BrainSMART

01/17/2025

In our work with leaders we emphasize that energy management is as important as time management. A quote from Peter Drucker that resonates with us is ...

"Your first and foremost job as a leader is to take charge of your own energy and then help to orchestrate the energy of those around you."

Kingston Jamaica, 2015
BrainSMART Professional Staff Development for Educators

09/05/2024

At BrainSMART, our hearts go out to students, educators, and families in Winder, Georgia.

08/24/2024

Consider Using Positive Rituals to Enhance Well-Being

Over the last couple years in these post-pandemic times, Marcus and I (Donna) have been engaged in doing professional development as we celebrated over 25 years of doing so together! Engaged with educators and others in a number of communities across the world, we know that the past few years have required new strategies and ways of being in order to maintain wellness and joy.

We enjoy life-giving rituals and advocate their use right across the age span. Rituals have played a vital role in many cultures around the world for centuries and are the formulas by which harmony can be restored. They provide comfort, structure and stability, bind society, and strengthen relationships between people. They help people find meaning in our lives.

Rituals help us connect to our values. Research also suggests that rituals can help reduce the stress and anxiety associated with uncertainty. Similarly, nature can help decrease anxiety levels and can help lessen stress and feelings of anger. Exercise can also help with this, but it's even better when you're outside. Regular access to green spaces has been linked to lower risks of depression and improved concentration and attention.

A favorite ritual of ours is morning and sunset sauntering. What is a ritual[s] in your life that is life supporting? If you are an educator, have you considered teaching students rituals for greater well-being?

12/24/2023

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!

05/03/2022

One of our most popular strategies for the end of school year is "Celebrating Learning with Year Mapping." Visit our blog for guidance on how to use this powerful strategy to send your students into summer with an appreciation for what they've learned.

As we get closer to the end of another school year, we wanted to revisit one of our strategies that has been popular with teachers as an eff...

02/24/2022

Our hears go out to our friends in the teaching profession as they dedicate themselves to doing their best in an ongoing period of disruption and change. See our blog for five strategies to help you navigate the day-to-day challenges of teaching so that it becomes less stressful and more rewarding.

As the challenges continue unabated in schools, educators find themselves dealing with an unprecedented level of stress and anxiety. They fe...

09/03/2021

As a new academic year gets underway, we send our best wishes to our dedicated, resilient teachers in our latest blog post along with some valuable self-care tips to alleviate stress and promote well-being.

As the new academic year gets underway, my mind is flooded with images of the many passionate and knowledgeable teachers that Marcus and I ...

07/14/2021

In disruptive times, a growth mindset is more important than ever. Read our latest blog post to learn how developing growth mindsets can increase student motivation.

By Donna Wilson Do you believe students become smarter through learning or that intelligence is determined at birth? The former belief is co...

06/16/2021

Join us at ASCD's 2021 Annual Conference: Empowered and Connected, a virtual event where I'll be presenting "Cultivating Growth Mindsets That Work," at 2:20 p.m. - 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 24. See our latest blog post for more details. With Donna Wilson Conyers.

Donna will present "Cultivating Growth Mindsets: Strategies That Work" at ASCD's 2021 Annual Conference: Empowered and Connected. This virtu...

05/20/2021

Congratulations to teachers and students as they near the end of a school year like no other! As you head into the homestretch, it's important to help students maintain their focus in the (actual or virtual) classroom. Visit our blog at the link below for some tips on how to keep students' attention as their minds become distracted by the thought of summer break.

As we approach the end of a school year like no other, it’s fitting that teachers take time to congratulations themselves—and their students...

03/10/2021

We are pleased to share with you our recently published ASCD article! In this piece, we discuss how the science of learning can be used to make professional development meaningful and memorable. Please visit our blog to read the article.

We are pleased to share with you our recently published ASCD article ! In this piece, we discuss how the science of learning can be used to ...

02/26/2021

Donna Wilson Conyers and I are thrilled that we get to share our process for helping educators around the world apply the science of learning in ways that support student achievement.

Over two decades, our BrainSMART professional development program has employed a teacher-centered focus, with positive effects on teachers' reactions to training and their learning as well as organization-wide results. Our approach focuses on sharing principles and practices that teachers can readil...