Power of Place: Supporting Resilient Learners

Building emotional awareness, regulation, and connection to help students thrive from the inside out.

by Stephanie Letourneau

Participants Will Be Able To:

Identify Key Components

Understand Emotional Signals

Use Microbreak Strategies

Adapt for Your Classroom

By the end of this session, you will have the knowledge and tools to support student resilience and emotional well-being in your classroom.

Recognize the essential elements of student resilience: emotional awareness, self-regulation, and connection.

Learn how emotions show up in the body and how to help students recognize and respond to their feelings intentionally.

Master four types of quick resets (physical, sensory, cognitive, emotional) that restore calm and prevent overwhelm.

Practice implementing brief resilience-building routines across different grade levels and school settings.

What Today's Students Face

The Challenge and Opportunity

Emotional Awareness

Self-Regulation

Connection

Students today experience stress, anxiety, social pressure, and academic overwhelm. Yet they possess inner strengths and wisdom. By providing opportunities to pause, notice emotions, and respond with intention, we help build resilience and emotional awareness.

Recognizing what you feel and how emotions show up in your body

Managing emotions and responses intentionally in the moment

Building strong relationships and empathy with others

Key Components of Resilience

Self-Awareness & Mindfulness

Relationships & Empathy

Purpose, Passion & Problem-Solving

Self-Care & Compassion

Noticing thoughts, feelings, and body sensations without judgment. Recognizing emotional signals early to respond intentionally.

Building strong, supportive connections with others. Understanding and sharing the feelings of those around us.

Identifying what matters to you. Using adaptive thinking to navigate challenges creatively and effectively.

Practicing self-compassion and optimism. Taking care of your physical and emotional well-being consistently.

Emotional Awareness Activities

Emotional Awareness Through Sound

Exploring Personal Reactions

Students listen to different sounds and notice how they feel emotionally and physically in response.

This builds awareness of the connection between sensory input and emotional reactions, helping identify personal triggers and preferences.

Students imagine scenarios and identify emotions, body sensations, and personal preferences (like, hate, fear, look forward to).

Labeling emotions as pleasant or unpleasant can reduce their power and help manage reactions more effectively.

Understanding Emotions: Sensations and Behaviors

Each emotion creates unique sensations in the body and triggers specific behaviors. Recognizing this connection helps students understand and manage their emotional responses.

Emotion

Body Sensations

Common Behaviors

Happy

Warmth in chest, lightness, smiling

Laughing, increased energy, engaging with others

Sad

Heaviness in chest, lump in throat, watery eyes

Crying, withdrawing, speaking softly

Angry

Tightness in jaw, heat in face, clenched fists

Raising voice, pacing, quick movements

Nervous

Butterflies in stomach, tension, rapid heartbeat

Fidgeting, hesitation, difficulty concentrating

Scared

Tightness in chest, trembling, shallow breathing

Freezing, avoiding, seeking safety

What Bothers Me? Exploring Personal Reactions

By labeling emotions as pleasant or unpleasant, students reduce their power and gain greater control over their reactions and responses.

Students imagine scenarios and identify their emotional responses, body sensations, and personal preferences. By exploring what attracts them, what repels them, what scares them, and what excites them, students build emotional vocabulary and deeper self-awareness. This practice helps them understand their triggers and preferences.

Microbreaks: Quick Tools for Emotional Regulation

Simple 30-second to 2-minute pauses that restore calm and build resilience

The Power of Microbreaks

Duration

Reset Categories

Accessibility

Overwhelm

Physical Resets

Sensory Resets

Cognitive & Emotional

30s-2m

4 Types

Anywhere

Prevents

Helpful when emotions show up as tension or restlessness in the body

Shoulder rolls and neck stretches

Stand and gently shake out arms

Slow walk to get water

Helpful when emotions are triggered by noise or overstimulation

Look out a window for 20 seconds

Close eyes and take one slow breath

Hold something with texture

Helpful when emotions are intense or mixed with racing thoughts

Choose a calm focus word

Name the emotion without judging

Think of someone you appreciate

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The Educator's Guide to REST Framework

R - Resilience

E - Emotional Awareness

S - Stress Management

T - Tools & Strategies

This session is grounded in research, classroom experience, and the evidence-based REST framework developed by Stephanie Letourneau.

Building inner strength and the capacity to bounce back from challenges with confidence and hope.

Developing the ability to recognize, name, and understand emotions in yourself and others.

Learning practical tools and strategies to manage stress and regulate your nervous system effectively.

Implementing ready-to-use, adaptable routines and practices that support well-being across settings.

For more information and resources, explore 'The Educator's Guide to REST' by Stephanie Letourneau - a comprehensive guide for supporting student resilience and well-being in your classroom.

Meet Stephanie Letourneau

Classroom Teacher

Adjunct Professor

MINTS Program Presenter

Hello! I am a Certified Mindfulness Instructor and public school teacher with over 20 years of experience dedicated to supporting student resilience and well-being. I am the author of The Educator's Guide to REST and owner of REST Professional Services LLC. Let's connect!

Over 20 years of public school teaching experience, directly supporting student emotional development and resilience in the classroom.

Teaching at Merrimack College, sharing expertise in mindfulness, resilience, and transformative approaches to education.

Presenting mindfulness and resilience strategies for educators and students through the MINTS professional development program.

Thank You

Supporting resilient learners starts with helping them understand their emotions and build tools for regulation.

For more information, contact Stephanie at MindfulTeacherStephanie@gmail.com or connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieletourneau/ .

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