Learning Object Using Class DoJo

Learning Object: Use class Dojo to motivate my students to participate and behave appropriately during our daily yoga/ meditation

Class Dojo is a great classroom management tool that is fun for students and teachers! You can customize the "Positive" and "Needs Work" skills for your class or your subject. In my case I would be using it to manage behaviour during our yoga practice. I create a sample Class Dojo to test out how this resource would work in a possible classroom!

I customized my sample Class Dojo and created some possible "Positives" like on task, helping others, and trying new poses that I would use to encourage my students to engage in these behaviours.

I also customized some "Needs Works" like being unsafe and not participating that I would use in my class to discourage students from engaging in these behaviours. These behaviours would not be acceptable in my classroom and would not benefit the student or their peers. That is why I assigned these behaviours as -1. 

This tool is extremely helpful, especially for young students, because they can directly see which behaviours are desirable and which behaviours they should avoid. This resource can be used off of a computer, tablet or a phone, which makes it very easy for the teacher to update the Dojos frequently. This resource can be used for everyday classroom management and can also be shared with parents! 

The Benefits of Yoga: Body, Mind, Spirit

As I continue to research my topic for Genius Hour, I decided today to get some solid facts about the benefits of yoga. I came across a great resource Yoga 4 Classrooms This a program that teachers can use to incorporate yoga into their classrooms. It is a self-sustaining program because it can be modified to different students' needs and be able to use it for different classes each year.

The Benefits of Yoga 

Art of Living. February 9, 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/yoga. 

Body 

Physically, yoga practice can increase flexibility and balance. Yoga can increase blood circulation, digestion and strengthen the immune system. Yoga can also relax the body and help improve sleep. 

Terry Gustafson Kempfert. February 9, 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/yoga

Mind

Mentally, yoga can relieve stress and improve concentration. Practicing yoga can increase thoughtfulness and reduce levels of anxiety. 

Linda Malone. March 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.tonictoronto.com/March-2015/Managing-Mental-Health-Through-Yoga/

Spirit 

Spiritually, yoga can help support emotional intelligence, self-discipline and self-respect. The spiritual benefits of yoga are ongoing and promote overall personal well-being. 

This resource has really helped me to realize the positive impacts that yoga can have on our bodies, minds and spirits. I can use this knowledge to support my reasoning for using yoga in my classroom. I think that teaching children to be mindful and giving them a scheduled time to slow down and relax throughout the day can really help their learning and overall well-being. By teaching students how to do yoga and practicing in the classroom will provide students with a stress-management strategy that they can use throughout their lives. I think it is important to share with our students the reasons why yoga is important and then let them experience the benefits themselves. Through my personal yoga practice I have experienced the physical, mental and spiritual benefits that it can have and this has only strengthened my passion and love for practicing yoga.