199. Education Monthly #5: New Theories on Teen Mental Health, Self-Determination, and Lessons from Miyazaki Films

Donofriend, or Donovan Taylor Hall, joins Ashanti Branch, a master educator with 20+ years of experience in schools, to talk about what they are reflecting on as educators and what they’re seeing in the halls of modern-day schools. Donovan is an experienced teacher and positive youth development expert who travels around the country speaking at schools and pushing into classrooms. Learn more about him in episode 152. Topics include: an Edutopia video reaction, self-determination theory, participation trophies, teen mental health, building a sense of independence and resilience in students and teens, self-reliance, autonomy, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Miyazaki, Halloween, grit, stick-to-itiveness, Do Hard Things by Steve Magness, helicopter parents, and stranger danger --- (0:00) Welcome and Edutopia video (4:00) Donovan and Ashanti introduce themselves. (6:00) Self-determination theory, helicopter parents, losing ability to build community, and Halloween (15:00) The participation trophy origin story, and valuing “productive struggle” (19:30) Miyazaki and Avatar, and what we can learn about youth wellness/mentorship from these films (25:00) Mentoring with curiosity instead of mentoring to “fix and solve” immediately (26:00) Allowing students to sit with silence and discomfort (29:00) Offering children advice instead of telling them what to do (32:30) Emotional language and articulating feelings/needs clearly - for both young people and adults (45:30) Final thoughts on providing room to explore and being transparent, vulnerable, and curious as an educator/parent/mentor Connect with Donovon Taylor Hall: Website: www.donovantaylorhall.com Instagram, TikTok, Youtube: @donofriend Join our 5k Challenge: https://charity.pledgeit.org/20thAnnualEF5KChallenge  Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/  Email us questions and comments at [email protected]  --- Connect with Ashanti Branch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaks Twitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/ Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/ --- Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support  --- Connect with Ever Forward Club: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclub Twitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/