Format

Workshop

First Presenter's Institution

Thriving YOUniversity

First Presenter’s Email Address

joelle@thrivingyouniversity.com

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Dr. Joelle Hood is the co-founder and Chief Empowerment Officer at Thriving YOUniversity. As a former teacher and principal of the year and with an Ed.D in organizational change and leadership from USC, Dr. Hood uses her knowledge and expertise, along with her experience as a mindfulness instructor and life coach, to provide researched-based keynotes, coaching, and experiential learning workshops to individuals and organizations throughout the nation. Her areas of expertise include: social, emotional & academic learning, leadership, applied educational neuroscience, mindfulness, the science of belonging & human connection, mindset, restorative practices, employee engagement, trust and team-building, trauma-responsive practices, and resilience.

Second Presenter's Institution

Thriving YOUniversity

Second Presenter’s Email Address

janeen@thrivingyouniversity.com

Second Presenter's Brief Biography

Janeen has been in education for 28 years as a teacher, Site Leader, Assistant Principal, Principal, and Program Administrator. She holds a M.Ed in Educational Leadership and Administration and serves as Thriving YOUniversity’s Chief Culture Coach.

Location

Session Two Breakouts (Ballroom B)

Strand #1

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Strand #2

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Relevance

This session relates to the heart and hand strands because at its core our session is all about developing key personal and interpersonal skills that have wider life implications. By creating an environment of kindness, gratitude, resilience, and belonging, we set the stage for our students to be successful socially, emotionally, and academically. Throughout this process students also learn to manage big emotions, how to take ownership of their own behavior, and develop a greater sense of resilience. All these factors together help lower incidences of bullying, depression, and anxiety, while increasing emotional awareness and academic performance.

Brief Program Description

Imagine implementing a program at your school that research has proven can reduce stress and anxiety, while increasing student engagement and academic learning. Regularly practicing kindness, empathy, and gratitude with your students can result in these positive outcomes. Learn the science behind the benefits of kindness, empathy, and gratitude practices, and return to your school with ready-to-use strategies designed to help students and educators thrive.

Summary

A recent poll showed that 80% of parents and teachers worry that the world is becoming too unkind for their children. Now, more than ever, we must weave kindness, empathy, and gratitude into our everyday instruction.

By cultivating kindness, empathy, and gratitude, we can increase students’ social awareness and develop their resiliency by teaching them how to reframe negative experiences. Using research-based strategies for strengthening these social-emotional skills will result in more positive student outcomes and increased job satisfaction and overall well-being for educators.

In this interactive session, participants will learn the science behind the positive physical, mental, and educational benefits of kindness, empathy, and gratitude practices; and discover tools for strengthening kindness, empathy, and gratitude in themselves and their students. Participants will return to their classrooms/schools with ready-to-use, real-world strategies that fuse kindness, empathy, gratitude, and academics to help students and educators thrive.

At Thriving YOUniversity we develop our keynotes and workshops with the science of learning in mind. All sessions begin with interactive activities designed to build belonging and connection. Thriving YOUniversity sessions facilitate learning through lecture, storytelling, videos, discussion, and activities. To help make learning stick, presentations are strategically designed with brain breaks, focused attention practices, and individual and group processing reflections. This method keeps participants engaged and connects the learning to personal experience and prior knowledge.

Evidence

There is a great deal of research that examines the positive impact of gratitude, kindness, and empathy for all people, as well as the impact that these attributes have on students and academic behavior. The following resources support our proposal:

Allen, S. (2018, May). The Science of Gratitude. Greater Good Science Center.

Froh, J. J., Kashdan, T. B., Ozimkowski, K. M., & Miller, N. (2009). Who Benefits The Most from a Gratitude Intervention in Children and Adolescents? Examining Positive Affect as a Moderator. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 408–422.

Wood, A. M., et al. (2010). Gratitude and Well-Being: A Review and Theoretical Integration. Clinical Psychology Review, doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.005.

Weng, Y.H., et. al. (2013). Compassion Training Alters Altruism and Neural Responses to Suffering Psychological Science, E-pub

Rumble, A.C., Van Lange, P.A.M., & Parks, C.D. (2010). The Benefits of Empathy: When Empathy May Sustain Cooperation in Social Dilemmas. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40, 856−866

Gerdes, K.E., Segal, E.A., Jackson, K.F., & Mullins, J. (2011). Teaching Empathy: A Framework Rooted in Social Cognitive Neuroscience and Social Justice. Journal of Social Work Education, 47: 109–119

Weng, Y.H., et. al. (2013). Compassion Training Alters Altruism and Neural Responses to Suffering Psychological Science, E-pub

Aknin, L.A., Dunn, E.W., Norton, M.I. (2012). Happiness Runs in a Circular Motion: Evidence for a Positive Feedback Loop Between Prosocial Spending and Happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(2), 347-355.

Learning Objective 1

Participants will learn the science behind the positive physical, mental, and academic benefits of kindness, empathy, and gratitude practices.

Learning Objective 2

Participants will walk away with tools for strengthening kindness, empathy, and gratitude in themselves and their students.

Learning Objective 3

Participants will return to their classrooms/schools with ready-to-use, real-world strategies that fuse kindness, empathy, gratitude, and academics to help students and educators thrive.

Presentation Year

2023

Start Date

3-6-2023 1:00 PM

End Date

3-6-2023 2:15 PM

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Mar 6th, 1:00 PM Mar 6th, 2:15 PM

Cultivating Climate: Kindness, Empathy, and Gratitude in Education

Session Two Breakouts (Ballroom B)

Imagine implementing a program at your school that research has proven can reduce stress and anxiety, while increasing student engagement and academic learning. Regularly practicing kindness, empathy, and gratitude with your students can result in these positive outcomes. Learn the science behind the benefits of kindness, empathy, and gratitude practices, and return to your school with ready-to-use strategies designed to help students and educators thrive.