Making After-School Cool Podcast

Episode 72: Benefits of Teaching Yoga and Mindfulness Skills to Students

Episode 72 of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast focuses on the benefits of practicing mental wellness exercises with students.  In recent years Yoga and other mindfulness activities have becomes more popular in schools and after-school programs. Yoga and mindfulness skills are something that children can practice anywhere, and the breathing technique and the concentration concepts help youth to learn to act or react to situations. To discuss the benefits of using mindfulness exercises with students is my guest Connie Morris.   

During this podcast you will learn about:

• The benefits of practicing mental wellness exercises with students
• The meaning of PAUSE (Practice Awareness and Understanding Self Exercises)
• Simple ways educators could implement so ways to help students reset, refocus and calm down
• How play can positively influence learning

Guest

Connie Morris has a background in elementary and special education, with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, K-8 Elementary Education, K-12 Intervention License, and Master of Education in Special Education with a focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders. She teaches yoga and professional development and graduate courses to educators. She lives with her husband and very energetic dog in the Cleveland area. Connie is also an advisor with Global Wellness for Children and an adjunct instructor at Ashland University.

 

Resources

Connie Morris

buddingyoga.com

Mike Wilson

mwilson@hcde-texas.org

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Preview of Episode 72: Benefits of Teaching Yoga and Mindfulness Skills to Students

Today we are going to preview episode 72, where we discussed the benefits of practicing mental wellness exercises with students.  In recent years Yoga and other mindfulness activities have becomes more popular in schools and after-school programs. Yoga and mindfulness skills are something that children can practice anywhere, and the breathing technique and the concentration concepts help youth to learn to act or react to situations, will lead to resiliency, self-discovery and inquisitiveness. 
During this upcoming episode, which focuses on the benefits of yoga and mindfulness, you will hear from my guest Connie Morris. Connie has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, a K-12 Intervention License, and Master of Education in Special Education with a focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Connie’s experience teaching kids with various types of physical and mental abilities provides her firsthand knowledge of the benefits of including mindfulness skills in instruction.

EP 71: Part 2 of Helping Students Prepare for Life After High School

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast is the part two of a two-part series that focuses on how adults can help high school students prepare for life after graduation. With the right assistance, and information, helping students move into adulthood can be less complicated. My guests on this two-part series are Beth and Greg Langston.  

During this podcast you will learn about:

1. Information regarding the College Flight Plan?
2. What age should youth start thinking about life after high school?
3. Why is self-discovery for teens so important?
4. What are the 3 most important qualities college admissions officers look for?

Guest

Beth has had tremendous success with mentoring high school students, understand the college application’s essay process. Greg has had a successful international business career, which allowed him to mentor young professionals and businesses in 65 countries. For the last 20 years, Beth and Greg have helped students with finding their life’s purpose with their organization, the College Flight Plan. 

Resources 

College Flight Plan

Website: www.collegeflightplan.com

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

EP 70: Helping Students Prepair for Life After High School

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast is the first part of a two-part series that focuses on how adults can help high school students prepare for life after graduation. With the right assistance, and information, helping students move into adulthood can be less complicated. My guests on this two-part series are Beth and Greg Langston.  

During this podcast you will learn about:

1. Iinformation regarding the College Flight Plan?
2. What age should youth start thinking about life after high school?
3. why is self-discovery for teens so important?
4. What are the 3 most important qualities college admissions officers look for?

Guest

Beth has had tremendous success with mentoring high school students, understand the college application’s essay process.  Greg has had a successful international business career, which allowed him to mentor young professionals and businesses in 65 countries. For the last 20 years, Beth and Greg have helped students with finding their life’s purpose with their organization, the College Flight Plan. 

Resources 

College Flight Plan

Website: www.collegeflightplan.com

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Preview EP 70 & 71: Helping Students Prepare for Life After High School

This is a preview of episodes 70 and 71 where we discussed helping students prepare for life after high school. According to Kids Health Journal, assisting teens to prepare for life after high school is a very important tasks for educators, mentors, and parents. With the right assistance, and information, helping students move into adulthood can be less complicated. My guests on this two-part series were Beth and Greg Langston. Beth and Greg are former professionals in education and business who now use their talents to aide high school students find and develop a plan to accomplish their life’s goal. 

EP 69: Student‘s Research on Impact Covid Had on Peers

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast focuses on the implementation and results of a student-led research study regarding the impact the pandemic had on high school students. We frequently heard the opinions of parents and educators about the impact COVID-19 had on their lives, but seldom did we hear from students. However, to gain a better understanding of how COVID-19 impacted the lives of students in Texas; the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) worked with students who interviewed their peers’ reactions to the pandemic. 

During this podcast you will learn about:

• Information about the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA)
• Types of support the students received to complete the survey
• Research results and key finding highlights

Guest

Ana Ramón is IDRA’s Deputy Director of Advocacy. She began her legislative career with Texas State Rep. Joe Farias who represented the southwest and northeast portions of Bexar County. In 2015, Ana was named executive director of the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee and worked with allied organizations to elect more democratic members to the Texas House of Representatives. She then had the privilege to lead the Texas Legislative Study Group, where she managed a team of 10 Masters of Social Work Students who analyzed legislation and its potential impact on Texas families. She took on the roles of Texas grassroots manager for the American Cancer Society where she worked to empower those touched by cancer to fight for proactive healthcare policies on the local, state and federal levels of government.

 

Christina Munoz previously served with IDRA as an executive research and evaluation intern and as an Education Policy Fellow. She now designs and conducts quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation that inform educational practice and policy. She works cross-functionally to deliver timely formative and summative evaluations of education and demographic data to support the work of IDRA and our projects and initiatives. 

Resources

^‎Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA)

www.idra.org

 

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Preview EP 69: Student Research on COVID‘s Impact on Peers

This is a preview of episodes 69 where we discussed the implamentation and results of a student lead research study regarding the impact the Covid pandemic had on high school students.

Since the pandemic began and up until now, we often heard the opinions of parents, and educators regarding the impact Covid had on their lives, but seldom did we hear from students. However, to gain a better understanding of how Covid impacted the lives of students in Texas, the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), worked with students who interviewed their peers reactions to the pandemic.  

To provide information about how this research was conducted, and the study’s results were my guests, Ana Ramon and Christina Munoz. Ana is IDRA’s Deputy Director of Advocacy, and Christina designs and conducts quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation that inform educational practice and policy for IDRA.

 

EP 68: Welcoming Diversity in your School and After School Program

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast focuses on why educators and youth leaders should welcome diversity in their schools and programs. Several studies and articles indicate that Houston is the most diverse city in the nation. As a result of the city’s changing demographics, the level of diversity on school campuses continues to rise. To discuss this issue is guest, Dr. Stephen Cherry.

During this podcast you will learn:

• How Houstonian will influence the rest of the country through its approach to diversity
• Why it is crucial for school and afterschool staff to recognize the diversity of youth in schools
• What the difference between cultural competency and stereotyping is and why people working with youth should be aware of the distinctions
• How cultural variation and individual variation make a person unique

Guest

Dr. Cherry is an associate professor and program director of sociology at the University of Houston Clear Lake. His research interests include immigration, religion, Asian Americans, and civic life. He is the author of Faith, Family, and Filipino American Community Life and the co-editor of Religious Movements Across Borders. In 2006 he received the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Distinguished Article Award. Additionally, he's served as a faculty fellow at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University.

Resources

^{Dr. Stephen Cherry, University of Houton}

^{‎Cherry@UHCL.edu}

^{Harris County Department of Education}

^{https://hcde-texas.org}

^{CASE for Kids}

^{https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone}

 

Preview EP 68: Educators & Youth Leaders Welcome Diversity in their Programs

^{This is a preview of episodes 68 where we discuss how educators and youth leaders should welcome diversity in their schools and programs. Several studies and articles, indicates that Houston is the most diverse city in the nation.  As a result of the city’s changing demographics, the level of diversity on school campuses continues to rise.} 

^{To discuss this issue is my guest, Dr. Stephen Cherry. Dr. Cherry is an associate professor and program director of sociology at the University of Houston Clear Lake.}

EP 67: Part 2 of Strengthening Resilience

^{Today’s episode of the Making After School Cool podcast is part 2 of a 2-part series which highlights our ability to be resilient. To continue our discussion on resilience is my guest Bryan Clement of Dovetail learning.}

^{You will learn more of the following:}

1. ^{An explanation of the Practice, Model and Coach approach and why is it crucial for staff}
2. ^{How our unconscious stress responses, helps us manage our behavior}
3. ^{How we can use anticipatory resilience as a response to stressful situations}
4. ^{What are the 3 Resilient Mindsets?}

 ^Guest

^{Bryan is a former teacher, principal and is currently the lead trainer and Director of Program and Partnerships at Dovetail Learning, Inc. Additionally, Bryan works with the Equity in Education Initiative and is on the Gravenstein Health Action Coalition Board. He also co-facilitating a think tank for the National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, and Family Mental Health.}        

^Resources

^{West Wind Education Policy Inc}

^{westwinded.com}

 ^{Harris County Department of Education}

^{https://hcde-texas.org}

 ^{CASE for Kids}

^{https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone}