Title: “Pet the Lizard”- Calming our Brain in Performance, Teaching and Life
Stream: Teaching and Learning the Arts
Presentation Type: Workshop Presentation
Authors:
Barbara Fast, University of Oklahoma, United States
Abstract:
Biologically our brain, sometimes called the lizard brain, is hardwired to be fearful and alert. While this fundamental aspect of our brain allowed us to survive, the fight-flight-freeze response remains an unconscious reaction to daily events: preparing to perform, getting to study, or listening to the daily news. Exacerbated by the pandemic, finding ways to calm our lizard brain becomes an essential coping skill for teachers and students in our 21st century lives. This workshop presents easy-to-use skills for students and teachers to help calm the background of vigilant anxiety that allowed us to survive. Sometimes referenced as “Pet the Lizard” (Hanson, 2018), suggestions from experts in the fields of sports psychology, neuropsychology, and positive psychology will be shared. “Pet the Lizard” activities, easy to include in daily lives, are explored in the workshop. They include: • Breathing technics (Brach, 2020) • Name the Stress, followed with …by at least (Commander, 2020) • Name the Support, Grateful for (Seligman, 2011). “Pet the Lizard” activities related to helping students and teachers “Get To It” – starting to practice, studying for exams, or creating lessons plans, will be shared: • Pomodoro Technic and current adaptations • Focusmate • Tada Lists. Apps and websites that are useful will also be suggested. The presenter has explored the “Pet the Lizard” activities within the workshop with students, both in group and individual teaching. Workshop participants will leave the workshop with technics, particularly helpful during the pandemic, that are easily applied in daily professional lives.
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