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I NEED to Self-Regulate: Rolling out "The Regulated Classroom"

 

I am freaking out!  My heart is racing, my chest is thumping, my belly is buzzing.  Last night I check my list of attendees for my upcoming workshop.  It jumped from sixteen to eighteen registrants.  I freaked!  I was literally scrambling around my kitchen screeching, “18,” “AHH!…18.”  “I can’t fit eighteen.”  My 10-month old puppy and 10-year old daughter are chasing behind me in frenzied excitement.  My daughter is yelling, “mom this is good, your business is growing.” And my husband is sitting in the living room, rolling his eyes.   He knows what I always forget.  I pull this kind of sh*& all the time!

Does anyone else have this experience or am I the only one?  It goes something like this – I have a vision;  I  want to do something.  I feel compelled to do something, create something, pull something together that involves people and factors outside my control, but then as the unveiling is about to happen, I freak.  There are almost too many of “these” moments to even conjure the last one.  Nonetheless, case in point, two and a half years ago, I spearhead a production of “Project Crash” at my high school.

“Project Crash” is a mock car crash scene that educates students about the dangers of distracted and impaired driving. It involved making a short film to tell the story of the events leading up to the crash.  Did I mention, “making a short film?”  I know nothing about making a film.  Acting, nope.  Script writing, nada.  Directing a film, got nothing.  It also involved coordinating rehearsals with the teen actors and first responders to “act out” the response to the scene.  Again, my experience with directing a play, very little (preschool and church pageants don’t really count).

On the day of the actual event, we coordinated every homeroom (over 20 classes) to view the short film simultaneously – a technology miracle – and then calmly but quickly exit the building to witness the imminent emergency response.  The event went well – it actually went off without a hitch.  It was a mock crash scene that didn’t end up a complete train wreck.   I was very pleased and the high school community was thrilled.

Clearly I did not accomplish this alone – lots of others were involved.  There were fabulous and talented teens, teachers, parents, community folks, volunteers – just really great people.  My job was orchestrating the coming together of skill, talent, and good will. That’s really what I do;  I orchestrate; I bring together; I convene and facilitate.

Tomorrow when I roll out, “The Regulated Classroom:  ‘Bottom-Up’ Trauma-Informed Teaching,” nothing I present is my own.  I borrowed and adapted ideas, theories, approaches and research from anywhere and everywhere.  It is a reflection of my twenty years of study and experience “working in the trenches” with overwhelming challenges.  I am just putting that all together and delivering it ED (Emily Daniels) style. I am orchestrating, bringing together ideas and strategies, convening others and facilitating learning.

Nonetheless, I need to chill…breath…regulate.  I “a scared.”

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Susan M. Carlson posted:

Your topic and ideas sound like exactly what we need at my school.  Any thoughts on coming to Minnesota? I am a social emotional teacher and our population requires us to learn more about ACE's and Trauma. 

Hi Susan!

The approach I have developed is for ANY educator but is especially pertinent for emotional support settings.  Please email me if you are serious about me coming to you (I do travel to do this work).  Emily@herethisnow.org.

Thanks for your inquiry...Happy Holidays!

 

"The Regulated Classroom:  'Bottom-up' Trauma-Informed Teaching" workshop yesterday was a total HIT!  That's in no small part to the good wishes and will of the folks from ACESConnection.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

HERE this NOW is in flight...watch out!!!  Can only imagine where I/we this is headed!

Remember, this a journey, nota sprint. Asfaras I can tell, you have already successfully been on the journey for 20 years! You’ve got this and don’t let anyone tell you you don’t! 

Your topic and ideas sound like exactly what we need at my school.  Any thoughts on coming to Minnesota? I am a social emotional teacher and our population requires us to learn more about ACE's and Trauma. 

Jane Stevens posted:

Hi, Emily: I'm right there with you. For several years, I did this before every presentation. At some point, after dozens of presentations, I remember standing at the podium for yet another, feeling as if I was forgetting something and thinking: Oops! I didn't freak out this time.

As a friend once said: "If you ain't scared, you ain't havin' fun." There's an element of truth to that. But there is a difference between being alert and attuned, and hopefully enjoying, the moment, and moving into panic brain. Running around to release excess energy is a perfect way to handle that, and then, as you say, deep breathing to get back to a more or less steady state.

You've prepared; you'll be great. If you're like me, you'll always think you could have done better, pick things apart and even feel disappointed. But that's hurtful. In my case, in your case, good enough is perfect. The people who get something wonderful out of the workshop will; those that don't aren't ready, or didn't know how much they already knew going in.

Thank you, Jane, for your encouraging words. They mean so much - especially coming from someone as accomplished as you.  It's always helpful to know that others are human too and share these similar struggles ;-).  Thank you!  

 

Jane Stevens posted:

Hi, Emily: I'm right there with you. For several years, I did this before every presentation. At some point, after dozens of presentations, I remember standing at the podium for yet another, feeling as if I was forgetting something and thinking: Oops! I didn't freak out this time.

As a friend once said: "If you ain't scared, you ain't havin' fun." There's an element of truth to that. But there is a difference between being alert and attuned, and hopefully enjoying, the moment, and moving into panic brain. Running around to release excess energy is a perfect way to handle that, and then, as you say, deep breathing to get back to a more or less steady state.

You've prepared; you'll be great. If you're like me, you'll always think you could have done better, pick things apart and even feel disappointed. But that's hurtful. In my case, in your case, good enough is perfect. The people who get something wonderful out of the workshop will; those that don't aren't ready, or didn't know how much they already knew going in.

That's A LOT of good advice, Jane. I know it was to Emily but I bet she's not the only one who appreciates it. Cis

Hi, Emily: I'm right there with you. For several years, I did this before every presentation. At some point, after dozens of presentations, I remember standing at the podium for yet another, feeling as if I was forgetting something and thinking: Oops! I didn't freak out this time.

As a friend once said: "If you ain't scared, you ain't havin' fun." There's an element of truth to that. But there is a difference between being alert and attuned, and hopefully enjoying, the moment, and moving into panic brain. Running around to release excess energy is a perfect way to handle that, and then, as you say, deep breathing to get back to a more or less steady state.

You've prepared; you'll be great. If you're like me, you'll always think you could have done better, pick things apart and even feel disappointed. But that's hurtful. In my case, in your case, good enough is perfect. The people who get something wonderful out of the workshop will; those that don't aren't ready, or didn't know how much they already knew going in.

Christine Cissy White posted:

Thank you for sharing! You got this!!! It will be be great. You are a gifted facilitator. You can do it afraid. Breathe. Can't wait to hear how it goes.

Thank you, Cis!  I will be channeling your spirit (and Dawn's, and Angela's, and every other PLU - people like us).  And I will be praying... a lot!

Thank you for sharing! You got this!!! It will be be great. You are a gifted facilitator. You can do it afraid. Breathe. Can't wait to hear how it goes.

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