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Take a minute to recharge In Nature...

11/30/2017

Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on how lucky we are to live in gorgeous Austin? We've got our share of lakes, beautiful long greenbelts, and tons of hill country to explore! Turns out that's actually a scientific reason to be grateful for all this nature around us!

Scientists are beginning to find evidence that being in nature has a profound impact on our brains and our behavior, helping us to reduce anxiety, brooding, and stress, and increase our attention capacity, creativity, and our ability to connect with other people.

1. Being in nature decreases stress.
2. Nature makes you happier and less brooding.
3. Nature relieves attention fatigue and increases creativity.
4. Nature may help you to be kind and generous.
5. Nature makes you “feel more alive”.

Read more about the incredible benefits of nature!

Mindful.org reports that, "In nature, things are always shifting, growing, and renewing. And so are we, even when it may seem like we’re spinning our wheels. Reconnecting to this wisdom can be as simple as admiring a new flower bud on your houseplant, or as involved as taking an “awe walk” through a park: We hit the pause button and bathe our bodies and minds in growing, green things. Here are 3 ways to appreciate nature while freshening your perspective."

1) As you hurry out the door, ground yourself in the moment. Often, we habitually rush between destinations without much awareness. This walking meditation offers 4 steps to notice your environment along the way.

2) Get inspired by nature from wherever you are right now. Whether you’re on the bus or cozy on the couch, awaken your sense of wonder with this virtual guided meditation: a 360° awe walk.

3) Find a trail or walking path and spend some time in nature. Next time you’re out on a longer walk, try some of these 10 tips to engage all of your senses and fully experience nature.

If you didn't feel inspired by our surroundings before I hope you do now! This past weekend I enjoyed the majestic Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve for the first time. Definitely took my breathe away multiple times throughout the hike and just like the research states, I felt more relaxed, happier, inspired, and invigorated after my walk!

Here’s hoping you all find moments to enjoy being mindful in nature this week. And below are some of my pictures of the beautiful Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve!

Stay Healthy, Chaps!
-Kristi Waidhofer

EXPRESSING GRATITUDE THIS THANKSGIVING

11/16/2017

When thinking about Thanksgiving many of us focus on turkey, pie and football. But what about expressing gratitude?

Gratitude can be defined as the quality of being thankful and expressing appreciation for what one has. While this is a seemingly simple concept, expressing gratitude can have a large impact on our overall health. Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology and scientific expert on gratitude, studied a sample of 1,000 people from ages 8 to 80 and found that people who practice gratitude consistently report a host of benefits:

Physical: Stronger immune system, better sleep quality, less bothered by aches and pains, lower blood pressure
Psychological: Higher levels of positive emotions, more alert and awake, more optimism and happiness
Social: More forgiving, more outgoing, less lonely, more compassionate and generous

The above benefits point to the importance of expressing gratitude, but how can you help your kids learn to live gratefully? Here are a few tips to help you foster an attitude of gratitude in your own household:

Name your blessings. Encourage your children to share something they’re thankful for each day. Older kids may prefer to keep a gratitude journal and write down a few things they were thankful for each day before bed.
Encourage your children to give back. When kids give their time and energy to help others, they’re less likely to take things like health, home and family for granted.
Be a grateful parent. Tell your kids why you’re grateful to have them and what makes them special to you. This sets the example that gratitude extends beyond material objects.
Keep thank-you notes on hand. Encouraging your children to send handwritten thank-you notes is a perfect way to help inspire gratitude.
Find the silver lining. It’s human nature to see the glass half-empty from time to time — and children are no exception. When kids complain or gripe, it can be helpful to try to find a response that looks on the bright(er) side.

So this Thanksgiving, remember the importance of encouraging and expressing gratitude. Your body and brain will thank you!

-Kristi, Katie & Elizabeth

Vocabulary Study Tips for Healthy Chaps

11/9/2017

This is a guest post written by Natalie Cannon (WHS Latin Teacher and World Language Department Chair).
Every year, I ask my students for feedback at various times and in a variety of ways, and the resounding response is always... that a better grasp (or retention) of vocabulary would have been the greatest help along the way. In a World Language class, memorization of vocabulary is a key factor for success, so their responses resonated. If you cannot understand the meaning of what you read and hear, no other learning or concept- grammatical, thematic, etc.- can be possible either.

I adjust how and what I teach, based on my thoughts and reflections from what I see in class and from student results on quizzes/tests, feedback from my students, and feedback from my colleague who teaches them in the next level. It always stems from an effort to improve efficacy and learning as well as to help students get better results and to be prepared to succeed in the next stage of their academic careers. As a result of this, I carved out time for students to explore a variety of study methods and memorization techniques that I required for a grade and assigned in-class and as homework. I created google forms for collecting individual feedback, and I also had students share their feedback with a partner, in small groups, and with the whole class about what they tried, what they thought about it, if they thought it might be a useful method/tool, and whether they would use it again.

Here are some of the methods/tools students favored:

Student-created quizlet lists for digital flashcards
Quizlet games, such as matching, gravity, & live
Quizlet Learn and/or Write
Handwriting forms & meaning 5 times
Writing paper flashcards for use target-to-English and English-to-target
Flashcard memory sorting/shuffle game (I knew it, I kind knew it, I didn’t know it)
Read aloud forms & meanings 10 times individually
Quiz a partner, in turns, in class
Give your list to a parent/sibling/sitter to Quiz you orally
Ask a parent or friend to pick a word in English & try to write all of its Latin forms from memory
“Try a new method” - could be from the above OR something else

“As the material became more complex, grades stayed relatively high and several students saw improvement, plus- what is even better than grades- students felt better prepared and felt like they were really helping themselves learn better.”

“They got excited when we talked about the universal applicability of these skills for other classes and other things they will have to learn throughout their lives… it gave students a well-deserved sense of accomplishment and a set of tools to fall back upon when the going gets tough and they need another strategy to reach their goals.”

Stay Healthy and Wise, Chaps!
-Natalie Canon

Guidance on Drugs for Parents of Teenagers

11/2/2017

I'm excited to partner with Olivia and Carlos from The Recovery Village to guest blog for the week!

No parent wants to deal with their child taking drugs. But the reality is that drug experimentation is common amongst teenagers. I started experimenting at 12 years old. There was no conversation in my house about experimentation. I knew that if I was found to be taking drugs or use alcohol and there would be a punishment. I feel that had there been a more open dialogue and a supportive environment, I may not needed to have become so lost or felt the need to escape with drugs.

While I did go on to become addicted to drugs and alcohol, I found recovery. I now live a happy and successful life in spite of my history. Sadly, that isn’t the case for all teenagers who experiment.

Often when parents discover their child has taken drugs, they blame themselves punish their children. They have no idea what to do for the best. The reality is that there is no handbook for parents. A sentiment recently shared by mother Jennifer Howard, who sadly lost her son to an overdose in British Columbia. She said:

“There is no handbook for parents supporting a child with addictions and mental-health issues. You learn in the trenches and you come together,”.

She is amongst many advocates who are helping better support parents to deal with this conversation. The key for parents is to be prepared, to know that you are not alone in dealing with this issue, and that there is help available. You don’t have to feel powerless. You can educate yourself.

At home, it can make a big difference in your relationship with your children if you give them the freedom to follow their own path. No parent wants their child to harm themselves, or fall into trouble. The reality is that children will experiment—most parents did. But you can set healthy boundaries, which will allow them their own free expression. Boundaries you can set, once you are better informed having read the resources available.

Through experience, and the experience of other parents, scare tactics and threats rarely work. They may prevent your child from feeling like they can come to you for help. You want to keep lines of communication open, which provides a supportive network for them should they fall into trouble—especially if both parents are acting together. Teenagers—even though they may not show it—want to feel like they are heard and loved. Providing an open, non-judgmental environment will allow your child to feel it is safe to talk. It may also make the difference between your child coming to you for help and isolating; or leaving the home because they think you are unapproachable, and that they will be punished.

Sometimes teenagers step beyond experimentation and transition to misuse—a fear of every parent. But it is a reality for some. Know that if this happens to you, there is help out there. Waiting for your child to reach rock bottom can be disastrous though. Early intervention and human connection is far more effective in getting them the appropriate support and treatment. Support groups like SMART Recovery Family & Friends, and CRAFT (Community Reinforcement Approach & Family Training, have been proven to be more successful than letting a child figure it out on their own and cutting them off which is advocated in some groups. Further resources are available at Moms Stop the Harm and Overdose Awareness Day.

Biography:
Writer and wellness advocate, Olivia Pennelle (Liv), is in long-term recovery. Liv passionately believes in a fluid and holistic approach to recovery. Her popular site Liv’s Recovery Kitchen is a resource for the journey toward health and wellness in recovery. For Liv, the kitchen represents the heart of the home: to eat, share, and love. You will find Liv featured amongst top recovery writers and bloggers, published on websites such as: Recovery.Org, The Fix, Intervene, Workit Health, iExhale, Sapling, Addiction Unscripted, Transformation is Real, Sanford House, Winward Way & Casa Capri.

Join parents of high schoolers throughout Austin for Everything You Want to Know about Drugs, Alcohol & Teens: A Panel Discussion

Austin is known for its party culture—our teens face unique challenges. Come hear about substance abuse prevention, education and communication strategies, and get “street-wise” to what you need to know about raising a teen in Austin, TX. Gain a better understanding of the teen brain and how substances affect brain development. Receive tools, tips and gain knowledge from a panel of psychotherapists, counselors and substance abuse educators who will share how to support your teen in making wise choices and tapping their innate strength and resiliency.

When: Thursday, Nov. 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: The Headwaters School Studio, 8th and Rio Grande
Cost: Free and open to all Austin parents of teens 14-19

Make sure and tell your friends about our WELLBbeings group: talks & community for parents of teens. They can visit our website atwww.WELLbeingsATX.org, join our mailing list or hop onto our Facebook Community Page.

We look forward to seeing you Nov. 16!

Warmly, Renee Trudeau (volunteer) and the WELLbeings Team
Wellbeingsatx@reneetrudeau.com www.WELLbeingsatx.org

Be sure to reach out to us if you and your family need support in this area.
Katie Bryant

Take a minute to recharge In Nature...

EXPRESSING GRATITUDE THIS THANKSGIVING

Vocabulary Study Tips for Healthy Chaps

Guidance on Drugs for Parents of Teenagers

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