Back-to-School Series | Episode 2: Your Start-of-Year Teaching Toolkit

As educators, we want our students to begin the school year feeling safe, connected, confident, and ready to learn. But those conditions don’t happen automatically. They’re built through intentional, consistent practice.In Part 2 of our Breathe For Change Back-to-School Podcast Series, Dr. Ilana Nankin and Sam Levine share 13 practical, evidence-based strategies you can use from the very first day of school to help students regulate their bodies, understand and express their emotions, focus their attention, think creatively, build trusting relationships, and connect to a deeper sense of purpose.These simple, classroom-ready practices can be integrated into morning meetings, transitions, lessons, and closing routines to strengthen student well-being, engagement, belonging, and learning throughout the school year.Episode Highlights00:00:00 Introduction & Human Intelligence Framework Overview00:02:54 Somatic Intelligence: Overview00:03:21 Practice 1: Three Collective Breaths00:06:27 Practice 2: The Body Scan00:15:23 Practice 3: Mindful Movement (Sun Breath)00:18:40 Emotional Intelligence: Overview00:19:08 Practice 4: Two-Word Check-In00:24:29 Practice 5: The Weather Report00:25:41 Practice 6: Affirmations00:30:05 Cognitive Intelligence: Overview00:30:31 Practice 7: Thought Clouds00:34:53 Practice 8: Protect the Field00:36:03 Practice 9: Yes, And Mindset00:37:09 Relational Intelligence: Overview00:37:38 Practice 10: Community Agreements00:38:51 Practice 11: Equitable Sharing Protocol00:41:00 Practice 12: Appreciation Circle00:42:52 Universal Intelligence: Overview00:43:20 Practice 13: Hopes and Dreams00:44:51 Practice 14: Intention Setting00:46:44 Wrap-Up & Closing RemarksYOUR TEACHING TOOLKITSomatic | Help students regulate and become ready to learn.3 Collective BreathsSun BreathsEmotional | Build emotional awareness, expression, and confidence.2-Word Check-InWeather ReportAffirmationCognitive | Strengthen focus, flexible thinking, and creativity.Thought CloudsProtect the FieldYes, AndRelational | Build trust, equitable participation, and belonging.Community AgreementsEquitable SharingAppreciation CircleUniversal | Connect learning to purpose, hope, and possibility.Hopes & DreamsIntention SettingThese aren’t just first-week activities. They’re repeatable practices that help create the conditions every student needs to learn, contribute, and thrive all year long.#BreatheForChange #BackToSchool #TeachingStrategies #StudentWellBeing #HumanIntelligence