Dear Parents and Carers,

When presented with new material and complicated topics, we need to be focused and calm as we approach the work. Children are no different. At school we use brain breaks and focused-attention practices to positively impact the students’ emotional states and learning. We try to refocus their neural circuitry with either stimulating or quieting practices that generate increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, where problem solving and emotional regulation occur.

Brain Breaks
A brain break is a short period of time when we change up the routine of incoming information. Our brains are wired for novelty. We know this because we pay attention to every stimulus in our environment that feels threatening or out of the ordinary. When we take a brain break, it refreshes our thinking and helps us discover another solution to a problem or see a situation through a different lens. During these few minutes, the brain moves away from learning, memorizing, and problem solving. The brain break actually helps us to develop and process new information. Some common brain breaks we often use include Simon Says, stretching, dancing, skipping, game and Go Noodle.

Focused Attention-Practices
A focused-attention practice is a brain exercise for quieting the thousands of thoughts that distract and frustrate us each day. When the mind is quiet and focused, we’re able to be present with a specific sound, sight, or taste.

Research repeatedly shows that quieting our minds ignites our parasympathetic nervous system, reducing heart rate and blood pressure while enhancing our coping strategies to effectively handle the day-to-day challenges that keep coming. Our thinking improves and our emotions begin to regulate so that we can approach an experience with variable options. When we’re focused and paying attention to our thoughts, feelings, and choices, we have a much greater opportunity to change those thoughts and feelings that are not serving us well in life and in school. At school we often use deep breathing, meditation, stilling our bodies to watch how we breathe and focused breathing.

You may like to try these at home with your children or next time you are learning something new or challenging!

God bless.

Rachel Smith
Principal