Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
St. Mary's University : Calgary, Alberta, Canada
First Presenter’s Email Address
ltomiyama@telus.net
First Presenter's Brief Biography
The last two years of Larry Tomiyama's 32 year K-12 career changed his life. Getting to be principal of a school that educated the "perceived" most at risk and behavioral students in the district revealed his true purpose, "Take what these students have taught you and share it with anyone who will listen". As a result he now teaches students who are training to be teachers and speaks to educators and leaders. The model used to work with these students proved to be an effective formula for creating student confidence and fulfilled staff. Using brain based research to reinforce his experiences Larry now speaks and teaches about the model as being the foundation for all educators and leaders.
Location
Session Three Breakouts
Strand #1
Heart: Social & Emotional Skills
Strand #2
Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership
Relevance
When you convince students they are love-worthy, confidence in themselves and the ability to navigate in their world increases. I got to "live" with our at risk students as we patiently implemented our school model. Through a brain based neurological process of earning trust, the model is designed to have students prove to themselves that school success is possible. More confident and motivated students will result in healthier people. Healthier students achieve better in school, balance their emotions and treat others better because of the way they have been treated. The effect they have on their peers, family and the world around them can be exponentially positive (as opposed to negative).
Brief Program Description
Using our trauma-based model I have witnessed minor and major miracles happen with students. Come hear my heart wrenching and/ many times hilarious stories I had the privilege of experiencing. Using brain based research to reinforce conclusions and recommended strategies my message reminds people why we chose to be teachers.
Summary
School should be a place where every child feels safe because of the way the adults in the building treat them. Providing educators and leaders with a roadmap on how we can have a massively positive affect on the shaping the brains of our students has become my purpose. The neuroscience field uses the term “neuroplasticity” to describe the brain’s ability to change when responding to stimuli. This change occurs for many years during childhood into young adulthood. I have witnessed these changes first hand and learned from students why these changes took place.
Working with the most vulnerable and behavioral students was a gift that taught me more in the last two years of my K-12 career than the previous thirty. The foundation of the model comes from clinical psychologist Ricky Greenwald. He is an expert in trauma focused therapy. As we worked with the model we had to constantly adjust to the needs of our students. Over time it was obvious that the general principles apply to all children and all classrooms.
My presentation is fast moving, emotional and humorous. Using mind, brain and educational neurological science to compliment my own gut wrenching and hilarious stories allows for maximum engagement. In my experience many regular classroom teachers do what they need to do through instinct but could really use an intentional proven process to follow.
I believe it is my calling to share this critical information with other educators and leaders. It would be an honor and privilege to share this at your conference.
Evidence
"Neuro Teach" by Glenn Whitman and Ian Kelleher
- The students that I got to work with intensely for two years was first hand field tested research that will be shared.
Learning Objective 1
Create a new plan to work with their future students
Learning Objective 2
Identify students they would like to try the process with
Learning Objective 3
re-examine their current practice and reflect on what they can do differently.
Keyword Descriptors
trauma based, brain based, neuroscience, at risk students
Presentation Year
2022
Start Date
3-7-2022 2:45 PM
End Date
3-7-2022 4:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Tomiyama, Larry S., "Lead with Your Heart, So You Don't Lose Your Mind" (2022). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 24.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2022/2022/24
Included in
Counseling Commons, Disability and Equity in Education Commons, Disability Studies Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, Educational Sociology Commons, Indigenous Education Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons
Lead with Your Heart, So You Don't Lose Your Mind
Session Three Breakouts
Using our trauma-based model I have witnessed minor and major miracles happen with students. Come hear my heart wrenching and/ many times hilarious stories I had the privilege of experiencing. Using brain based research to reinforce conclusions and recommended strategies my message reminds people why we chose to be teachers.
