It’s an exciting time to participate in Mind in the Making (MITM) with the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (SCGLR)! Not only are we helping MITM celebrate its tenth anniversary, but MITM is also a track in SCGLR’s new initiative, Stronger Me, Stronger We (SMSW).
Based on the book, Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky, MITM is a 16-hour set of workshops that teaches research to participants through engaging ways to strengthen these skills in adults so they can teach them to the children in their lives. For SMSW, SCGLR is distilling the lessons down to five 1-hour sessions.
We’re kicking things off with Team Adventurous, the inaugural cohort of SMSW, and I’m convinced this is the start of something really exciting. It’s exciting because these workshops are designed to be creative, inclusive, interactive, informative, strategic, and all things energizing, engaging, and exciting!
Just two workshops in, and I’m amazed that 12 participants can join a zoom and feel a part of something bigger than themselves. They are vulnerable, trusting, and supportive of each other. There are moments of laughter and silence, moments of brainstorming, and aha moments.
The format of each session is collaborative and fun. Amazing strategies are formed as a result of activities, breakout rooms, and a willingness to share. As the facilitator of the Focus & Self Control session, I jotted notes of their shared ideas throughout our time together:
- Scheduling time away from distractions
- Taking quiet time
- Working under pressure
- Setting deadlines for self
- Creating a list and checking things off
- Spending time in nature
- Functioning with predictability
- Prioritizing
- Asking for support
- Problem-solving
- Taking action
- Removing self from the problem
- Reflecting
- Slowing down
- Breaking it down
- Practicing mindfulness
- Reframing a situation – “not a big deal,”
- Meditating, creating a mantra such as “everything is always working out for me.”
This group was surprised by the list we accomplished in one hour of being “all in” and listening and sharing. I’m confident that five 1-hour sessions is ample time to connect, share, and learn!
MITM is off to a great start with SMSW! I believe that the value of the other SMSW tracks, including Vrooming to Literacy, The Power of Presence, and THIS BOOK IS COOL! will be immeasurable to its impact on our community’s participants!
Interested in participating? Pick from three upcoming SMSW MITM sessions:
- Stronger Me, Stronger We – Mind in the Making – Online — Team Calm
Monday, November 9, 4:00 – 5:00pm
Monday, November 16, 4:00 – 5:00pm
Monday, November 23, 4:00 – 5:00pm
Monday, November 30, 4:00 – 5:00pm
Monday, December 7, 4:00 – 5:00pm
