Mindful AISD--

I'm excited about all the feedback and use of our Mindful AISD website over the past month. This month's newsletter will feature a breakdown of each page on the website to help you become more familiar with it. At the bottom of each page of the site is a link for a feedback form to help make the site better/more accessible. Your feedback is welcomed!

Please reach out if there's any way I can support y'all further. I'm here for y'all. Continue to care for yourselves. Sending all my best for the 1st day of school on September 8th.

James

Background Mural: "Wildflower Meadow" by Bill Tavis

Below are 3 new updates to the site that are relevant to virtual teaching and learning. All of these updates are on the Teachers & Staff page of the Mindful AISD site.

1. Today's Mindful Moment BLEND course -- I put our videos into a BLEND course to help with virtual instruction and it's also in the Commons! Search "Today's Mindful Moment" in the Commons to import/download. The new videos that are posted Monday-Friday will automatically populate in the course.
2. Yoga w/ Adriene P.E. series -- Austin's own Adriene has an awesome new series for virtual learning. "This series offers a fun set of movements and poses that can improve focus, increase flexibility, boost energy, balance your mood, increase coordination, counter screen fatigue, and decrease anxiety or stress."
3. Brain Breaks for Secondary -- The Colorado Education Initiative offers a free PDF, "Take a Break! Physical Activity Breaks in the Secondary Classroom." A lot of the recommendations can be done virtually.

Key features of the "Home" page...

• Welcome, Purpose & Intended Audience
• Links to view the site in multiple languages. I've just learned the embedded videos don't work when using the site in languages other than English, but I'm working on a fix for that.
• "Today's Mindful Moment" video embedded Monday-Friday. There is also a link to be a special guest for our videos. My goal is to feature 2 special guests a week. Open to staff, students, families, community members & friends outside AISD.

Key features of the "Practices" page...

• Links to support daily practice on the main Practices/Virtual Mindfulness Room page.
• The "Calming" part of the "Virtual Mindfulness Room" has breathing gifs, calm music, nature videos, guided mindfulness practices, coloring, doodling, and gratitude exercises.
• The "Uplifting" part of the "Virtual Mindfulness Room" has yoga videos, uplifting music, exercise videos, energizing breathing exercises, and self-affirmations ideas.

This page can be used live or on-demand (synchronous or asynchronous). You can put this on your BLEND courses, use it for a Mindful Moment with your colleagues, share with families, and any other way you see fit to use the "Virtual Mindfulness Room."

Key features of the "Resources" page...

• Articles that feature science & research of mindfulness
• A booklist of recommended books. It's a live document so send along any suggestions.
• Recommended apps & websites to use for personal practice & with students.

Key features of the "Teachers & Staff" page...

• Mindfulness 101 now linked to HCP for 6 CEUs & PLED eligible!
• Updated link to the SEL internal site w/ reopening activities & lessons (AISD only)
• Updated links & information about our amazing Employee Assistance & Wellness Program

Key features of the "Families" page...

• Activities to do at home in multiple languages (can be printed & shared)
• SEL At-Home site which has activities for families
• Resources from the city regarding hunger, housing, hygiene, and more.

James Butler, M.Ed.

SEL Mindfulness Specialist

2014 Austin ISD Teacher of the Year

Author of Mindful Classrooms: Daily 5 Minute Practices to Support Social-Emotional Learning and Coloring Book and Reflections for Social-Emotional Learning

**Newsletter Signup**

Email: james.butler@austinisd.org
Website: tinyurl.com/mindfulaisd
Location: ATX
Twitter: @mrbutler629