Breakfast Club Blog

The BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is a curated space where bloggers from around the world contribute content on a continual basis about a variety of topics relevant to in and out-of-school time. The BOOST Breakfast Club blog is at the heart of an ongoing dialogue where expanded learning and education professionals share their personal thoughts and stories from the in and out-of-school time field. They also tell us what they ate for breakfast!

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The BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is Brain Food for In and Out-of-School Time Leaders!

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C.A.L.M.M Classroom Break – 5 Simple Chair Poses to Calm The Chaos C.A.L.M.M Classroom Break – 5 Simple Chair Poses to Calm The Chaos
Program Design, Development, and Quality / Staff Leadership and Management

C.A.L.M.M Classroom Break – 5 Simple Chair Poses to Calm The Chaos

Shawnee Thornton Hardy No Comments

Educators, you know that moment when the energy in your classroom feels like utter chaos and you imagine yourself running out of the room and never looking back?! We’ve all had those moments when our students are distracted, dysregulated, and disconnected and it feels as if whatever you say is going in one ear and out the other. Most likely this is actually the case. When children’s nervous systems are dysregulated, their pre-frontal cortex can tend to be offline. The prefrontal cortex is implic...Read More

On-Site Staff / Program Design, Development, and Quality / Staff Leadership and Management

Beneath the Iceberg – A Yoga Sequence to Support Children and Youth with Grounding, Self-Regulation, and Focus

Shawnee Thornton Hardy No Comments

Let’s face it. Our kids are stressed out and overwhelmed. In our modern times, children are over-stimulated and are struggling more and more with self-regulation, attention, and learning. Educators are feeling the impact of these increased behaviors, thus the reason for increased frustration in the classroom and teacher burn out. In fact, according to a recent poll reported by Primary Sources: America’s Teachers on the Teaching Profession; 68 percent of elementary teachers, 64 percent of middle ...Read More

On-Site Staff / Program Design, Development, and Quality

Yoga & Mindfulness to Support Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Emotional Intelligence

Shawnee Thornton Hardy No Comments

What is SEL? Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is defined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) as:  “The process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.”1 SEL prepares students to Solve Problems, Manage Emotions, a...Read More

kids walk playfully together in a line kids walk playfully together in a line
On-Site Staff / Program Design, Development, and Quality / Staff Leadership and Management / Uncategorized

10+ Fun Activities to Energize Your Summer Programming and Staff Meetings

Daniel W. Hatcher 2 Comments

Summer is here and let’s be honest, not every day is going to be an ideal summer day. You know, those days when poor air quality keeps you indoors, parents are late for pick up and technology doesn’t cooperate, leaving you scrambling for a backup plan. Don’t sweat it! With a few physical activity games in your back pocket, you’ll be able to keep staff and kids engaged, energized and smiling all summer long. When You Need a Quick Energizer Try Deal or No Deal for a quick pick-me-up energizer that...Read More

Shawnee quote my calling Shawnee quote my calling
Storytellers

My Why: It’s My Calling

Shawnee Thornton Hardy No Comments

You know how people say we each have a calling, something we were put on this earth to do? I started my career working with children with autism and special needs, not knowing that it would transform into something that literally ignites me to the core of my being. I owe where I am in my life to one little boy whom I met years ago named Austin. At the time I was a pre-school assistant in Boston. I always loved being around children so it was no surprise to others that I chose to study education....Read More

yoga improving behavior yoga improving behavior
On-Site Staff / Program Design, Development, and Quality / Staff Leadership and Management

Yoga as a Strategy for Improving Behavior

Shawnee Thornton Hardy No Comments

There are many strategies used for improving behavior in children with autism and special needs. These include: visual aides to foster communication and understanding, sensory activities to support sensory needs and token/reward systems to increase desired behaviors and decrease undesired behaviors. These strategies, if implemented consistently can be highly effective across a variety of settings. Over the years I have incorporated yoga in my classroom setting as a complementary and holistic app...Read More