THIS SUMMER BREAK – Take an Analogue Holiday!

 




A physical detox is always a good idea for your body's health, but have you considered a digital detox for your mental health?

Digital detoxes are on the rise, and people are now going on technology free retreats to cleanse the body and mind with distraction free real life adventures and down time.

 

THE BENEFITS OF A DIGITAL HOLIDAY?

Mind Calm – quiet without any beeping, pinging and ringing notifications.  You mind is free to just experience blissful quiet.

Simplicity – Return to reading a hard copy book instead of a screen.  Let your mind wander and day dream.  Have a conversation without distractions and take some memory photos just for yourself and not social media.

 

A DIGITAL CLEANSE FOR THE WARY

Start with a digital staycation:

SHIFT FOCUS – now that technology is not within reach, notice how much you've come to depend upon it?  What did you do before you could just pick up your cell phone … to call … search for information … say hi to someone … take a photo … order food … watch a show … find where you're going … look at a family photo … read a book ... see where we're going  here?

Power down an hour before bed and read a book, take a bath, have a conversation or write in a journal.

Leave the phone at home when you go for lunch, have coffee or head out for dinner.  It's just an hour or two.  You will not die.

Choose a day and turn off the wifi.  Just. Turn. It. Off. 

Ideas from: Disconnect to Reconnect.  Amy Green. Alive Magazine. March 2019.

 

 

CPL ACTIVITIES TO DO THIS SUMMER

Summer Reading List for Teachers

https://www.edutopia.org/article/summer-2021-reads-teachers

 

CALM KIDS YOGA FOR EDUCATORS

Learn how to teach yoga to children this summer

https://www.calmkidsyoga.ca/blank-1

 

SOMETHING NEW FOR SUMMER PROGRAMMING:  Try Implementing A Genius Hour

A Modified Project Approach For Summer

As educators, we can help our students find and explore their passions. Once they discover what they’re truly passionate about, the learning and engagement will never stop. The best way for children to explore their happiness passions is through Genius Hour.

Genius Hour isn’t a new concept. Many educators use this method as a scaled down project approach to get children engaged and active in their own learning.

Summer, with the long days of unscheduled or relaxed programming, is a perfect time to try out creating a genius hour if it's your first time.

And remember, you don't have to restrict yourself to just an hour a day, you're free to expand the time frame to a morning or afternoon. 


4 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL GENIUS HOUR

Let Students Explore Their Interests or 'Happiness Pursuits'

·         Give children enough time to explore and indulge the interests.

·         Create a Wonder Wall where the children can put up sticky notes with questions or problems they want to solve.

·         Once the questions are up, help the children decide on a focus.

Create A Proposal

·         Have the children choose: at least three inquiry-based questions, which materials they’ll need, as well as any help they may want.

·         Maintain a Genius Journal where everyone can keep track of the whole project.

·         Download Inquiry Questions Unleashed (pdf list of inquiry questions).

Make The Research Fun

·         The research is the best part!  It's when the children start moving at their own pace. Some will got to it and engage right away, while others may go slowly or only go forth with a friend.  Great!  Let them all engage in research as they choose.

·         Try a TINKERING area.  Nothing like getting and keeping their hands and fingers busy.

·         Use a variety of research methods: experiments, videos, websites, pictures, apps, books, magazines, surveys, field trips and local community experts

Present and Create

·         Let the children showcase their results through: posters, charts, photos, videos, 3Dmodels, talks, picture books, paintings, dioramas, clay models … display everything they're proud of.

·         Create a showcase area where things can stay up for a while so everyone can view at their leisure, but mostly so the children can enjoy their own work again and again.

Genius Hour is all about the kids, for the kids and conducted by the kids.

Adapted from:  Jill Badalamenti, who is a technology integration coach at Reed School in Missouri.

 

 


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