1. The SAD Brain Strategies that Help Distressed, Anxious or Depressed Learners Saints Institute of Teaching & Learning With much appreciation for all you do! mary@maryfowler.com © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 1

2. Your Role Witness (watch, notice, name) Empathize (not sympathize) & Appreciate Build Resource Capacity (enable, not disable) Stop Beliefing! Start Observing. © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 2

3. SAD Students NEED Loving support of a competent caring adult Words to tell the stories they live by Absence of inescapable stress Buffers and protective shields Talents expressed & nurtured Sense of mastery “Required helpfulness” (Rachman ’79) © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 3

4. Phrases that Irk I know you can do this. You were so well-behaved yesterday. You don’t want to let your group down, do you? You should know the rules by now! Why are you behaving that way!*?! I’m only trying to help you. I really care about you, so why don’t you care? © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 4

5. Learners w Disturbed Emotions Mis-read Situations Mis-perceive Threat “One size fits all” context Susceptible to emotional states © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 5

6. Limbic System – PFC has no direct connectivity w emotional system – Emotional system has lots of connectivity w thinking system © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 6

7. Appraisal SNS—readies us for reaction PSNS—calm in eye of storm, restorer Threat or Challenge? Dependent on resources & perception of resources. © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 7

8. Knee-jerk Appraisals Arousal > Appraisal > Reaction or Action © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 8

9. From Reaction to Response Prefrontal Cortex Reality testing Error monitoring Guide thought and attention Inhibit inappropriate actions Regulate emotion © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 9

10. To Influence Resource Appraisal  Quiet the Biology  Physical, emotional, mental  Deliberately Design Positive Emotional Systems  Build Resource Capacity  Structures, skills, strategies, supports © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 10

11. Space Savers © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 11

12. Build Capacity—3 C’s It’s not what happens to you but how you handle it. Suzanne Kobasa 3 Stress-hardy Characteristics Commitment—involved, sense of belonging, purpose, can make a difference Challenge—opportunities not crises, possibilities not limitations Control—ability to take influential action © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 12

13. Positive Social Climate Builders Social Referencing—eyes Familiar Friendly Face—connection Ordinary Magic—mind over mess

14. Small Steps Essential Question If the story is not working, what is the choice or action that will shift the story? © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 14

15. Meaning, Purpose, Mastery Personal relevance & meaning Story larger than self (philanthropy) Sense of capability or capacity building. Authentic Tasks A Cause—be of service (Learningtogive.org) Supports & Scaffolds © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 15

16. Micro-size The journey of a thousand miles begins w one small step. Set goals—build goal getting skills. Break it down—seeds make trees. Take a break—avoid meltdown. Negotiate how much—increase w graph. Student assessment. © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 16

17. Healing Power of Relationship I will act as though what I do makes a difference. Wm. James © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 17

18. Recommended Resources Capacitar.org (emergency tool kit for teachers) Learning to Give. Org On Playing A Poor Hand Well, Mark Katz The Neuropsychology of Emotional Disorders: (Feiffer, et.al.) Chapter 11, “Mindful Discipline for Distressed Learners.” Mary Fowler The Drama of the Gifted Child, Alice Miller Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, Robert Sapolsky © maryfowler.com Positive Difference PD for Educators 18