Dear STU Members

At the recent STU Delegates’ Seminar on 18 February, I highlighted STU’s initiative on Teacher Wellness including employing a Principal Consultant (Teacher Wellness) – Adrian Lim (email address: adrian@stu.org.sg). He would look into teacher wellness programmes as well as provide initial intervention and assessment for members.

As you know, teacher well-being contributes greatly to students’ well-being and success. However, you would probably agree that teaching is a highly stressful profession with multi-faceted demands and pressure points . And I am certain you want to ensure your wellness so that you can be at your best.

To further support your well-being,  STU-Educare will be organizing one-day Teacher Wellness workshops entitled, “The BrainSMART-Healthwise® Approach” from 8, 9 & 10 March 2017 from 9am-5pm.

The BrainSMART-Healthwise® Approach is a high-energy learning event where you will discover science, structures and strategies for supporting your well-being. The model draws on the research and practical strategies shared in the #1 bestseller in cognitive psychology, “Positively Smarter: Science and Strategies for Increasing Happiness, Achievement and Well-being” (Wiley-Blackwell, 92015) by Marcus Conyers and Donna Wilson.

You will learn how to achieve the most from their body-brain system. Some key areas include the benefits of positive affect, healthy nutrition, physical activity, making positive connections, sleep, stress management and life-long learning. The PEAK process, of how to Plan, Execute, Assess and Keep improving will be shared to support application of what has been learnt.

Speakers:

Dr. Donna Wilson is a psychologist, author, university faculty, and former teacher and the president and head of academic affairs at BrainSMART . A teacher educator for the past 20 years, she is a pioneer in applying implications of research from the transdisciplinary field of mind, brain, and education to practice for preservice and in-service teachers and educational leaders. Dr. Wilson is adjunct faculty and lead developer of the EdD minor in Brain-Based Leadership, Educational Specialist degree in Teacher Leadership, and Master’s degree programs in Brain-Based Teaching with the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education at Nova Southeastern University.

Marcus Conyers is a university curriculum developer and researcher with a focus on practical applications of mind, brain, and education science. He is an author of 20 books, including Five Big Ideas for Effective Teaching: Connecting Mind, Brain, and Education Research to Classroom Practice (Teachers College Press, 2013); Mind, Brain, and Teacher Leadership: Leveraging the POWER of Purposeful Collaboration (Teachers College Press, 2015); Teaching for Metacognition (ASCD, 2016), and Science and Strategies for Innovating Minds (Wiley Blackwell, 2016). In addition, he has shared applications of his work in articles in Kappan and Educational Leadership.

We sincerely hope that you and your colleagues would benefit from the STU Teacher Wellness workshops which is absolutely free for STU Members as the STU is keen to contribute to teacher wellness. (A minimal charge of $240 applies for Non-STU Members for a full day workshop.)

I have attached the registration form. As places are limited, please take advantage of the STU Teacher Wellness workshops and register early. Please discuss with your school leaders so you/your colleagues can attend the STU Teacher Wellness workshop. Registration closes on 28 February at 5pm.

Please do not hesitate to contact Soma for any further queries via email  at n.somasundaram@educare.sg or at 90607597. Thank you and we hope to hear from you soon.

Yours-in-teaching

Mike Thiruman

President

Singapore Teachers’ Union