MindUP Curriculum for Grades 3-5: Brain-Focused Strategies for Learning and Living

Melodie Brock: This book is used in the public schools in Yukon so it was nice to have my own copy for my job.

Thanks

Melodie Brock

Canada on Mar 04, 2022

Julie: This curriculum is amazing. There is a wonderful show on Amazon Prime Video about how this curriculum is used to assist veterans with PTSD and students that have difficulty regulating their emotions. I use this in a general education classroom and it has changed lives, mine included.

United States on Aug 09, 2021

Rebecca: I just started implementing this curriculum in December and found it to be a wonderful addition to my classroom's morning meeting routine. I love the alternative activity. suggestions included with each lesson. I was concerned that my combination 5/6 class might have difficulty "buying in" to this program, however they've really enjoyed it. I think the content and activities are appropriate with this age rage and not too "immature" for them.

United States on Feb 06, 2021

Tia: I cannot say enough good things about this course! If you are doing it at home with your child, I do suggest supplementing it with Youtube videos and online resources to personalize the learning for the course and hit target areas and vear off from the curriculum needed.

My only compliant with this course is that it doesn't stress the brain break meditation in the book. I found the "brain breaks" with Mind Up online but haven't come across this key point of the curriculum in the book itself (or not yet anyway). But as I said previously, this course can be supplemented with online resources and the idea of brain breaks is easily found online.

Canada on Jan 19, 2018

Sheri Gaetz: EVERY SCHOOL NEEDS THIS PROGRAM!!!! I work in a downtown, big city, school and even though I am only on lesson #2, I can already see a positive difference in how my students are responding and mindfully breathing to help calm down their brains. Thank you to Goldie Hawn and the Hawn Institute for creating this curriculum and keeping the price of the books affordable for all educators.

Canada on Nov 17, 2016

Liz: This curriculum is just what I need to help my fourth grade students begin to understand the way their brains work, and learn how to regulate their emotions. I love the way that it directly teaches brain science to students, and they love it too! I like the reproducible worksheets that are provided, as well as the brain facts poster. Although, I do find myself creating a lot more visuals (posters, powerpoints, etc) to supplement so that I am not just stuck reading or lecturing aloud to my students.

I took one star off because the lesson plans are kind of confusing and not what I was expecting based on the description. I saw that there were 15 lessons and thought that it would be perfect to implement lessons once or twice a week. However, this curriculum expects you to set aside time almost every day if you want to teach the full curriculum within one school year. The lessons are actually made up of several parts that are meant to be taught over a 2-week period.

United States on Sep 24, 2016

jkhbeattie: Admittedly I'm a brain nerd, I've been really interested in my own (brain, that is) and studying at an undergrad and to a lesser extent graduate level. But this makes the concept of the brain accessible and understandable, and when you have well-known entrepreneurs such as Dean Kramen (First Robotics) talking about the need for kids to learn HOW they learn, they really can approach this through MindUP. The school board that patiently employs me has begun to use this in pilot applications, and I expect it won't be long before this is a common language at all levels of learning.

The language within the activities is tailored specifically to the Grades 3-5 range. While being accessible, the language doesn't diminish the integrity of the terminology, which I really appreciate.

Canada on Feb 22, 2016

Luke: I bought this along with the dual tone chimes for my classroom. It is a great classroom tool, and very informative. The book is broken up into sections with easy to follow lessons. Each unit focuses on different areas of the brain and is perfect for the grade 3/4 age group.

Canada on Jan 07, 2016

Alivia: I was looking for something that would tie my classroom management strategy neatly into a single package but have not found that magic missing piece. My school district uses several different programs (Capturing Kids Hearts, Kids at Hope, and some of the schools use Make You Day). I like to share with my students WHY it is important to Choose Kind (from the book Wonder (our first read aloud of the year). I have tried incorporating things from Whole Brain Teaching and even Kagan Strategies but it all seemed so disjointed.

Until now!!! This book teaches the students about the brain and how different parts of the brain respond to different things. It teaches students how they respond to stress and why. It teaches them to recognize which part of their brain is in control and then asks them if that is truly the part that should be in charge OR if there is a better decision that they should be making.

As if that is not enough, the author took the time to tie each of the lessons to CCSS standards so teachers can justify the use of it in the classroom. There are additional books (literature) you can use as read alouds to help make each topic come to life. Each unit is meant...

United States on Jun 04, 2015

Kay Lurz: This integrates with all curricular areas. It is exactly what we have been looking for to integrate The Olweus Program (AntiBullying) that is used in our school. It is a most positive, emotional , hands on tool for building relationships among students. Our teachers had just experienced a workshop on the brain and the research about how we and our children learn and process. This ties into the brain research on a most practical level in the classroom. I would highly recommend this book for School Counselor, Teachers, Administrators at this grade level.

United States on Mar 01, 2015