October 2019 Fall Newsletter 🍂 🍃 🍂 🍃

October - Fall Check in
How have the first 8 weeks of Peace Class been going?
We'd love to hear from you!

In this issue:
Community of Practice Highlights
Books We Love for Peace Class
Peace of Mind In the News
Upcoming Events

On Sept 25 about twenty educators gathered to share their experiences and offer support to each other in teaching the Peace of Mind Curriculum. We covered what’s working, how to engage students in mindfulness practice, and identifying supportive expectations for PoM class. Great conversation! For those of you you couldn’t make it this time, check out the h ighlights here .

We were honored to have DCPS SEL Specialists Bode Aking and Krystal Butler join to offer their support and perspective. Jelena Popovich of the Peace Alliance updated us on her advocacy for more funding for SEL and Peace studies in our public schools. Our great team of students from A.U. assisted in all ways and interviewed educators. Thanks to all!

Here are some the books we like that support what children are learning in Peace Class. Your students may have heard them at school. Parents, if you don't already have these great reads at home, consider looking in your local library for the following titles.

In Early Childhood, we've been reading The Peace Book by Todd Parr; Charlotte and the Quiet Place by Deborah Sosin; Take a Deep Breath by Sue Graves, and Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberly.

In Grades 1-2, we've been reading Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda by Lauren Alderfer and A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni.

In Grades 3-5 we've been reading Steps and Stones (an Ahn's Anger Story), by Gail Silver

and Enemy Pie by Derek Munson.

Peace of Mind receives commendation by the DC State Board of Education!

Article in the DC Line's September 13th issue: Tyaja Makes Us Think: DC Peace Teacher Explores Mindfulness in her Latest Children’s Book

Teaching Tolerance's Fall Issue recommends Henry Is Kind by Linda Ryden.
"This book can help us all remember to 'slow down and pay attention to our bodies, hearts and minds.'" —Monita K. Bell

Wednesday 10/16/19 - Parent Mindfulness Evening, 5:45pm at Ida B. Wells MS. More info here, and RSVP here.
Sunday, 11/3/19 - PoM presents a workshop at the Collaborative for Spirituality in Education Conference, Columbia University in NYC.
Saturday, 1/25/20 - Save the date for our annual Peace of Mind Conference; more details and registration info coming soon!

Brand New 4th-5th Grade Guide

For more information on all our Peace of Mind resources, including the new 4th-5th grade Curriculum Guide with brand-new stories, skits, and lesson ideas, click the link below. We appreciate your interest in our work!

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