Brain-Changing Words: Bite-Size Phrases that Transform How Kids Think, Feel, and Achieve at School

Brain research suggests that language is not separate from thought, but a part of thought itself. What we say and what we hear creates neural pathways that trigger brand-new patterns of thinking, and until a learner is exposed to a word or a particular combination of words, epiphanies lie dormant. For instance, a teacher’s unusual pairing of the words “brilliant” and “mistake” in the phrase “what a brilliant mistake!” can rewire how a child responds to making mistakes, replacing feelings of shame with self-compassion and resilience. Teachers who share bite-sized, literally brain-altering language with students (who repeat this language to themselves as positive self-talk) can transform how students feel, and therefore do, in the classroom and beyond. In this course, I’ll introduce simple, affirming language suggestions and practical curricular extensions (such as morning meeting activities, visual art exercises, poetry invitations, and reading responses) that help students explore and internalize these transformative phrases. Practical resources will be shared with participants after each session.