This conversation explores the impact of anxiety on teenagers and the importance of managing our own anxiety to assist students better. The guests discuss optimistic teaming as a strategy to foster collaboration among educators, mindfulness practices to enhance emotional regulation, and practical techniques for teachers to implement these strategies in the classroom. The discussion emphasizes the interconnectedness of adult and student mental health and the need for tailored approaches in educational settings. Follow on Twitter: @Ben_SpringerUT @Rlamourelle @bamradionetwork  @jonHarper70bd Related Resources: Kids’ mental health is in crisis. Here’s what psychologists are doing to help  |. The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on cognition and mental health in children Ben Springer is an award-winning and Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Ben is also the author of the popular books, "Happy Kids Don't Punch You in the Face" and "GPS: Good Parenting Strategies: The No-Guilt Survival Guide for Parents During the Pandemic and Beyond" from Corwin Press. Ben has just released his third book with co-author Ben Belnap called, "Optimistic Teaming" also from Corwin Press. Ben received his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Utah in Educational Psychology. Ben has worked professionally as a teacher, autism specialist, school psychologist, and director of special education. Currently, Ben works as the director of the Family Education Center in Wasatch County School District and manages Optimistic Teaming/Totem PD, a professional learning company focusing on practical, ready-to-use tools for educators. Ben Belnap is an award-winning clinical psychologist practicing in the state of Utah. Dr. Belnap has contributed to state and national professional learning trainings for over a decade focusing on the applications of Positive Psychology, Family Systems, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Dr. Belnap has served in schools as an assistant superintendent of student services, behavior specialist, and school psychologist. Dr. Belnap currently manages a neuropsychology and counseling clinic in Heber City, Utah and helps manage Totem PD as a trainer and consultant. Dr. James L. Floman is an Associate Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. He received his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia, where he studied the effects of mindfulness and compassion meditation on teacher emotion regulation and prosocial behavior with Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl. Dr. Floman has three core research streams: 1) The assessment of dynamic social-affective processes (i.e., developing and validating EI and well-being measurement tools); 2) EI, mindfulness, and well-being training (i.e., developing, optimizing, and scaling EI and well-being-enhancement interventions for real-world applications); and 3) Affective neuroscience (studying mental training-induced changes in ‘emotional brain’ function and structure).

Year in review lightening presentation of "Inside The Minds of Teens and Tweens" podcast for 2024, offers invaluable insights for teachers, parents, and anyone interacting with young people. The podcast covers a range of topics including executive function skills, the impact of deepfakes, shrinking attention spans, building resilience, managing anxiety, and understanding difficult behaviors. Each episode features experts who provide practical advice and strategies to support teens and tweens. Key themes include the importance of teaching essential skills, fostering critical thinking, creating supportive environments, and modeling healthy behaviors. The podcast emphasizes the role of adults in guiding and empowering young people to navigate today's complex world….

Teachers are seeing continued growth in challenging teen behaviors in classrooms nationwide. What do we need to understand, support, and better manage this trend and its impact on our students? Follow on Twitter:@copingkids @RLamourelle @bamradionetwork @jonharpe.r70bd Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has been working with children, teens, and their families for 20 years. She has been helping children and teens build their coping skills throughout her career in a variety of settings, including schools, mental health clinics, and in her private practice. She founded Coping Skills for Kids to help children and teens learn healthy and safe ways to manage big feelings. She has written several books, including the bestselling Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, the Coping Skills for Teens Workbook, and the Social Skills for Kids Workbook. She is also the host of the Calm & Connected Podcast. Her work has been featured in the Boston Globe, CNN, Huffington Post, and The Skimm® Newsletter. Janine lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children.

Most educators following the growing interest in ChatGPT see the positive possibilities and peculiar problems with using AI tools for teaching and learning. This thoughtful discussion explores how artificial intelligence can either decrease bias in education and create new options for disadvantaged students of all types or accelerate bias exponentially. Which way are we heading? Follow on Twitter: @klrembert @Digital_Empower @RLamourelle @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Carrie Rogers-Whitehead founded Digital Respons-Ability, which works with educators, parents and students to teach digital citizenship. Her company provides training to tens of thousands of students, parents, and educators across Utah and beyond. Carrie is also the author of several books, including Deepening Digital Citizenship (ISTE, 2022) with Vanessa Monterosa and Digital Citizenship: Teaching. Keisha Rembert is a passionate learner and fierce equity advocate. She is an award-winning educator who taught middle school ELA and United States History teacher for many years and now instructs future educators. She hopes to change our world one student at a time.

We are discovering many engaging ways to use ChatGPT to engage teenage students in the classroom. My guests agree that once you begin to experiment with the platform, the more your mind begins to find additional possibilities. @jmattmiller @ideasforteacher @RLamourelle @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Matt Miller spent more than a decade in the classroom, creating unique learning experiences for my students through technology and creative teaching. He is the author of Ditch That Textbook on innovative teaching ideas and rethinking education. He is a Google-Certified Innovator. and one of the top 10 influencers in educational technology and elearning worldwide. Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning. He is the author of Flipped 3.0 Project Based Learning: An Insanely Simple Guide. Dr. Regina Lamourelle is a professor of Human Development at Santiago Canyon College in Orange, CA, where she is also the department chair. She serves on the Board of Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children and is a former Orange County representative to the California Association for the Education of Young Children.She speaks three languages and holds a doctorate in Child and Youth Studies. Since 1996, her passion has been to teach educators how the young-to-adolescent brain learns so that they can care for children with kind hearts and with the knowledge of the child or adolescent brains’ unique developmental needs.

As we head back to school this year, right up there with getting through the learning objectives, is helping students navigate the big emotional ups and downs they’ll experience throughout the school term. In this episode, we unpack what we can do to help our students self-regulate. Follow on Twitter: @copingkids @RLamourelle @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has been working with children, teens, and their families for 20 years. She has been helping children and teens build their coping skills throughout her career in a variety of settings, including schools, mental health clinics, and in her private practice. She founded Coping Skills for Kids to help children and teens learn healthy and safe ways to manage big feelings. She has written several books, including the bestselling Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, the Coping Skills for Teens Workbook, and the Social Skills for Kids Workbook. She is also the host of the Calm & Connected Podcast. Her work has been featured in the Boston Globe, CNN, Huffington Post, and The Skimm® Newsletter. Janine lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children.