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Growing Minds Youth Curriculum

A child’s ability to concentrate, connect, and flourish is directly related to their ability to manage themselves emotionally and socially. Mindful awareness is the gateway to these social and emotional abilities that are critical for the success of all youth, both academically and relationally.  

Our courses and curricula specifically address life skills that influence the abilities to: 
  • Focus and sustain attention  
  • Observe one’s patterns under stress  

  • Manage one’s choices 
Cultivate healthy social and relationship skills 
  • Integrate compassion, gratitude, generosity and kindness into daily routines
  • Cultivate healthy social and relationship skills 
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Your Experience in the Curriculum Training Course

Would you like to further your practice and learn to share the skills of being mindful with students or adults? Become a mindful champion by gaining the knowledge to articulate the concepts behind the practices. 
Level 1
​1 7-hour day
​Pre-Requisite: Growing Minds Level 1 training or similar class

Concepts explored:
The Pause
Mindful Body
Listening to Sound
The Breath
Puppy Mind
Gratitude
Generosity
Kind Thoughts
Movement
A certificate of 7 hours of training is awarded upon completion.
Level 2
​1 7-hour day
​Pre-Requisite: Level 1

Concepts explored:
The Nature of Thoughts
Emotions & Stressful Situations
Negativity Bias
Compassion
Five Senses
​Movement
A certificate of 7 hours of training is awarded upon completion.
Pre-Requisite: Growing Minds Level 1 training or similar class;
A certificate of 9 hours of training is awarded upon completion.
A combination of observing our demonstrations and delving into the concepts plus weekly practice makes this class unique. All lessons will be addressed.

Details on the Curriculum Design

Teachers are able to easily integrate each day’s concept into their classroom schedule to guide and manage students before transitions, after interruptions, before testing and at other desired times.  

Each lesson for k4-12th grade is designed to take 15-30 minutes. Length largely depends on the amount of discussion time allotted coupled with student maturity. Classes for grades 9-12 meet one time per week for 9 weeks for 45-50 minutes. The structure of each lesson is comprised of 5 parts:  Essential Questions, Core Concepts, Core Practices, Brain Science and Mindful Moments.

Lessons Fall into 4 Themes

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​Focus & ​Attention

We train the mind to focus through simple yet powerful repetition of short exercises by listening to sounds, and feeling the sensations of the body or breath. Knowing when the mind has become distracted is the key to better focus. 
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​Self-Awareness & Self-Regulation

Learning to pay attention by using our five senses, we notice the small details that are often overlooked when operating on autopilot. ​Pausing to savor the good and explore the uncomfortable with kindness takes us out of automatic, conditioned patterns so more thoughtful choices can be made.
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​Thoughts & Emotions

Intentional awareness of our thoughts and emotions helps us to feel more grounded and less likely to get swept away in strong emotions and stories that are depleting to our well-being and relationships. Learning to observe our thoughts and emotions, much like watching a play from the balcony of a theatre, is a skill. The more we practice this skill, the better we’re able to stay connected to the present moment, our intentions, and our sense of purpose.  .
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Social Awareness & Relationship Skills

Develop the ability to generate kind thoughts, compassion and generosity for yourself and others. Learn to pause and explore your internal and conditioned dialogue to reduce bias and create stronger more authentic connections. Take practices like mindful listening into your daily life and observe how it benefits all the relationships in your life.

Age Appropriate Curriculum

K - 2nd Grade

"I’m a little calmer sometimes. I’m not hyper all the time."
"It has made a difference in my life because I can control myself better."
Description: Foundational concepts are covered in each of the three areas, focus and attention, self-awareness skills, and kindness strategies for oneself and others. Our goal is to integrate movement, games, social-emotional learning activities where children can develop self-awareness skills and self-regulation abilities. Mindful movement improves concentration and imagination, essential qualities for being successful in school, and boosts self-confidence and self esteem. Our games provide a valuable tool to enhance communication, trust, empathy and teamwork. 
Sensory integration and proprioceptive movement (strengthening the bodies feedback system) can help children focus and concentrate as needed. Calming and energizing the nervous system is similar to using the brakes and the accelerator in one's car. By learning how to activate and calm their nervous system, students are able to master finding the appropriate energy level for what is needed during the school day.
"I use it to help calm me down, help my brother, help my mother when she’s stressed and just help myself."

3rd - 8th Grade

Description: Middle grade-level students receive the foundational curriculum with a strong emphasis on stress reduction, emotional regulation, and integrating mindful awareness practices into their everyday lives.  Metaphors and role playing activities are used to teach and promote internalization of the major concepts.

An emphasis is placed on students using mindful awareness to recognize the difference between responsive and reactive behavior. The latest brain science describing the relationship between the prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, and the hippocampus is introduced and integrated into the lessons.  

High School

"I’m getting rid of stress and I’m learning it’s okay to be different.  And I learned to conquer my upset feelings."
"I got over my fear of standing in front of the class."​
"I am taking away to calm down when you get mad, and also think before you act."
Description: The high school curriculum and practices are aimed toward older adolescents and the daily stresses and pressures they face. Identifying patterns of worrying and ruminating on recurring thoughts and strong emotions is at the core of this curriculum. In addition, the basic brain science of how we can train our brain for positivity is introduced.  We use memorable metaphors and role playing activities, and students work together in community-building activities to internalize these life-long skills.

Due to COVID-19 we do not have any in-person courses scheduled.
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Please, reach out and let us know your interest so we can work to accommodate you!