Heart of Learning2007 – 2008 Research and Study

Group People will forget what you saidPeople will forget what you did

But people will never forget how you made them feel

Topics discussed in the group

• All thoughts have the potential to be acted out in either positive or negative ways

• Thoughts are energy• Research has proven that positive thoughts or over one

hundred times more powerful than negative thoughts• We as students and teachers have the ability to shift our

thoughts and therefore the outcome of our experiences• Each person has around 50,000 to 90,000 thoughts per

day- so it is difficult to monitor each one , but if we explore our feelings, following and allowing the ones of joy, acceptance, peacefulness, or happiness, we are actually shifting our perspectives to create a new experience or scenario

Perspective and Beliefs

• How do you change your perspective and why do it?• Beliefs are bundles of thoughts that people keep circling

or repeating in their Minds• When you shift your perspective, which is actually your

personal story, you are able to step inside the heart of another with increased understanding

• HOW ??

The Inner Teacher

• As a group we discussed the components of the “Inner Teacher”• Connecting to the heart of another• Listening to the quiet voice of intuition • Emotions are our guidance system and they will guide us when we

allow and let go of our mind chatter, “I hate you, he is an idiot, she talks behind my back, the teacher is constantly yelling at me!”

Victims

• We become the victim and powerless when we blame and give to others all of our power and creativity and responsibility

• Anger is productive when we recognize its potential to shift a negative into a positive experience

• The “What is” is the gift and to resist it or fight against it brings only pain and suffering to oneself – very difficult concept for adolescents and adults!!

What we learned

• Built on our strengths

• We shared our concerns and anger through BRIEF discussions and journals

• Motto- You cannot hate what you do not understand” Other people DO NOT have to change for us to experience peace of Mind!!

Nick

• “The group helped me to manage my anger Also when we talked about negative energy and positive energy, I started to think positive thoughts and positive things started happening. It helped me with my grades.”

Taylor

• “I learned that teachers care but they just get fed up with cussing and talking back. I also learned how to take accountability for my actions and not to always make excuses”

Alexsus

• “The reason I like this group is because it really helped me through some hard times. We got to talk about our problems sometimes.”

Keyonna

• “This group has helped me with some personal things and my attitude. I use to skip class and do a bunch of dumb things but now I look back and say, ”What was I thinking?” My grades are bad but I think I have a 50% chance of bringing them up. The key word is “try”

Detrich

• Kids- not yell so much, be kind and great, learn, don’t talk back

• Teachers- Please don’t yell so much

• Listen to what kids have to say

• Get your point across and let the kids learn in their own way

Summary

• This group was a support group where the students and facilitator discussed, shared, practiced new ideas, and examined the thoughts and feelings generated through out the days.

• It was a safe place where students explored changes that occurred throughout the weeks we were together

• The “inner teacher” does not want to be fixed, it desires to be heard and seen.

• Understanding and Responsibility