc.)

4.   Visualization: Create a mental image

5.   Mnemonics – tricks to recall (rhymes, songs, acronyms, abbreviations, silly sentences, etc)

Six Gifts to Enhance a Child's Resilience

Dear Friends,

     Thank you very much to everyone who attended our GSB Developmental Coffee on "Six Gifts to Enhance a Child's Resilience."  We appreciated you taking the time to come and speak with us.  Our conversations are so important as we are continually learning from each other.  Below is some of the information we spoke about at our workshop.

Thank you so much for being with us!
Best wishes for a wonderful day!
Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin

Playful Elements for Resilience
Photo by Kimberly Ann Borin, Copyright 2012

     In our discussion we explored an article called, "Six Gifts to Make Your Children Strong."  This article, written by Ruth Stafford Peale, was condensed from The Saturday Evening Post for Reader's Digest.  In the article they discuss six gifts that help children become more resilient in the world.  The six included:

Self- Confidence

Enthusiasm
Compassion
Respect
Resilient Moments
Hope

Simple ideas for “bouncing back” included:
Enhance your child’s self-confidence…
• Validate their strengths
• Affirm their ability to learn something new and to strengthen new skills
• Help them to make connections between skills they are learning now and those they can use later
Strengthen your child’s resilience in easy ways…
• Affirm moments of strength and resilience (the ability to “bounce back”)
• Ask them to note times when they have overcome a difficulty and were stronger because of it.
• Ask them to help others undergoing a difficult time
Bring hope and positive thinking…
• Life affirming words
• Challenging a negative viewpoint – thinking positively and creatively
Help children feel calm and centered by using...
• Awareness and mindfulness
• Breathing
• Simple stretching and moving
• Visualizations

Helpful Websites:
• Goldfish Website: www.fishfulthinking.com
• Video on Resilience: http://www.goldfishsmiles.com/Home/ActivityDetail/717
• Dr. Robert Brooks: www.drrobertbrooks.com
• Celebrate Life-Long Learning Blog Posts on Resilience: http://celebratelifelonglearning.blogspot.com/search/label/Resilience

Children’s Books On Resilience:
• Owen and Mzee by Isabella and Craig Hatkoff with a discussion about resilience for the book at: http://www.scholastic.com/discussionguides
• Looking for Miza, The True Story of the Mountain Gorilla Family Who Rescued One of Their Own, Told by Juliana Hatkoff, Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu
• Nubs, The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery
• Christian the Lion by Anthony (Ace) Bourke and John Rendall
• Molly the Pony by Pam Kaster
• Knut, How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World, Told by Juliana Hatkoff, Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Gerald R. Uhlich
• Winter's Tail, How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again, Told by Juliana Hatkoff, Isabella Hatkoff, and Craig Hatkoff
• Tiger Pups by Tom and Allie Harvey
• Tarra & Bella, The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends by Carol Buckley
• Oh the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

Resources
-Christine Gorman, "The Importance of Resilience", Time, January 17, 2005.
-Karen Reivich, "What a Soldier Taught Me", from: http://www.goldfishsmiles.com/Contributors/989, Retrieved on 11/14/2012.
-Kristin Bock, "The Think-Positive Plan", Family Fun Magazine, March 2010.
-National Public Radio Staff, "'Children Succeed' With Character, Not Test Scores", Morning Edition, September 4, 2012, from:  http://www.npr.org/2012/09/04/160258240/children-succeed-with-character-not-test-scores, Retrieved on 11/27/2012.
-Paul Tough, How Children Succeed, excerpt from: http://www.npr.org/books/titles/160257688/how-children-succeed-grit-curiosity-and-the-hidden-power-of-character?tab=excerpt, Retrieved on 11/27/2012.
-Ruth Stafford Peale, "Six Gifts to Make Your Children Strong", The Saturday Evening Post,  June/July 1974, Reprinted for Readers Digest.

“LIFE is not about how fast you run or how high you CLIMB but how well you BOUNCE.”

-A sign found in the Country House Calalog.  www.TheCountryHouse.com

Top Ten Ideas for Relaxation

Top Ten Ideas for Relaxation...

1.  Start with an awareness how you are feeling -  Notice how you are feeling in mind, body, and spirit.
2.  Drink water - Sipping water throughout the day can help you feel more relaxed and alert.

3.  Notice your posture - Notice how you are sitting throughout the day.  Just taking a moment to sit up tall and take a deep breath can help you to feel more relaxed.

4.  Try simple breathing techniques - Throughout the day become aware of your breathing.  Try to pay attention to your breath and allow your exhale to be a little bit longer.  This will help you to feel more relaxed.

5.  Tensing and relaxing muscles - When we are stressed we carry a great deal of muscle tension in our body.  Taking a moment or two to tense shoulders and arms and then relaxing can help to relieve stress.

6. Use your imagination - Take a moment to think about something pleasant, or imagine yourself being happy, and a great success.  This subtle shift will allow you to feel more positive instantly.

7.  Speak kindly of yourself - Take a moment to notice the your self-talk and see if you can shift it to be more positive.  Our words have power and this can make a good difference in how we feel!

8.  Ask for help - Be sure to reach out to others if you need anything at all.  Knowing that you are not alone allows us to feel less stressed.

9.  Laugh when you can - This brings great energy to our mind, body and spirit and can shift how we feel in an instant.

10.  Rest - Take the time you need to rest and to get enough sleep.  Sleep is a great healer and strengthener and can help us to handle stress too. 

A Mindfulness Video for Children

Dear Friends,

Here is a very simple video that talks about the power of mindfulness for children.  It offers a very simple illustration of what happens when we are stressed or nervous or thinking about too many things. It tells how simple breathing and being present can help all of our thoughts (and our nervous system) calm down and bring us to a more peaceful and grounded place.  It is a short video but quite lovely.

Here is the link:  http://www.plumvillage.org/sangha-projects/341-planting-seeds.html

Wishing you much peace,
Kimberly Borin

Writing as a Family

Dear Friends,

We know that you may be spending a great deal of time together as a family over the last few days.  This time can be a found opportunity to do some writing together.  Below are some simple ideas taken from the book, Families Writing by Peter R. Stillman.  You may want to look over the list to see if any of these ideas seem appealing to you.  It could be the start of a new family tradition or a even a simple way to pass the time.  They suggest some of the following:

• Create a family journal - write simple passages, glue in tickets, cards or special notes.
• Interview each other with some simple questions like:  What is your favorite story about courage?  or Were there any major historical or weather events that affected you?  What were they and how did they affect you?  Who is your favorite hero and why?  What are the dreams you have for your life (no matter how old you are)?
• Gather favorite family recipes in a box or a book.
• Write a letter to your future self and save it for later.
• Create a family collage of favorite pictures, sayings, and memories.
• Write a poem together - serious or silly.
• Create a collection of family doodles.  (Why not?)
• Create a family cartoon series.
• Write a story together with each person adding on as you go.
• Write an encouraging letter to someone who is affected by the storm.  Your words matter!
• Create some simple pictures together with crayons, paint, colored pencils - or even finger paint!
• Create a gratitude list of all of the things are you grateful for and save it to read at a special meal.

Have fun!

See you soon!

Hoping you are warm, safe, and dry - and together with your family!

Most Sincerely,

Kimberly Borin

Top 10 Ideas to Strengthen Reading Comprehension

10 Ideas to Strengthen Reading Comprehension

1.    Understand as a reader what you should be doing before, during and after reading. (see other blog posts on this topic)

2.    Locate and define unknown words.

3.    As you read take notes or write comments in the margins.

4.    Ask questions to clarify understanding.

5.    Fill in a graphic organizer with important information or design a supportive visual.

6.    Read aloud or listen to book on tape.

7.    Try to visualize what you are reading about.

8.    Stop and think – don’t continue if you do not understand the material.

9.    Constantly check for understanding.

10. Discuss the information with others.

Life 101 and The Superstorm Curriculum

Dear Friends,

We hope that this e-mail finds you, your family, and all of those you care about doing well.  If you can read this, you may have access to the internet or better yet, electricity, water, and heat.  We are thinking of you during this difficult and trying time, and sending you good wishes.

We know that even though many students may or may not be in school, they are certainly learning a lot.  As a matter of fact we are all learning a lot.  At the moment, we are all part of a class called, Life 101 and learning from The Superstorm Curriculum.  Below I explore this new class and curriculum in the following ways:

Curriculum and Class

The Gifts of Learning

The Superstorm Curriculum in Life 101 Class

The Gifts of Learning from The Superstorm Curriculum in Life 101 Class

Curriculum and Class
We know that curriculum shows up in lots of different ways.  Sometimes, curriculum shows up in a certain subject (math, english, social studies, macroeconomics), sometimes a certain level (like AP, Honors, or Elective), and sometimes as a class, group project or an independent study.  Sometimes, we sign up for the course because we choose to learn about a certain topic, sometimes the class is a requirement. Other times, we are signed up for the class, and it is chosen for us.

The Gifts of Learning
We know that as we are learning there are many gifts.  We can trust that along the way, we are not alone and we are all learning together.  There are many other gifts for us and others, moments of hope, and friendships.

We can bet that in our new class, Life 101, there are students of all ages, teachers of all ages, and everyone else too.  We are in this class together with a challenging curriculum, and we will help each other learn new things.  We will also come out stronger, smarter, compassionate, and more resilient than we were before.

The Superstorm Curriculum in Life 101 Class
The Superstorm Curriculum in the class of Life 101 - may have shown up for you in lots of different ways.  Perhaps the subjects are no longer math or social studies but something different.  Perhaps you are learning about: Weather, Cutting Down Trees, Living without Electricity, Learning How to Layer Clothes, Learning How to Help Others, Learning How to Live With Others, Learning How to Stand Patiently in Line for Water or Gas, or How to Care for Those Who Are Hurting.

Maybe the level of the your Life 101 class with the Superstorm Curriculum is easy, or interesting, or more like an elective class.  Maybe you have been placed in a situation that has been more trying or challenging.  Perhaps you were placed into the Advanced Placement Storm Survival Class or the Honors Class in Developing Grace Under Pressure or maybe even another kind of class that is offering you a more challenging curriculum than you have dealt with before.  Maybe you are learning all of these things as an independent study or maybe you are learning them with strangers you have met in the gas line or even family members.

Maybe you are happy to be learning, much like you would feel if you had chosen the class.  Perhaps you are in a situation where you didn't want to or didn't choose to take the class you are in.  Perhaps these are not the subjects, or the level of class that you wanted to take.  Perhaps you are in an Advanced Placement Resiliency class but you only felt prepared for the College Preparatory Resiliency Class.

The Gifts of Learning from The Superstorm Curriculum in Life 101 Class
No matter what situation you are in: the subject you are learning, the level of the class, the choices you've made, or those that have been given to you; you are not alone and we are all learning together.  You can trust that there are gifts within your learning too.  You can trust that there are millions of students and teachers learning with you, sharing in the victories of learning, and sharing in the difficulties of learning too.

What you are learning today, in this particular situation will be a gift to many people, perhaps for the rest of your life.  Trust that all you are learning can help others and can help you too as you travel in life and bring your gifts, strengths, and talents to fruition.  Trust that you will be given many gifts along the way too.  Perhaps you will receive gifts of insight, inspiration, patience, courage or the chance to rest.

Trust also that there are surprises, miracles, and even moments of hope that show up in ways and at times that you may not expect it.  Be open to those moments, and share them with those around you.  Your hope, positive outlook, and inspiration matters to others more than you know.

You may find during these days that you are making new friends, or renewing friendships, or strengthening the relationships you already have.  You can trust that friendships will show up at just the perfect moment.  As you are learning, you will also provide friendship to others offering them hope, on their journey.

Remember that you are not alone, we are all in it together and we learn from each other, all of the time.  Trust that you have already earned an A+ in Life 101 class.  Know that you are stronger, smarter, compassionate, and more resilient than you were before.  When you return to school, let us know about all that you have been learning, we would love to hear about it.  We will learn from you too.

We are sending you good thoughts and look forward to being with you soon!

Most Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin

P.S. Trust in your own resilience.  You are a gift!

Children's Yoga

Dear Friends,

     At Gill St. Bernard's school, I have the very good fortune of teaching Children's Yoga as part of our after school program.  Yoga is very beneficial for our students as learners and as developing people too.  We know that yoga helps to develop resilience, the ability to feel a sense of calm, concentration, focus and strength.  Many of my students are not new to yoga as they do it at home, at camp and even at birthday parties.

In each lesson, I incorporate several types of yoga.  This includes: children’s yoga, laughter yoga, restorative yoga and exercises from the Brain Gym (TM) curriculum. My goal for the children is to have fun and to help strengthen mind, body, spirit and learning too!  We focus on and celebrate mindfulness, imagination, resilience, joy, intelligence, and our global connection!  In our class we also use beginner yoga poses, Brain Gym (TM) Exercises, simple breathwork, progressive relaxation, positive affirmations, and visualizations too.

Below is a list of helpful resources that can give you some more information about the different types of yoga as well as some interesting articles. 

 

Best wishes to you for a great day!
Kimberly Borin

P.S. Happy Halloween!

• Celebrate Life-Long Learning Blog Posts about Mindfulness: http://celebratelifelonglearning.blogspot.com/2012/09/mindfulness-resources.html
• Celebrate Life-Long Learning Blog Posts About The Benefits of Relaxation for Children: http://celebratelifelonglearning.blogspot.com/search/label/Relaxation%20Skills
• Yoga Journal:  www.yogajournal.com
• Karma Kids Yoga: www.karmakidsyoga.com
• Brain Gym: http://www.braingym.org
• Brain Based Learning: http://www.jensenlearning.com
• Laughter Yoga: www.laughteryoga.org
• Restorative Yoga: http://www.restorativeyogateachers.com
• An Article from Yoga Journal About Yoga for Parents and Children: http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/2561
• An Article in the New York Times About Laughter Yoga: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/21/stretch-laughter-yoga-serious-benefits

Professional Development

Dear Friends,

I recently had the good fortune of the attending the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS) fall conference.  The conference was filled to the brim with speakers that bring us to the cutting edge of the issues in education.  In this conference I was reminded of the power of music, mindfulness, play, and learning to become an entrepreneur.

The conference was captivating and reminded us to celebrate the whole child and at the same time prepare them for a future that they must create.  Below I have listed some of the links for the speakers if you are interested in learning more abou their presentations.  I encourage you to even take a few moments to view the topics.  I promise, they will enhance what you know about the joy of learning.

Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin

The Power of Music in Learning
Mrs. Tricia Tunstall: http://www.triciatunstall.com/
An article about her new book, Changing Lives: Gustavo Dudamel, El Sistema, and the Transformative Power of Music: http://artsfwd.org/recent-reads-changing-lives-gustavo-dudamel-el-sistema-and-the-transformative-power-of-music/

The Power of Mindfulness in Education
The Hawn Foundation, MindUp Curriculum: http://www.thehawnfoundation.org/curriculum

The Importance of Play
An article on the importance of play and learning: http://www.helpguide.org/life/creative_play_fun_games.htm

Educating Entrepreneurial Students
Dr. Yong Zhao’s Website: http://zhaolearning.com
Dr. Yong Zhao’s new book, World Class Learners, Educating Creative and Entreprenurial Students:  http://zhaolearning.com/2012/05/25/my-new-book-world-class-learners-educating-creative-and-entrepreneurial-students/
Dr. Yong Zhao’s Blog: http://zhaolearning.com/category/blog/

Top Ten Ideas for Strengthening Resilience

Top Ten Ideas to Strengthen Resilience:

1.  Be Still - Take time, listen to your heart, be aware of what you need.
2.  Dream Big - Take time to dream big, spend time sculpting the vision you have for your life.
3.  Build A Community - Build a team of people to help you, support you, and cheer you on.  Choose people who believe in your dreams!
4.  Use Your Voice - Express yourself in your own way, ask for help, be an advocate for yourself.
5.  Find Peace - Find the relaxation strategies that you need and that work for you. Take the time you need to find your own center and allow your decisions to come from that place of grounding.
6.  Trust the Process - Trust all of the small and big victories and how everything is unfolding.  Trusting the process doesn't allow us to deny our responsibility but it does allow us to surrender and let go as things happen.
7.  Undersize Your Goals - Dream big but also create small doable goals along the way.  Achieving small goals is a great way to feel successful towards your larger dreams.
8.  Follow Through - Be accountable to yourself and your goals.  Take action and take responsibility.
9.  Affirm Your Gifts - Trust that your gifts and strengths matter in the world.  Trust that all of the things you do, from taking a deep breath, to starting a non-profit make a positive difference locally and globally too.
10. Be Flexible and Creative - Along the way, the journey changes, the goals change, and our abilities change too.  Allow yourself to be creative, think outside the box and be a part of the dynamic journey of life.

Digital Citizenship

Dear Friends,

As we move forward in this digital age, there is more information available to us about how to interact electronically - to secure a good future for ourselves and for others too.  The technology is advancing quickly and the amount of time our students spend communicating on technology is increasing too.  With increased quantity of communication comes the responsibility to communicate well, with integrity and responsibility.

Here are a few websites that we will be using as we bring the idea of "Digital Citizenship" to our everyday language.  They have informative and easy to access articles and information. I hope you will find them useful.

Thank you for all that you do!
Kimberly Borin

http://www.brainpop.com/technology/computersandinternet/cyberbullying/

http://www.brainpop.com/technology/computersandinternet/digitaletiquette/

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/classroom-curriculum/scope-sequence

Top 10 Ideas to Strengthen Time Management Skills

10 Ideas to Strengthen Time Management Skills

1.   Create a study space that is organized and has all materials in one place.

2.   Break down large assignments into smaller pieces. 

3.   Create a routine of how to fit in afterschool activities, homework, and studying. 

4.   Complete more difficult or less liked tasks first. 

5.   Do one task at a time and focus your full attention on it. 

6.   Keep track of assignments and due dates (calendar, planner, scheduling app, computer, etc.).

7.   Study and review notes daily. 

8.   Estimate how much time it will take to complete a task and then reflect if the estimation was accurate – practice this. 

9.  Get rid of distractions (phone, TV, music, people, etc.).

10. Reward yourself for finishing all your tasks.

The Yellin Center

Dear Friends,

We want to share with you the Yellin Center of New York City.  They have a wonderul blog that is chock full of resources on many different topics associated with learning. Here is a link to their blog with posts specifically about writing.
Here's to more amazing resources for education!
Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin

Here is the link:
http://blog.yellincenter.com/search/label/writing

Top Ten Study Skills

Our Top Ten Study Skills Include:

1.  Be organized – Be sure that you have everything you need to study.  Be sure to have a special place to keep books, notebooks, and folders that you may need to study properly.
2. Study to suit your learning style – Be sure to know when, and where is the best way for you to study.  If you need help understanding more about the best way to study – see the Learning Specialists, they are happy to help you with this. They are there to help you with multiple intelligences and learning styles.
3. Use good time management skills – Be sure to study in small amounts of time over a longer span of time.  For example, it is best to study for 10 minutes a night for 5 nights, than studying for 1.5 hours the night before.  Be sure to review your notes often before the test.
4. Know what will be on the test – Have a clear understanding of what will be on the test.  Be sure to ask teachers ahead of time so you can prepare properly and efficiently.
5. Set a personal goal for your tests and grades – Set a goal and speak with teachers about what it might take to reach your goal.  Believe in your ability to do well and to achieve your personal goals.  Take time to visualize yourself succeeding!
6. Break goals and projects down into small manageable pieces – Learn to break larger projects down into smaller tasks.  Set dates to accomplish these tasks.  In the end you will accomplish your goal but with less stress.
7. Learn to relax and manage stress – Find the ways that will help you to relieve stress.  This will help you to learn more in school, study better at time and perform with more success on tests.  If you feel overwhelmed or unsure of how to handle things, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.
8. Be an advocate for yourself – If you need help understanding a concept, breaking projects down or knowing how to study, be sure to ask for help.  Only you know what you need.  There are so many people willing to help you and are happy to do so.
9. Become a great note taker – Learn about different note taking strategies that will work for you.  Find ways to capture all of the information that you will need for the tests.
10. Learn about memorization and reading comprehension techniques – There are many different ways to memorize and become a more active reader.  Find ways that work for you – they will empower you as a learner for life!

Mindfulness Resources

Dear Friends,

     I was recently sent some very interesting mindfulness resources for children.  These are programs that are being offered in and outside of school to help children with focus, a sense of calm, inner peace and happiness too.  I wanted to share some of them with you here.  There is so much that has been brought to our attention about the power of mindfulness for everyone.  I have also included two recent articles about mindfulness in business too. I hope you will find some of these resources beneficial.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin

10 Mindful Minutes by Goldie Hawn: http://thehawnfoundation.org/goldie-hawns-10-mindful-minutes

The Mindful Child by Susan Kaiser Greenland: http://www.susankaisergreenland.com/book.html

“Reading, Writing, and Character” On Point with Tom Ashbrook Radio Broadcast, August 7, 2012 http://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/08/07/reading-writing-and-character

“Why We Need to Teach Mindfulness in a Digital Age” by Aran Levasseur: http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2012/04/why-we-need-to-teach-mindfulness-in-a-digital-age095.html

Yoga for Kids of Central New York: http://www.yogakidsofcny.com/ToolsForSchools2.htm

Yoga for Children: http://www.yogaforchildren.net/yg/school_org/sch_org.htm

Mindfulness In The Corporate World: How Businesses Are Incorporating The Eastern Practice: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/29/mindfulness-businesses-corporate-employees-meditation_n_1840690.html?view=print&comm_ref=false

Business Skills and Buddhist Mindfulness: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303816504577305820565167202.html

Kurzweil 3000

Dear Friends,

     This year, Mrs. Turse secured the use of the Kurzweil 3000 program. Every student in our school will have the opportunity to use this innovative technological tool for learning.This program is being used in colleges across the country for undergraduates and graduates alike.  Each student and faculty member will have an account and will be able to use the many features offered by the progam.  Students will also be able to download the program at home and use it on their home computer.  Below are some of the videos that describe the four basic functions of the program.

     In the coming weeks, students will be receiving an e-mail with their log on and account information.  In order to use the progam at home, they will need to download the program onto their home computer and instructions will be sent for PC and Mac.  Teachers are able to download the program to the computers at school.  We hope you will take a moment to view some of the videos to learn about how technology is enhancing our learning in new ways! 

Thank you!
Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin and Kim Turse

Study Toolbar- YouTube Video Links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b33_sXyiJ_0&feature=relmfu (part I)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPDN0bxPiTg&feature=relmfu (part II)

Main Toolbar - You Tube Video Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffIOR7xxJVw&feature=relmfu

Reading Toolbar - YouTube Video Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYDbk_jxxoQ&feature=relmfu

Writing Toolbar - YouTube Video Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp4Y-h9rOIE&feature=relmfu

Welcome Back

Dear Friends,

     We wanted to take a moment to welcome you back to school!  We hope that you had a wonderful summer filled with relaxation, fun, time with family and learning too.  We look forward to being with you in and outside of the classroom.  We feel fortunate to have the chance to celebrate students, their learning. and the strengthening of their gifts and talents.
     Please don't hesitate to reach out to us if we can help in any way.  Thank you for all that you do. We hope you have a wonderful 2012-2013 school year filled with many learning victories!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Kimberly Turse (7-12th Grades)
Dr. Kimberly Borin (K-6th Grades)
Learning Specialists
Gill St. Bernard's School

Top Ten Ideas

Dear Friends,


As Learning Specialists, we come across a great deal of information about learning, studying, test-taking, and more.  It is our goal in the 2012 - 2013 school year to summarize the information that we find and present the Top 10 Ideas for particular topics that will help our students achieve more success.  This year you’ll find our Top 10 Ideas for topics such as:

Study Skills
Relaxation Stress Management
Strengthening Resiliency
Time Management
Memory
Reading Comprehension
and More!

We hope you are having a wonderful and nourishing summer and we will see you soon!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Kim Turse
Dr. Kimberly Borin

Study Skill Information

Dear Friends,
The Princeton University, McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning has some wonderful handouts with great information on studying.  If you have time this summer you may want to check it out.
Here it is:
http://www.princeton.edu/mcgraw/library/for-students/
Enjoy,
Kimberly Borin

Summer Skill Strengthening Apps!

Dear Friends,
     Summer is a good time to explore some useful iPad (TM) applications for school.  Below I have listed some simple applications for the iPad that were shared with us by Dr. Friedlander, a leading educator in Assistive Technology.  You may also want to check out Dr. Brian Friedlander's Website for Assistive technology. You can find it at www.assistivetek.com and his blog is http://assistivetek.blogspot.com
Here are just a few you may want to check out:

Writing Apps
-Dragon Dictation App
-Speak It!
-Comic Life
Reading Apps
-Learning Ally
-Nook for Kids
-MeeGenius App
Science Apps
-Frog Dissection for the iPad (TM)
-Periodic Table of the Elements
-Science 360
Social Studies Apps
-Google Earth App for the iPad(TM)
-This Day in History App
-The World History Atlas App
Math Apps
-Math Drills
-Math Zooms
-Wolfram Alpha

Best Wishes for a Great Summer Vacation!
Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin
Kim Turse

Learning Differences Defined

Dear Friends,
     Below is a list of learning issues that are often seen in schools. Below, we offer websites that have great definitions as well as characteristics and accommodations. What we know is that many students who are very intelligent and successful often have learning differences. These students are a great success because they have learned how to learn for life - and they teach us how to learn better too.

     What you will find is that many of these learning differences overlap with one another or exist simultaneously. The differences between them can often be subtle but can be delineated by a psychologist, neurologist, audiologist or other outside professionals certified in psycho-educational testing and other testing specific to each of the issues.
We hope that you will the information below helpful. Please share with us any resources that you find valuable - it is always good to have more resources. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Kimberly Borin
Kim Turse

• ADD/ADHD – http://helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_signs_symptoms.htm
• Anxiety - www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml
• Aspergers – www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperger.htm
• Autism – http://www.ldonline.org/article/36515/
• Behavior and Social Skill Issues - http://www.ldonline.org/indepth/behavior
• Dyscalculia – http://www.ldanatl.org/aboutld/parents/ld_basics/dyscalculia.asp
• Dysgraphia – http://www.ncld.org/ld-basics/ld-aamp-language/writing/dysgraphia
• Dyslexia – www.mayoclinic.com/health/dyslexia/DS00224
• Dyspraxia – http://www.ldonline.org/article/14616/
• Emotional Issues - http://www.ldonline.org/article/6292/
• Executive Functioning Skills - www.ldonline.org/article/2488
• Basics of Executive Functioning -http://www.ncld.org/en/ld-basics/ld-aamp-executive-functioning
• Executive Function Information - http://www.nfiresearch.com/blog/?page_id=118
• Gifted Learners – http://www.ldonline.org/indepth/gifted
• Non-Verbal Learning Disorder – http://www.nldontheweb.org
• Memory Strategies - http://www.ldonline.org/article/5736/
• Overview of Processing Issues - http://www.ldonline.org/article/6390/
• Auditory Processing – www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/auditory.html
• Visual Processing Disorder – http://www.ldonline.org/article/25152/
• Sensory Integration Issues - http://www.ldonline.org/article/5612/