2025 ROE8 Summer Institute

In a classroom setting, brain breaks are brief, structured pauses that incorporate physical movement, mindfulness exercises, or sensory activities. These breaks can be done individually, such as deep breathing, or as a group activity, like playing Simon Says. In this session, participants will plan and create brain break opportunities suitable for their students and classrooms.

In this session, we will delve into the intersection of mindfulness and effective teaching, focusing on strategies to create a balanced, supportive, and thriving classroom environment. Participants will explore classroom strategies grounded in mindfulness principles and how to apply them to manage stress, enhance student engagement, and build positive relationships. We will cover key techniques for regulating emotions in both staff and students, utilizing the CASEL 3 Signature Practices framework. Additionally, we’ll examine five practical strategies for fostering positive relationships and discuss mindful approaches to crisis intervention. Attendees will leave with a toolkit of evidence-based strategies to promote emotional well-being, conflict resolution, and a positive classroom culture for all.

Presenters:
Samantha Buss, LCSW, CADC
Special Education Coordinator

Trisha Bailey, EdD, NCSP, BCBA
School Psychologist


In this session, participants will explore practical strategies and tailored approaches to support social-emotional learning (SEL) for students with low-incidence disabilities. Through engaging discussions, hands-on activities, and real-world examples, attendees will learn how to adapt SEL frameworks to meet the unique needs of these learners. The session will highlight the importance of building emotional awareness, fostering communication, and promoting self-regulation skills while addressing challenges and leveraging strengths. Participants will leave with actionable tools and resources to create inclusive and supportive environments that empower all students to thrive socially and emotionally.

Learn ways to promote problem solving and encourage students to share their thinking using virtual manipulatives.

In this hands-on session, we’ll cover how Canva can be used to design classroom materials and student projects. Explore how to use Canva to create visually appealing projects such as presentations, flyers, animations, etc. Whether you're a beginner or already familiar with Canva, this session is open to teachers of all experience levels. We’ll also discuss ways to involve students in the design process to showcase their creativity.

The session will start with a brief overview of how simulation and role playing games can work in the classroom (the focus will be on social studies, but other subject areas may find the information beneficial). We will then run through a quick simulation activity that they can take back to their classrooms or use as a model for creating their own activities. Attendees should ideally be jr high or high school social studies teachers, they do not need to have experience with role playing games.