Skip to main content

A universal language


Nicholas Cook is an EL (English Learner) instructor at Highview Middle School, which means he teaches English to students who speak a different language at home. He studied at Bethany college, and has been in teaching for two years. He works with about twenty-seven kids who have a wide range of language backgrounds.


Recently Nick shared with me that he uses many of our brain break scripts with his small groups. One student reads the script, while the others close their eyes and follow along.  He asked me if I had more scripts, as the kids had mastered the originals and were excited for more.

I’ve always tried to make the scripts we use as clear and as accessible as possible, so I was glad that Nick's group had found them useful. Having students lead a brain break can also increase buy-in, as well as foster leadership. 

And what a great way to build community- not only having practice in reading aloud and building English skills, but sharing a few moments of calm and relaxation together. The universal language of awareness and peace.





Comments

Popular posts from this blog

I recently published my first book on Amazon, "Advice for Every Hour." It's available in both ebook and paperback. It has many of the essays on this blog, as well as additional content. It chronicles my adventures applying mindfulness and other strategies in my life, and classroom. 

Exploration Day: Art from Within

                                                                                                                                                                        On Friday of this week, our entire school took a break from our normal schedule, and instituted a day of "exploration." Teachers were asked to prepare lessons outside of their normal curriculum, and we offered everything from mask-making  to "reading cafe," cooking, "Shrinky Dinks," one-act plays, thoughtful movie watching, and even a trip to the local police station (and much more). Although it was a ...

Ode to Walking

I can’t control if I wake up with a headache, but I can wiggle my toes and move my feet I can’t control what politicians say or do,  but I can get off my couch, and put my shoes on I can’t  control if my dog leaves a mess on the carpet-  but I can pick up my left leg   I cannot control how I'm feeling - up, down, bored, excited..., but I can place one foot on the pavement   I can’t control whether it’s about to rain, but I can pull out my umbrella - and take another step   I can't control all the thoughts running through my head, but I can focus on the sensations in the bottom of my feet, and take another step   I can’t  control what people think of me, or say about me... but I can keep moving anyway    I can’t control what’s past, or  what’s yet to come- but I can look around me, and take another step   Someday, I won't be able to move my legs, or my feet, or any part of my body...and I cannot control when that day may come. ...