Hey Everyone!

Yesterday was Mother’s Day and if you are anything like me, you adore your mother and have a lot of respect for her. I’d like to share a poem that I relate to and that I feel illustrates the relationship I have with my mother:

A Mother

When you’re a child she walks before you,
To set an example.
When you’re a teenager she walks behind you
To be there should you need her.
When you’re an adult she walks beside you
So that as two friends you can enjoy life together..

-Author Unknown

This poem explains exactly how my mom was there for me growing up. She always provided a consistent inventory of comfort and advice and was always sensitive to whatever stage of life I was in. Now that I am older, we have become really good friends and I think our relationship is the best it has ever been.

To be calm with my mom we: spend time outdoors together, listen to music, take walks, watch movies, and exercise. Being calm can help strengthen not only a mother-child relationship, but all relationships.

Well, that’s all that I have for today! Check out our Twitter and Facebook for more Calm Classroom updates, news, and events!

Have a great week, keep calm and call your mom.

-Annie

Hey Everyone!

I’m so glad to be back writing another post!

In honor of Earth Day last Sunday, Calm Classroom’s theme this week has been all about protecting our planet. I’m in full support of being eco friendly because we have just this ONE planet to live on. Yes, unfortunately, Mars isn’t ready for us yet. That means that it is important for us to work together and keep our home as healthy and happy as we would like our minds and bodies to be.

Allow me to provide some motivation and show you how much of a difference you can make, or maybe even already are making, by recycling.

Did you know?

-An aluminum can that is thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now

-To produce each week’s Sunday newspapers, 500,000 trees must be cut down

-Approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S

-The average household throws away 13,000 separate pieces of paper each year. Most is packaging and junk mail (Just think how much extra for Christmas presents, birthdays, showers, etc.)

-Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour… and most of them are thrown away

-An estimated 80,000,000 Hershey’s Kisses are wrapped each day, using enough aluminum foil to cover over 50 acres of space — that’s almost 40 football fields. All that foil is recyclable, but not many people realize it

On the bright side, from a more positive standpoint:

-Used aluminum beverage cans are the most recycled item in the U.S., but other types of aluminum, such as siding, gutters, car components, storm window frames, and lawn furniture can also be recycled

-A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days

-Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for THREE HOURS — or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline

-Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees

-If every American recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we would save about 25,000,000 trees a year

-Motor oil never wears out, it just gets dirty. Oil can be recycled, re-refined and used again, reducing our reliance on imported oil

-Each ton (2000 pounds) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents a 64% energy savings, a 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution

To begin or brush up on your recycling endeavors, visit these websites for tips and instructions on what you can recycle and how to do it properly:

www.timetorecycle.com/education/How_To_Recycle.asp

www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/tips-techniques/recycle-anything-00000000006117

The Earth will thank you now, and the future of our world will thank you later for contributing to such an important cause. Well done! Now go outside and enjoy the many beautiful things that our beloved planet has to offer.

That’s everything I have for now. You’ll be hearing from me again soon, until then, be well, be green, and be calm

-Annie

*All facts collected from: www.recycling-revolution.com*

This Saturday, April 21st, the Luster Learning Institute Young Professionals Action Board will be hosting its first event! Yoga & Brunch will take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Deerfield from 10:00am-1:00pm. The Hatha Yoga mat class will be taught by Luster Learning Institute’s co-founder, Joy Luster and a short presentation on Calm Classroom will be lead by founder, Jai Luster. This event is an awesome opportunity for our organization to share our work with community members and local businesses. We are especially thankful to the following local businesses that have kindly provided us with in kind donations in support of our event: Sunset Foods – Highland Park, Target – Highland Park, Upper Crust Bagels – Deerfield, Starbucks Coffee – Highland Park, and CorePower Yoga. Thank you also to the First Presbyterian Church of Deerfield for donating the beautiful John Calvin Hall for our event. We are looking forward to Saturday! Keep a lookout for pictures next week!

Hi Everyone!

My name is Annie, and I am Calm Classroom’s new intern! Let me tell you a little bit about myself.

I’m a twenty three year old college student (soon to be graduate) from Lake Zurich, Illinois. I go to Western Illinois University in Macomb and I’ve been studying Graphic Communications for three years and minoring in Web Design for about a year and a half. I love to read, write, spend time with my friends and family, travel, and just try to enjoy life to the fullest. I’ve been to a lot of exciting and exotic places around the world and intend to see just about everything as soon as I can. I have two kitties, Homer and Bam Bam, that reside with me down here at school, and two dogs-a golden retriever, Rusty, and a dachshund, Lucy, that currently live with my parents in Lake Zurich. I have one sibling, an older sister, who lives in Chicago with her fiance.

I am so excited to be working with the Luster Learning Institute not only because Calm Classroom is a wonderful concept but also because my internship will focus on social media and public relations. I’ve always had more of an outgoing personality, and I feel like social media and PR will really encourage me to put my outgoing personality into my work. I enjoy meeting new people as much as I like chatting up old friends. This summer I hope to learn a lot more about strategies of PR and social media and put them into practice. I’d really like to concentrate more on how to attract others to get involved with our cause, experiment and study what works and doesn’t work, and generally be as helpful as I can to the organization.

That’s all I have for now, it was a pleasure to meet you.

P.S. Be sure to give us a “Like” on Facebook and/or follow our Twitter @calmclassroom to learn more about our exciting (but very relaxing) Calm Classroom program, activities and events!

-Annie Reising

On March 28th, we visited Robert A. Black Magnet School and caught up with Principal, Thomas Little and Assistant Principal, Andrew McIntosh. We trained Black school in the summer of 2011 and we were so happy to hear that teachers and students in both buildings are using and enjoying the curriculum. Mr. McIntosh told us a great story of one of the students in his building (k-3) who, each time he needs to calm himself down, requests that his teacher lead the group in a Calm Classroom technique. This is our ultimate goal: to empower students to control their own emotions through the habit of using Calm Classroom techniques. We love hearing stories like this because it tells us that our work is really making a difference.

We will be heading back to Black on April 11th to work in the k-3rd grade classrooms and on April 17th to work in the 4-8th grade classrooms. Keep a lookout for a follow up post!

We are so happy to hear that Calm Classroom is growing and inspiring creativity within the students at Galapagos. Thank you, Ms. Denzer and Mrs. Brace for sending us these fabulous scripts!

Stand Up and Say Four Ten Times
By Khenadi Jackson

We are going to practice stand up and say four ten times.
Feel your feel flat on the floor and straighten your spine.
Stand perfectly still.
Close your eyes.
You’re going to say four ten times.
You will say 1234, 1234, 1234, 1234, 1234, 1234, 1234, 1234, 1234, 1234.
Now breathe.
Inhale 1,2 hold. Exhale 1,2.
Inhale 1,2 hold. Exhale 1,2.
Inhale 1,2 hold. Exhale 1,2.
Inhale 1,2 hold. Exhale 1,2.
Now breathe normally and relax.
Stand perfectly still.
Feel the air moving in and out of your nose.
Now take a deep breath in, hold and exhale slowly.
Notice how you feel.
Slowly open your eyes.

Backwards Hands
By Christian Gilbert

We are going to practice Backwards Hands. You will put your hands up in the air and lower one hand down behind your head. You will use the other hand to gently push your elbow down and stretch your arm.
Raise your right hand up and put it down behind your head. Stretch by putting your left hand on your elbow.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Left arm up, stretch. Breathe in, breathe out.
Right arm up, stretch. Breathe in, breathe out.
Left arm up, stretch. Breathe in, breathe out.
Right arm up, stretch. Breathe in, breathe out.
Left arm up, stretch. Breathe in, breathe out.
Right arm up, stretch. Breathe in, breathe out.
Left arm up, stretch. Breathe in, breathe out.
Slowly put your hands down and open your eyes.
Track your instructor.

Yoga Calm Classroom
By Maria Alcantar

We are going to practice yoga calm classroom. Sit on the floor with your legs bent and the bottoms of your feet touching. Cross your fingers in your lap. Do what we say. Let’s start.
Feel your legs on the floor, and straighten your spine.
Keep your eyes closed and breathe in, out.
Breathe in, out.
Breathe in, out.
Breathe in, out.
Breathe in, out.
Uncross your legs and fingers.
Breathe in, exhale slowly.
Now open your eyes.

I’m Safe
By Tyrone Williams

We are going to practice I’m safe. Sit on the floor with your legs crossed. You will inhale then exhale and silently say, “I’m safe.”
Close your eyes and feel your legs on the floor.
Breathe in, exhale, “I’m safe.”
Breathe in, exhale, “I’m safe.”
Breathe in, exhale, “I’m safe.”
Breathe in, exhale, “I’m safe.”
Breathe in, exhale, “I’m safe.”
Now breathe normally and relax.
Sit perfectly still.
Now breathe in, hold, and exhale slowly.
Notice how you feel.
Be silent.
Slowly open your eyes and track your instructor.

Stand Up, Sit Down Breathing
By Javion Turner

We are going to practice inhale up and exhale down. You will breathe in and stand up. You will breathe out and sit down. Let’s get started.
Breathe in, stand up.
Breathe out, sit down.
Breathe in, stand up.
Breathe out, sit down.
Breathe in, stand up.
Breathe out, sit down.
Sit perfectly still.
Feel the air moving in and out of your nose.
Now take a deep breath in, hold and exhale slowly.
Open your eyes and track your instructor.

Down Slide
By Zuleyca Sandoval

We are going to practice Down Slide. You will stand up and put your hands on your knees. Then your will slide your hands down your legs as far as you can.
Feel your feet flat on the floor and straighten your spine.
Close your eyes.
Put your hands on your knees.
Slide your hands down your legs as far as you can go.
Stand up.
Put your hands on your knees.
Slide your hands down your legs as far as you can go.
Stand up.
Put your hands on your knees.
Slide your hands down your legs as far as you can go.
Stand up.
Rest your hands by your sides.
Breathe normally.
Feel the air moving in and out of your nose.
Now take a deep breath in, hold, exhale and relax.
Notice how you feel.
Slowly open your eyes.  

Spin Around, Sit Down
By Erik Hendriex

We are going to practice Spin Around, Sit Down. When you spin, you will inhale. When you sit down, you will exhale. Let’s start.
Close your eyes and stand up.
Inhale, spin 1, 2, 3.
Exhale, sit 1, 2, 3.
Inhale, spin 1, 2, 3.
Exhale, sit 1, 2, 3.
Inhale, spin 1, 2, 3.
Exhale, sit 1, 2, 3.
Inhale, spin 1, 2, 3.
Exhale, sit 1, 2, 3.
Slowly take a deep breath in, hold and exhale slowly.
Slowly open your eyes.

0/1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9 Breathing
By Ahmajinay Safford

We are going to practice 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9 Breathing. You will count in your head 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 to guide your breathing pattern.
Feel your feet on the floor and straighten your spine.
Close your eyes.
Breath in and count in your head 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Breath out.
Breath in and count in your head 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Breath out.
Breath in and count in your head 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Breath out.
Notice how you feel.
Slowly open your eyes.

Stay Calm
By Jessica Jackson

We are going to practice stay calm. You will inhale and exhale slowly and quietly. You will let your thoughts float away as you breathe.
Feel your feet flat on the floor and straighten your spine.
Close your eyes.
Put your head down on your arms so that you can feel comfortable.
Let’s breathe.
Be quiet.
Inhale 1, 2.
Exhale 1, 2.
Inhale 1, 2.
Exhale 1, 2.
Inhale 1, 2.
Exhale 1, 2.
Notice how you feel.
Slowly open your eyes.

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP no later than April 7th to events@calmclassroom.com or call Director of Operations, Jori Griffith at (847) 409-1066.

Click on the image below to view the event details.

“I am Calm” technique

Feel your feet flat on the floor and straighten your back.

Breathe normally and relax.

As you breathe in through your nose, feel the air entering.

As you breathe out through your nose, feel the air leaving.

Breathe in and silently say, “I…”

 Breathe out and silently say, “…am calm.”

Breathe in “I…”

Breathe out “…am calm.”

Continue “I am calm” on your own.

~~~

Take a deep breath in, pause and exhale slowly.

Notice how you feel.

Have a calm and happy day!

We recently had the opportunity to ask Disney teachers for some feedback regarding the Calm Classroom program. We trained the k-4th grade teachers in the winter of 2011 and trained te 5-8th grade teachers this fall.

“I had students try meditation when they had a headache. IT worked. I also use it before tests.”

“My students have greatly benefited from using Calm Classroom during ISAT prep. They often are requesting to do it.”

“My students enjoy the movement/energy hands. It makes them lively and happy.”

“The first graders just love to take turns leading the Calm Classroom and I need to make sure I honor everyone’s turn!”

“I tend to see my students doing the Calm Classroom exercises on their own a lot.”

“When we go to the restroom and are waiting in line, the children are doing the Calm Classroom on their own.”

“Outside of school, a boy drew his mom a picture of “Reach for a Star Breathing” (picture of a boy reaching for a star) and the mom loved it so much she scanned it an emailed it to me.”

“The students are receiving Calm Classroom so well this year that many ask if they can create and lead their own exercises–which I let them do!”

“Calm Classroom is double-faceted, as it serves to calm me down as well!”

“I personally like participating in CALM Classroom daily. I believe that if students do the exercises properly, it makes a big difference in the day.”

“I do the breathing sometimes – I find it makes me feel more calm and focused.”

“During our CAC show, we incorporated some Calm Classroom techniques into our script! The kids loved it.”

“Kids love the movement!”

“I like to practice the techniques on my 30 minute afternoon commute home.”

“I use it to go to bed at night when I am stressed out.”

Thank you, teachers for your awesome feedback!

Last Friday, we met with Sauda Porter, Principal of Perspectives Middle Academy. We met Sauda initially three years ago when we first trained her school. We have remained in good contact with her over the last few years and are so happy to know that the Calm Classroom program is still thriving at her school.

There were two reasons for our visit on Friday. First, we wanted to discuss the workshop that we will co-present at the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) conference in October. This conference workshop is an awesome opportunity for us to work and present together to share how the Calm Classroom program is in alignment with the framework of the Perspectives Charter Schools program called, A Disciplined Life (ADL). The second reason for our visit, was to meet and organize our continued professional development training with the ADL teachers.

ADL was developed by Perspectives Co-Founders Diana Shulla-Cose and Kim Dayon with the idea that character development and academic achievement are interdependent and providing students with instruction in life skills, such as self-discipline, perseverance and good communication will help them succeed. The 26 principles of A Disciplined Life form the foundation of the culture at Perspectives Charter Schools and helps prepare students for success in college, the workplace and in life. It serves as a common language for students, staff and parents as we work to achieve a culture of success.

We met with the three ADL teachers to talk about how their ADL classes serve as the perfect opportunity to implement Calm Classroom. Like the principals of ADL, Calm Classroom seeks to positively impact student behavior and academic achievement by helping students to develop self awareness, mental focus, and inner calm. To help encourage the ADL teachers to teach one Calm Classroom technique during each ADL class and to further enhance their skills, Jai Luster will be visiting Ms. Plante, Ms. Gordon, and Ms. Barry’s classrooms on the 14th.

Every student at Perspectives Middle Academy participates in a 45 minute class period each day dedicated to the ADL curriculum, instructed by three dedicated ADL teachers. The 26 principals are broken into three categories of curriculum which include: self-perception, communication, and productivity.

Learn more about Perspectives Charter Schools and the ADL program:

http://www.perspectivescs.org